Page 39 of Just Act Natural

She crawls inside and arranges her mat. No matter how she pokes and prods, there’s no space between them. “I’ll go get the sleeping bag.”

I stare down at the practically overlapping sleeping mats, trying to erase every single thought that crops up in response. I need to treat this like an emergency situation. I just can’t think of what the protocol should be.

A minute later, she returns, bulky bag in her arms like a limp bride. “I’m so sorry. It still smells a bit like marmot.”

“It’s my fault. I should have taken the possibility more seriously.”

“Yeah, but I still had the granola bar wrapper in my pants like a dummy.”

“Who gave it to you in the first place?”

She rolls her eyes. “You saved everyone from a wretched case of the hangries. It was very noble of you.”

It doesn’t feel very noble now that it’s led us to sleeping in the same tent. Not my end game, but I can’t pretend I’m disappointed.

Before she can duck through the door, I stop her. “I don’t mind sleeping in your tent tonight.”

“What? No, it’s ruined. You’d be too cold.”

“That doesn’t matter if you’re uncomfortable with this. I can sleep in extra layers. Say the word, and I’ll move my things.”

“No.” She stands straighter. “We’re grownups. This is no big deal. We’re just doing this to share warmth. Wait—” She slashes a hand through the air. “Pretend I didn’t say it that way.”

“I know what you meant.”

She lays out the sleeping bag. I catch her trying to create any kind of space between them, but they touch.

It’s going to be a long night.

TWELVE

LILA

“Doyou want to read for a while?” If my voice comes out squeakier than usual, Grant doesn’t seem to notice.

I might be freaking out ever so slightly over the idea of sharing a tent with him. He’s been nothing but gentlemanly and kind, and I know he’s not expecting us to get frisky in there. Still…my stomach’s swarming with butterflies that aren’t entirely the happy kind.

“Actually, I wanted to try one last time to show you something fun. If you’re up for it.”

In the fading light, Grant somehow looks more earnest than ever. Like he really, truly needs to help me find something good to take home from this journey. It’s endearing and oh, so sweet. I get the feeling I could say yes to anything he suggested and be perfectly safe as long as he’s right there with me.

“It’s not a night swim, is it?” I tease. “I heard leeches like the darkness.”

“It’s not a night swim, but it does require the cover of darkness.”

“Ooh, ominous. Is it a bird sacrifice?”

That throws him off. “You think I would kill abird?”

“I was thinking the birds would sacrifice me.”

He grins. “That doesn’t sound like fun. I want to walk a little deeper into the woods and stargaze for a while.”

“Oh. I’ve never done that before.”

“I figured. You won’t get a view like this in the city because of all the light pollution. What do you think? Join me?”

I look out into the trees. In our immediate vicinity, it’s still twilight, but beyond our camp circle, it already looks pretty dark. My mind fills with creatures great and small. Most of them have fangs. “Is it safe?”

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