CHAPTER 32
Falling Hard
The night air was cool, the kind that seeped into your bones but still felt good after a long drive. We set up camp under a wide-open sky, stars scattered like someone had spilled glitter across the darkness. The tent wasn't complicated to put together, but with Lily running around getting in the way and Jenni pretending to help while giving orders, it took longer than it should have.
Ari, of course, was no help at all.
She stood there in her oversized shirt and joggers, arms crossed, watching everyone else do the work like she was the damn queen of this trip. Her hair was down, the dark strands catching the dim light from the car's headlights, swaying every time the wind picked up.
And the flies? Yeah, they loved her.
She kept swatting at them, muttering curses under her breath. "I swear, they have something against me."
I smirked, tossing a piece of firewood into place. "They just have good taste."
She shot me a glare before another fly buzzed near her ear, making her groan. "That's it. I need something to tie my hair."
Without another word, she turned toward the car.
And that's when the real problem started.
The car was tall, and she was... well, not.
I leaned back against a tree, watching as she struggled, trying to reach inside without fully climbing in. She had one knee up on the seat, her upper body bent as she stretched for something in the front.
Her damn shirt shifted.
The oversized thing lifted slightly, just enough to expose a sliver of her waistâsmooth, bare skin that caught the glow of the car's light.
I clenched my jaw.
I needed to look away.
I didn't.
A second later, she pulled out a pen, still oblivious to the fact that she was basically sprawled over the seat like she owned the damn thing. She straightened, used the pen to twist her hair up, and secured it into a loose bun in one effortless move.
Like she hadn't just flashed me for no damn reason.
Like I wasn't losing my mind.
I exhaled through my nose, running a hand down my face.
I was over this.
Over her skin showing every five damn seconds. Over her not even realizing it.
Jenni passed by, glancing between me and Ari before smirking. "You good?"
I gritted my teeth. "Perfect."
She snorted, clearly not believing a word of it, before going to help our mom with the food.
I forced my focus back to the barbecue, convincing myself that I was totally fine. That Ari wasn't getting under my skin.
Even though, deep down, I knew I was lying to myself.