You need to get it together, man.
When we finally make it to our campsite, it will be sweet relief.
Alexandria Flat is one of my favorite places for a reason.
There’s just something so breathtaking about these cliffs, their faces imposing and severe, and the roaring waterfall that divides them almost perfectly in half—the view is even more majestic than the lake where we camped for the kayaking segment of the trip. Especially now, at sunset, with the way the brilliant orange light glints off the surface of the water, it feels like the last moments before a movie starts, when the lights dim to prepare you for the real show.
Out here, the entire night skyisthe theater.
“We have a special stargazing opportunity tonight for anyone who wants to sleep out in the open,” I tell the group when we’ve all reconvened after dinner and downtime. Even at a bit of a distance, I have to speak up over the crash of Moonbow Falls at my back. “Once the sun goes down, it usually gets a little chilly—we’ve got hot cocoa packets and extra handwarmers if you need one. You’re welcome to set yourtents up, but I’d like to personally challenge you to spend the night out here in the open—you can thank me in the morning!”
I go over a few details about how rappelling will work tomorrow: Matteo and I are both certified (as is Trey, apparently), no one is obligated to participate, we’ll start midmorning for anyone who’s interested.
A few people opt to set up their tents when we disperse—Sadie included.
Only now do I realize my vision for tonight involved her sleeping bag right next to mine, both of us sipping on hot cocoa, maybe even sharing a blanket before we tuck in to sleep…if we can get away with any of that without calling too much attention to ourselves.
I’ve only ever seen one guide get fired for getting involved with a guest—Brad, a year ago—and he’s the reason the rule exists at all. Brad had a pattern of hooking up with people at the expense of doing his job well. Three groups in a row, the post-hike surveys were full of comments saying he was distractible and downright irresponsible at times.
Even if people were to make similar comments about me, I’m the most reliable guide Danica’s got, and she knows it. Not that I ever want to abuse that—I’m just saying, she’d probably be more curious than angry if she found out I’d developed feelings for someone.
I make my way over to Sadie, feeling Matteo’s eyes on me as I pass—he’s helping Zoe with her tent, and I’d hoped he’d be too busy with her to notice me.
Apparently not.
“You’re not sleeping outside?” I ask Sadie quietly, hoping I don’t sound as disappointed as I feel.
She pokes her head out of her tent, smiles. “Oh, no—I am.”
“Why’d you set up, then?” I ask.
“Promise not to make fun of me?”
“I’m not sure that’s a promise I can make,” I reply, crouching down so we’re face-to-face. “Tell me, Sadie—why would I make fun of you?”
“Number one, I don’t want to change into my pajamas in front of the whole world. And number two…I guess…it just feels weirdnotto? Like it’s just part of the routine we’ve had every night, setting up the tent. Having a place that’s only mine makes me feel a little more settled out here. And maybe I’m low-key afraid that it’ll start pouring on us and we’ll need a place to take shelter?”
There’s not a cloud in the sky, but I decide against pointing that out.
“Why would I have made fun of you for that?” I ask instead.
Her cheeks turn pink in the glow of her touch lamp. “I’m a creature of habit, I guess? I take comfort in routine, even if it doesn’t totally make sense—I like knowing I’m prepared for anything.” She glances down at her mismatched nails, then back up at me with a look so vulnerable I can’t tear my eyes away. “Some people would tell me it’s dumb or unnecessary.”
Sadie’s words hang between us. The way she’s phrased it makes me think someonespecificmade her feel bad about that in the past.
Again, I feel the unfamiliar urge to throw a punch. What a jackass.
“You need what you need,” I tell her now. “That’s all there is to it.”
Personally, I think she needs the comfort of familiarity far less than she realizes…but I suspect that’s something she’ll have to figure out for herself.
“Want me to take your sleeping bag?” I offer. “Save you a spot?”
“Only if you’re sure you don’t want to spend the nightinthe tent,” Sadie says, flipping seamlessly from unguarded to flirtatious.
“As tempting as that sounds,” I tell her, matching her tone, so close my lips brush against her ear, “I cannot be held responsible for you missing tonight’s sky.”
“We can still do tent things under the stars, if you want?” she says,then presses a kiss so quick and light onto my collarbone that I very truly may have hallucinated it.
