Page 116 of Roughing It

“No, not at all. This is kind of embarrassing, but I need to, um, you know...”

“Piss?”

Horror fills her eyes. “OMG. You did not say that.”

“Take a leak?”

She blanches.

“Urinate?”

This time, she laughs. “Yes, Professor Brooks, I need to urinate.”

“You have a shitload of choices. We’re in a forest, after all.” I roll off her and help her to her feet.

“So, just pick a tree? Any tree?”

“That or hold it until we get back.”

She bites her lower lip. “That’s not an option.”

“Tree it is then. Here.” I yank my undershirt off and hand it to her. “This shirt needs to be washed, anyway; use it as needed.” The horrified look from before returns. “Why the face? It’s just a little piss. Unless you’d rather drip dry.”

“Give me the shirt.” She snatches the tee from my hands and power-hikes toward the trees.

“Hurry back. I still owe you a spanking.” She pauses, a visible tremor rocking her body.Fuck yes.Then, because I can’t resist, I holler, “Don’t go too far! And don’t get lost!”

Her middle finger salute is the last thing I see before the pines swallow her. Chuckling at her squeamishness, I plop on the ground and take a long sip from my camelback. For all Blakely’s tenacity and bravado, especially in sexual situations, she’s shy about other bodily functions. Silly.

While I wait, I stretch out, letting the warmth of the overhead sun sink into my bones and chase away the chill in the air. It’s in the high forties today, the perfect hiking weather—made better by not being here alone.

Minutes later, the telltale sounds of Blakely returning break the silence. So loud. Always.

“Hudson! I foraged!”

I sit up, a rush of panic slicing through me. “What do you mean?”

“Elderberries! Like the ones from the story!” Her nose wrinkles, and her lips pucker. “They don’t taste very good, though. I figured being so dark, they’d be like cherries or grapes. But they’re really tart.”

“Blakely, how many of these did you eat?”

She pops another berry into her mouth and grimaces. “I don’t know, six or seven? Don’t worry, I brought enough to share.”

“Stop eating them.” I rush forward and knock the remaining berries from her hand.

“Hey! Why’d you do that? I thought you’d be proud of me. Foraging is on my wilderness skills checklist! And I remember these from your story. These are the berries they made medicine from.”

“Yes, but they have to be cooked, otherwise they’re poisonous.”

Her eyes double in size. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, eating them raw is dangerous.”

“Am I going to die?” she screeches, clutching her throat.

I hug her to me, trying to calm us both. “You aren’t dying.” Fuck. I run a hand through my hair. “Need to get you to the cabin ASAP. I swear, you have a knack for trouble.”

Her fear morphs into anger. “I’m trying! I thought I was doing something good!”

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