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 steal another glance at her, and I swear she looks even more breathtaking than she did five minutes ago. Her hair, illuminated by the sun’s rays, makes her look like some kind of forest goddess. Wild and untouchable. It’s almost unnerving how stunning she is, how with each passing moment, she seems to glow brighter. I can’t figure out how it’s possible, but every time I look at her, she just gets more beautiful. And it’s not just her looks—it’s the way she’s soaking in the scenery like it’s the first time she’s ever been outside, her excitement mingling with that gentle calm she has.
“How do you keep doing that?” I murmur before I even realize the words have left my mouth.
She turns to me, eyebrow raised. “Doing what?”
“Getting prettier every time I look at you,” I say, half-joking but half-serious.
Violet rolls her eyes with a laugh, shaking her head as a blush creeps up her cheeks. “Oh please, you’re just saying that because you’re trapped in a vehicle with me for hours. It’s the ‘too much time in the same space’ effect.”
“No, it’s definitely not that,” I reply, my tone more sincere than I intended.
She gives me a sidelong glance, her lips curving into a playful smile. “Well, if you keep flattering me like that, I might just have to let you carry all the camping gear by yourself as payback.”
I chuckle, focusing back on the road. “Deal.”
We pull into the gravel parking lot of the campsite, the crunch of the tires echoing in the quiet mountain air. I scan the row of vehicles and quickly realize we’re the last ones to arrive. Great. Of course, my family is already settled in, probably halfway through the setup by now.
“Better late than never,” I say, flashing Violet a quick grin as I cut the engine. We climb out of the truck, the crisp scent of pine and campfire smoke instantly filling the air around us. Violet stretches, her fingers brushing the top of the door before she pulls her hair into a messy bun. She’s a natural in the outdoors, even if she pretends not to be.
We grab our gear from the bed of the truck—tents, sleeping bags, and way too many bags of marshmallows—hauling it toward the campsite. As we approach, I spot the familiar faces of my family gathered around the fire. Paxton’s got a tent half-pitched, Hartford’s sorting through camping gear, and Griffin’s crouched by the fire, adding more kindling. The warm glow of the flames flickers across their faces, giving the whole scene a postcard-perfect feel.
“Hey,” I call out, making our presence known as we step into the clearing. “Where should we set up?”
Paxton glances up, smirking as he drives the final stake into the ground. “Ah, look who decided to show up. The party’s officially here.” He points to a cleared patch of grass on the far side of the campsite. “You can pitch both your tents over there.”
I shoot him a look, but before I can correct him, Violet beats me to it. She tucks a loose strand of red hair behind her ear, her voice casual yet firm. “We’re actually sleeping in one tent.”
It’s like someone hit pause on the entire campsite. The look that passes between Hartford, Anya, and Willow is so obvious, you’d think we just announced our engagement or something. Their eyebrows shoot up simultaneously, and I can practically hear the gears turning in their heads. Anya, ever the romantic, smirks while Hartford tries to hide her knowing grin behind the pretense of organizing gear. Willow, on the other hand, just outright snickers, folding her arms as if she’s waiting for more details.
“Well, well, well,” Brock drawls, clearly amused by the sudden revelation. “One tent, huh?”
I roll my eyes, but my pulse quickens as I glance at Violet. She’s handling it better than I am, standing tall and unfazed by the sudden scrutiny. Her eyes meet mine for a brief moment, and there’s something unspoken between us. Maybe it’s the fact that we’re married, or maybe it’s the fact that I’m still trying to process what that even means. Either way, I can’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness—no, claim—that rises in my chest.
“Yeah,” I say, clearing my throat. “Just one tent.”
Anya’s grin widens, but she says nothing, instead exchanging a pointed look with Willow. They don’t need to say anything. The teasing is there, loud and clear.
“All right, lovebirds,” Paxton says, clapping his hands together. “Get to pitching that tent, and then we can start roasting some marshmallows. You did remember to bring them, right?”
I nod, grabbing the bag of marshmallows from the pile of gear. “Wouldn’t forget something as important as that.”
Violet chuckles beside me, and as we move to set up our tent, I can’t shake the feeling that this camping trip just got a lot more interesting.