Page 188 of Camp Bliss
That’s the critical word.
It feels like the last week has been more like a month. A rocky one at that. A distance that wasn’t there before has wedged its way between me and Zach, and I don’t know if it's one we can close.
But I’m sure as hell going to try.
Am I nervous about making this grand gesture? Bringing him out into the woods to… to…
Well, to show him in no uncertain terms that I am in love with him?
Yes. Yes, I am nervous. My knees are practically knocking.
Because after all that’s happened the last few days, it’s not hard to imagine him putting on the brakes.
And if he does, I’ll look like the world's biggest fool for the second time in my life. The second time in front of Zach, no less.
But if I’m going to make a fool of myself, I’d rather it be for him. Not anyone else.
Pushing thoughts of mortification aside, I spread out the Hikenture sleeping pad and let it self-inflate while I unzip my freeze-rated sleeping bag that will serve as our bedspread.
If things even get that far.
I sure hope things get that far.
Outside the tent, I set up my mini stove. It would be nicer to make a ring and have a log-burning fire, but I doubt I’d be able to find enough dry wood. The bag of fuel pellets is probably going to be our best bet tonight.
And we just need it for heat and ambiance since I packed my Jetboil for dinner. I know rehydrated green curry and/or a pouch of something called “Bandito Scramble” (I have one packet of each) doesn’t screamromantic dinner for two,but it was the best I could do in a pinch.
Zach headed straight for the lodge to get ready for Happy Hour when we arrived, so packing provisions for a fireside meal wasn’t really something I could do by stealth.
I duck back into the tent and use the air sack to finish inflating the sleeping pad. It won’t be as comfortable as my bed, but it’ll be a lot nicer than the hard ground. It might even make up for the rehydrated menu.
The solar-powered fairy lights are the last touch. If they work, of course. They might only have enough juice to run for about fifteen minutes, but in short order the front-facing arch of my tent is adorned with fairy lights that I can only hope will turn on once the sun goes down.
Which will probably be in the next half hour.
I glance at my watch. Zach is still playing host, so I have a little time to feed and walk Russell, freshen up, and then…
And then put myself out there.
* * *
Dusk has fallenby the time I make it back to the lodge. And when I step inside, I find Zach alone, thank goodness.
He’s drying dishes and putting them away, his beautiful back to me. But when he looks at me over his shoulder, the weariness in his face stops me cold.
Oh crap. What if now is the wrong time?
But then he double blinks and whirls around to face me. Dish towel in hand.
“You look—” Even from here, I can see him gulp. That’s a good thing, right? “Amazing.”
Okay, yeah, it’s a good thing. My smile grows all on its own.
His eyes run down my body. And maybe my wardrobe choices don’t quite align with a night in the woods, but who cares?
The high-low cowl neck sweater I’m wearing is the color of toasted almonds, and it’s buttery soft. It’s begging to be touched.
We have that in common.
