As Ryan stepped outside, he pulled Megan up from her spot on the boulder where she was resting. "Come on, Megan," he said. "I've got all the herbal remedies for cramps—twenty packets in total. Eight for you and twelve for Clara."
Ryan had never been one for equal distribution; Clara always took priority in his mind. Megan trailed behind him as they headed down the mountain, listening to Ryan rave about Clara the entire way. Clara was beautiful, an amazing cook, and super talented at work—he just couldn't stop listing her qualities during the two-hour descent.
Megan's mood was souring, and she kept offering him candies from her bag, which Ryan happily accepted. Once they reached the car, Ryan pulled out some bread he had stashed and insisted Megan eat a bit, reminding her they still had a six-hour drive back to the Capital ahead.
Megan left her stash of candies in the car. "Ryan, if you ever get too caught up and forget to eat, just have some of these candies. They'll keep your blood sugar stable, and it's safer when you're driving."
"Thanks, Megan," Ryan said with genuine appreciation. He hadn’t stopped to rest all day, driving over ten hours and hiking several more, but the thought of Clara's praise kept him energized.
They rolled into the Capital around 7 p.m., and Ryan dropped Megan off at her place first. As she stepped out, Megan reminded him, "Don't forget the candies—keep your energy up while driving."
"Got it, thanks, Megan," Ryan replied, handing her the eight herbal packets through the window. Megan smiled, thanked him, and watched as the car disappeared down the road. Once it was out of sight, her smile faded, replaced by a cold, hard stare.
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