Awakening Book One of the Trust Series(58)

“Thanks again for inviting me.” He said, tightening up the laces of his worn hiking boots.

“Thanks for coming. I wanted a friend to come with me and didn’t want to hike this alone.”

Declan’s grin was from ear to ear. “So, I am a friend now?”

She couldn’t help but scoff good naturedly. “Of course you are. What else would you be?”

He shoved his water bottle into his bag, following her as she walked to the beginning of the trail. “Well, after everything with Garrett, I think I still have a hard time believing that I am not the enemy to you.”

She stopped abruptly and turned to him. “Have I given you that impression?”

“Well… no.”

“Good. Because you are my friend. Any animosity that I had towards you regarding Garrett’s removal as my mentor disappeared quite some time ago. Now,” Caitlyn pointed to a trail sign, “Are you sure you are up for this?”

It was his turn to scoff. “Caitlyn, you are the one who has not been hiking in years. Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?”

“What? With the way you train me? Please. I could probably run up the trail.”

Declan did not argue that fact as they began their ascent. Over the past few weeks, his trainings had become more intense, the workouts more rigorous. He had Caitlyn getting up at the crack of dawn to run four miles a day, five times a week, and four of the five days, lifting weights as well.

But through it all, Declan was there with her every morning, pushing himself as hard as he did her. Together, they pressed each other to work harder, run faster, and move nimbler. Caitlyn had always been fit prior to becoming an Actual, but thanks to Declan’s training, she was seeing a transformation in her body that she had never enjoyed before.

As he moved ahead of her in the trail, she couldn’t help but admire the change in his physique as well, and he was already extremely fit. She felt a bit of pride in that; she knew that if she had not put forth the effort that she exerted into her workouts, he would not be benefiting either.

They climbed up boulders and steep inclines, never stopping unless Declan did first. It was a crazy rule she had; keep going as long as Declan does, see who passes out from exhaustion first.

It was only when they called a break for lunch that Caitlyn wiped the sweat off her brow. Declan’s eyes arched up. “Getting tired?”

She shook her head. “Tired no. Sweaty, yes.” Truth was, she was beyond exhausted. She knew muscles she did not even know existed would be sore tomorrow. This hiking thing was a little harder than she anticipated. Plus, her feet were killing her.

She grabbed a sandwich and an apple from her bag, smiling to herself as Declan admired the partially obstructed view of the mountain range. His muscles had relaxed, the tenseness in his face as of late almost disappeared. She tossed the apple in the air. “You know, I like seeing you like this.”

“Like what?” Declan stole the fruit from her, taking a large bite before she had a chance to protest.

She gave him a look as he sheepishly smiled, and grabbed his granola bar in retaliation. “Relaxed. You have not been on the phone once today. It’s nice. You have been so stressed.”

Declan’s forehead puckered as he absorbed her words. “I’ve seemed stressed to you?”

Caitlyn unwrapped the sandwich, taking a large bite before responding. “Yes. Very. When you are not training with me you are distracted.”

He finished the pilfered apple. “And here I was thinking I was hiding it well.”

She put her hand on his arm. “I’m just concerned is all. You are kind of like a pressure cooker ready to blow. So what’s up? Is this related to when I saw you and Caleb meeting a couple of weeks back?”

Caitlyn could practically see him trying to figure out in his head exactly how much he could disclose to her without getting in trouble. “Sort of. Things have been very taxing as of late. Not only has the Cine Tofa been encroaching on some of the Trusts territory for Potentials, but there are several members of the Trust that are missing.”

“Oh my God.”

“My father has asked me to aid in recovering the Trust members.”

The blonde wondered when he found time to take care of all his responsibilities. Did he ever sleep? “And how is that going?”

“Not well. The Cine Tofa has been denying all our requests for renegotiation or arbitration in order to free them.”

She sat quietly processing what he just told her. “And here I am making you go on a hike with me. Do you want to go back? We can, and I would completely understand. In fact, I can help you if you need it.”