The Ending is the Best Part by Lamia Zain

Author:Lamia Zain
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atlantic Books Ltd

Chapter Twelve

Three Weeks Left

After what felt like a torturously long car journey, I can’t believe we have to go up the mountain. I’ve just finished freshening up in the luxurious bathroom when a deep voice forces me to look up.

‘About time,’ Xander says, throwing a look at me from the chair where he’s sitting pulling on his hiking boots.

‘I’m not the one who made us late, with that little stunt you pulled back at reception.’ I roll my eyes. ‘I hate exercise so much. This is literally my worst nightmare.’

I groan into my hands. It’s not like I haven’t tried to be active; it just is never a good time for me, and I have accepted my fate of forever being a couch potato. And for someone as clumsy as me, I would personally class it as a health and safety concern. I doubt Meagan has submitted the necessary risk assessment form to HR for this trip.

‘Yeah, I figured,’ he replies. ‘But you’ll be fine. You won’t die from a little walk. Plus, I won’t let anything happen to you.’

My silly heart jumps at that proclamation, although I’m sure he is just saying it as a passing comment.

We make our way out of the hotel and head towards the mountain trail. My breathing already coming out chopped, I try to focus on the climb ahead, but unfortunately it isn’t just the mountain that has my attention. Behind me I can hear Xander’s own ragged breath. And maybe it’s the strenuous exercise, but I swear that I can feel the heat of his tall figure.

At some point during the hike, he accidentally brushes against me and the contact sends a shiver down my spine, transporting my mind to places it shouldn’t go. I try to fill the air with nonsense about how much I hate exercise so that this pent-up tension doesn’t swallow me whole. My rambling is interrupted when I realise Xander has stopped walking and I turn around to look at him.

‘What? You exhausted already? We’ve barely even started,’ I wheeze. It has been more than two hours, so we must be close to the top.

‘I’m fine. Just… can we keep moving?’ He shakes his head, his eyes zeroing in on the ground, avoiding all eye contact. I squint my eyes suspiciously. The guy works out regularly, I doubt this is affecting him that much.

‘I thought you were excited about this hike?’ I question with a raised eyebrow. I give him a quick survey from head to toe, because this doesn’t seem like the composed Xander I usually know. It isn’t until my eyes reach a certain part that I quickly avert my gaze and let out a weird squawking noise. Instinctively, I clasp my hands over my mouth. He doesn’t say anything and instead just powers forward, pushing me along the path. The realisation that l can affect Xander that way fills me with a rush of giddiness and gives me the adrenaline I need to carry on.

I try to put him at ease with a new conversation.

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