Attempting Elizabeth Read Online Free

was having way too much fun at my expense. It was probably all my own fault. I was being punished by Tori and the gods of caffeine and awkward social situations for being unintentionally rude to a hot guy. “Actually, some of the guys from Charlie’s poker group are going hiking up in Angeles National Forest. I’m going too. And I’d said I’d ask you if you wanted to go if you woke up before we left.”
    “Oh god,” I groaned. “Please don’t tell me that Rick asked you to ask me to go.”
    “Yeah, I think he was the one who suggested it. Why?”
    I collapsed on my bed, and threw my arm over my face. “He totally grabbed my butt last night. I was hoping it was just the alcohol talking...or grabbing. Argh!”
    “Ew, are you serious? Uncalled for. You don’t have to go then.” Her voice became thoughtful. “Although, and don’t you ever tell Charlie I said this, it’s probably worth the price of admission to watch Mark hike.”
    I peeled my arm off my eyes and squinted at her. “What?”
    “He’s wearing shorts,” she informed me seriously. “They’re kinda long, but they, um, fit well. And the t-shirt, well you’ve seen the t-shirt...” She gazed off into the distance with a slightly unfocused look.
    “And you’re seriously counting on me not to mention to Charlie that you’re lusting after his friend when you’ve been so horribly mean to me this morning?”
    “Hey, I’m not lusting. I’m just pointing out that you’re single and there’s no harm in enjoying the view.”
    “Uh-huh. Somehow it doesn’t seem worth the physical exertion of hiking through a forest. A forest that’s on a mountain.”
    “It’s really more in the foothills.”
    “Go away, Tori.” I covered my eyes again with my arm.
    “The t-shirt, Kels. It’s all soft and clingy and tight. But not like goonish tight, it’s more like ‘omg did you see those pecs?’ tight. That is all I will say as I leave you to your lonely, hot-Australian-man-free Saturday.”
    I heard the door close and then a second later reopen.
    “We’re leaving in twenty. I suggest a pony tail because you don’t have time to wash your hair, and babe, it’s a mess.”
     
    ~
     
    “How did I let myself get talked into this?” I grumbled under my breath as I stared at the start of the trail. To my non-hiker eyes it looked like it went basically straight up. I was wearing my most comfortable shoes. I did horrible, evil things like Zumba at my local Y in them, but I doubted they were trail-worthy. Curse Tori and her suggestive...suggestions. Although I’d be drawn and quartered before I’d admit I’d allowed myself to be dragged along on what promised to be several hours of torture just so I could ogle a guy’s chest, and/or other body parts.
    Right now I couldn’t see his chest at all. Mark was several yards in front of me, his very toned calves testifying to the fact that this was not his first hike. I vacillated between loathing at the ease with which he was striking out up the trail and admiration for his general hotness. I kind of hated him. And I was all sorts of awkward around him.
    On the ride up here I’d been in Charlie’s car with him (well, him, Charlie and Tori), and I’d managed to sit in the back seat, completely mute while he and the others joked and laughed. I was a total fifth wheel even though there were only four of us. Tori kept shooting me confused glances. Probably wondering what in the heck was wrong with me. I’m not a social butterfly, but I’m not entirely inept either. Usually.
    Apparently, around Mark inept didn’t even begin to cover it. I had no idea what to say to him. I felt bad about being Jerkface Jr. the night before, but I didn’t know how to apologize. The sensible thing to do would be to just act normally, but I seemed to be having problems with that too.
    “Hey, Kelsey.”
    “Rick,” I replied from between gritted teeth as I started up the trail, Rick following after me like a lost