Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 65156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
I can already imagine the raised eyebrows from my family. They’ll have a field day with this one, probably exchanging knowing glances over the campfire while pretending to be subtle. Let them jump to their conclusions, speculate all they want.
It’s nothing more than me wanting to protect her—from bears or, you know, whatever else might be lurking out there in the woods. At least, that’s what I’ll keep telling myself.
As I stand over the stove, cooking breakfast for her, I keep thinking about last night. The way she looked, the warmth between us, that magnetic pull. I shake the thought from my head and focus on scrambling eggs, pushing the memory aside. My phone vibrates on the counter, snapping me back to the present. I spot a text from a vendor, and immediately reply. Then I pull up the group chat with Anya in it, because of course she’s the mastermind behind the camping trip. My sister’s always been the one to organize, to plan every little detail with the precision of a military strategist.
Hey, what do we need to bring for the trip?
Yeah, maybe I want to keep her close on this trip. Maybe it’s not just about the bears.
Anya: Just the regular camping stuff. Can you bring a couple bags of marshmallows with you?
Brock: Yes, don’t forget the marshmallows.
Willow: Your brother obviously loves s’mores.
Will do.
I glance up from my phone and see Violet watching me, a soft smile tugging at her lips. Her eyes are warm, and there’s a sparkle there, as if she’s amused by something. “So, that chat has all your siblings and their respective partners in there?” she asks, her voice light.
I nod, placing my phone down on the counter. “Yeah, it’s a family thing. We all keep each other updated; trips, plans, that sort of thing.” A thought crosses my mind, a sudden realization that feels so obvious, I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before. “Wait,” I say, grinning at her, “you’re not in here. You need to be.”
Her eyebrows arch slightly, and I can tell she’s intrigued. “Oh, do I?”
Without missing a beat, I pull up her contact info on my phone and add her into the family thread. “There,” I say, hitting send with a flourish. I glance up at her, feeling oddly proud of myself, like I’ve just unlocked some secret level of our relationship. “Now you’re officially part of the group.”
Callum has added Violet to the Atwood Family Chat
Violet, welcome to the Atwood family chat.
Violet: Hello *waves*
Hartford: Hey, Violet! Welcome to the craziness.
Anya: Aww Callum, we love you! Hi Violet.
Millie: YAY!! My bestie is here!
Tripp: Welcome, Violet. Don’t believe anything you read in here.
Brock: Welcome, Vi. Believe it all.
Willow: Hi Violet, promise we’re not all crazy! Like I’m not.
Hartford: She’s the craziest.
Tripp: See, don’t believe anything, Violet.
Violet: *laughs*
Violet chuckles softly, shaking her head. “Wow, I feel honored.” Her tone is playful, but there’s a warmth behind her words. She hops off the counter, her messy hair falling over her shoulders. “So, what’s the next step of this initiation? Do I have to bring my own marshmallows too?”
I laugh, enjoying the easy banter between us. “No, I’ve got you covered. Marshmallows are my department.”
She tilts her head, studying me for a moment. “You’re really into this whole camping trip, aren’t you?”
I shrug, trying to play it cool. “Maybe. It’s been a while since I’ve done something like this with the family. Plus, you know… it’ll be nice to get away for a bit.”
“Under the stars,” she teases, her smile widening. “Just you, me, and a bunch of bears.”
I smirk, shaking my head at her joke, though a small part of me latches onto the idea of being out there with her—away from everything else, just the two of us. It’s a fleeting thought, but one that lingers longer than I expect.
“We’ve been driving for what feels like days,” Violet says, her voice tinged with mild frustration as she shifts in the front seat of my truck. She’s been fidgeting with the hem of her shirt for the last few miles, a clear sign she’s starting to feel restless.
I glance over at her, giving her a quick smile. “Yeah, the campsite’s a bit tucked into the mountains. Off the beaten path, but trust me, it’s worth it.” I grip the steering wheel a little tighter as the road narrows, winding through the thick trees and rugged terrain. The mountains rise up on either side of us, casting long shadows across the road as the sun begins its slow descent.
Violet leans forward slightly, gazing out the window with a soft sigh. “It’s beautiful out here.” Her voice is quieter now, filled with awe as her eyes trace the outline of the mountains. The way the sunlight filters through the trees catches her hair and makes it shimmer like molten copper.