Dany stood and grabbed another log for the fire. “So you’ve just been sleeping in the woods? No tent, nothing?”

The hiker shook his head, “I’ve made a few shelters. Animals survive out here, right? We’re not that far off from them really.”

“You can stay with us tonight,” Brad suggested casually as he watched Dany place the log on the fire, “it’ll be a lot warmer.”

Adam thought a moment and then looked to Dany. “Only if it’s okay with you.”

Dany met his eye, looked to his boyfriend, and back over at Adam. He smiled cautiously. “Yeah, it’s okay with me.”

“Cool. I’m going to go clean up,” Adam said with a smile as he stood and started toward the river, “Be right back.”

Brad stood and grabbed Dany’s hand. “We’ll come with you.”

As the trio walked down the shadowed path toward the river, moonlight sliced through the trees, casting eerie fragments of light across their faces. The lonesome cry of a loon calling as it glided across the dark water punched through the silence as they reached the river’s edge. The hiker pulled off his boots and removed his shirt, hanging it on a tree branch. Dany and Brad followed suit, and the three waded into the water, a stunning mirage of black and blue shadows.

Hands cupped the river and bent it in crescents toward faces, which nearly grazed its surface. Iridescent blue shimmers splashed over arms and trickled down chests, leaving a trail of goose bumps. Dany watched as the hiker leaned up from the river, water dripping off his hair and nose. He couldn’t help but appreciate the handsome form of the guy, from his rippled stomach to his defined chest. Moonlight caught a medallion dangling around his neck and shot off a brief sparkle of light. Before Dany realized what was happening, Adam took his hand and looked him meaningfully in the eyes. Looking for permission. Dany nodded and watched as Adam turned and kissed Brad without letting go of his hand. It was slow and deliberate, searching and savoring.