Page 59 of Love Notes and Late Nights
Harris wasn’t as keen on hiking as Wolf, but he was a sucker for those puppy dog eyes. “All right.”
***
The hike consisted of everything Harris hated—it was hot, dusty, and his throat was as dry as a rock.
“Come on,” Wolf looped his arm through Harris’ and pulled him along. “The best part is coming up.”
“You mean the SUV is just around that bend to take us home?”
“I didn’t know you were such a Primadonna.”
“I didn’t know you were such a nature boy.” Harris watched Wolf’s long hair blow in the dry breeze. The guy was wearing abaseball cap, but his hair wasn’t tied in a pony or anything. “How are you not dying with all that hair?”
“I’m like a Shetland Sheep Dog. My hair protects me from the sun.”
“Hurry up, you two!” Amy called from up ahead. “It’s beautiful!”
At least that got Harris intrigued, and he picked up his pace.
“I’ll race you,” Wolf said, grinning.
“I’m not—” Wolf didn’t give Harris a chance to finish and ran full speed ahead to where Marshall and Amy disappeared behind a large rock wall. Harris realized he was alone and started running to catch up. The last thing he wanted to do was get lost in the desert. Once he passed the huge rock formation, a beautiful pool of blue-green water lay ahead in a sprawling asymmetrical free-form pattern, and colorful painted mountains surrounded them. Seeing this beautiful piece of nature was well worth the hike. “This is gorgeous. But since when is there water in the desert? Please don’t tell me I’m having a mirage, because I’ll be pretty pissed if that’s not real.”
Marshall and Amy had already stripped down to swimsuits and stepped into the water. “It’s a hot spring,” Amy explained.
“It’s so warm,” Marshall added. “This is awesome!”
“Why didn’t you tell us to bring swim trunks?” Harris asked, loving the idea of relaxing in a natural hot spring. It’s something he never thought about doing before, but now that the opportunity presented itself, he wasn’t going to pass it up. He’d jump in that thing in his underwear if he had to. Sorry, Amy.
“I got you,” Wolf said with a sly smile and pulled a pair of swim trunks out of his backpack. “I wanted it to be a surprise. Here. Get changed. I’m already suited up.”
Wolf held up a blanket so Harris could change, because even though Amy said she’d turn around, he still felt self-conscious, and then Wolf stripped down to his trunks.
Wolf held out his hand for Harris, who took it like a fool in love, and the two slowly stepped into the warm pool of water. The silky water made Harris feel as if he were going to melt into a pile of liquid. The picturesque scenery and sunshine just added to the serenity of the moment, and he almost couldn’t believe it. “Have you done this before?”
“I have,” Amy said. “Many times.”
“It’s a first for me,” Marshall admitted.
“Me too,” Wolf said.
“Thanks for inviting us.” Harris moved a little closer to Wolf. The blue of the water reflected off Wolf’s light eyes, and the ends of his wet hair glistened under the sun. Harris wanted to kiss this man so badly, but it felt awkward in front of Marshall and Amy, not that they cared or were paying attention.
Wolf leaned in and stole a kiss, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and it was. Then Wolf dunked Harris’ head under the water and swam away. Harris popped up, laughing, and chased Wolf to the other side of the pool, where he cornered Wolf, but instead of returning the dunk, he kissed Wolf, and they floated together for several heart-pounding seconds. Maybe it was the heat or the water or the high of being together, or all of it combined, but Harris never felt so completely whole. He still couldn’t believe that Wolf loved him and the things they were doing together. Everything seemed like a dream. “I’m so happy we’re together.”
“Me too.”
They relaxed in the water for a long while and then climbed out. Marshall spread out a large blanket for the four of them to share, and they lounged under the sun to dry off, snacking on granola bars, fruit, and Vitamin Water.
“How come your hair looks so good?” Wolf asked. “You just finger-comb it and it looks like that?”
Harris shrugged. “That’s all I know how to do.” He ran a long lock of Wolf’s hair through his thumb and forefinger. “I don’t know how to style my hair the way you do. Your hair always looks perfect. Mine’s a mess no matter what I do with it, so I don’t do anything to it.”
“And it looks like that? Tousled and sexy with no effort? Some guys got it easy.”
“You should just buzz it like me,” Marshall ran his hand over the short stubble on his head.
“Wolf Wheeler with a buzz cut?” Amy looked at Marshall like he was crazy. “Are you trying to break hearts all over America?”
