Page 27 of Love Never Happens with your Brother’s Best Friend

“No. I definitely don’t want to eat it. Yuck!” I take the wrapper off what’s left of my emergency snack and throw it as far as I can into the bushes.

“Rodents have an amazing sense of smell. And a protein bar would be irresistible to them.”

“Hopefully, they’ll race after it over there and leave my pants alone.” I shudder at the thought of a rat in my pocket. “What else was it planning to nibble on?”

“Just the snack bar, I’m sure about that, Brodie.” I can’t see Rita’s face, but I know she’s smiling. There’s a beat before Rita says, “You know what? It’s getting late. I think I’m going to hit the hay.”

“Sure thing.”

Rita gathers her sleeping bag and rain jacket and unzips her tent.

“The thought of rodents sharing my clothes gives me the heebie-jeebies,” I say picking up my sleeping bag and giving it a good shake. Then I do the same with my rain jacket.

“They’re harmless,” Rita says arranging things inside her tiny tent. “They just want food.”

“I know, but still. Eew, gross.”

I turn on the headlamp and watch Rita disappear through the tent flap. Then I throw the beam on the shelter and the hard wooden bench that is to be my bed for the night. The idea is less than appealing.

“Rita.”

“Brodie.”

“You know I said I was happy to sleep in the shelter.”

“Yes.”

“Well, I was lying. I think it’s a terrible idea. So, I was wondering how you would feel about me sharing the tent with you.”

Rita sighs audibly. “Why is this not a surprise, Brodie Kent?” She pokes her head out of the tent flap. “Let me explain something. This is a single-person tent. For one. Me. There’s no room in here for you and my pack.”

I think for a minute. “What if we put the backpacks in the shelter?”

There’s a pause as I wait for Rita’s reply.

“They would need to be strung up and somehow suspended from the roof, so curious critters don’t wreck them.”

“Alright. I think I can do that. Pass them out.”

“Brodie.”

“Rita.”

“I haven’t said that it’s okay for you to share my tent.”

“Ah. Yes. You’re right… Rita, is it okay for me to share your tent?”

Another long pause follows, then Rita says, “Alright… But… Don’t try anything.”

“What does that mean? ‘Don’t try anything.’”

“No funny business. I don’t want you to make a move on me. Just because we’re sharing a tent, doesn’t mean there’s anything going on… at all.”

“Gosh, Rita. Hand on heart, you’ll be perfectly safe with me. I’m not that…”

“Are you going to try and tell me that you are not that kind of guy? When clearly you are.”

“Clearly? How?”

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