- hiking sounds great
Lila’s P.O.V.
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I settled into the back seat of Koda’s SUV, glancing out the window as we began the drive up the mountain. The sun was high in the sky, casting dappled light through the trees lining the road. The scenery was beautiful, but my thoughts kept drifting back to last night and the kiss I’d shared with Skye. I still wasn’t sure if it had really happened, or if it was just another vivid dream. Skye had been conspicuously absent this morning, and it only added to my
confusion.
Jules, sitting in the passenger seat, was animatedly chatting away, her hand casually resting
on Koda’s arm.
“I’m telling you, Koda, this weekend is going to be amazing. I’ve got so many plans-first, we’ll check out the lake, maybe go for a swim, then a bonfire tonight. What do you think?”
Koda chuckled, his deep voice resonating through the car.
“I think I’m looking forward to some peace and quiet for a change. This is the first time in months I’ve had any time off since the restaurant opened. I might just find a hammock and sleep the whole weekend away.”
I smiled at Koda’s easygoing nature. He was the complete opposite of Jules, who seemed to have boundless energy and an endless list of activities she wanted to do these next two days. It was clear that the two of them were perfectly comfortable with each other, though. Jules might be hyper, but Koda had a way of grounding her, which was sweet to see.
In the seat next to me, Eluna was flipping through the camera roll on her phone, already planning her photography escapades.
“I can’t wait to go hiking. I found this amazing spot online-there’s supposed to be a hidden waterfall somewhere up the trail. I want to get some shots of it at sunrise. You should come with me, Lila. It’ll be fun!”
“Hiking sounds great,” I answered her, trying to push the lingering thoughts of Skye aside.
“I could use some fresh air and exercise.”
“Perfect! We can go early tomorrow morning,” Luna said excitedly, her dark eyes sparkling.
“I’ve got a whole itinerary planned out.”
Jules turned around in her seat to face me, a mischievous grin on her face.
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“So, Lila, any idea who you’re bunking with? We’ve got a full house this weekend.”
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I bit my lip, feeling a bit awkward. I wasn’t sure how the sleeping arrangements would work out, but I knew one thing-there was no way I could share a room with Koda and Jules. Those two were practically glued to each other.
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
“I guess I’ll find out when we get there. But I’m hoping for some peace and quiet, too.” Jules
winked at me.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure we can figure something out. I think you should room with Eluna, though. I have a feeling Koda and I will be… busy.” She giggled, leaning into Koda, who just shook his head, clearly used to Jules’s antics. Eluna rolled her eyes but laughed.
“Please, Lila, room with me. I’m not sure I can handle those two lovebirds all weekend.”
I grinned, relieved that Eluna was on the same page.
“Sounds like a plan.”
As we continued the drive, the conversation flowed easily, punctuated by laughter and teasing. I found myself relaxing more, enjoying the camaraderie with Koda, Jules, and Eluna. We felt like a family, something warm and comforting that I hadn’t realized I’d missed. Still, a part of me couldn’t help but wonder where Skye was. I hadn’t seen him all morning, and it gnawed at me. The kiss from last night-whether real or imagined-was haunting me. The way his lips had felt against mine, the heat of his body so close to mine… It was almost too
much to think about.
“What’s on your mind, Lila?” Koda asked, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. His tone was gentle, as if he could sense the shift in my mood.
“Oh, nothing,” I said quickly, forcing a smile.
“Just thinking about how nice it is to get away for the weekend.”
Jules smirked, clearly not buying it but choosing to keep quiet-for now.
“It’s going to be great. Just wait until you see the cabin. It’s right by the lake, secluded, and absolutely perfect for a weekend of relaxation. Airbnb gave it a perfect score.”
I nodded, trying to keep my mind from drifting back to Skye. It didn’t matter where I was right now, I told myself. I was here to enjoy the weekend with the Millers, and I wasn’t going to let my confusing feelings for Skye get in the way of that. Still, the thought of seeing him again- of potentially spending even more time with him-sent a thrill of anticipation through me.
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As we neared the cabin, I took a deep breath, pushing away my concerns. This weekend was about having fun, and I was determined to make the most of it. Whatever was going on with Skye could wait-at least for now.
As the SUV pulled up to the cabin, I stepped out, breathing in the crisp mountain air. The cabin was even more picturesque than I’d imagined-a rustic, wooden structure nestled among towering pines, with a wraparound porch and a view that looked like it belonged on a postcard.
