Page 43 of Chasing Sunrise

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Amanda stood next toKasey, craning her neck to view the show being put on in the sky. She remembered the nights she’d sat in the car waiting for her parents and staring at the moon and stars. “It’s pink. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Tonight, we’re in the path of a meteor shower.”

“Now I get camping,” she conceded.

His hand squeezed hers. “Yeah, it’s amazing what you can see away from the city lights.”

“How do you know so much about celestial things.”

“Harper.”

She was sorry she’d asked. Then another star streaked across the sky. “There.”

“Blue this time.” His deep voice vibrated through her. She was somehow more aware of him. Maybe because he’d opened up to her and shared about his ADHD.

She kept her eyes on the sky. The stars resembled shining diamonds.

They stood holding hands as they looked this way and that, both excited and engrossed. After the longest time, he led her back to their campsite, Edward behind them. When they got close to their spot, the fire and the solar lanterns lent enough light for her to make out two creatures in the water.

She stopped. “What are those?”

“Raccoons.”

“What are they doing?” She let go of his hand and hid behind him, creeped out by how the raccoons resembled tiny people.

“Eating. Hope you didn’t want another s’more.” He pointed to the graham cracker box, chocolate wrappers, and marshmallow bag that had been torn to pieces.

“Eating in the water?”

“They like to wet their food.”

She shivered in revulsion. “How do you know that?”

“I was a forest ranger. I’ve met my share of raccoons.”

In a flash of movement and barking, Edward sprinted toward the water. The raccoon scurried off in the opposite direction.

Amanda sat at the foot of the chaise chair. She began picking up the shredded boxes and paper, stuffing them into the plastic bag.

Edward returned to Kasey’s side. He scratched between the dog’s ears. “Good boy.”

“Thank you, Edward,” she added.

“If you’re going to leave at daybreak, you better sleep.” He helped her finish picking up and put a couple more logs on the fire. “You want to use the tent?”

“And be level with everything creepy and crawly?”

“The truck or your car, then?”

“Too stuffy.”

He turned off the lanterns, adjusted the backrest on the chaise lower, and plopped down on the chair with her, his back against the backrest. “You can join me and sleep out here.” He patted the seat beside him.

She slid backward and reclined next to him. His body heat instantly warmed her. She hadn’t realized how cold she was. She nestled closer to him until her head rested on his shoulder. He felt strong and solid. “Was this your plan all along?”

“Yeah, I knew you’d be unreasonable and requested the low temperature so you’d have no alternative than to snuggle with me.”

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