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“Okay.” He nodded. “You’re the only woman I’ve met that doesn’t like to talk about themselves. But I can respect that.” He turned to the side without a word and extended his arm, allowing me to pass him.
That’s me. The oddball for sure. I’d been one before the nightmares and the light, but Jason had eased my seriousness. He’d made the introvert in me talk and dance. Without him I was tongue-tied… and probably too serious for my own good.
At least this man was willing to accept my weird social habits and end the parade of questions.
The next few hours consisted of shuffling boots on my part and small leaps and thuds on his. When the trail narrowed and the decline became difficult, he went in front to guide me down the tall rocks. Occasionally, I would slip, and, without a word, he would grab my arm, keeping me upright.
As the sun sank behind the opposing mountainside, I began to shiver. My thin leggings—what remained of them—did not provide any warmth. My lightweight tank top was meant to keep me cool in the afternoon sun, but now it was dissipating any heat from my body. My lips started to tremble as goosebumps streaked down my arms. The blood loss probably didn’t help me keep myself warm either.
There was at least another hour of hiking left before we would make it to the parking lot. The dark pinks and lavenders filling the sky only brought me dread at the thought of the dropping temperatures, and what other creatures could be lurking in the darkness. I rubbed the backs of my arms. My front teeth started to clang with my absurd amount of shivering. I tried clenching my jaw to keep the noise to a minimum, but when the wind picked up, I couldn’t control it.
Abruptly, he turned around and crossed his arms over his enormous chest. “At the risk of asking another question and being flipped off, would you like a shirt?” He cocked an eyebrow and glanced down at my prickling flesh, and then at my lips.
“Ummmm, yesss, pleaseee.” I frowned, hugging myself tightly.
A small smile crossed his lips. He unclipped his bag and rummaged through it. I waited, trying not to look as pathetic as I felt.
“Here.” He threw a ball of navy-blue cloth at my face.
I clenched the material and mechanically unfolded it. The material was soft, like fleece. A small moan escaped my lips as the warmth enveloped my upper body. Oh, praise the gods, it zipped up to my chin. I placed the top zipper as high as it went and smiled, balling the excess sleeve into my fists.
“Thank you,” I whispered before following behind him again.
My muscles were starting to stiffen in the cold air. I kept my eyes on my feet so I didn’t teeter downward. Continuing to check my watch, I focused on getting home. Once I got to my car, I would still have to drive all the way back to my apartment.
“Almost there. You still okay?” He peeked back at me, and I saw the glow of lights from the parking lot.
“Yeah, just ready for food and a shower,” I mumbled, praying I had a snack in the car.
“What hospital do you want me to take you to?”
My head jerked up. “What? No, no hospital. I’m just going through the nearest drive-through and then straight home.” A large juicy cheeseburger with extra fries and a milkshake. Make those two bacon cheeseburgers. Yessss, that was all I needed.
“You can’t possibly think that you are fine. Your leg needs stitches, and so might your head.” He motioned to my forehead and then spun me around to face my driver’s side window.
Inspecting my reflection was like trying on a Halloween costume. It was frightening, and I wasn’t sure if it was my face underneath. My forehead was completely black, with dirt covering the dried blood. My hair, tied neatly back at the beginning of the day, was now knotted in clumps around my neck. Even my nose was stained red.
“Damn,” I whispered.
“So I can just leave my truck here, and I can drive you to the hospital. A buddy can come get me from there,” he announced, his large arm disappearing into my pack.
“No! Please, no doctors. I’m too tired.” I reached for my bag.
He flung it up over his head and held it out of my reach, smirking. “Fine. No hospital. That’s your choice, but I’m not going to let you drive with a concussion. You’re going to kill somebody.”
Ugh, crap. I really wished I had a better argument than I’m too damn hungry to care.
“I don’t get into cars with strangers.”
A blend of a laugh and growl left his chest before he extended his hand. “I’m Logan, your accidental hiking buddy and designated driver this evening.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the slight grin that spread across my lips. “I’m Charlie. A mountain lion victim and starving hiker. Don’t kidnap me, but if you do, please feed me first.”
I slipped my hand into his before he gave it a quick squeeze and then started rifling through my bag again.
“What are you looking for?” I said, hoping he really was a geoscientist and not a professional serial killer. Even if he was, whatever creature I’d faced today was way worse than any human could be. Hopefully.
“Your car keys. I told you, I’ll drive you home and then get a friend from work to take me back in the morning.” He set my water bottle on the hood of my car.