“This is amazing,” I said, my voice full of awe as I took in the surroundings. The sounds of nature-birds chirping, the rustle of leaves in the breeze-created a serene backdrop that immediately made me feel at ease. Eluna, ever the energetic one, was already darting off toward the trees, her camera in hand.
“I’m going to check out the trails before it gets too dark. I want to scope out the best spots for tomorrow morning!”
Koda chuckled as he grabbed our bags from the car, as if somehow, he found something funny about what Eluna had just said.
“You do that, Eluna. Just don’t get lost before dinner.”
Jules, on the other hand, was already making herself at home, surveying the cabin with a critical eye.
“I call dibs on the room with the view of the lake,” she announced, her voice carrying with it the tone of someone who was used to getting what she wanted. Koda just rolled his eyes good-naturedly and followed her inside.
I hesitated on the porch, my curiosity piqued. The cabin was beautiful, but it was the view beyond it that truly captured my attention. I wandered around to the back of the cabin, drawn by the promise of the lake Jules had mentioned during the drive. As I rounded the corner, the sight that greeted me made my breath catch in my throat. The cabin overlooked a serene, crystal-clear lake that sparkled under the late afternoon sun. Tall pines framed the water, and the entire scene looked like something out of a dream.
But that wasn’t what had my heart suddenly racing.
In the lake, just a few yards from the shore, were Adam and Skye. Both men were swimming, their movements smooth and strong as they cut through the water. But it was Skye who drew my attention like a magnet. He was in the shallows now, standing with the water lapping just above his waist, and I had not been prepared to see him with so little clothing.
My mouth went dry as I took in the sight of him. Skye’s broad shoulders and chiseled chest were on full display, droplets of water clinging to his sun-kissed skin, making him look like
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some kind of Greek God. His abs were taut, each muscle defined in a way that made my stomach do a little flip. I found myself staring at the trail of water that trickled down his chest, disappearing below the waistband of his swim trunks.
He looked… incredible. It was almost unfair how good he looked, really. I felt my face heat up, a blush creeping across my cheeks. This was definitely not the kind of view I had been expecting, and my brain struggled to process it.
Okay, Lila, breathe, I told herself.
You’ve seen a man shirtless before. Granted, none of them looked like Skye, but still, it’s not that big of a deal. It’s just… a very, very attractive man who also happens to be your housemate. No big deal, right?
Except it was a big deal. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him, and my thoughts were quickly spiraling out of control. Memories of the kiss we’d shared last night-or maybe it was a dream?-flashed through my mind, making my stomach tighten with an odd mixture of excitement and nerves.
This is ridiculous, I scolded herself.
You’re ogling him like he’s a piece of meat. Get it together!
But just as I was about to turn away and escape back to the relative safety of the cabin, Skye looked up and our eyes locked. For a split second, I froze, my heart skipping a beat. His expression was unreadable, but I could see a flicker of something in his eyes-surprise?
Amusement? Heat?
Whatever it was, it made my knees feel like jelly.
“Enjoying the view?” Adam’s teasing voice broke through the tension, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. Adam was grinning at me, completely unfazed by the fact that I’d been caught staring. My face flushed even hotter, and I quickly tried to recover.
“Oh, uh… just admiring the lake,” I stammered, cursing myself for how lame that sounded.
“Right,” Adam said with a wink, clearly not buying it. He glanced at Skye, who was now smirking slightly, the corner of his mouth quirking up in that infuriatingly attractive way.
“The lake’s pretty great, isn’t it, Skye?”
Skye gave a noncommittal grunt, but his eyes never left mine. There was something in his gaze that made me feel like he could see right through me, like he knew exactly what I was thinking. It was both thrilling and terrifying.
“I, uh, should probably go help inside,” I mumbled, taking a step back toward the cabin.
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“You know, settle in and… stuff.”
Adam chuckled.
“You do that, Lila. We’ll be out here, enjoying the water.”
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I nodded awkwardly, my thoughts still scrambled as I turned and hurried back toward the cabin. I could feel Skye’s eyes on me the entire time, and it took every ounce of willpower not to look back at him. Once I was safely around the corner, I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling my heart thudding against my ribs.
What was wrong with me?
I wasn’t some lovesick teenager-I was a grown woman.
But seeing Skye like that, half-naked and looking like he’d stepped straight out of a fitness magazine, was doing all sorts of things to me that I wasn’t prepared to deal with.
