I lifted a brow. “Were you on the satellite phone just now?”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Well, I just wanted to tell them you weren’t here and we should maybe go looking for you. But this entire crew is worthless” —he turned to the cameraman who stood ten feet from us— “no offense, of course. Shay just told me you were still within finishing time and they wouldn’t even tell me your GPS location.”
I laughed and swatted his chest. “Eli, that phone is for emergencies.”
He shrugged sheepishly. “I’ve been waiting for a while. It felt like an emergency.”
Rising on my tiptoes, I stole a kiss. He seemed surprised for a moment before he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me back.
“As much as I’d love to stay here and do exactly that for hours,” he said when he broke away. “We should probably find our camp.”
Eli and I made quick work of the last clue before following the path to the final red X. He held my hand loosely while we walked. It felt natural—my hand in his and taking in this adventure together.
Maybe I still didn’t have all the answers. He could break my heart as soon as we got out of here. Maybe we’d talk for a few weeks until it fizzled out into nothing. Maybe we wouldn’t talk at all. But the careful way he led me through those woods told me that wasn’t likely.
Whatever we might become, I’d never regret going all-in on how I felt right now.
Any daylight hadlong since departed as Eli and I cozied up next to each other on an oversized camping chair in front of a roaring fire.
After we arrived at camp, cameramen pulled us for interviews before we were finally rid of our cameras and microphones and left completely alone.
Meals had been provided for us, so Eli heated ours over the fire after getting it started. We ate next to the warm flames and talked about any little thing that popped into our heads.
“I hope you know this in no way can be construed as camping,” he said after hours had gone by and we were staring up into the starry night sky.
“What do you mean?” I teased, as I tugged the soft, fuzzy blanket closer to my chin. “We’re outside. There’s a tent. A fire.”
“We didn’t even pitch the tent ourselves, and there’s a mattress inside.”
I glanced back to the large tent. The door flap had been drawn open, revealing a plush mattress with close to a dozen pillows inside.
“I mean, there isn’t even a bedframe,” I pointed out.
He cracked a smile at that. “You’re right. We’re truly roughing it.”
“And you said I wasn’t outdoorsy.”
His body shook lightly with laughter. “I’m just glad you survived the hike today. I almost sent out a search party.”
I paused for a moment, letting my head fall heavy on his shoulder. “I lied earlier,” I admitted.
“About what?” Eli leaned forward, straining himself to look at me in the dim light. He appeared almost queasy.
“Nothing bad,” I added quickly. “Just about getting turned around. I mean, I did, but that’s not why I took so long.”
His brow knit together as he waited for me to continue.
“I came across this view when I went the wrong way and I had to stop for a little while just to take it all in. Being out there alone made me think about a lot of things.”
Eli traced circles on my wrist, listening intently. “Like what?”
“About our conversation yesterday. How I told you I felt too guilty to move on. I’ve been putting my life on hold because it felt unfair to Michael. He was the one who was always so alive and full of energy, not me. If anyone deserved to get everything out of life, it was him.”
Eli kissed the top of my head. “You deserve everything, Calla.”
His conviction touched me more than he’d ever know. “I think I’m finally starting to realize that. A lot of it is thanks to you.”
“Don’t go giving me too much credit.”
