“We’re perfect,” George replied. “I’m excited for the trip.”
“It’s fun. I’ve been out with the guests before, and Reyes and I love to camp, just the two of us. It’s that special thing we share.” His knowing gaze seemed to hint that Levi and George could find a special thing to share, too—only he and George weren’t married like Miles and Reyes. They weren’t even technically a couple. Friends with brand-new benefits, maybe.
Whatever they were, Levi was here for it. He only hoped George was, too.
* * *
The first leg of the trip left George sore and exhausted by the time their entire party stopped by a long, babbling creek of water that bisected the land. They’d been riding for about two and a half hours, and his butt hurt more than he’d ever imagined. Figuro was a great horse and easy to manage, but damn, the constant rolling and up-and-down movements weren’t easy to get used to. He had no idea how Levi managed to ride at a full gallop, never mind do all those tricks.
Everyone dismounted at the creek and the horses were allowed to drink. George took some time by himself to stretch in familiar routines from his skating days. Warming muscles and getting blood flowing again. He probably should have stretched before the ride began but too late now. Once his body felt less wound up, he took a few pictures of the scenery to send to Orry tomorrow because, as promised, the Wi-Fi signal was gone.
His conversation with Orry had been terse and uncomfortable, and not because of anything George had done. All he wanted was to go on an overnight horse ride/hike. What was wrong with that? His worrywart brother had made a much bigger deal out of it than it was, and it had taken all of George’s patience to calm his twin down. To assure him he’d be perfectly safe in a large group of people, headed by very experienced members of the Clean Slate staff. He also promised to stay far away from the edge of the bluff in the morning—the bluff their neighbor Slater had fallen over saving a kid’s life.
He had not mentioned that one of the staff overseeing the trip was his own age. Hugo was young but seemed perfectly capable.
Once his muscles were properly loosened, he glanced at his fellow campers. Levi, Miles and Reyes were chatting together, while Hugo made conversation with the two married couples. The Harrisons were keeping to themselves, which suited George just fine. He had no desire to relive his experience with Mrs. Harrison and embarrass himself again.
Rey approached with a cell phone in his hand. “Hey, Faith really wants a picture of the three of us by the creek. Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” George accepted the phone and took several shots of the adorable family in different poses by the rushing water. “These are great. You having fun, Faith?”
“The best time ever,” she replied. “Are you?”
“Lots of fun.” Even if his butt was sore. He handed Rey his phone back. “Your family is precious. I envy you.”
Rey offered him a kind smile. “If kids and a partner are what you want one day, you can have that. For a long time, I didn’t dare reach for my dreams. I existed one day at a time. One hour at a time. Until I met Samuel. He taught me how to dream again. You meet someone like that, you hold on tight, okay?”
George glanced briefly across the creek at Levi. “That’s good advice, thank you.”
“Anytime. I learned the hard way that family doesn’t always have to be blood. Just the people you choose to love who also love you back.”
The beautiful sentiment made his eyes sting as he thought about his brother and friends back in the city. “I’ve started learning that recently. Thanks.”
Rey winked and returned to his husband and daughter.
George wandered down the creek and stopped at a shallow spot to dip his fingers into the icy water. Something shiny caught his attention, and he fished it out of the gravel and mud. Flat and round, like some sort of old coin, but time and the water had smoothed the markings down, making it difficult to know how old it was. It was about the size of a penny, though. He smiled at the unique find he’d randomly plucked out of the creek.
A shadow appeared nearby, so George didn’t jump when Levi asked, “Going fishing?”
“Yup.” He stood and held out the coin. “Found this.”
“Huh.” Levi squinted and held it up to the light. “I wonder how old it is.”
“I don’t know but as a trip souvenir, it’s pretty unique.”
“Very true.” He handed it back, and their fingertips brushed.
George wanted to hold his hands again like last night, but they were surrounded by people, and he wasn’t ready to out himself to the group. He hadn’t even come out to his twin yet. But everything about Levi made George want to do things he’d never imagined doing—like pushing him against the nearest tree so they could make out, audience be damned.
He could behave himself until they were in a tent.
Maybe.
Chapter Thirteen
They reached the campsite at dusk, just as they were losing sunlight. Levi had never been on one of the overnights before, and he marveled at the beauty of the area. They were on flat land near the base of a rocky crag that crept up into a much larger mountain that cast long shadows from the setting sun. Stones had been laid out in a large circle in a sandy area free of grass, which was their fire pit. Another creek—or maybe the same one as before—babbled nearby, giving the horses a place to hydrate before they were tied off at a long rail made out of thick, rough-hewn logs.
He couldn’t wait for the sun to fully set and the stars to come out.
Once the horses were untacked, brushed, and tied up with bags of oats for their dinner, Reyes divided the group in two for campsite chores. Everyone pitched in. Levi joined the group of campers assigned to gather firewood for the big fire pit to provide light, heat, and cook their supper. George was part of the group unloading the chuck wagon, and he seemed perfectly at ease with Hugo, Faith, Rey and the Harrison teens.
Reyes oversaw the firewood collection with the wagon’s shotgun in his hand, muzzle pointed at the ground. “Only dry wood, please,” he said. “Don’t break anything off a tree, because it won’t burn and it hurts the tree. We need all sizes, so carry what you can manage best.”
Mrs. Porter didn’t seem thrilled with picking up sticks and mostly poked around. Levi rolled his eyes and collected the larger pieces that would keep the fire going throughout the night. When Reyes deemed they’d collected enough, the group headed back to the main site where the wood was sorted into piles based on size. Mr. Harrison asked about “personal business” and Hugo pointed out a rocky area with a few thick scrub trees as the watering hole.
Good to know.