“I think I’m gonna rest awhile longer. You guys go on ahead. I’ll catch up.”
“All right, man.” Faraj nodded, unbothered. Hiker groups came and went all the time on the PCT. “See you soon.”
Ben moved his empty salad plate to the side. Stacked his sandwich basket on top of Alexei’s.
The air around them felt different after the others had gone. Quieter. Closer.
Alexei’s eyes darted toward him, then away, hands fidgeting. Ben kept thinking about the way he had half smiled at Ben in the bathroom, almost like he was confused that he was smiling. The serious look on his face when he’d said, with gravitas,pickle.
He remembered, too, the way Alexei’s arm had felt across his chest, strong, stable. The frown that had been on his face when he’d scolded Ben about his earbuds. It had been so sincere, as if Alexei was truly worried for Ben’s well-being, a stranger he’d just met, that it had made Ben laugh.
Ben had probably been in trouble, he thought now, since before that bird started singing.
He was about to say something to make Alexei feel more at ease when Alexei shoved the PBR across the table.
“Do you want this? I’m actually not that big of a beer person.”
Ben took the can but waited to take a sip.
“What were you listening to out there?” he asked instead.
“Pardon?” Alexei blushed again.
“Out there.” Ben motioned with a nod of his head toward the tree in the yard. “While the guys were busy talking nonsense, you spaced out and were listening to something. I assume a bird.”
After a moment, Alexei answered, slow and careful.
“Chipping sparrow.” He swallowed. “At least, I think so.”
Ben leaned back in his chair. This was what he had always loved most. Meeting new people. Finding out what made them tick. It was what he loved most about nursing. People told you so much, if you were ready to listen.
“Tell me about the chipping sparrow,” he said, finally taking a sip of the beer.
And before he answered, Alexei watched Ben take that sip.
Alexei’s very blue eyes undoubtedly lingered on Ben’s mouth.
Which was…an unexpected development.
Alexei looked away, clearing his throat.
“Its call is a trill. Repetitive, long. They’re common all over North America, but are mostly migratory in the US. So they could maybe be starting to migrate north at this time of year, or we could be close enough here to their nesting grounds in Mexico.” He paused. “Or it could’ve been a dark-eyed junco. I didn’t get to see it. I like juncos more, actually.”
Damn. Damn, damn, dammit.
Alexei had undoubtedly stared at Ben’s mouth.
And Alexei was undoubtedly anerd.
It was like a one-two punch. Ben’s heart flapped helplessly in his chest. Like a big, dumb gay bird.
Ben was in so much trouble.
“Why do you like juncos more?” he asked anyway.
“Their markings can vary a lot, but in general, I find dark-eyed juncos…prettier. Than chipping sparrows.”
Alexei hung his head. Examined a thread on his shirt.
