Page 27 of Colombian Chemistry

I clucked the side of my cheek. “It’s definitely ruined.”

“I loved this dress,” she said on a sigh.

“Well, I don’t know about clothes or shoes for you, but they’ll certainly have a place we can get some rest tonight and a good meal. I’m hungry as hell, so let’s get to that town. I think I see the best path.”

Irene followed behind me as I made my way down the steep edge of the slope. Every step of the way down, I kept one eye on my path and the other back on her. I couldn’t let her slip and fall to injury... or worse. Somehow, inexplicably, the need to keep Irene safe overrode every self-preservation instinct in my body that said to walk away and leave her behind. Instead, with each step we took, I found myself more committed than ever to ensuring her safety.

***

After I’d surveyed the little mountain village for an hour to make sure there were no signs of the cartel, I’d walked Irene right into the tiny village and spoke to a man about a place to stay for the night and a vehicle. As expected, there were no cars in this town, or phones or electricity for that matter, but he at least pointed us to a house in town that would take us in for the night.

We’d found the little hut he’d referenced, and after offering some pesos, the woman had agreed to let us stay there for the night and had even fed us the most fantastic authentic Columbian dinner.

When we’d finished eating, Irene and I followed the woman into the tiny room at the end of her modest home. After bidding her goodnight, I closed the door.

“This room is charming! So authentic, isn’t it, John?” She stopped and shook her head. “I mean Marcus. Sorry, it’s going to take me a while to get the name right.”

“It’s fine. I was a spy. I have used at least a hundred different aliases. I really don’t give a shit what anyone calls me anymore.”

“I’ll get it right soon... Marcus. I like your name, by the way. It suits you.”

She smiled that effortless way she smiled, and without my consent or desire, my damn lips followed suit and smiled too.

“Well, this is such a neat little room, isn’t it? So authentic Colombia. I mean, the village itself is just straight out of my imagination for what a little isolated village in the jungle would be. Though can you imagine living with no electricity? No technology? I think I would go crazy.”

“I think it’s fucking heaven.” I shrugged. “I may just stay here.”

“Seriously? You could live like this?”

“Could? Oh yeah. Want to? Still, oh yeah. It’s peaceful. Secluded. I dig it.”

She puckered up her face. “It’s fine for a night, but I need my technology. There wouldn’t even be any power to run my chemistry equipment. I’d go nuts.”

“Not me. Just leave me here forever.” Blowing out a puff of air, I collapsed back on the modest bed.

Irene stood at the foot of the bed, shifting her weight back and forth while she looked at me sprawled out.

“I won’t bite,” I said. “You can lay down if you want.”

A pink flush crept up her cheeks. “No, I know. It’s just... there’s only one bed.”

“This isn’t the Ritz. Of course there’s only one bed, and we’re lucky for it.”

“And... are you sleeping in it?”

I peeked open an eye and gave her a long stare. “Uh, yeah. I’m sleeping in it. I’m trekking your broke ass across the jungle with the cartel hot on our tail... for free. If you think I’m sleeping on the floor, you must have hit your head on our way down that mountain.”

Her blush deepened to crimson. “No. Totally. You’re absolutely right. You should get the bed.” She glanced at a spot on the dirt floor. “I can just curl up here.”

“I didn’t mean you have to sleep on the floor. I just mean I’m not giving you the bed while I sleep on the floor. It’s not huge, but it’s big enough for the both of us.”

She choked on her next breath. “Share a bed? With you?”

“We’re not twelve, Irene. We’re adults. I think we can be grown-up enough to share a bed together. Or do I need to worry you’re going to get all handsy and try to steal my virtue?”

She choked again, but this time on laughter. I joined her.

“Shut up!” She pressed her hands over her face. “I’m not going to ‘steal your virtue.’”