Sophomore Year || Parenthood Series, Book One || WATTYS 2018

Chapter Thirty-Eight

SOUNDTRACK: "Vendetta" - Elijah Blake Feat. J. Cole

Kate winced as Jared went over yet another pothole on the road. "Are you trying to hit every single pothole up there?" she asked in annoyance.

"No, I missed three about four miles back," he replied with a smirk. He instantly rolled over several more holes, the lack of proper suspension on the Bronco making Kate feel like her molars were in danger of getting knocked loose. "There. Now I'm even."

She glared at his pleased grin and looked back to her camera. "I can't get any decent shots if you keep hitting every damn hole in the road."

He didn't respond and looked into the rear view mirror to make sure Stevie was keeping up with him. Inadvertently, he ran over two more potholes, garnering a sharp glare from Kate and Jamie who was sitting in the back seat.

"Sorry," he apologized sheepishly. "That one really was an accident."

"I wish they'd fix the roads, but they've been like this forever," Alex Honnold remarked from behind Kate.

"When we get there, Alex is gonna give you a quick run-down of how things work, climbing-wise," Jared told Kate.

"Uh...I'm not climbing a damn thing," she answered adamantly. "No offense, Alex."

"None taken," the thin man behind her replied.

"Well, you aren't staying on the ground the whole time, so I'd suggest you get over it and listen to him," Jared replied more sternly than he intended. "He's the best in the world. I trust him with my life. I wouldn't put you in anyone else's hands, Gremlin. Trust me."

She sighed and crossed her arms. "Fine. But only to listen. You can't force me to climb."

"I packed a giant air mattress to catch you with in case you fall, Jail Bait," Jamie offered with a smile.

She looked out the window and snapped a photo of the mountains in the distance, the sunlight forming a hazy halo around their tops. They were on their way to Joshua Tree to spend the weekend. Kate had Monday off and Jared had decided that he needed to make up for the disastrous Christmas trip to Vail. So, he was taking her camping along with several of his friends, without any models. The only problem was that Kate didn't camp.

She liked beds and running water and electricity and not being eaten by wild animals when she went for a piss in the middle of the night. But Jared was trying and she had to give him the chance. Plus, it was the first time she had met his half-brother, Babu, so she counted that as a positive. He was also a photographer and had promised to help her out a little bit and look at her work while they were gone.

The drive hadn't been too long and they were heading into the third hour, nearing the park. The landscape was turning sandy brown and the trees had disappeared, leaving cacti and Joshua Trees in their wake. Jared eventually pulled off of the main road and onto a gravel one, driving toward a campground. They checked in at the camp office before heading back toward their site. The tents and camping chairs rattled in the back of the Bronco as he made his way through the campground. A few sites were filled with people and tents, but most of them were empty - it was January, after all. Trees and rock piles dotted the campground and there wasn't a hint of civilization as far as the eye could see.

He parked his car on a site toward the back end of the campground, where no other sites had been booked. Stevie parked his own SUV behind him and everyone piled out. Another girl had joined Stevie's car, but Kate knew she would not be of interest to Jared when she saw the large engagement ring on her finger. This idea was reinforced when Stevie wrapped his arms around her and kissed her warmly.