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Chapter 1

Lila

There are four things I’ve learned about the outdoors over the last an our cross-country road trip: (1) It always feels cold living outdoors, even when it’s July and we’re in Virginia; (2) thefood (heavy sigh)… I’m not even sure what to say about it Pop-Tarts and fruit snacks that don’t even taste like fruit Beans in a can--gross And s’ but burnt marshmallows, crackers, andthe delicious s’mores cake made by Delina’s Bakery and Sirew up on The chocolate there was divine

There is one thing, though, that I can certainly ad I’ve learned during this trip and the one thing that I’ll as to I’ve ever seen before can compare to it It’s so open and full of stars and the ht, way hts to outshine it It’s si at the stars and being with hiround and stares up at theht even s and have onewith Ethan all the tietting covered in pine needles, and eating beans straight fros with him forever

I just wish I knew that he felt the same way But I don’t knohat he thinks about our future because he doesn’t like talking about it and it makes me sad and bummed out whenever I think about the unknown that lies before me About hi about?" Ethan asks as he holds a stick with ait just above the fire It’s his third one and it seeet enough of getting his fingers sticky

"How gross meltedback onand my hair hasn’t been washed in days There’s a tent behind me, a cooler to the side ofsmoke in my face And when I rub my thumb across my forearm, a layer of black comes off Not one ofat me--ant and love in his eyes--it makes me feel very attractive, even in a hoodie and dirt-stained jeans

Ethan cocks a dark eyebrow atinto his eyes as he leans down to pick up a piece of wood by his feet and toss it into the fire "Only you would be thinking that," he says over the crackle of the flaainst the cooler He continues to roast theblack and s it, because I know that’s how he likes the oo on the end of his stick as he chews on his lip and observes the flames

He’s so sexy, even when he hasn’t showered in days The unshaven face, torn jeans, and wrinkled black T-shirt work so well on hiy andat him

Suddenly he s hiaze off him and focus back on the conversation

"What do youa strand of th blond and black hair behind my ear "Lots of people don’t like melted marshmallows"

"Not true A lot of people like the the stick in his hand "You just have weird taste in food" A teasing look rises on his face as he grins "Or , I reach over to the bag of marshmallows between us, pick one up, and throw it at hi h as I dust the dirt offa little bit better