18. Sarah
Sarah hadn’t really packed the right clothes or shoes for hiking. Her jeans and sweater weren’t quite warm enough for the winter weather, and she shivered.
‘You’re cold,’ Theo said, looking at her with concern.
‘In my defence, I didn’t know we’d be actually camping. I would have packed more appropriately if I’d known.’
Theo took off the long jacket he wore and put it around her shoulders. It was deliciously warm and smelled of him.
‘What about you?’ Sarah asked. Not that she wanted to give up Theo’s coat; she just felt bad.
‘I’m used to the cold. I’ve done swimwear shoots in the middle of winter. This is nothing.’
‘What?’
They continued to walk through the gardens.
‘Fashion shoots usually happen a while before they actually get released. Swimwear might be a summer thing, but they need to shoot them in winter.’
‘But don’t they at least take you to a warm place to do it?’
‘Sometimes, but not always. Look. There’s a wishing tree down that way. Do you feel like checking it out?’
‘Sure.’
Sarah tucked her arm through Theo’s as he took the well-worn trail.
‘What are Alexis and Levi up to?’
‘No idea,’ Theo replied and checked his phone. ‘I texted Levi to let him know where we were going, but he didn’t get back to me. Maybe they’re still sleeping?’
They were quiet as they walked. The track was an easy path, and the birds were singing their hearts out, although some of the noises they made couldn’t exactly be considered singing. Screaming, more like. But it wasn’t unpleasant, and being with Theo made it even better. The sun was low in the sky, and it wouldn’t be long before it was dark. Sarah definitely wanted to be back at camp before that.
She stopped, making Theo turn to look at her.
‘What?’
Sarah pointed to the thing in front of them. ‘What is that?’
‘It’s a suspension bridge,’ Theo said, a frown marring his perfect forehead.
‘I’m not crossing that.’
‘What?’
‘Haven’t you seen Indiana Jones?’
‘Which one?’
‘Any of them. Someone always cuts the rope bridge and leaves them hanging.’
Theo laughed. It was nice to hear him laugh. He’d been so… serious before. Not only serious, but a little sad too. Sarah hadn’t liked it at all.
‘It’s barely off the ground,’ Theo said, referring to the bridge.
‘It doesn’t look safe.’
‘It’s perfectly safe.’
‘How do you know?’
Theo pulled her into a hug. ‘You trust me, right?’
‘Of course I do. This has nothing to do with trust and a lot to do with the structural integrity of that very unsafe-looking excuse for a bridge.’
Theo laughed again, and it rumbled through his chest and into her as she remained cocooned in his arms. She liked this. She much preferred a laughing Theo to the one who’d looked so vulnerable before. Of course, she knew no one could be happy all the time, and it was actually an honour Theo felt comfortable enough around her to open up. It didn’t stop her wanting to make him smile. She hated seeing him sad, and she had the overwhelming desire to take all his sadness away. Impossible to do. She knew that, but again, it didn’t stop her from wanting to try.
‘Do you want me to carry you across?’
‘No,’ she said, jumping away from him. ‘There’s no way that thing will support both of us.’
‘I’m pretty sure it will,’ Theo said, grinning at her.
‘Is my irrational fear funny to you?’ She wasn’t really mad, and yes, she was a little freaked out by the bridge, but she knew it would be safe… okay she hoped it would be safe. They wouldn’t let it be here if it wasn’t, right?
‘Of course not,’ Theo said, reaching for her again.
She let him take her hand, and together they approached the bridge. It was suspended over a gully full of tree ferns, and it was really kind of special. Sarah still hated the thought of walking across it. What if it swayed? What if one of the wooden planks broke under her feet?
‘Do you want to close your eyes, and I’ll guide you over?’ Theo asked.
‘No. That would probably be worse.’
‘So… is it the height that is worrying you? Because it’s not really that high…’
‘Not the height.’ She stared mistrustingly at the bridge. ‘It’s as I said. Hollywood has ruined me. Every time there’s a bridge like this in the movies, something terrible always happens.’
‘Okay, so what do you need from me? I can tell you all the reasons why this bridge is safe, or we can turn around, or I can just hold your hand while you walk across it.’
‘I don’t need you mansplaining why the bridge is safe. I know logically that it is safe, and I know it looks nothing like the ones in the movies. I see all the safety precautions.’ The bridge may have been made of wood, but it was suspended with chains and had a high mesh railing. It wasn’t even that long, or was it wide? Whatever. The distance to the other side wasn’t far. ‘I don’t want to turn around, so… will you just hold my hand?’
Theo squeezed her fingers. ‘Should we run across?’
She nodded, but then shook her head. ‘Running might make it rock too much.’
‘Fast walk?’
‘Okay.’ She didn’t sound convinced, even to her own ears. ‘Wait. If we cross this now, we have to cross it again on the way back, right?’
‘Um… I assume so, unless the track does a loop.’
Sarah groaned. ‘Maybe… maybe we can come back tomorrow? It’s going to be dark soon, and there is no way I want to be crossing that thing in the dark. And maybe Alexis and Levi would like to come too?’
Theo was watching her with a small smile on his lips. It wasn’t mocking. He was just waiting. Patiently. Had anyone ever done that for her? Sarah felt like she had been running forever. Always hustling for the next thing, to achieve the next goal, to reach the next milestone, to catch up with the ones who were in front of her. And then she’d been running from her stalker. Trying to stay one step ahead of him. She’d thought she’d achieved that, but now he was back in her life, and the nightmare was starting all over again. But Theo wasn’t running. He was just… waiting. For her. Ready to support her in whatever direction she chose.
Sarah closed the distance between them and snuggled into his chest. Without hesitation, Theo’s arms surrounded her, grounding her. Making her feel safe. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head, and she sighed, melting into him.
‘Would you like me to see if there are any rooms available in the lodge?’ he murmured into her hair.
‘Yes,’ she replied immediately, but then felt bad. ‘No. Alexis would be so disappointed. She organised this. I can deal with it for a couple of nights. It won’t kill me.’
‘Maybe I can get us into the spa tomorrow? As a reward for crossing the scary bridge.’
Sarah tilted her head up. ‘A bribe?’
‘I am not above bribery if it means I get to see your beautiful smile.’
‘Oh, cringe,’ she said, but laughed. ‘Okay. Deal.’