All of the thoughts make me want to punch something and I seriously need to take myself out of this equation.
“Fine. I’m out of here. Have fun.” I grunt, turning to swim back to the shore.
“Tony can take you back!” Dakota yells out.
“I’m fine,” I answer, choosing to swim back instead.
***
I was certainlynotfine.
That was a long fucking swim back to shore. I was exhausted by the time I made it back. Not to mention, I didn’t account for the hike to the campsite afterwards. There were a couple of times I was certain I got turned around and was heading the wrong way. Thankfully, I was able to catch a few park signs that pointed me in the right direction. Without those, I certainly would’ve wound up on one of those missing people documentaries.
At least it gave me some time to think about what the hell was going on with Noah. Did the jealous feelings subside? Not in the slightest. But, it gave me an opportunity to figure out why they were happening in the first place.
I’ve never…experiencedthis with a guy before. It’s only natural that I’m territorial in a way over him. Protective. Not in a possessive type of way…just a…I don’t want to see him with anyone else, type of way.
By the time I returned, I was dehydrated, starving, and my legs were on the edge of giving out.
The sun is already setting in the sky which tells me enough that I’ve been gone for much longer than I had intended.
I basically hobble back to the campsite and flop down in one of the chairs, feeling the immediate relief off of my feet.
Suddenly, a loud zip of the tent sounds in my ears, nearly knocking me off my chair in surprise.
“Holy shit!” Noah, exclaims, practically falling out of the tent door.
I see now that he has a head lamp—my head lamp— around his forehead, a backpack around his shoulders and a canteen in his hand. All of which are mine that he must’ve strung together.
“I was just coming to look for you!” He gasps, running over to me. “Where have you been!?” He rushes out. I can hardly get a word out before he’s emptying the canteen full of cold water down my throat.
“I got backtwo hoursago thinking you were just lagging behind.” He shakes his head. I can see now with him standing so close that he has worry on his face. The smug anger is gone and is now replaced by his nervous lip biting. After I drink all the water, he drops the canteen and crouches by my feet.
“Swimming took awhile. Got turned around a couple times trying to make it back.” I finally breathe, wiping my mouth off with the back of my hand.
“You must be exhausted,” he says softly, lifting my foot onto his lap and easing off my sneaker. I stay frozen, watching, as he carefully repeats it with the other foot.
Suddenly, a wave of pleasure rushes through me as his thumb digs into the arch of my left foot. He smooths it out, running upwards, and then back down again. I bite my lower lip, keeping my moans stuffed inside.
“It’s okay. It must feel good.” He digs in again, keeping his eyes on me. “Let me hear you,” he says softly.
I drop my head back, closing my eyes. “Fuck Noah, that’s so perfect.” I allow myself to say out loud.
“Yeah?” He dips his thumb again, sparking that same feeling, drawing out a deep moan from my lips.
“Fuck, yeah.” I groan.
He does this for a while, happily working the soreness out of my feet, turning me into putty in his hands.
He clearly didn’t go with the group like he said he was going to. I want to ask why but I don’t. Maybe it was for me. Maybe it wasn’t. But, watching him tend to me, bringing me more water, making us dinnerover the fire he starts up—hot dogs and ready-made macaroni salad— it’s clear that he didn’t want to go as much as I didn’t want him to.
And knowing he’s here and not banging Dakota in a tent somewhere, that’s good enough for me.
11
Noah
As the sound of the fire crackles, and the smell of burnt wood and smoke fills my nose, and the soothing sounds of the nearby speaker playing soft acoustic melodies fill the air, I can be sure of one thing: I’m pretty happy I chose to come back.
