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“Are youlaughing?”
A loud laugh rips from her throat. “I was hiding … in the bushes … and something,” she gasps for air, “something touched my foot. I thought … I thought it was a snake.” She bursts into another fit of laughter, and rolls onto her side.
My eyes dart around the area. “What was it?”
She reaches toward the patch of mulch next to the path, and holds up a long palm shoot. Her lips wobble as she tries to keep her composure waiting for my response.
I arch an eyebrow. “That’s the snake?”
She doubles over again.
“I thought you were in trouble.”
She sits up, wiping her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I guess it’s fair, since I scared you earlier. I’m glad you’re not hurt.” Then a thought crosses my mind. “Wait, why were you hiding in the bushes?”
Her expression sobers, and she clears her throat. “I wasn’t hiding.”
“You said you were hiding in the bushes when you felt something touch your foot.”
She scrambles to her feet, and brushes off her shorts. “I didn’t say that.”
I push off the ground, taking my time to ease myself back up so I don’t tweak my back. “Yes, you did.”
She crosses her arms over her chest, lifting her nose in the air. “You must’ve misheard me.”
My eyes narrow, and I lean toward her. “I heard you perfectly well. Why were you hiding?”
She stretches onto her toes, bringing her face closer to mine. “None of your business.”
Stubborn.
I walk over to her hiding spot, and glance down the path shrouded in darkness. “If you were coming from the inn, you would’ve been in plain sight standing here. So, whoever you were hiding from wasn’t behind you.” I turn my head to the left, and peer around the corner of the building. “They must’ve been …” My voice trails off when my brain pieces it together.
By the pool.
“It was you, okay?” Charly throws her hands up. “I was hiding from you.”
I plant one hand on my waist, looking from Charly to the pool. “Why?”
She groans. “You were standing there, looking all wet and sexy with your rippling muscles. I couldn’t help myself.” She waves her hand at me. “Look at you! Can you blame me?”
She thinks I’m sexy?
Pride swells in my chest, but I shove it down. “So, you were spying on me.”
She stammers. “N-no. I didn’t mean to.”
“How does one spy on accident, exactly?”
She sputters, trying to explain herself. “I mean, Iwaswatching you, but it was only for a second.”
“Would’ve been longer if you hadn’t gotten scared off by a plant snake.”
“I’m sorry, Bryce.” She takes a tentative step toward me. “I know it’s an invasion of your privacy, and it was a childish thing to do. It won’t happen again.” Her head tilts. “Are you …laughing?”
My wide smile breaks free. “I’m just fucking with you.”
