Page 27 of Love Hazard

This was bad, so bad. Should I wake him up? Pretend to besleeping and slap him in the face?

All options were bad, and then nature, or the universe,quite literally provided as the sound of a wild animal filled the air.

August jolted awake, nearly headbutting me, and sat up whileI tumbled backward. “Was that a bear?”

I stared down at his lap.

His eyes followed my gaze. “Morning.”

“I’ll say.”

“What was that?” He grabbed a blanket.

“It’s a great morning. So many reasons to be perky and readyfor the day.” I laughed and looked away while he grabbed our solo pillow andslammed it against me. “What?”

“Very funny. How’d you sleep?” He yawned, stretching hisarms over his head. “Good, I hope.”

“Probably not as well as you,” I joked, earning anotherslight pillow slam before he actually reached for meand tugged me back down against him. I didn’t resist.

“Don’t.” He held me close. “Don’t make this weird. We nevertalk about this, but that was the best sleep I’ve had in a reallylong time. Can we please have a few more minutes before things get allchaotic again and you build more shrines?”

“Sure.” I smiled to myself and yawned, then turned into his chest. “But just like five minutes.”

“Just five,” he agreed.

Two hours later, we both jolted awake at the sound ofrustling.

August rubbed his eyes. “How did we sleep so long?”

I shook my head. “No clue, but I keep hearing noises, andit’s not your snoring.”

He gave me a slight shove. “Yeah, okay, one who purrs atnight. Don’t think I didn’t hear you wake yourself up at least three times fromyour own noises.”

“I was scared."

“So your throat just automatically went—?“He started making snoring noises while I shoved him to the ground, laughing,only to hear another rustle outside the tent. “What is that, you think?”

“A bunny, a deer? Not a bear. Maybe a fly got superaggressive. Who knows?”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine, fine. Let’s forage for ourbreakfast. And when I say forage, I mean you cook, and I’ll go find morekindling.”

“Deal.” He held up his hand for a high five. “I broughtsausage.”

We both paused.

Do not look down, do not look down.

He winced. “So many words that should not be shared or said.So many jokes, too. It’s almost painful.”

“I’m sure something is,” I said sweetly and then, in amoment of pure insanity, ran my hand down his shirt and paused at the waistbandof his jeans. Then, I pulled away. “I’ll be back with that wood…” I grinned.“And kindling.”

“Tease,” he yelled. “That’s mean. I’m not that strong.”

“You’ll survive. It’s nature.”

“You’ll survive!” he yelled back.

“Dude, that was your comeback?”

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