Page 36 of Let's Call a Truce
Ben’s smile grew as he took my arm, giving a light tug that did nothing. The laughter disappeared as he pulled harder. Still nothing.
“What the fuck did you step in, Juliana?”
He slipped his foot down my stuck leg to find the top of the mud and started using it to dig me out. I could eventually shift my leg. Then I could wiggle my foot. I could taste the freedom.
Ben stepped back and gave another hard tug, pulling my foot free. He stumbled back, and I went flying, my muddy hands slipping free from his as I careened forward, landing face-first and slipping below the horrible, muddy surface.
I burst back up, gasping, and wiped the disgusting muck from my eyes. Ben was folded at the waist, laughing so hard he looked like he couldn’t breathe. My glare spurred him on.
“You. Are. A. Total. Dick.” I pushed him as hard as I could with each word, but he hardly shifted under my attack.
“Pathetic.” He backed away with his arms raised. “Gonna have to hit the gym if you want to knockmeover, Ryan. I—”
His words cut off as his feet came out from under him, mud splashing everywhere as he fell back. Sludge splattered me again, but it was worth it. He popped up a second later, as covered in mud as I was. Now I was cackling.
“Are you happy now?” he asked.
“Well, I’m notunhappy.I enjoy a good karmic takedown, and you’ve had that one coming for years.”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s get back to the kids.”
Our group spent the rest of the hike making jokes about how their chaperones were swamp monsters. Every few minutes, someone would look back at me, scream “SWAMP MONSTER!” and all the other kids would scream too before dissolving into a fit of giggles.
We reached the end of the trail, waving awkwardly at the other chaperones. We were caked with mud from head to toe, and the creek where everyone washed off at the end was not as effective as we needed. Gabriela’s bright laugh reached me. I turned to find her at the end of the creek with a center employee.
“I see the hike went well.”
“You’re the one who put us together. You should have known it would end in disaster.”
The employee motioned for the two of us to follow him.“There’s a bigger pond a couple minutes’ walk away. We don’t take field trippers over there, but you all may need a full dip.”
He led us around a bend and through some trees to a secluded pond.
“Hop in. The water may be chilly this time of year, but it has to be more comfortable than you are now.” The employee continued laughing as he headed back to the group, leaving the two of us to wash off. Ben gestured to the pond.
“Ladies first.”
After removing the ridiculous boots and my running shoes, I walked into the pond. I dipped my head into the crisp water before I could talk myself out of it, scrubbing away the mud on my face. My eyes found Ben, who must have entered the pond right behind me.
Unlike me, he didn’t stay fully clothed.
His eyes were closed as he pushed the water off his face and back through his hair. The water sluiced down his perfect pecs. I swear the world moved in slow motion as I watched each droplet find a different route through the many grooves of his abs. I froze, my fingers twitching to follow the same path. It was indecent. I couldn’t look away.
“Earth to Juliana.” Ben’s voice startled me out of my trance, and I spun away.
“Jesus, Ben. This is a school field trip. Where are your clothes?”
He chuckled behind me. “I’m trying to get clean. The kids won’t wander over here. And I left my pants on. You’re welcome.”
I looked back at him, forcing my eyes to stay above his neck. “Yet somehow, I could clean myselfandkeep my clothes on.”
“I don’t know.” He let his gaze slide down my body. The once frumpy chaperone T-shirt was now plastered to my skin. “You don’t look clean from here. Do what you need to do. You’ll hear no complaints from me.”
I fought to keep the smile off my face as I rolled my eyes. His eyes were lit with mischief as he waded toward me. He placed his hand lightly on my neck, his thumb brushing along my cheekbone. His eyes were soft now, and he ran his other thumb under my lips. My mouth parted, letting out a light gasp.
“Just getting the last bit of mud for you.” His voice was a near whisper, his eyes locked on my lips.
I swallowed thickly. I fought the urge to lean into his hand, to step forward and press my lips to his again. It was a battle I was losing. My feet started shifting along the pond floor, pulling me closer. My head tilted up. I wondered what commands my body was receiving, since my mind was anti-Ben. But before I was completely lost, he took a step back, allowing my brain to work again.
