After a few miles, Ryan prompts, “Do you want to stop here and put some fuel in our bodies?”
“Yes, I’m already starving.”
We take off our backpacks and sit down, grabbing our snacks and water.
“What do you think that smell was?” I ask, feeling uneasy.
Ryan gives me a side glance, clearly annoyed with all my suspicions. “Mar, they could’ve caught some type of animal and cooked it over the fire.”
“You aren’t allowed to hunt here.”
“Some campers lay traps for squirrels and eat those.”
I scrunch my nose. “You’re joking.”
He snorts. “No, I’m not. It’s common to hunt squirrels, especially while camping.”
“You will never be able to convince me to eat squirrels.”
“I’m very convincing.” He shoots me a playful glance.
“Ryan Howard, it won’t happen,” I deadpan.
“Oh, come on, you’ll have sex in public, but you won’t try squirrel meat?”
“That’s different!” I look away from him.
“Uh, it’s not as common.” He looks at me in shock.
“Can you blame me? I have an insatiable appetite when it comes to you.”
He gives me a sexy look. “Oh, really?” He puffs out his chest. “So you’re saying my chances of getting laid tonight are high?”
“Oh, definitely,” I state in a serious tone.
He rubs my leg. “Oh, Marley Tanner, get ready to have your world rocked.”
Laughing, I roll my eyes and jump up. “Let’s get moving then. I have a hot date later.”
“Someone has some energy this morning. It better last; you’re going to need it.”
“Be careful what you wish for.”
We finally reach our destination, and I take some pictures. It’s so gorgeous. After taking some selfies together, we decide to head back before lunchtime, which is when the sun will be at its hottest.
“A nap is in my future,” Ryan declares.
“Without a doubt,” I agree.
After an hour, we stop again for a snack, and I look at the photos we took. Holding my breath, I zoom in on one of the pictures I snapped of Ryan. Without question, there is a silhouette of a person behind the trees above the hills, lingering directly above us.
They’re dressed head to toe in black with a black face covering.
I gasp and clasp my hand over my mouth as I wrap my mind around the fact that there was someone out there, lurking nearby and tracking our every move.
“Did the pictures come out well?” Ryan asks, interrupting my panic.
As best I can, I give him a little smile, fearful of my voice cracking if I answer him.
