"I can't believe we just did that," I laughed, suddenly remembering we were lying naked in the mountains.
"You are pretty good at that," I teased.
"She finally admits it," he grinned.
"You were really amazin'," I added, taking his face in my hands to kiss him tenderly.
"You're always amazing," he replied. Despite his occasional ego flare ups, he was always a gentleman and always tried to boost my confidence in some way.
Afterwards we laid on our stomachs and talked about everything that came to mind while we watched the sun set. Watching the fire ball dip below the edge of the lake, I couldn't help but snap dozens of pictures. That sight was my favorite place to be, especially when I was there with Colton. I talked him into a couple more selfies once we got our clothes back on, and we got a fire going before the sunlight had completely faded. We ended up taking another dip in the lake too.
Before long it was midnight and the moon was our new companion. A hazy fog settled over the lake, making the moon look ominous but still radiant. We huddled together beside the fire not breathing a word; both content just to be with one another.
The deeper the night became, the more the wind picked up. The outfit Colton had chosen for me didn't give me much protection from the breeze, so I was forced to retreat to the tent. Colton stayed by the fire a while longer while I looked through the pictures of our day together. I studied the pictures. They all seemed perfect to me. Each one had the two of us smiling or acting stupid, and they all conveyed to me how happy we were together. I loved him. So much.
"Fire's out," Colton whispered as he slid inside and zipped up the tent. He was only wearing his Wranglers, so I got a full view of his rugged chest and abdomen.
"Have you been workin' out?" I inquired.
"What?" he laughed. "After the day we've had, that's what you ask me?"
I ran my hand across his body. "Yeah. You look— more toned," I sputtered.
"Bad thing?"
"Hell no," I giggled. "I was just curious if you always looked this good or if it was just the lighting from my phone."
"I have been. Gotta be in top shape for this weddin'," he beamed.
"Can you believe in thirty-eight days we're gonna be married?"
"Crazy isn't it?"
"I think it just hit me this week— like— we're gonna be married. Married," I smiled uncontrollably.
"Thirty-eight days and you're mine forever."
"I'm already yours forever," I poked.
"Officially mine forever," he corrected.
"I love you," I whispered.
"I love you more," he responded with a peck to my forehead. "Oh god. Don't post that anywhere."
"What?" I asked. I followed his gaze down to my phone. The picture was the two of us when we were half way through the trek; right before our pit stop. He was standing behind me with his arms wrapped around me. His head was on my shoulder and he was boasting his crooked grin. I didn't look that great myself, but I couldn't understand why that would dissuade him from having the picture posted on facebook or twitter.
"I look queer. Don't post that anywhere."
"You don't look queer!" I exclaimed. "I think you look sexy."
"Then keep it for your eyes only."
"I'm gonna share it with everyone."
"You'll be sorry," he warned.
"I'll take my chances. I need a new facebook profile pic anyways."
"Don't you put that on facebook Emma. I mean it. Fire will rain down on—"
"You look adorable," I smiled. "I'm definitely keepin' this one."
"Keep it all you want, just don't show no one."
I rolled my eyes at him. "Fine. Can I at least make it my phone background?"
"People don't see that," he started. "So sure."
"Yay!" I squeaked. I dropped the phone on a pillow and gave him a tender kiss on the lips. He ran his fingers through my hair as the kiss melted into a full on make out. I rubbed my hands across his chest. He walked his hand up my back from my waist to shoulders, and then back down. We kissed for several minutes before we faded off into a sleep we both desperately needed.
...
I awoke with a startle. Voices were whispering outside the tent, and the dawn revealed to me shadows crawling through the escaping darkness. I shook Colton until he roused up. I did my best to alert him without making any noise. He looked at me like I was crazy until a murmur came from the other side of the flimsy material.
My heart was beating a mile a minute. My head jumped to a Criminal Minds episode. My fingers twitched with panic. Colton motioned for me to remain quiet and hold still. I watched the zipper to the tent; fearful it might start to move. A word shattered the silence. This was followed by a man's harsh whisper and a thump.
My eyes locked on the direction of the noise. I slid closer to Colton who protectively wrapped his arm around me. "Relax," he ordered. "It's probably just passerby's. Don't freak out." His words did little to comfort me as I was already in a full blown panic. My body was producing adrenaline faster than I could handle it. The thumping in my head increased. I backed up farther against Colton.
He started to push me off him. "I'll go check for you since you are freakin' out so much." He moved around me and towards the tent zipper.
"Don't go out there!" I shrieked in the quietest and most desperate whisper I could muster. He rolled his eyes at me and unzipped the tent. I huddled myself against the side of the tent and watched him as hard as I could. Every inch the zipper climbed wreaked havoc on my body. I could feel it tensing, fearing the worst. Moments ticked by like hours. My brain couldn't process what was going on anymore. Life felt like a bad dream; a bad dream that never ended. I sat bolt upright when Colton slipped out of the tent. As the flap fluttered back to earth I watched his feet disappear.
The seconds I couldn't see him were the longest of my life. I yearned for him to poke his head back in, but he didn't. I heard a stick cracking behind me and my heart sank. My eyes froze on the flapping piece of tent. Colton's voice rang out over the morning cricket chirp, "Can I help you?"
Two distinct laughs came from off to my left. One was an average male's voice tone, and the other was as deep as the Mariana Trench. "You can't," the deep one answered.
"Never hurts to ask. Have a nice—"
"What ya got in the tent?" the normal one inquired.
"Somethin' sweet?" Trench guy questioned.
"Got a couple marshmallows, but I ain't about sharin'," Colton responded.
"This fag. Thinks we want his marshmallows," the deep voice muttered.
"I was thinkin' more about that fine thing ya got tucked in there," the other one suggested. "She's pretty hot."
"Fuck yeah," the deep voice groaned.
"If y'all will just be on your way, we won't have a problem. But if you think I'm gonna let you anywhere near her then you got another thing comin'."
"Wook how protective the wittle guy is getting," the average man teased. "Awwhh. I think someone woves his fuck buddy."
"I love her a lot," Colton admitted. "And that's why you aren't gonna touch her."
"That's what you think," the low voice chided.
"Beat it," Colton ordered. I couldn't handle sitting in the tent any longer. I slipped out and stumbled to Colton's side. I rested my hands on his shoulder which alerted him to my presence. "Babe, get back in the tent. These fellas were just leavin'. Right guys?"
"That's what you think," the average voice laughed. He was a short man, looking to only be around five foot seven or so. I couldn't make out distinct features because it was barely morning, but I could tell his hair was as black as his sole. Dog tags glistened around his neck, and a class ring shimmered on his right hand. He couldn't have weighed more than 145. "Hey sweet thang." I shifted awkwardly at his comment, but I didn't respond.
"I can see why you're so protective," the taller man mocked. "That's one hot piece of ass." He was standing at an angle that gave me a better view of his characteristics. He was taller than Colton, probably by five or six inches; making him around six foot seven. His hands, however, seemed out of proportion to his body as they couldn't have been much bigger than mine. He was jacked. He looked like someone who'd just won a Dwayne Johnson lookalike contest. His nose was blocky and widespread, taking up the majority of his face.