Page 20 of Immersed
As Levi hammered tent stakes, his eyes tracked each camper’s movements. Twice the mallet slipped from his sweaty grip. Once hemissed the stake, the metal head striking a rock with a sound that made him jump. Zoe organized her cooking supplies, methodically arranging everything within arm’s reach. Tyler flexed unnecessarily while hoisting food bags into trees. Maddie lounged against a log, still scrolling through her phone.
Elliot, however, kept glancing in Levi’s direction. When their eyes met, he offered that same warm smile.
“Firewood time,” Tyler announced, tossing a full-sized axe that Elliot caught with unexpected dexterity. “Elliot, show Levi how it’s done.”
Levi nodded, positioning himself near Elliot. “Lead the way.” He wiped his palms against his jeans again, trying to dry the nervous sweat.
In the woods, Elliot’s practiced swings split logs with minimal effort. His designer hiking pants stretched across his thighs as he worked, and Levi caught him stealing glances in his direction.
“Your turn,” Elliot handed over the axe, fingers lingering against Levi’s. The weight of the tool surprised Levi, and he nearly dropped it, the blade swinging dangerously close to his foot.
“Whoa there,” Elliot steadied Levi’s arm, stepping closer than strictly necessary. “Careful with that.”
“S-sorry,” Levi mumbled, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. “Not used to these.”
“Plant your feet wider,” Elliot instructed, moving behind Levi. His hands settled on Levi’s hips, ostensibly to guide his stance, but the touch was more intimate than instructional.
Great. Hell really wants to have this dating sim subplot.
Levi fumbled with his grip, the axe handle slippery in his palms. When he swung, the blade seemed to bounce off the wood, the impact sending shock waves up his arms that made him stumble backward into Elliot’s chest.
“Easy,” Elliot laughed, steadying him. “You’re trying too hard. Let the weight of the axe do the work.”
His hands guided Levi through another swing, standing close enough that Levi could smell his cologne. The proximity made Levi’s hands shake worse, but he forced himself to focus on the real objective.
“You’re a quick learner,” Elliot said, voice lower than necessary. “I bet you’re good with your hands once you get the hang of something.”
Jesus, he’s really laying it on thick. “Um, t-thanks,” Levi stuttered, genuinely flustered despite understanding it was just programming.
When Elliot bent to gather kindling, Levi circled toward their packs, keeping Elliot in his peripheral vision. He knelt, pretending to tighten his shoelace while quickly rifling through Elliot’s side pockets. His fingers shook so badly he had to pause and take a deep breath.
Steady. This is the most important part.
The satellite phone nestled in an inner compartment, protected by a waterproof casing. As Levi’s fingers closed around it and a small metal compass, a twig snapped somewhere behind him. He jerked, nearly toppling sideways, his pulse leaping into his throat.
Just a squirrel, darting up a nearby tree.
Jesus Christ, get it together.
But the phone and compass were in his hands now. He slipped it into his own pocket, the weight reassuring against his thigh.
Back at camp, Levi helped prepare dinner, sitting between Zoe and Jasper. The stolen phone felt like it was burning a hole in his pocket.Twice he knocked over his water bottle. Once he spilled beans onto the ground, earning an eye roll from Maddie.
Smooth, Levi. Nothing says ‘action hero’ like losing a fight with dinner.
Elliot, however, seemed charmed by his clumsiness. “Here, let me help,” he said, sliding closer to help Levi clean up the spilled beans. Their shoulders pressed together, and Elliot’s hand covered Levi’s for a moment longer than necessary.
As everyone ate, Levi mentioned, “I thought I heard something large moving through the underbrush earlier.” He paused, swallowing hard. “Are bears common here?”
Owen immediately launched into statistics. “Black bears occupy approximately sixty percent of this region’s forest area, with documented encounters increasing twelve percent annually.”
“That’s why I brought this,” Zoe produced a canister of bear spray from her pack. “Standard protocol in bear country.”
“Can I see that?” Levi asked, extending his visibly unsteady hand. “I’ve never actually used one before.”
Zoe passed it over. “Aim low—the spray rises. And never test it upwind.
Levi examined it carefully, noting the safety mechanism and the simple trigger design. His thumb accidentally brushed against the safety cap, nearly dislodging it. He quickly readjusted his grip, heartbeat thundering. When he returned it, he watched Zoe tuck it into her jacket’s outer pocket.
