Wash

“Don’t worry. They don’t want us,” Jake whispered over the squawking and chirping of the birds outside. Then he pointed at a spot in the distance, where several lionesses were tearing into an unfortunate bushbuck.

I could only snuggle down into my sleeping bag like some terrified caterpillar, my heart beating a petrified symphony in my chest. I was excited that they were so close, but scared at the same time. “Can’t they find someplace else to enjoy their midnight snack?” I joked.

“This is what nature’s all about,” Jake responded. “Wow! Life on safari doesn’t get much better than this.” Jake looked at me, then back out around us, his eyes wide. “Isn’t this amazing?”

Before I could answer, a hyena whooped in the distance, making me gasp.

“A little jumpy?” he whispered, wearing a big smile.

“Jake, there are meat-eaters out there, giant cats on the prowl and striped, laughing dogs. Pardon me for being a little on edge.”

“Bring your sleeping bag over by me. I won’t bite.”

“Not a chance.”

Something crashed in the trees, pulling down branches.

My imagination went wild with the possibilities. “What’s that?” I asked.

“Elephants.”

Another lion roared, and loud trumpets filled the air, followed by more crashing feet.

I grabbed Jake’s arm in a panic.

“That’s just the lions scaring off the elephants,” Jake said.

I clutched my heart, trying to stay brave.

He peeked out the tent window again. “The lions are bored with us. They’re leaving.”

I let out a long sigh of relief. “Good. Maybe I can get some sleep now,” I said.

“Don’t worry. You’ll get more sleep on our next destination.”

“Which is?” I asked, since our near-death experience had my mind going in circles, causing me to completely forget our agenda.

“The sand dunes, then Paris.”

“Paris,” I said slowly. That was supposed to be our dream spot, the perfect place for lovers. I wondered why my mom had been so cruel as to order me to go to the City of Love with a man I despised.

I remembered all the passionate ways he’d planned to kiss me in front of the Eiffel Tower, the moonlight strolls we talked about, and those romantic boat rides that would lazily drift down the Seine River. We were going to eat a huge plate of oysters at the tiny Regis and splurge on a huge seafood platter at Le Dome. We planned to drink Chablis, Sancerre, Muscadet, and lots of champagne from fancy glasses. I’d also planned a self-guided kissing tour, with the help of a book I’d bought, aptly titled The Best Places to Kiss in Paris. I’d mapped out a fantastic day based on the most romantic locations, fifteen perfect spots, including a just-the-two-of-us picnic in our hotel room. Jake had loved the idea. and had teased me about being so sentimental. Jake and I had spent hours talking about Paris and planning the perfect vacation, but that was just one of those things I had to leave in the past. This time, we’d be going there as just friends, if even that, and I found that very sad.

Frowning, I told Jake goodnight again and crawled back into my sleeping bag. I refused to get any closer to him, lions or not. Trying to tune all thoughts of Jake out of my head, I listened to the beautiful sounds of nature. The symphony of hoots, shrieks, buzzes, and whistles eventually lulled me to sleep.

I jolted awake again when the crunch of leaves and the snap of twigs hit my ears, followed by loud wheezing ripping through the air. I strained my neck to listen as my heart skipped a beat. I lay as still as I could, and I heard something walking on dry, crackling grass. The noise sounded much closer than last time, and I worried that razor-sharp claws would tear through the flimsy tent material and rip us to shreds.

Chapter 11

“Jake!” my voice became a whisper, and my stomach fluttered. When he didn’t answer, I crept across the tent and turned on the lantern. “Jake!” I said again, shaking him. “They’re back!”

His eyes fluttered open. “Ashly?”

“Jake!”

“What’s wrong?”

“I heard something. Something’s out there.”