Chapter 21

Wyatt

It feels fucking good to hold Ruby’s hand as I lead her back to the lake house. It feels even better to have had her under me in that canoe.

Holy shit.

But I’m more than happy with just her hand for now. I’ll take my small victories. I don’t have enough of those at the moment.

Right now, the air is still—still and inky black. The night is hot, and the calm quietness is almost eerie.

My ears are pricked for the sound of bears, but nothing. Just some scurrying through the underbrush. Sounds like small creatures, like squirrels or rabbits—maybe something we could snatch up quick.

But if there really is a bear around, I don’t want to stand around here, putting Ruby in danger, just so I can play the big man and prey on some squirrels.

I’ve seen enough people put in danger. I’m holding onto this one. Tight.

Some war hero you are, Wyatt, can’t even hunt a squirrel.

And I wasn’t lying when I told Ruby I was happy with what I had managed to get my hands on. I feel like I’ve been tracking this girl for years.

Fuck. I’m still hard even just thinking about the feel of her body under my hands, the softness of her back, the hard little ridges of her hips against mine, and the way she moaned when I bit her lip.

I tighten my fingers around hers. There’s more I’d like to bite there.

It’s been so long since I’ve touched someone like that. Someone who acts like they’re not hungry for more than the built military guy. Someone who acts like they want to be there in the calm morning once the steamy evening is over.

This is the real shit, Wyatt, don’t fuck it up.

A twig snaps, and I whip around. It’s just a squirrel.

God. Wyatt, you’re losing your edge. It’s a squirrel, not a fucking platoon.

“What is it?!”

I’ve scared Ruby now, too.

I turn to face her, place a hand on her back, and wrap some of that strawberry hair around my fingers to comfort her, and to remind myself that this is real.

“Just a squirrel. I can be a little protective sometimes.”

“I like that,” she replies.

I can barely see her in the dark, but I can hear the smile in her voice.

We turn back up the path.

She starts to squeeze my arm. Like this, I can feel her breasts from the side, and I’m getting hard again. I can’t wait to find ways to have her all to myself for the next few days.

Let’s be real, I’m giddy like a teenage boy.

I can see the lights of the camp ahead now. The fire looks big, red, and inviting. It seems like Jake’s fire prowess is not as terrible as we imagined. I mention this to Ruby, and she laughs.

“Well, he has to be good at something, doesn’t he?”

She is such a breath of fresh air when she’s happy.

The fire is getting closer and closer now, crackling and bubbling into the night. In just a few hundred yards, they’ll be able to hear everything we say.

I stop, turn to her, and kiss her deeply. She kisses me back fiercely.

I want to say something, but I don’t know what; I’m garbage at that kind of thing. I really do feel like a teenage boy, all tied up in knots. So, I just put my hand behind her head and look into those dark eyes for a second, trying to communicate everything I’m feeling.

I read your journal, I want those things, too. All of them.

I feel like we’re connecting, body to body. Like she’s understanding and trying to communicate something to me, too. But our moment is broken by her damn phone buzzing.

Flustered, she grabs it out of her pocket. There are about seven messages from her boss. I can see his slimy face in her chat bubble.

I feel angry, jealous, and protective.

Don’t show her your ugly side, Wyatt. Don’t let on that you’re a monster.

So, I just put my hand over the screen.

“We don’t want to alert the enemy snipers to our location, remember?”

She laughs that big joyous laugh again. She puts her phone in her pocket, kisses me on the cheek, and starts to walk towards the fireplace.

Up close, the fire is huge and expectant in the hot night air. It’s pretty magnificent actually.

Good old Jake. I make a show of putting the bundles of wood that Ruby and I found down beside it so that at least they know we did something.

I straighten up.

Time to face the music, soldier. Everyone’s looking at us expectantly.

I shake my head slowly. “No luck. I’m sorry, folks. We tipped the boat, and we had to come back. I lost two poles and a net.”

I hate how everyone’s face falls. If I can’t be a war hero, can’t I at least be a hero to Ruby’s family?

Jake seems to feel the same way as I do.

He groans in hunger and frustration, looking at me and shaking his head. “I thought you were a professional at this shit, bro? What’s the deal? Can’t even steady a canoe?”

Their dad cuts in. “Now, Jake, Wyatt is still our guest—food or none.”

God, I feel fucking terrible. Everyone starts fighting again. Ruby and her parents are squabbling about how they shouldn’t have brought all the food up in one go.

Her dad is defending himself in a polite but stubborn way. Bloody Jake is complaining that he’s hungry.

I let them get it out for a minute. Another navy trick: things are often better out than in. Then I cut in before anyone can actually start a fight.

“Ruby and I will go to the store at sunrise. I’m sorry you all have to go hungry for my incompetence.”

A gentleman always takes the fall.

“It’s all of our incompetence, Wyatt,” Ruby’s mom looks tired and apologetic. “Thank you for trying to help.”

For feeling your daughter up in a dirty, old boat, you mean? You’re welcome. Anytime.

Ruby’s dad agrees. “You tried, son. And it would be a big help if you would go to the store. I’m sure we’d all really appreciate it, wouldn’t we, Jake?”

Jake just raises his eyebrows at me, looking unimpressed.

“Well, look on the bright side,” Ruby says; she is chipper and glowing after our little adventure, and doesn’t seem hungry or frustrated at all. “You’re always saying you want to go on a diet, mom! We can all start now!”

She sits down on a log by the fire. With enough room for me to sit next to her, I notice happily.

Ruby’s mom laughs in a tired, worn-out way.

“You’re right, darling. But, honestly, worrying about that bear has made me tired and stressed. Are there any of those cheese crackers left?”

“Sure are!” Jake pulls out a box.

I don’t know how all my non-perishables are somehow sitting behind Jake, but I should have predicted it.

His mom walks over and takes them from him. “I think your dad and I will just split these and go to sleep. What do you think, honey?”

“I agree wholeheartedly,” he replies, standing up and stretching.

Ruby’s mom kisses both her kids and—I am touched to note—me on the head before going to bed.

“Alright, everyone, now play nice. And don’t get yourselves into trouble while we’re asleep,” she teases, repeating the phrase she used to say when we were kids.

Oh, Mrs. Watson, if only you knew what I had in mind.