Page 43 of Hateful
He shrugs again. “Maybe. But just because it’s stupid doesn’t mean it’s not important.”
I clamp my mouth shut. I have absolutely no clue what to say to that. So with a sigh, I turn away and start jogging back toward the school.
“See you tomorrow!” Heath calls after me cheerfully.
I have to fight a smile as I jog off.
Stupid Heath.
Stupid,handsome,Heath. And I thought it was Jasper who was going to get me killed.
Chapter Fifteen
“You don’t haveto come with me every time, y’know,” I say, panting myself as I slow near my usual break-tree. There’s less snow beneath us now. The days are already stretching out, warming up.
Heath jogs to a stop near me and grins. “I don’t want the wolves to get you.”
I snort, rolling my eyes. “Sure.”
He plops to the ground as per usual, removing his hat to reveal the red tips of his ears. “What did you think of that math test?”
I shoot him a look.Now we’re doing small talk?
“It was fine.”
“Well,I’mnervous,” he admits, leaning back to peel off his gloves. “I don’t know when we’ll get our grades back. I’m sure you’ll be top of the class again.”
I shake my head with a smile that I can’t stop from spreading across my face. “Don’t make fun of me.”
“I’m not! You’rereallysmart.” He looks up at me with a sly grin, and I glance away, blushing.
It’s been weeks. He’s still with me on every run. I don’t dislike his company. I think we’re even becoming …friends. Or as much as we can be with the constant reminder of The Brotherhood looming over us.
“Should we head back?” he asks, after a moment.
“Why not press on?” I glance up at the sunny sky. “It’s Saturday. I don’t have anywhere else to be. We haven’t been down that part of the trail, have we?” I point to a part that branches off.
He looks at me with a strange smile, one that lingers around his lips and eyes, as he pushes himself up to stand. “I don’t think we have.”
“Let’s do some exploring, then.”
“Exploring?” he asks suggestively, or at least what I think sounds suggestive, tugging his hat back over his unkempt hair.
“Of the trails,” I say with a laugh, taking off before he can respond and shooting down the branch of the trail I indicated earlier.
“That’s fine!” he yells after me, and I hear his footsteps as he follows behind. “I’ve got a good view back here!”
I laugh again, feeling blood rise to my cheeks. His flirting has gotten sort of … bold. But he’s still given no indication that he suspects that I’m actually a girl.
I actually asked Rafael about it last week, trying to bring it up casually as we got ready for bed. He was barely listening to me right up until I asked if he’d heard of any rumors about Heath possibly being gay.
At that, hewassuddenly listening.
Rafael had stopped to think about that, tipping his head to one side. “Well, he’s always seemed pretty flirty. I’ve always thought he was hot, of course,” he’d added nonchalantly, tugging off his shirt and tossing it into his hamper. “But as for him being gay? The flirting is all I’ve heard about. He’s never dated another boy or anything.”
He’d paused then to look at me suspiciously.
“Why?”
