Ben was quiet a moment. Ignored his responsible brain, currently shouting inside his skull that if he moved his ass right now, he could still catch up with Faraj. Let that word,prettier, said in Alexei’s deep, serious voice, roll around in his head instead.
“I’m sorry about those guys,” he said eventually, “if they made you uncomfortable at all.”
Alexei shrugged. “Are they not your friends?”
“I only met them at Warner Springs. They’re good guys, decent to hike with. That story Ryan told really wasn’t typical.” He took another sip of PBR. “But I wouldn’t call them close friends of mine, no. Are you hiking with anyone?”
“No.”
Ben drained the beer while a silence settled over the table. Alexei seemed to relax after a bit. Leaned over to his pack, dug out a journal and pen. Started scribbling words on a blank page while Ben thought about what to do here.
If only Alexei hadn’t looked at his mouth like that. If only Alexei weren’t so beautiful, and strange, and intriguing, the answer would be easier.
He probably could still catch up with Faraj.
Ben added the empty can to their stack of dishes. Crossed his arms over the table.
“How would you feel about walking together for a while?”
Alexei didn’t look up. Tapped his pen against the paper.
“I’m not the best conversationalist.”
Ben smiled. He’d gotten that.
“After seventy miles with those guys, I could use a bit of silence.” Which was true. Ben didn’t mind silence. His blood pressure already felt lower, his mind quieted, in the fifteen minutes he and Alexei had sat alone at this table together.
“I have to refill my water. And do some first-aid things.”
Ben shrugged, his grin growing. “I’m tired as hell, man. Let’s stay here all day.”
That crease reappeared in Alexei’s brow. “Oh. Well, I didn’t budget for a hotel here. I’m already kind of off track—”
Ben cut him off with a gentle laugh. “No, I’m just saying, take your time. I’m good if you’re good.” After Alexei didn’t respond, he tried to put care into his voice when he asked, “Are you good? You don’t have to hike with me.”
Because this was the most important bit, really. What Alexei wanted.
Alexei was quiet a long time.
Finally, softly, he said, “I’m good.”
Ben worked to make his smile slow and steady.
“Let’s clear the table; you can do what you need to do. Meet by that tree whenever you’re ready?”
Alexei nodded. Five minutes later, Ben settled himself at the base of said tree, passing the time by convincing himself that hiking with Alexei was totally, maybe, possibly, most likely not a bad decision. Probably.
He also stared at his phone, willing a text from Carolina to come through while he still had service.
Even though he knew she was probably still in fifth period at East High. AP Gov. And while his baby sister rarely broke the rules, shereallydidn’t break the rules in her favorite class.
He chatted with Julie instead, about her annoying coworker Lorraine, about London and their new nonprofit summer camp for LGBTQ kids, about London’s partner Dahlia who had recently moved to town. It made him feel at home, talking to Julie. By the time Alexei arrived, Ben felt almost fully himself for perhaps the first time since starting the trail. The beer had given him the slightest buzz. It was nice to have a moment alone.
And then Ben put down his phone, and looked up.
It was unfortunate, really, seeing him again from this angle. Eye level with Alexei’s impressive thighs. He was tall, Alexei; his broad shoulders hovered above Ben in a way that made Ben’s mind go immediately quiet, his stomach quiver.
Ben hauled himself up from the ground.
