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.

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

Besides, she gave it to you,” Aidan

please open the bottle for me, mister?”

scoffed. “You’re old enough to know

take the candy from

as he

Hogbunny was not the least bit intimidated by his imposing demeanor. “If

could finish his stance, Aidan snatched the

his head back and drank the

him and asked, “Hey, brat, won’t your family mind you coming

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?

into a

over her shoulder to check on the kid. “I didn’t think

guy before, and now he’s just a brat?”

“I’ll drop him home right after

rather adorable, and his manners are impeccable, too. Did you read too much

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

after the competition. There’s a

grimly. “What am I if not a douchebag magnet? I should just accept my fate and swear off

Leanna looked at the young couple laughing and She smiled and mused wistfully, “It’s nice to be

and sighed in the most jaded way she could. “Yeah. I

their way to the flower field they had seen on the map. The remaining campers either retreated into their tents to nap or huddled together by the stream, gazing out

sat next to Aidan as she asked

sideways glance and smiled, “Not when you’re with

as she stared at the glimmering surface of the water. After a while, she said,

much older than them,

older than them nonetheless, even if by a few years. I treat them the same way as I would with Louis. They’re

shoulders and pulled her close, then murmured huskily, “I’m only a couple

was rendered speechless