Sweet Little Nothing

The nature all around us is so serene and beautiful, so untouched and untroubled by the modern world, that it gives me pause. It makes me really stop and think about where I am and who I am...and who I want to be.

As always, Sterling is totally tuned into me and notices the change in my attitude. "What's on your mind, little mouse?"

"Just thinking about life." I shrug.

"Talk to me," he urges, his voice low, meant only for me.

"Just thinking about the future, I guess."

He grins. "Am I a part of that future?"

My heart soars in my chest, as it does every time he mentions a future between the two of us. "I hope so," I tell him honestly.

"I do, too, because, Emmalyn, you're mine."

I bite my lip to stop myself from smiling at his cocky alpha tendencies. "I am yours, for as long as you'll have me."

"Settle in for the long haul, baby."

"It should be just up here on the left!” Gabe hollers, bringing both Sterling and me back into the moment.

We hear the waterfall before we see it; the sound of rushing water is louder than I ever could have imagined.

"Oh, wow! It's beautiful," Stella murmurs, awe evident in her voice.

Zach wraps an arm around her slim shoulders. "Better than television?"

"Holy shit, one hundred percent. I would literally get married here if I could."

"There's an idea," Gabe says. "Who knows, maybe I'll get ordained just so I can officiate."

She laughs. "You're just extra enough to do it."

"Birds of a feather..."

"Are you calling me extra?"

"Babe, you're the definition," I say, coming to stand beside her.

Together, we peer over the rail, to where the fall crashes into a pool below, sending spray into the air.

She smiles. "Yeah, I am. Now, let's take a selfie."

We take turns snapping pictures in front of the waterfall before finally heading back toward camp.

* * *

"Were you a Boy Scout?" Stella asks, teasing Gabe as we all stand around the fire roasting our hot dogs.

"For fifteen years."

She giggles. "That explains so much."

"Not quite sure what you're trying to insinuate, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with being a scout. They taught me a lot of invaluable lessons.”

"Don't get your panties in a bunch, Gabriel. I'm only teasing."

"I'll show you teasing." He tosses his roasting stick down, hot dog and all, and charges toward her.

Stella screeches and throws her stick to the ground as well, breaking out into a run. She squeals as he gains on her, the two of them playing their own demented game of duck-duck-goose.

"You take it back!" he shouts.

"Take what back?" She stumbles a little but keeps going.

It's obvious Gabe's not really trying to catch her; not that you'd know it from the way Stella's running. She's like a chicken with her head cut off, flapping her wings as she sprints circles around the campfire.

"Take back that I have my panties in a twist. I don't wear panties, Stella!"

Gabe's face reflects the humor we're all feeling as we crack up at their antics. That is, until Stella trips and goes down hard.

"Ouch!" she wails, and we all rush to check on her.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"No! It hurts. God, it hurts." She clutches her ankle as she rolls to her side, tears welling in her eyes.

"What do we do?" I ask, feeling helpless.

"Let's try and stand you up," Gabe says.

"No." Zach tugs his boyfriend back. "We need to check her ankle first."

Gabe nods and kneels next to her, letting Zach take over.

"Can you rotate it?"

Stella tries and cries out, her pain so apparent that I swear I feel it, too. "N-not really."

"What about your toes—can you wiggle your toes?"

Again she cries out, her chest heaving with the effort.

"Okay. Shit. Let's get you up and see if you can put any weight on it."

Gabe scrambles to help her to stand, but the second she tries to put weight on it, she immediately crumples.

Luckily Zach catches her before she hits the ground.

I take her hand in mine, trying to comfort her. "I hate to say it, but I think you need to go to the hospital."

"But then I'll ruin your camping trip!"

"Stell, we can camp anytime. You getting to a doctor is way more important."

"Why don't you and Sterling stay and we will take her?” Gabe offers.

"Are you sure?" It feels weird to stay while she's hurt. But Sterling, Zach, and Gabe all nod.

I turn back to Stella, because right now her opinion is the only one that matters.

"Babe. Stay and have a good time. I know this is something you've been wanting to do, and it'll be too cold pretty soon."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive." She tries to smile, but it's more of a wince. "Bright side, now there's no worry over who sleeps where. It'll just be you two out here.”

"Jesus, Stell. You didn't have to break your ankle to avoid sleeping alone."