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I shiverin the cold cave, but occasionally, a burst of warm air invades from the raging fire outside, and it reminds me of why I’m huddling here. If Kraine hadn’t run away from me and the cabin, I’d probably be dead by now. My best friend saved me once again, and he brought me Jake.
Another hero.
Curling around Kraine, I look over my dog’s head and take Jake in as best as possible. The fire outside lets in a little light, but not enough for me to get a complete picture.
Who am I kidding, though? Jake’s fine specimen is burned into my retinas for the rest of my life. I’ll never be able not to see how gorgeous he is. Close my eyes, he’s there. However, it’s not only his physical attributes that I find appealing. It’s how calm he is. I freak out at the turn of the winds. I’m practicing and trying not to do that, but falling into old habits is comforting and hard to stop.
Jake’s deep voice breaks into the rumbling winds. “I’ve got some power bars, or I can warm up a can of beans?”
“I’m good.”
“You’ve gotta keep your energy up. Chocolate Chip or Oatmeal Raisin?”
Scrunching my nose, I say, “Raisins?”
He chuckles, “Polarizing fruit, right?”
Jake hands over the chocolate chip, and I grab it. “Totally. They’re mummified grapes.”
He laughs again, and I get swept up in the sound. It’s like riding down a dirt road and feeling like you’re going to fade into the sunset- warm, comforting, and yet thrilling. A part of me senses he doesn’t do it enough because it’s slightly gruffer than it should be. It’s like he’s been out of practice.
Rummaging through the pack, Jake makes sure everything is put back correctly, and then he moves to sit next to me on the mat he set up. He really is Mr. Prepared, and I’m grateful for it.
Our arms rub against each other as he leans back, and I suck in my breath as goosebumps skate across my skin. Our thighs brush against each other, and jolts slither all over my body. The cold air from the cave, the spurts of heat from the fire, Jake’s burning body heat, and the small thermal pack heaters Jake made me put in my sports bra to keep my core warm has my body shivering from all directions. The most significant being him so close to me.
“Ouch!”
“What’s wrong? Spider?” Jake jumps into protective mode.
“There are spiders?” I squeal and maneuver as close to Jake as possible, fearing creepy crawly things.
Jake’s breathing evens out like he’s trying not to laugh. “This is a cave, Maitlyn. What happened?”
Scanning the cave, I ease myself off Jake, daring any spider to come within my foot-stomping reach. I dig my hand down my shirt and pull out the packet.
“This was heating up too much.”
Jake’s infamous chuckle has me settling beside him. “Mine’s in my pocket, and it’s definitely doing something.”
My imagination is playing out several scenarios as we eat in silence. When I finish, he grabs my wrapper and puts it into a pocket of his ruck where everything seems to have its place.
Is his life as compartmentalized as his rucksack? Can somebody even fit into it? Everything about him seems so orderly, and I’m anything but that.
“How’s your ankle doing?”
“Not bad.”
His response is too fast, and I’ve caught him favoring it.
“Are you lying?” I ask.
“Not totally.”
A giggle slips out. I appreciate him opening to me. There’s no denying he’s not the talk-about-things kind of guy.
“How’s your ass?”
Snickering, I shake my head. “I think I’ll recover, but don’t ever do that again.”
