“Yeah.” A smile cracked through her voice. “I got in.”
Ben whooped into the forest.
“As if there was any question.”
“Yeah. But”—a weird gap of silence—“financial aid”—static—“only—”
Ben frowned. Goddammit. “Lina? I can’t—”
He waited through another minute, occasionally saying her name, to no avail.
“Okay,” he sighed, “I don’t know if you can hear me, but I love you.”
He glared at the phone and its cursed single bar of service until Alexei jolted him from his trance.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah, more than okay.” Ben shoved his phone back in his pocket. “My baby sister got into Boston University.”
“Oh.” There was a funny look on Alexei’s face. Surprise maybe? But he recovered quickly. “That’s great. Congratulations to Carolina.”
“Yeah. I mean”—Ben picked his trekking poles back up—“of course she was going to get in.” They walked again, Ben talking to Alexei’s back about how it was her first choice, how she was probably stressed about money now, but he was sure she’d get scholarships. Carolina was the smartest person he knew.
“That’s great, Ben,” Alexei said again.
And it was.
Carolina had been accepted into Boston University.
Ben had gotten to use his first-aid kit.
Alexei had talked about being turned on.Out loud.
And no one had even called them a homophobic slur today.
This day wasn’t just good.
This day was great.
***
Ben had almost drifted to sleep when Alexei cleared his throat.
When he blinked awake, Alexei was staring at his guidebook, headlamp set on low.
Ben had seen Alexei study his guidebooks, his maps at camp before, but something about witnessing his nighttime routines inside the privacy of the tent really got Ben going. Making those careful notes in his journals. That headlamp on his forehead, his face all serious and cute.
“We hit I-15 tomorrow,” Alexei said. “Cajon Pass.”
“I know it, Lex,” Ben mumbled into his sleeping bag, perking up slightly to shout, “French fries!”
Ben was well aware of the Cajon Pass McDonald’s, one of the few restaurants along the whole trail that was literal steps from the PCT, and hence a star attraction among thru-hikers.
“Yes.” Another light throat clearing. “There’s also a hotel?”
Ben froze.
And then he shoved the sleeping bag away from his face. “Shut the front door.”
