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.

yogurt. Besides, she gave it to you," Aidan pointed

Can you please open the

old enough to know

candy from that lady's mouth when you

throbbed as he glowered

his imposing demeanor. "If you won't open it for me, then I'll

yogurt bottle out of his hands, twisted

then tipped his head back and drank the yogurt

watched him and asked, "Hey, brat, won't your family mind you coming out with a bunch of adults

Hogbunny corrected the older man primly, "I'm not a brat. I'm ten. Haven't you ever gone out with friends before when you were a kid, mister? Did your family

pursed into

while glancing over her shoulder to check on the kid. "I didn't think

a cute guy before, and now he's just

her a look of mute despair. "Stop rubbing salt in my wound," she wailed. She had never before found life so tiresome. "I'll drop him home right after

been a misunderstanding. I think he's rather adorable, and his manners are impeccable, too. Did

remember? I wasn't reading too much into anything! I give up on 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 young? Maybe I'm

comforted, "Now, now, don't jump the gun. You can mingle after the competition. There's a higher chance of you meeting the right guy if you

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

at the young couple laughing and bantering by the stream. She smiled and mused wistfully, "It's nice to be young,

of sight and sighed in the most jaded way she could.

way to the flower field they had seen on the

as she asked quietly, "Are you bored,

cast her a sideways glance and smiled, "Not when

lips curled upward as she stared at the glimmering surface of the water. After a while, she said, "Sometimes when I get overwhelmed by work, hanging out with this bunch

much older than them,

few years. I treat them the same

and pulled her close, then murmured huskily,

was rendered speechless