Page 56 of Into the Mountains
Hissing pierces the air and cold droplets pelting my face startles me from sleep. By the look of the dying embers, I couldn’t have been asleep for more than an hour. Within that time, a storm must have rolled in. Rain continues to douse the small embers and sprinkle my skin and sleeping bag. The trees seem to be covering me from most of it, so maybe I’ll be fine. I can just ride it out.
The universe has other plans. Before I manage to snuggle myself deeper into my sleeping bag, the clouds decide it’s the perfect time to let out the tears they’ve been holding in, much like I did before this camping trip.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Now I really wish I would have ignored the logical side of my brain that eventually won out and followed Elias into his tent. Even if I’d have slept on the opposite side, I’d at least be warm and dry. Right now, I’m getting wet and shivering and am going to have to go into his tent anyway unless I want to spend the rest of the night completely miserable.
I could go to Avery’s tent, but the idea of finding her and Hudson in some sort of compromising position solidifies my decision to go to Elias’s instead.
Leaving behind the sleeping bag that’s now wet, I abandon my place by the fire. It’s either this or sit and shiver in the rain all night.
Thunder cracks through the air and I’m surprised the others are actually still sleeping, unless they aren’t and are taking advantage of the outside noise to cover other noises. Nope, not thinking about that.
Quickly, I unzip the tent and try to step inside without waking Elias, but my foot catches on the bottom of the tent. I don’t have time to recover before I fall right into the sleeping figure in the middle of the tent.
He wakes with a scream that would rival mine from the night he saved me from the bird. Once he realizes it’s me though, he releases a sigh of relief.
“Charlie, what the fuck? Are you okay?” His hands come to my arms, helping me off him. “Wait, why are you wet?” The flash of lightning and clap of thunder that closely follows answers his question. And then he starts laughing.
“Fuck you, Eli.” I try to keep my voice firm, but watching him laugh with such ease after seeing him pretend for so long has me going right along with him.
“It’s not going to rain,” he imitates my voice poorly in a falsetto that sounds nothing like me.
After his laughs finally subside, the shivers have taken over my body. “Can you turn around so I can change please?”
He doesn’t argue. I peel off my wet shirt and toss it in the corner, covering myself with one of my arms even though I know he is turned around and wouldn’t try to sneak a peek. When I go to grab a sweater from my bag, it’s not there.
I hang my head back and let out a groan. “Son of a bitch.”
“Technically, yes. But I actually prefer Eli.”
“Ha ha,” I laugh sarcastically. “I forgot my duffel out there. And my clothes are probably all wet by now.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. That does suck. Do you…” he hesitates. “Do you want some of mine? I packed way too many pairs of pants and sweatshirts, because I tend to over prepare.”
“I’d rather have my own clothes.” Mostly because I don’t want to be wrapped in his scent all night.
“You don’t really have much of a choice here, Charlie. You can’t sleep in your wet clothes. Mine are the only option. Unless you want to sleep naked.”
“You wish.”
He doesn’t deny it as he fishes into his bag and pulls out another pair of black sweatpants and a matching black knit sweater. I expect him to hand both over to me, but he only hands the pants over, keeping the sweatshirt.
“I’m also not sleeping shirtless.”
Still turned away from me, he turns his face slightly just over his shoulder. “I wasn’t going to make you.” I watch as he grabs the back of his favorite sweatshirt and pulls it off of his head in one swift movement. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen himshirtless. Gone are the scrawny teenage muscles I traced my fingers over years ago. His back is taut and his skin pulls against his muscles as they move. Reaching his arm behind him, he hands it out to me.
“Are you sure?”
“Take it before I change my mind.”
Greedily, I do. Quickly, I throw it over my head and push my arms through the sleeve feeling the immediate relief from his body heat.
I take the next few minutes to get out of my pants and underwear and once I have his sweatpants on, I start to feel my limbs a little bit more.
“You can turn around now.” He does and for a moment we both just stare at one another. Longer than a moment.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
