Ryan opens his mouth to protest but I don’t stick around to hear what he’s got to say. I flee the trailer, glad that I make it outside before tears begin to prick at the corners of my eyes.
If he kisses me again, I don’t think I’ll stop him. If I let him in, I don’t think I’ll survive when he inevitably walks away.
seventeen
RYAN
We’re travelingin two vans to a day hike. The van I’m in is quiet, most of the bachelorettes and camera people either looking out the window at the scenic view or buried in their phones. As we turn off the highway onto a smaller road, the van bumps along. I’m not paying a bit of attention to my surroundings, though. Last night’s rose ceremony keeps looping in my head. The way Wren blinked when I said her name. Like she still didn’t believe she belonged here.
The idea doesn’t sit right with me. How can I fix that?
“We’re here!” Rich calls. He slides open the van’s door.
When I climb out into a large gravel parking lot, the place is empty. We’re in the middle of the woods. The only thing around is a large sign saying CLEAR SPRINGS TRAILHEAD. There’s a well-worn path that leads off to the right. Behind us, the ground rises up steeply to form a sharp incline. I haven’t been here before, but I know this area is right at the beginning of the foothills, where the hill country of the Piedmont above Atlanta meets the sloping terrain of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I’ve never really been anywhere around here, but I look at Rich expectantly.
“Is this today’s date?” I ask.
“You said that you liked to hike, so here we are.” He extends a hand toward the woods. “Once the rest of the girls are here, we should have good weather all day for shooting.”
I look up. He’s seemingly correct. The sky is bright blue above us, not a cloud in sight. That doesn’t guarantee anything when it comes to Georgia weather, but hopefully the hiking won’t be too uphill.
I crack my knuckles as Rich opens the back of the van, revealing two backpacks stuffed with hiking gear. He unzips one and shows off the contents. Tons of granola, Clif bars, bandages, and bottled water. He produces a Nalgene bottle and offers it to me.
I take it, twist off the cap, and sniff the contents. It’s just water, as far as I can tell.
He points to the bottle. “Water with a little bit of electrolyte solution. The gold standard.”
I change into my own hiking boots. I didn’t know Rich had asked for them specifically for this date, but I’m not terribly surprised.
The other van pulls up. As soon as the doors open, the other contestants swarm around me. I try not to look at Wren. Or think about how it felt to have my fingers inside her last night. Immediate thoughts of her slam into me anyway.
I glance over the crowd of girls and am instantly entertained. If the TV audience isn’t, I don’t know what can help them.
Nikki is wearing a black bodycon dress that barely covers her ass and a pair of brand-new hiking boots. She tosses her hair and announces that she doesn’t do sweat. As a concept. Whatever that means.
Raven looks around and pulls out a can of bug spray, coating herself and offering it around. Mei is recording everything. She’s in denim cutoffs and an oversized plaid workman shirt. I have noidea what she’s saying to her phone as she talks and films, but someone somewhere is probably entertained.
Raven and Divya both wear hiking shorts and long-sleeve T-shirts. Raven’s biting her lip and looking around like she’s unsure. Divya, on the other hand, stays quiet. She keeps looking up at the mountain like it doesn’t impress her.
“Okay, everyone.” Rich claps his hands, pulling our attention. “Today is a hiking date. For your safety, please take a lightweight pack with granola, water, and a tracking device. Just in case something goes terribly wrong. Once you’re ready, we’ll have you head out as one group. You’ll naturally fall into your own pace. Some people will be faster and move toward the front, others slower and drift toward the back. Doesn’t matter. This isn’t a race. We’re only going a few miles.”
He turns to me. “Ryan, anything you want to say?”
I smile at the group and shrug apologetically. “Sorry you got dragged out here. This is one of my favorite off-day activities. Although I usually like my hiking to be a bit more strenuous. Rich assures me this should be an easy out and back. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you need anything. Water, food, a break. Whatever. I won’t think less of you. Promise.”
JacqLyn, who’s wearing hiking pants and a loose long-sleeved T-shirt, grins. “ Ready to go, Captain.”
I smile and walk over to her. “You wanna accompany me as we walk?”
“Yeah, I do.” She beams. “I love to hike. This is, like, the perfect date to me.”
I cock a brow. “Really?”
“Yeah, it actually is. All my friends think I’m crazy because I adore hiking.”
Raven walks up and holds out her can of bug spray. “You guys are crazy for wanting to do this, but can I please spray you down first?”
