Page 25 of Love Never Happens with your Brother’s Best Friend

“Hey, Rita,” he’d say. “What you crying for?”

I’d say, ‘Nothing’, but it was like Brodie knew how I felt. He would say something to make me laugh, tell me a stupid joke, or do a lame magic trick. I’d feel better in no time. He would even let me use his sleeve to blow my nose and wipe my tears. I had forgotten how kind he was when we were kids. Childhood memories come flooding back as I gaze into the campfire.

Brodie smiles at me. Firelight flickers in his soft warm eyes. He leans toward me. We are so close I could almost kiss his lips. A rush of anticipation causes my breathing to be rapid and shallow. Butterflies charge around my insides. The possibility of the almost-kiss unnerves me. I feel myself giving in to his obvious charms, sliding down on a wonderful romantic moment beside the campfire with the most beautiful man in the world. But then, I check myself and remember how he is the ultimate sports star heartbreaker and not to be trusted in any way. At all. I steel my resolve and bite my lip.

“Ha! The water’s boiling,” I say moving away from the emotional danger zone to turn off the stove. “So, let’s eat?”

“Yes. I’m starving. And if the offer of - what did you call it? Dehydrated soya yumminess? - is still on, then, yes, please. At this point in time, my dining expectations have plummeted.”

“Of course.” I open each pouch of dried camping food and pour in the boiling water. “Carbonara or bolognaise?”

“Oh, I really don’t mind.” Brodie peers at each bag with suspicion. “You choose.”

I stir each pouch, then I hand Brodie the carbonara with a spoon in it.

“Thank you,” he says stirring the rehydrated contents some more before trying a small spoonful of pale pasta. He chews and swallows with noises of appreciation. “It’s actually not bad.” He eats another spoonful then says, “When we’ve finished dinner, it’s your turn to tell me a scary story.”

“To be honest, Brodie. I think you should have another go. Your story was not that scary. And it mashed together too many genres that didn’t quite work, so the overall effect wasn’t scary at all. I give you a four and a half out of ten for effort.”

“Ah, okay. A bit harsh, but…” Brodie spoons in another mouthful and chews. “Let me think, then.”

We quietly eat our ready meals and watch the fire, feeling its warmth radiate on our faces. A contented serenity binds us in the forest clearing.

“You know, Rita,” Brodie says finishing the last of his food. “I am having the nicest time.”

“Really? Even without a bar or massage facilities?”

“Well… yeah. It’s definitely a different experience from a five-star luxury resort. But yes, I am having the nicest time.”

“Even after getting eaten alive by mosquitos and being blinded by bug spray and smoke?”

Brodie nods and laughs. “Well, I could have skipped that bit. But, yes, apart from bugs and getting blinded. Camping out is fun.”

“Even having dehydrated carbonara for dinner?”

“It’s delicious, by the way.”

“Everything tastes delicious on the trail.”

Chapter 14

Brodie

Inever thought that dried-up food that you add water to, could be this delicious. But it is. I can’t imagine I would replace my regular meals with dehydrated food in a pouch, but in a camping, outdoors situation, it’s actually pretty good. I eat every last morsel and even open up the packet and lick it clean. Something else I probably wouldn’t do in regular life.

“I’ll do dishes,” I say taking Rita’s spoon and her empty food pouch.

“Cool. So, wash out the packets, and then, when they’re dry, we’ll pack them and take them out with us.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I salute and make my way to the stream, but away from the fire is so dark, I can’t see my hand in front of my face. I return to get a headlamp.

“Here, use mine,” says Rita, handing me a loop of robust elastic with a small but powerful flashlight attached to it.

The beam creates a circle of illuminated ground which lights my way to the stream. I hear it before I see it. Turning off the flashlight, I take a moment to see just how dark it really is. The night sky is full of stars. There’s no wind. Everything is still and quiet. All my senses are suddenly in tune with what’s around me. And, surprisingly, after a few minutes, my eyes adjust to the dimness, and I can make out the line of water that’s flowing down through the rocks and across the track.

As I wash the spoons and the camp food packets in the trickle of the stream, I feel a warm contented glow within. I am having the best time.

There was a moment earlier when I thought Rita was going to kiss me. We were so close by the fire. She leaned in. Everything was perfect. I was holding my breath in anticipation, and leaning toward her, then she had a change of heart and pulled away. I almost toppled off the log. It took all my self-control to stop the urge to grab her and…

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