Page 96 of We Are Just Us

The silence that followed was profound.

No traffic or voices. Just wind moving through the trees, the faint creak of branches, the occasional call of a bird.

“This is it,” Rory said.

Kieran looked around. The clearing was flat enough for a tent, sheltered by rocks on one side, open to the sky on the other.

“This is awesome,” Kieran said.

They climbed out of the truck, and the heat hit strong, wrapping around them, dry and immediate. But it wasn’t oppressive. It was clarifying.

The dogs spilled out of the back seat, immediately setting off to explore.

Rory pulled his shirt over his head without ceremony, tossing it into the truck bed.

“You’re staring again,” Rory said, grinning.

“You’re shirtless.”

“I don’t hear you complaining.” Rory stepped a fraction closer, the heat bouncing off him suddenly a lot more personal than the desert sun. He caught Kieran’s eye, his voice dropping to that low, familiar gravel. “In fact, if I recall correctly, you didn’t have any objections to shirts flying before.”

Kieran’s face burned instantly, his mind flashing to the dark hallway and the smooth, sudden motion of Rory pulling the fabric over his head.

“Shut up,” Kieran muttered, looking away toward the horizon.

Rory let out his low, satisfied laugh. “It’s a hundred degrees, Kieran. Sue me.”

They set up camp together, falling into a rhythm. Rory handled the tent set-up like he could do it blindfolded. Kieran followed instructions, holding fabric tight while Rory secured it.

When they were done, Rory stepped back, hands on his hips. “Not bad.”

“I helped,” Kieran said.

“You did. Barely.”

“Rude.”

They left camp and wandered into the desert, picking their way between rocks, both dogs trotting ahead. Hank had found a burst of energy from somewhere, bounding over rocks while Mabel stayed closer, checking back every few minutes to make sure everyone was accounted for.

Rory pointed out details as they walked, the way certain formations had been shaped by wind, the tracks of a lizard in the sand, a bird’s nest tucked into the crook of a Joshua tree.

“You know a lot about this place,” Kieran observed.

“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid,” Rory said. “My dad used to bring me camping. Taught me how to read the land.”

They climbed up onto a large, flat rock that offered a view of the valley below. The dogs found shady spots and flopped down, Mabel in one patch of shadow, Hank in another, both panting but content.

Kieran sat, legs dangling over the edge, and Rory settled beside him.

“I’m glad you came,” Rory said.

Kieran looked over at him. “Me too.”

“I know it’s been a lot. With Hank. With everything.”

“Yeah.” Kieran watched Hank sprawled in the shade, tongue lolling. “But he’s home now. And I needed this. To be somewhere that isn’t complicated.”

Rory nodded. “The desert’s good for that. It doesn’t care about your problems.”