“I’m worried about the fire,” I say.
“It’s just a fire,” he says.
“I know, but...”I trail off, closing my eyes.“I don’t know, I have a weird bad feeling about it, and I’m worried for you, even though I know you’ve been doing this for a while and you’re fine.”
And I don’t know what’s going to happen once we’re down there, and fire season is over, because having a lot of sex in a fire lookout isn’t the same as arguing over whose turn it is to do the dishes.
I decide to save that batch of feelings forafterthe fire is dealt with.
As of yesterday, it was about 95% certain that, if this fire got bigger, the Canyon Country Hotshots would be on the front lines.They’re already here and they’re the best, so ofcoursethey’re going.
Well, it got bigger, and I can put two and two together.
Hunter pulls me close and I tuck my head under his chin.
“I’ll dig ditches for a few days,” he says.“And if I get really lucky, I’ll get to start a controlled burn.Those are the most fun.”
“I know, I know,” I say.
“I’m coming back to you,” he says.
I sigh.
“Once fire season is over, I mean,” he says.“It’s probably time to move out of my parents’ guest house.”
“That was fast,” I say.
Hunter just laughs.He’s playing with my hair behind my back, gently tugging at my scalp.
“We first sat next to each other in chemistry class almost a decade ago,” he says.“How long do I have to know you before I get to decide I want to make it work this time?”
I squirm.
“It’s not gonna getworsethan me saying I never loved you,” he points out.
“It could,” I say.“You could have a long affair with a coworker and then tell everyone that I’m the one who’s been sleeping around.”
Hunter frowns.
“My parents,” I say quietly.“Sorry.”
“I’m not gonna sleep with a coworker,” he says.“They’re all hairy, they smell bad, and you’ve got a much nicer rack.”
I laugh.
“You were saying we’ve already dramatically screamed at each other over video chat, so it probably won’t get worse?”I say.
“Right.So I’m moving to Lodgepole and keeping your bed warm until you decide it’s been long enough that we can be seen together in public,” he teases.
“Isthatthe plan?”I ask.
“Winning my way into your heart via orgasm?”he says, grinning.“There are worse avenues.”
Now his hand is pressing into the small of my back, suddenlymuchmore deliberate.
“I could just start now, if you wanted,” he says.
“We’re supposed to be hiking down,” I point out.
