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I wasn’t going to push him for more. We knew the sex was a bandage on the pain we’d caused each other. But this was also the most we’d talked about anything serious in years. I wasn’t going to press for more on this trip.
He stepped back from me. “You go back first. I’m going for a swim.”
“But it’s so cold.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“Right.” I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’ll go back first.”
I put the wet t-shirt back on and scooped up my jacket from the forest floor. I trekked back through the brush, making my way to the dirt path. By the time I reached camp, I was shaking from the cold.
Cody and Stephen were sitting around the fire, staring into the flames. Cody handed me a mug, and jerked his head. “Whiskey.”
I took it and sat down next to him in a camp chair. The fire and the whiskey quickly warmed me.
I squeezed the water out of my hair.
Making small talk, I said, “Are the girls having a good time, Mr.Delgado?”
His hands were resting in his lap. His dark eyes looked up to me. “They are. I think they’re glad to have a few more females around. They aren’t used to spending so much time with me.”
“Oh?”
“I travel a lot for work. Their mother and I split up earlier last year, and this is the longest I’ve spent time with them since.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
He shrugged. “We’re good. But I still travel a lot.”
Jacob came back through the path and stood on the other side of the fire. “Everything set for tomorrow, Cody?”
I could see Cody trying not to smile. “Yep. All set.”
“Good. Can you start breakfast in the morning?”
He raised his eyes to Jacob, then to me. “Did you work too hard today, Camille?” His eyes were sparkling.
I kicked his lower leg.
Jacob said, “We can all share the duties.”
Cody held up his glass. “Great, can you get me another drink?”
Jacob took his glass. “Is this how we get you to talk?”
Cody grinned, showing teeth, and I was surprised by how his big smile softened the hard lines around his eyes.
I stood. “I’m headed to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I gave a nod to Jacob. I felt his stare at my back as I went to my tent.
Nora was reading again, her headlamp shining on the pages of a book.
I stripped off my wet clothes, put on a pair of long underwear and a tank top, and crawled into my sleeping bag.
I turned on my side, tucking my hands under my cheek. “Nora, can I talk to you?” I asked quietly.
Nora connected the headlamp to a zipper. An ambient downlight created a comfortable glow in the tent.
