Jared’s voice softened, taking on a teasing warmth that sent a flicker of heat to Jerica’s cheeks. "I know," he said, his tone quieter now as he leaned in closer, his breath brushing her ear.
"You’re not exactly the rough-it-out-in-the-wilderness kind of girl... You won’t even share a sleeping space, let alone use a public bathroom. Rember the last ti we stayed sowhere without a five-star rating? You made clean the bathroom before you’d even step foot inside."
Jerica bristled, her back stiffening as she felt his proximity. He was too close, and with so many eyes on them, the mont felt far too intimate for her liking.
Yet, she wasn’t flustered about his words—she could defend her reasoning for that bathroom situation any day. "It was for safety reasons," she snapped, her voice a touch sharper than intended. "One cannot be too careful with these things. Diseases spread because of bad hygiene."
Jared tilted his head, as though thoughtfully considering her explanation, though the faint smirk on his lips betrayed him. "True..." he conceded with a soft chuckle, his gaze lingering on her. She was always like this—stubbornly particular, adorably high-maintenance, and utterly out of her elent here. It tugged at sothing instinctual in him, the desire to shield her from every small discomfort.
"Jared," she said again, her tone shifting, this ti laced with pleading. Her frustration was clear, but so was her vulnerability. "I can’t. I just can’t. Help ."
For a mont, he simply studied her, his teasing expression fading. His gaze softened, his smirk giving way to sothing gentler, more genuine. "Alright," he murmured with a resigned sigh, as though she’d truly twisted his arm.
Jerica’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Help how?"
"I’ll scope out a private spot for you," he replied, already reaching for his flashlight. "Sowhere secluded. And I’ll stand guard while you... you know."
She blinked, incredulous. "Stand guard?" Her voice was tight with disbelief and a hint of indignation.
Jared stepped closer, his smirk returning. This ti, his voice dropped into a conspiratorial murmur. "Would you rather go alone and risk a bear wandering by?"
Jerica shuddered at the thought, all argunts dying on her lips. Muttering a reluctant, "Fine," she crossed her arms over her chest, clearly unhappy but unable to find a better alternative.
With flashlight in hand, Jared began leading the way toward the woods. The beam of light cut through the darkening evening, the glow casting long shadows that danced across the trees.
Jerica followed close behind, her grumbling filling the quiet between them. "This is ridiculous," she muttered under her breath. "This whole trip is ridiculous. Who even cos to a place like this without proper facilities?"
Jared glanced back at her, his eyes gleaming with amusent in the dim light. The corners of his mouth curved upward, and he couldn’t help himself. "You know," he began, his tone light, teasing but undeniably affectionate, "for soone who hates the outdoors, you sure make it entertaining."
Jerica shot him a glare, though the faintest hint of a smile betrayed her. "Don’t push your luck," she said, her voice tinged with exasperation.
He chuckled softly, his steps slowing slightly to match hers. He wouldn’t admit it aloud, but her flustered indignation was one of his favorite things about her. She was fiery, unapologetically herself, and even in situations like this—where she clearly wanted to be anywhere but here—there was a certain charm in the way she navigated it all.
As they reached a small clearing, Jared stopped, shining the flashlight around until he found a spot that seed sufficiently hidden. "Here," he said, gesturing toward a patch of dense bushes. "Private enough?"
Jerica wrinkled her nose, hesitating. "I guess..." she muttered, still not thrilled with the idea but desperate enough not to argue further.
"Don’t worry," Jared said, stepping back to give her so space but staying within earshot. "I’ll keep watch. No bears, no peeping campers, I promise."
Jerica managed to take care of her imdiate need under Jared’s watchful eyes, though the entire ordeal left her shaken. If peeing in the wilderness was this challenging, she couldn’t even fathom how she’d handle the rest of the trip—especially when it ca to more, uh, involved tasks. Her stomach tightened at the thought of needing to go number two in this godforsaken place. And showers? The re idea made her shiver.
