Colin and Trent exchanged another amused glance, then moved down the steps. Colin leaned close to David as he passed and patted his arm in farewell. “It’s all yours, buddy.”
“Yeah. Thanks,” he replied, then took Nate’s arm and led him back into their cabin. “Babe, relax,” he soothed. “You outweighed that little thing by a hundred and fifty pounds. It was scared to death.”
“It wasn’t the only one!” Nate complained. He peered inside, then slowly tiptoed into the cabin, dragging David behind him.
Joshua wandered back to their own cabin with Colin at his side. “Wildlife lurking in the cabins? Who’s fucking ideawasthis?”
Colin leaned toward him and grinned. “Idobelieve it wasyours,pumpkin!”
“Don’teverlisten to me again.”
“I’m going to remind you that you said that.” Colin walked to his side. “C’mon. I’ll help you make the bed and put our stuff away.” At Joshua’s insistence, Colin checked every corner for furry intruders. Finding none, he surveyed the room: pine walls, modest fireplace, one large space with a bathroom attached. “It’s cozy.”
“When it’s not reenacting a scene fromJurassic Park!” Joshua mumbled.
“Hey,” Colin said, pointing. “At least we’ve got a coffee machine.”
“Thank god,” Joshua muttered. He peered into the empty drawers and, once satisfied that they contained no wildlife, he began to fill them with underwear, socks, and other clothing.
Colin carried on unpacking his suitcase, occasionally casting amused glances at Joshua, who was still side-eyeing every corner of the cabin, prepared to defend himself against any creature that leapt in his direction.
“Stop snickering, Colin!” Joshua ordered. “I’m not fond of sharing my home with wild animals!”
“Ah, relax!” Colin growled out. “You do that every day!” He hung his last shirt in the closet, then turned to his husband, “You do realize that was probably the most excitement we’ll have all week, right?”
Joshua shot him a look. “Oh, great! Now you’ve jinxed us! I swear to god, Colin Michael, if I wake up with something crawling on me, we’re heading to the nearest motel.”
Colin smirked and nodded toward the door. “There’s a perfectly good hammock out on the porch.”
“I hope you’ll be comfortable in it,” Joshua said, throwing him a wink as he set their toiletries on the bathroom shelf.
Colin placed a hand on his back. “Hey, I promise, bud. No furry guests. Just you and me.” He kissed Joshua’s temple, then stepped back and grinned. “Unless you count Nate busting in here, begging me to save him from a man-eating woodland creature.”
“I hope the only man-eater around here isyou,” Joshua said, giving Colin a mischievous grin.
“Well, I’m the only oneyouhave to worry about.”
Joshua gave a fake whimper and leaned against him. “I hate nature.”
Colin threw an arm around him and chuckled. “You really don’t.”
“Well, I hate scary animals in my underwear drawer.”
“Then I promise to stay out of it.”
The friends stowed their possessions,then left the campground in search of dinner and some long, tall, Irish stouts. They discovered a nearby restaurant and gathered around a table, munching on hamburgers and fries, while practically inhaling a delicious local ale. The men teased Nate unmercifully about his encounter with the baby raccoon, which he suffered through with only minimal grumbling.
“Don’t worry, buddy,” Jeff said with a smirk. “If we see another one, we’ll make sure David carries you to safety.”
Nate snorted out a laugh then turned to his husband. “I was afraid it was going to launch itself at my face!”
David tried to respond but was laughing too hard to speak, and the rest of the group of friends couldn’t help but join him. “Oh my god!” Colin choked out, wiping tears from his eyes. “Nate was afraid he had run into Rocky, the Flying Raccoon!”
“Well,” Jeff said, patting his mouth with a napkin, “our Camp Pride week has certainly gotten off to an auspicious start.”
Colin and Joshua were still laughing too hard to comment. But Trent shook his head and leaned on Jeff’s arm. “Is it too soon to be worried about how our wedding ceremony is going to go?”
Jeff grinned and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “As long as it doesn’t include flying raccoons … I’m good.”
