~Jennie’s~

“You think Blair’s really going to make us hike tomorrow?” I ask, squinting into the afternoon sun as it dips low over the garden hedges.

Reo’s beside me, leaning on the stone railing like it’s his second skin. He doesn’t answer right away. He’s silently watching two sparrows dart between the tree branches, like he doesn’t want to break their rhythm.

“I think,” he finally says, “Blair doesn’t bluff. If she said hiking, we’re climbing something with a trail and at least three caution signs.”

I laugh…really laugh. And I don’t even mean to.

He turns to me then. Just a glance. No smirk, no smolder, no control-freak fire...