“Listen, I’m not making any moves here. It’s just a long way back to town in pitch blackness. I have a tent with me. Why don’t you stay in the RV and I’ll sleep outside?”

“A tent?”

“Yeah, it’s perfectly comfortable. I’ve used it a number of times when I went on overnight hikes.”

I’ve been hiking, too, I think to myself. Did you think about me as much as I thought about you?

“Yeah, maybe I’ll do that. Don’t want to disturb Solly again,” I say, pointing to the little ball of fur in the corner of the dinette.

Half an hour later, I am lying down in Nicholas’ bed, burying myself in his scent.

He didn’t have a change of sheets but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I inhale him deeply and lose myself in his aroma. I don’t realize how much I’ve missed him until this very moment.

34

Olive

When I wake up…

I sleep soundly for a few hours but then the sound of yelping wakes me up. It startles Solly, too, because he jumps on top of me and forces me to hold him tightly. One yelp follows another and another.

“It’s okay,” I whisper into his ear. “It’s okay. That’s just some coyotes but they are very far away from here.”

Before the yelping disappears over the hills, I hear the door open slightly. My heart jumps into my chest.

Who is that?

I hear the footsteps on the stairs before the door creaks and closes shut. Still holding onto Solly, I scoot to the edge of the bed and look out.

“Oh my God, you scared the shit out of me,” I say, letting out a sigh.

“You’re awake! I’m so sorry. I just got really thirsty and I forgot to bring some water with me.”

“It’s okay, no worries,” I say, putting Solly on the bed and walking into the living room.

I watch him pour himself a glass and take a few big gulps.

Nicholas isn’t wearing a shirt and his body glistens under the moonlight. His pants sit low on his hips, exposing that perfect v-shaped muscle group that leads down to his groin.

I lick my lips and pour myself a glass of water as well.

“I’m really sorry I woke you up,” he says.

“You didn’t. I actually woke up because of the coyotes.”

“Yeah, they like to sing their songs late at night.”

After finishing my water, I put the glass back on the table, next to his.

“How’s the bed?” he asks, perhaps trying to buy some time to stay here a little bit longer.

“It’s a lot more comfortable than that motel bed I slept in last night.”

“Good, I’m glad to hear that. You should get some rest.”