When their shelter was finally up, Jake wrapped an arm around Emma and said, “Okay, I’m ready to help you two now. I feel like a pro.”
My stomach pitched. Carson scratched the back of his neck. “Uh, actually we—”
“We brought two tents,” I said quickly, grabbing the smaller bag from my pack.
“Two?” Emma repeated, wide-eyed and scandalized in the way only a newly married person could be. “But you’re a couple.”
“Right,” I said, and immediately regretted it. “I mean…well, we…”
Carson cut in smoothly, “She snores.”
I snapped my head toward him. “I do not.”
He shrugged. “Pretty sure you do.”
“I absolutely do not snore.”
Emma giggled. “This is adorable.”
Jake nodded seriously. “Every couple has quirks.”
I stared at Carson, trying to telepathically communicate: "You are the human embodiment of chaos."
He stared back, silently responding,You’re the one who panicked first.
“You two have such a fun vibe.” Emma grinned, sipping some water.
The vibe.
Our vibe.
Our fake married vibe.
I felt a sudden rush of dread and realization. If we corrected them now, if we said, Hey, we’re not married, we’re just coworkers who happen to keep kissing each other’s faces by accident… the Butterfields might think we were flirting irresponsibly during their trip.
The lodge prided itself on professionalism. This was our first official retreat of the season. The Sunshine Breakfast Club ladies read every single review as if it were scripture.
And I could already see the headline:
ONE STAR: Our guides spent the entire weekend making heart eyes at each other. No one trusts a guide who can’t keep their pants…er, tents…in order.
Nope.
Nope. Nope. Nope.
I grabbed Carson’s sleeve and dragged him a few steps away.
“Quick question,” I hissed. “Is it better for our jobs if they think we’re married?”
He paused, then slowly nodded. “As horrifying as this is… yes. It is absolutely better.”
“Okay.” I inhaled deeply. “So we let them think we’re married.”
“We do.”
“And we share a tent.”
“Apparently.”
