AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What’s for dinner?” I ask with an awkward smile.
Logan sorts our food supplies from inside his backpack. “We have a wide assortment of protein bars. Coco Choco… Vanilla Yogurt, Cookie Treat, Fruits & Nuts, and… Choco Peanuts.”
“I’ll take a Cookie Treat and a Fruits & Nuts.”
He tosses them to me and opens one for himself. I can’t see the flavor.
“How many do we have left?” I ask.
He does a quick count. “Enough for another day.”
“Can we make it back to camp so quickly?”
“We’ve found the river,” Logan says between bites. “So that’s good.”
“Why?”
“If we cross here where the waters are shallow and follow its course, we won’t risk getting lost. It’s a small detour; if I remember the map correctly, the river takes a wide bend”—he draws a semicircle in the air with his finger—“that will take us in the wrong direction for a while but then it’ll guide us right to our camp.”
“Won’t that take too long?”
He takes another bite out of his bar and chews pensively. “It’s our best option. If we follow the riverbank, we won’t have to cut through vines, meaning we should be able to go much faster. No longer than a day.”
“If coming this way only takes two days, why didn’t we try to reach the lost city from across here in the first place?”
Logan is about to take another bite, but instead, he lowers his bar, dismayed. “Because… did you not notice the gorge we swung across, or the cliff we fell down from? Imagine carrying equipment and supplies that way. We didn’t just need to find the city; I wanted to establish an easy route in and out.”
I finish my bar and lick my fingers. “Makes sense.”
Logan rolls his eyes and I’m honestly tempted to stick out my tongue. But I restrain myself, because I’m the bigger person.
He unscrews the canteen and shakes it. “Water will be a problem soon, though.”
Dr. McCheery takes a small sip and hands me the bottle.
I raise it to him in a mock toast.
I’d happily drain the whole thing but force myself to only take an equally small sip and hand it back to Logan.
Meal over, an awkward silence descends. Thankfully, nothing like the dreadful stillness of the treasure chamber. We’re surrounded by the sounds of the jungle. Leaves rustling, bats’ wings flapping, nocturnal birds hooting… Even the sinister, low growl of distant predators is welcome compared to the unbearable quiet of last night.
“So,” I say, unable to bear the stretching silence any longer. “Should we sleep head to toes, or—”
“I’m not sleeping with my head next to your feet.”
“Okay, so it’s head to head.” I flip my hands between us, embarrassed. “Are you coming over here, or am I coming over there?”
Logan pats the floor beside him, in a “come to Papa” gesture.
I scowl but ignore the provocation.
With not enough space to stand or even move that well, we fumble around, trying to shift into position. I’m struggling to lever myself down beside him when my foot slips on the sleek fabric at the bottom of the tent and I land on top of Logan.
Seconds later, my center of gravity is toppled again as I’m rolled onto my back and pressed under a solid wall of hunky archeologist.
Logan’s lips slam onto mine, taking me completely by surprise. Before my brain can catch up with what’s happening, my body has already taken over, arching against him. My lips have opened and are exploring Logan’s mouth. His lips prove as soft and pillowy as they look. I need a taste, so I nip at his lower lip.
Logan is startled and pulls back for a second, but it’s enough for me to regain my sanity.
