Page 19 of Rootbound
“No.”I groan when I remember that I had my actual camera in my hands right before I was hit by the truck that is Henry. I see it on the ground, very obviously broken.
“Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was you.” His tone is etched with irritation. He stalks back the direction he came, picking up something from the ground and tucking it away. He whips back around to me, all hints of apology lost. “What the fuck are you doing out here at night, unarmed and wearing this—this dress-coat thing?!”
“This dress-coat thing is my old swimming parka! It’s warm and comfortable. I wasn’t headed out in the night worried about fashion, you knob! And, armed? Why the fuck would I need to be armed?”
“It’s… brown… and shiny.” He’s fixated on my coat, the corners of his lips pulled down in disgust.
“Our mascot was the banana slug! Also, YOU BROKE MY CAMERA!”
“And for that I am sorry, but what were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that it’s a full moon, and I had light. LeighAnn told me about a herd of wild horses, and I don’t know—I figured I could get some interesting picturesone way or another. I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep, anyway.”
He nods, jaw clenched and nose flaring before he looks down. Belle licks my hand and paws my leg for attention, before I comply.
“For the record, the horses are nowhere near here, but I will replace your camera, and anything else that was broken. I’m sorry again. And for the—” He gestures to my chest, and then looks down again,rightfullyembarrassed. Shifts on his feet anxiously.
I study the man. He seems contrite enough, maybe a bit panicked. So while I don’t understand why he took it upon himself to act as a one-man army, my guess is that there have been reasons for it in the past.
“It’s alright, most action I’ve had in a while.” I cringe, not sure what possessed me to say that.
A laugh escapes him in a rush before he replies, “Me too, actually.” He grins.
Yeah right.That smile is a complete panty melter. The moon is shining just enough that I can fully see his face clearly, now. The smile lines around his eyes deepen, and the ones around his mouth dimple, almost meeting each other. His hair is mussed and sticking up in a corner, like he just woke up. We both deflate at the same time, and laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of what just happened.
“Why are you up?” I ask, tension broken.
He laughs at that, too. “Oh, you know. Some caveman instinct told me there was danger nearby. Clearly I’m out of touch.” He shuffles his hair away from his face and scratches the back of his neck. The movement causes an impressive bicep to bunch, and my body responds with traitorous warmth. Why, all of a suddennowmy sexual appetitedecides to make herself known on my hierarchy of needs, is beyond me.
“Well, I guess we may as well head back now. Not going to get much material…” I pick up the remnants of my camera. Henry grabs my coat and backpack.
“I’ll take tomorrow off and we can head into town to look for a replacement. Let me know what else?”
“Uh, this is a five thousand dollar camera just FYI, and it’s insured for these kinds of reasons. Well, maybe notexactlythis. But really, it’s okay.”
“It’s fine. It’s my fault. I’ll cover it.”
I already know I’m not going to let him buy me a new camera, but, rather than argue it out tonight, give a noncommittal nod.
We start to make our way back, my sides and back aching. I take a weird step and hiss.
“Fuck, you’re hurt, aren’t you?” He reaches for me before jerking his hands back, obviously unsure whether or not he should touch me again, eyes rounding in concern.
“No, no. Just took a weird step. I’ll be fine, seriously. It was a misunderstanding.”
“No, let me at least take a look when we get back to the cabins. I’ll just make sure nothing is broken or anything,” he says.
At this point, I’m so keyed up and sleep deprived, and can’t start my work tomorrow anyway. I’m also starving, so I cave.
“Okay, but on the condition that you let me raid your food, and your booze,” I reply. I decided to go out and seek work when I woke up in the middle of the night and saw that my cabin was devoid of any kind of sustenance.
“Works for me.” He smirks and walks closer to me therest of the way back, keeping his hand out as if to brace me. I shiver and realize that I’m in the pajamas that I changed into before I gave up and headed out for the night—braless, and in a too-small fitted T-shirt that says “Taco Belle” on it, with my favorite hole-ridden black sweats. Last Halloween Ava and Casey dressed up as Beauty and the Beast, with Jack in a Lumière costume. I bought this so I could join in their family theme (as Ava demanded) but added my own twist. I carried around a twelve pack box of tacos all night for effect.
In the dark the getup is fine, but I know once we get inside my nipples will be on full display. I try to grab my coat from Henry as we step on his porch, but he doesn’t let it go.
“I don’t think this should be allowed in my house, sorry.” His nose scrunches when he spares my coat a horrified look.
“I’m cold.”