“We’ve been dodging these guys since Montana,” Aiden says. “We’ll keep our eyes open.”
Curtis’s face looks grave when he hears this. “Be careful, you two. I couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to you.”
“We will,” I say, giving Curtis a reassuring nod.
As we head into the forest, on the way to the trail, we both stop to look back. Curtis stands at the edge of the farm, watching us leave. He gives us one last wave, and we wave back. Then we turn and head off into the trees.
*
Hiking along the trail is easier than ever. Perhaps it’s because I’m healed and well-rested. Perhaps it’s because I’m with the guy I love. And yes, I love him. I’m not ready to say it out loud yet. I don’t want to add more pressure on him, but the feeling is unmistakable.
The trail continues along the Yakima River, matching each curve. The river is tranquil, with the smallest current creating swirls and eddies. Farmlands give way to woods as we approach the eastern side of the Cascade foothills.
After a few hours, our trail goes under a freeway overpass. We cross Interstate 90 again. After our last near miss, we approach the intersection with care. We keep our eyes and ears open for cars, ready to jump off the trail should one come.
Just as we pass I-90, a loud rustling comes from the forest. We swing around. Aiden reaches for his rifle. The underbrush moves, and I expect to see either an Infected or the faces of Connor, Wayne, and Tyra running at us with guns blazing.
Instead, a large buck jumps out, so close he almost knocks us over. He stands on the trail, staring us down, looking startled but ready to defend himself. We all stand motionless, each staring into the other’s eyes.
The buck moves first, turning and bounding off back into the forest. In an instant, he’s gone.
Aiden and I face each other, our eyes wide, mouths open.
“Did we just get spooked by Bambi?” I say with a straight face.
We both crack a smile. And then a rabbit jumps out of the forest, sees us, then scurries back to where it came from, terrified.
“Thumper?” Aiden asks.
And that’s it. We both lose it, laughing uncontrollably. I love Aiden’s laugh so much. Hearing it makes me laugh harder. At some point, I end up rolling on the grass on the side of the trail, clutching my stomach and gasping for air.
Aiden lands beside me, smiling and giggling. Our giggles trail off, and we lie on the ground facing each other, hands pawing at each other’s bodies.
Aiden has a silly grin on his face. “I—um—I like you so much.”
Did he almost saylove?
“Me too.”
I go in for a soft kiss. It’s gentle and caring. Aiden brushes his hands through my hair as our lips press together, and all I want to do is stay like this forever.
Aiden pulls back and looks into my eyes. “I wish we didn’t have to keep going. I could have stayed at the farm with you for the rest of my life.”
“I was thinking the same thing. Maybe we’ll end up back there.” I let out a long sigh. “But for now, we have to finish this.”
“Yep.” Aiden sits up with his arms clasped around his bent knees. “Let’s get it done.”
We continue without stopping for the rest of the morning. At around noon, we stop for lunch. We’re at the fork of the Yakima and Cle Elum Rivers, sitting on a rocky outcropping near the riverbank. The rivers extend in three directions.
Aiden turns to me as we eat. “I’ve been thinking about our path through Snoqualmie Pass. I think we should take the Forest Service road. It might be the toughest going, but it gives us the most cover. I for sure don’t want to take I-90, and I’m not excited about the tunnel.”
The mention of the tunnel makes the hairs on my neck stand up. “Yeah, I agree. I don’t want to do that damn tunnel.”
“After lunch, we should try to get in about twenty miles, then. Try to get all the way to Keechelus Lake.” Aiden points at the map Curtis gave us. “That way, we’re close to the pass in the morning, and we have the whole day to get through.”
“That sounds like a good plan.” I’m not excited about the idea of another twenty miles today, but the going has been easy. I hope my energy level stays high.
We start up again after lunch. The trail no longer follows the river as it has for the last twenty or so miles. Instead, we head alongside the interstate. But it’s not too close, and our trail is tucked behind a line of trees.
