12. Chapter Twelve
”You two decent?” Kane”s voice rang out, as Jackson groaned at the intrusion. The brothers emerged from the foliage, backpacks slung over their shoulders, and beaming grins plastered on their faces.
Maya”s cheeks flamed, and she couldn”t look anyone in the eye. Jackson”s jaw clenched, as he adjusted himself. Thank God Kane wasn’t five minutes earlier when he was inside Maya.
”Kane, man, come on,” Jackson groaned. “Timing”
“I could hear you two from a mile away. We nearly turned back but I thought you’d both be hungry by now. Sarah and Eve are cooking up a storm at the campground waiting for us to find you.” Alex said, as he tried to hide his grin
Jackson’s eyes met Maya”s, and for a fleeting moment, they shared an unspoken understanding. The tension had been broken, and they couldn”t help but stifle a nervous laugh.
“I could eat,” Maya said. “I had to save Jackson here and he lost our packs with our food, phone and first aid kit. And now I’m starving.”
”Glad you two have worked up an appetite,” Alex said grinning at them both.
”Alright, alright,” Kane said, clapping his hands. “Maya, you good to head back? We can all hike out together, and I”ll continue the brotherly humiliation on the way.” He shot Jackson a knowing look, and the others chuckled.
Maya forced a smile, ”Yeah, I”m good to go. I’m a little slower on this leg, but lead the way, Kane.” she said giving Jackson a playful nudge. “I need a shower desperately.”
Jackson leaned towards her and whispered. “Maybe I can wash your back for you?”
“If it’s only my back that you want to wash, then I’m doing something wrong,” Maya said as she slipped out from under his arm and grinned at him.
”Is that a challenge I hear,” Jackson asked, eyebrows raised.
”Oh, you have no idea,” she replied, winking back at him.
The group fell into formation, with Maya and Jackson falling a few steps behind the others. As they walked, the forest around them seemed to come alive with their laughter and banter.. It was as if a barrier had been broken, and now they could finally be themselves around one another.
As they emerged from the forest, the campground came into view, the smell of food already wafting through the air. The sun had started to rise over the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the campsite.
”Welcome back, lovebirds!” Sarah and Eve teased, grinning at the disheveled appearances of Maya and Jackson. “I had to admit I was getting a bit worried about you both.”
Maya hugged her friend and whispered that she would fill her in later. She took in the cozy campsite, complete with blankets spread out on the ground and a roaring fire blazing in the center. Her stomach growled in anticipation of the feast that awaited them.
”Alright, everyone,” Kane announced, clapping his hands. ”Breakfast is served! Dig in!”
Maya and Jackson’s hands brushing briefly as they reached for paper plates. Their eyes met, and they both stifled grins, both thinking about the last twenty-four hours and the hope of the shower to come.