Page 29 of Love Never Happens with your Brother’s Best Friend

“Enough. I’m getting out now. Okay?”

Releasing myself from Brodie’s muscular embrace, I scramble out of the tent, stand up, and stretch out my crumpled body. Brodie watches cheekily from the tent opening and grins as his tousled fringe flops over his eyes. He rakes his fingers back through his untidy mane. My heart pounds at my narrow escape. A tricky moment when I almost completely caved in to my feelings for this gorgeous man. I pick up a water bottle, unscrew the cap, and gulp down a refreshing mouthful.

“Sleep well, darling?” Brodie purrs.

“As well as could be expected, considering. You?”

“Like a baby. But without all the crying and pooping.” Brodie thinks this is extremely amusing and rolls onto his back, stretching his arms over his head and out of the tent.

“Hilarious.”

“Every time.” Brodie rolls onto his stomach, resting his head on his hand. “I don’t think I would have slept as well in the shelter with the rats.” He looks up at me with puppy-dog eyes. “Rita, you saved my life.”

“You are so dramatic. I would have done the same for any hiker in the group.”

“Really? Even the kid with the Cheetos?”

“Yup. Even him... I’m a trail guide, remember? It is my job to make sure hikers have a good time on the trail. I hope you’re going to give Dylan a five-star review for my selfless sacrifice.”

“I don’t believe you would have shared your tent with just anyone.”

He is right. But I’m not going to admit it. Brodie smiles his charismatic smile and watches as I walk away to the stream by the track. I splash icy water on my face then wipe it dry with my t-shirt. The treetops in the gully below are hazy in early morning mist. Birds swoop and dart about. Their chatter and cries carry up the hillside.

By the time I return, Brodie is out of the tent and checking his phone.

“Still no coverage?” I ask sardonically.

“No. But I just thought I’d check.”

“Are you missing it?”

“What?”

“Your instagroup following.”

“Nah. But it’s still strange not to get updates.”

“Ah. The world of super-star football is turning without you.”

“Or maybe the whole world has stopped. Perhaps we’re the only survivors of a global zombie apocalypse.”

“You and Dylan were always so sure about that.” I walk over to the tent, past Brodie who grins at me.

“Rita, it may have already happened. Last night, while we were up here, camping,” Brodie says with intensity. “It’s up to us to continue the human race. I’m serious. Why are you laughing? We have an obligation to repopulate the planet. Buckle up, babe. It’s going to be a rocky ride.”

He laughs then holds up his phone to the sky again. He turns slowly as he squints at the screen. I shake my head, smile at his clownish futility, and begin collapsing my tent.

“I’m going to visit the en suite,” Brodie says. “I may be some time, okay?”

“Alright. Careful of the, um, troglobites. They might, um, bite your butt.”

Brodie stops mid-stride. “What did you say? Rita. Did you just make a joke?”

“I think I just did.”

“It was hilarious. But also, I’m nervous about going to the bathroom now.” Brodie looks at the ground and kicks a pebble. “And what the bleep is a troglobite? Or is it just something you’ve made up to scare rooky campers?”

“No. Well. I’m glad you asked about the humble troglobite. It’s a creature that lives in a cave or, in your case, a dark, cave-like habitat, such as a campsite pit latrine.”

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