She elbowed me, and I didn’t complain because for the first time in a long time…
It felt like something real, something dangerous, and something impossible might be waiting for me, and I wanted more.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sienna
The sun was spraying long gold strokes, warming the patches of earth the snow refused to surrender.
“This is beautiful!” Emma squealed, throwing her arms out as if she intended to hug the entire forest. “Jake, look! We’re really doing this!”
Jake leaned in and kissed the top of her beanie. “Best honeymoon ever.”
Carson and I exchanged a look, one part amusement, one part dread, and at least three partsplease don’t notice how weird we are.
“Let’s get you two set up,” I said brightly, smoothing my hair. “We’ll help with your tent first, then go over some general camping stuff, cooking safety, and tomorrow’s hike.”
Emma gasped as if I’d offered her a baby deer. “You two have such a seamless system. Like a well-oiled… married couple.”
I froze.
Carson froze.
She beamed at him. “I hope my husband will look at me like that a year from now.”
My brain slammed against the inside of my skull. Husband. Husband. Husband?!
Carson opened his mouth, probably to correct her, which, yes, would have been the professional thing to do. Still, she barreled ahead, chattering about how romantic it must be to work side by side in the wilderness, trusting each other completely.
Carson closed his mouth again.
Jake nodded in approval. “You can always tell a good marriage by how well they communicate.”
Communicate.
Right. Yes. Absolutely.
Carson and I communicated constantly. Never mind the part where we’d practically combusted in the office 24 hours ago.
Carson glanced at me, expression flat but eyes sparkling with silent panic. I gave a tiny shrug, the universal sign forI have no idea how to stop this runaway canoe either.
We guided the Butterfields through the tent setup, which was equal parts adorable and chaotic. Jake tried to insert the poles backward. Emma held the rainfly upside down.
But they were enthusiastic, and enthusiasm goes a long way in the wilderness.
Carson knelt beside Jake, helping him straighten the tent frame with patient efficiency. I worked with Emma and managed to correct her grip on the mallet before she accidentallyknocked out her own tooth. Every minute or two, Emma commented like:
“You two must be incredible at conflict resolution.”
or
“I love how in sync you are. Total couple goals.”
or the gem:
“Do you ever get tired of being so cute together?”
I nearly swallowed a tent stake.