Why would anyone plan a trip to such a primitive location? Did the organizers want to regress to the Stone Age? Was this their twisted way of building "character"? Jerica couldn’t wrap her head around the concept.
"There’s a waterfall about a mile away," Jared said as they walked back. His tone was casual, almost too casual. "Do you want to have a shower there later?"
Jerica turned her head sharply to him, her expression a mix of disbelief and horror. A waterfall? She shuddered at the thought. Did she look like the kind of person who enjoyed frolicking under freezing, unfiltered water while being gawked at by fish or, worse, people?
She groaned inwardly, the sheer absurdity of the suggestion making her want to cry. What kind of cruel fate had brought her to this stinky, uncomfortable nightmare?
And speaking of stink, sothing hit her senses like a brick wall. She wrinkled her nose, her eyes widening as she looked around, frantic. "What is that sll?" she asked, her voice rising in panic.
Jared tilted his head, sniffing the air lightly. "What sll?" he asked, his voice calm, though the concern in his gaze betrayed him. He placed a comforting hand on the small of her back, his warmth steadying her.
"You’re useless," she muttered, pouting as she bent her head lower, scanning the ground as though the answer to the foul odor might be lurking there.
He chuckled softly, but the sound was tender rather than mocking. Without a word, Jared reached for her hand, his larger one enveloping hers. His thumb traced slow, soothing circles on the back of her hand as they continued their walk back to the campsite.
Jerica, for all her bluster and independence, was leaning against him now, her full weight resting on his side. She clung to his arm like it was her lifeline, her eyes darting around warily, her lips pressed into an adorably stubborn pout. She rarely acted like this—so openly needy, so vulnerable. Normally, she was more like a cat, coolly aloof and self-assured, even in the face of discomfort.
But in monts like this, when she let herself rely on him, Jared felt his heart swell. He adored this side of her, even if she would never admit to it herself. Her clinginess wasn’t a burden; it was a gift.
He wanted to keep her like this forever—close to him, safe, and cherished. As they approached the campsite, her grumbles about the sll and the stinky place faded into the background for him. All he could focus on was the feel of her hand in his, her trust in him, and the quiet promise he made to himself to always be there when she needed him, even when she claid she didn’t.
The sun was a fiery orange as it dipped below the distant valley, its last rays streaking the sky in hues of pink and gold. Through the breaks in the dense forest, the silver moon began to rise, casting a faint, ethereal glow over the scene. The air was cool, and the earthy scent of the forest mingled with the faint crackle of campfires in the distance.
Jared, his hand warm and steady around Jerica’s, suddenly ca to a stop. "Wait," he said, his voice soft but firm. He gently tugged her hand, causing her to pause mid-step. "Look there," he said, his chin tilting toward the horizon.
Jerica, still preoccupied with avoiding anything unpleasant on the forest floor, instinctively glanced up—but instead of looking at the sunset, her eyes settled on Jared.
The warm, fading light of the day softened the rugged features of his face. His ssy hair caught the sun’s glow, giving it a golden sheen, and a few loose strands fell onto his forehead. His sharp jawline and the scruff on his face seed almost sculpted, the faint smile on his lips making him appear effortlessly charming. His wet khaki shirt clung to his chest from earlier exertions, accentuating the strength in his broad shoulders and the lean definition of his body.
He was breathtaking, and for a mont, Jerica forgot about everything else—the wilderness, her discomfort, even her earlier grumbles.
Jared caught her gaze and smirked, his brown eyes twinkling with amusent. "Watch the sunset," he murmured, his lips curving into a deeper smile. He didn’t mind her staring—it made him feel special—but he wanted her to take in the beauty of this rare, quiet mont.
Jerica blinked, caught off guard, but his soft tone and that teasing smile disard her. With a small smile of her own, she leaned against him, resting her head lightly on his shoulder. Together, they turned to watch the sky, the sun making its slow retreat as the moon took its place.
Jared’s arm wrapped around her, pulling her closer. He felt her warmth against him, her presence grounding him in a way that made the world feel perfectly balanced.
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