The Inheritance Book 1

Ch 25 Rocky Spots: Jarrett Jennings [Monday Morning, Week Three]

They had climbed maybe halfway up the mountain. It was so fucking hot! Jarrett wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve.

After a while, they came to a flat area and stopped for a quick break. He tipped his water bottle over his head and let a stream of cool water trickle down his scalp.

The mountain was steeper than it looked. Before this hike, he thought he was in tiptop shape. But the whole hike, he couldn't get a good breath. It was kind of embarrassing because Elizabeth thought of him as an athlete.

Lennox blew his whistle. "Break's over. Let's get moving again, guys!"

Elizabeth climbed up onto a fallen log and jumped up onto Maui's back, laughing. "I am still tired. Make use of those muscles and carry me."

Maui's back, not his.

And about 20 minutes before that, she had stopped to shake a rock out of her shoe. Instead of holding onto Jarrett to keep her balance, she held onto Maui.

True, she had grabbed Jarrett's arm a couple of times during the hike too, but if she liked him, why was she treating them both the same?

Jarrett was filled with a restless, jealous frustration. It powered his steps and he marched ahead of everyone but Lennox.

Maybe this whole time he had been mistaken. Maybe she had not been flirting with him at all. She had never actually said she liked him. Everything between them had been unspoken. A hint here, a look there, a simple touch. Maybe to her it was nothing but normal friend stuff. Maybe all girls in general were like that? What the hell did he know? He had zero experience.

Take that back. He had experience, but it was just all bad. Back home, all the girls avoided him, thanks to his family's reputation. Nothing is ever forgotten in a small town.

But if he was chosen as the heir, he would finally escape stupid Loxville forever. But he could think about that later, there were more important things going on right now.

He had to find out if Elizabeth liked him or not. And since he would never scrounge up enough courage to ask her outright, maybe he could figure out a way to test her feelings.

Yes. That was it. Some kind of test. There was a glimmer of hope. He couldn't let himself get down about it.

Of course, he would keep his ideas to himself. Maui couldn't know. Jarrett's chances with her were way better if Maui kept his distance. He slowed his pace and let Maui and Elizabeth catch up to him.

"How are we doing?" Lennox turned around to check on everyone. "Still with us?"

Elizabeth sighed. "Barely!"

"Are we there yet?" Jarrett joked.

"Almost!" Lennox shielded his eyes and looked up to the sky. "We're making good time. Bryce, you okay?"

Jarrett turned to see what Bryce was up to. He was the last one of all of them, and lagged a few steps behind Miss Sarah.

Bryce looked up. His eyes and nose were red like he had been crying. What was up with that kid? Oh well. As long as it was keeping him quiet and saving everyone from his assholery.

They hiked on. After some rocky spots, fallen logs, and a couple of really steep patches, they finally made it to the top.