Love's Change of Heart

Chapter 345

When they got to the woods and scouted a spot near the stream, they began to set up camp and the barbecue pit.

The only ones who didn't do any work were Aidan and Hogbunny. They sat on foldable chairs, and where the former seemed perfectly at ease, the latter took in the scenery with wide eyes filled with wonder.

Leanna sauntered up to Aidan and crouched down next to him, then snapped, "Are you here to watch us work, President Pearson?"

Aidan glanced down at her and said slowly, "I would have brought Jonathan here had you told me you guys were going camping."

She rolled her eyes in exasperation. Somehow, his brazen response did not surprise her at all.

He added, "Besides, it's not as if I have nothing to do."

She frowned. "What have you done thus far?"

Aidan glanced at the little boy who was sitting next to him. "I'm keeping an eye on him in case he runs off on his own and gets lost. You wouldn't want to have to explain to his mother about his disappearance, would you?"

Leanna let out a dry chuckle and decidedly ignored him. Then, she reached into her knapsack, filled with snacks, and handed Hogbunny a small yogurt bottle. She ruffled his hair affectionately and said, "Here you go, kid. Stay put, and don't run off on your own, alright? There might be a couple of big, bad wolves lurking in those woods."

She heard Aidan snort beside her, clearly holding her old-fashioned methods of keeping children in place in disdain.

Hogbunny, on the other hand, clutched the yogurt bottle close to him and nodded solemnly. "I promise I won't run off on my own. I'll be good."

Leanna beamed and rose to her feet. "Attaboy. Anyway, this, uh, mister over here will keep you company while I help my friends with the barbecue. I'll call you when the meat's ready."

When he heard this, Aidan grumbled, "How come you were never this nice to me?"

She gritted her teeth. "Shut up, mister!"

He blinked at her in disbelief but did not say another word in retort.

When Leanna had walked off to the barbecue pit where the others were gathered, Hogbunny turned to look at Aidan and handed him the yogurt.

she gave it to you," Aidan pointed

please open the bottle for me, mister?"

scoffed. "You're old enough to know how

take the candy from that lady's

throbbed as he glowered at the kid, his eyes like

the least bit intimidated by his imposing demeanor. "If you won't open it for me, then I'll get her

stance, Aidan snatched the yogurt bottle out of his hands, twisted

Hogbunny said cheerily, then tipped his head

family mind you coming out with

I'm ten. Haven't you ever gone out

into a thin

while glancing over her shoulder to check on the kid. "I

a cute guy before, and now he's just a brat?"

She had never before found life so tiresome. "I'll drop him home right after this. I

think he's rather adorable, and his manners

love. I've met countless douchebags in this lifetime to put me off dating forever. Lying, cheating scumbags, and those with fish ponds, too... What are kids learning these days at school? Does scumbag training start this

mingle after the competition. There's a higher chance of you meeting the right

muttered grimly. "What am I if not a douchebag magnet?

bantering by the stream. She smiled and mused wistfully, "It's

most jaded way she could. "Yeah. I wouldn't have to worry about meeting douchebags if I were

into their own packed lunches and snacks. When they were done, two pairs of lovebirds decided to make their way to the flower field they had seen on the

sat next to Aidan as she

a sideways glance and smiled,

glimmering surface of the water. After a while, she said, "Sometimes when I get overwhelmed by work, hanging out

older than them,

good-naturedly, "Yes, but I'm older than them nonetheless, even if by a few years. I treat them the

her shoulders and pulled her close, then murmured huskily, "I'm only a couple of years older than

was rendered