"What if you run out?"
"Then I'll open my mouth. I'm pretty sure the rain won't let me run out," I said, touched at his concern.
"You'll need to be careful on your trek down. It'll get steep in some places, so you'll have to skirt around until you find a shallower route."
I started to tell him he wasn't telling me anything I didn't know, but I could tell it was stuff he needed to say. He needed to know that he was helping. I patiently listened to his tips as he droned on. Eventually, he ran out of steam and I snuggled up against him.
The cave had once again become pitch black as another night settled on us.
"You awake?" I whispered, not wanting to wake him if he was sleeping.
"Yeah," he answered.
"What's your favorite memory?" I asked, needing to hear his voice.
He was silent for several minutes after I asked the question. I was beginning to think he had fallen asleep when he finally answered.
"The time my parents took me to the Grand Canyon."
"Yeah? Did you ride a donkey?" I joked.
"Actually, yes," he laughed.
"Ha, I was just kidding, but you really did?"
"Yep, I remember being like six or seven and my parents and I taking donkey rides down the canyon. My mom freaked because she was afraid of heights, but she still went anyway."
"I think I would have been like your mom. Heights scare the bejesus out of me," I admitted.
"I didn't know that, but you went with me on the hardest trail on the mountain. Why?"
"Because, I was worried about Alyssa," I said, only answering half truthfully.
"Was that the only reason?" he asked, sounding disappointed.
"No," I said, smiling in the dark. "You might've had something to do with it."
He laughed softly next to me. "Does Rick know you're afraid of heights?"
"Hell no, I wasn't about to admit that. I'm sure poor Rick freaked out when he picked me up at the airport only to realize I didn't have a lick of his outdoorsiness in me."
"You might be surprised. Believe me, if I was the jealous type, I'd be green with envy at how much he raves about you."
"Really?" I asked.
"Yeah, really. Do you always doubt yourself?"
"Ha, my doubts stemmed from you, Greeky," I said, snorting on a laugh.
"Greeky?" he asked, puzzled.
"Oops, I guess the cat's out of the bag. That's what Amy and I started calling you," I said.
"Is it some kind of weird slang for geek?" he asked, puzzled.
"If I tell you, we'd have to deflate your ego before we could get you out of here in order for you to fit," I teased.
"Ha-ha, you're a laugh a minute. You should start your own comedy club."