14. Luke
Luke
Blake’s entire demeanor changed when we got here. She’s retreated into a shell I have never seen before, as if she is trying to make herself invisible. Quiet, reserved, not talking any shit to me as we sit in uncomfortable silence.
I think she’s a little threatened by Isa. She thinks there’s something going on between us. As a silent reassurance, I’ve tried to keep my distance from Isa, staying close to Blake.
I know I can’t have Blake, but I still want her to know how amazing I think she is. She kept looking across the fire at the group with tension in her shoulders.
With everyone else in bed, I decide to broach the conversation.
“Blake, I just want you to know I don’t have feelings for Isa. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, like I might take someone back to my tent right next to yours. She’s not my type.”
“How in the world is she not your type?” She laughs. “Fuck, she’s my type, and I’m not even into chicks. She is hot as fuck!” Her words are louder than intended.
“Shhh. You’re going to wake everyone up.” I laugh, putting my hand over her mouth, and her eyes widen at the touch.
Fuck me. I want to see that look on her face with my hand over her mouth and my dick buried inside her.
“She’s great, don’t get me wrong, I’m just not attracted to her. I think Noel ruined me ever attempting a relationship with someone from work. It’s too complicated.” That seems to do the trick. She settles into her chair and takes a long pull of her beer.
“It’s so beautiful out here.” She smiles. “The view is breathtaking.”
“Sure is,” I respond, admiring my view of her, not giving a shit about anything around us. It would pale in comparison anyways.
“How is work going? You seem like you’re fitting in.”
“There were a few hospitals that I was looking at, but this one was one of the top rated for emergency care. It was one of the things that enticed me the most.” I left out the fact that while the hospital was close to my family, it wasn’t the closest. Being close to her was also a deciding factor.
“They get a lot more action than the hospital I worked at in Denver, so it’s been nice. I’m learning a lot.”
“That’s amazing. I bet your shifts go by fast.”
“They really do.”
“How come I haven’t seen you at the bar with everyone after your shifts?” She has a curious look on her face, genuinely curious. “Thought for sure after you mentioned that they all go there, I’d see you.”
“You looking for me, B?” I inquire, hoping I get the answer I want.
“No, just curious.” She pulls out her phone. “Shit, it’s almost 2. We better get some sleep.”
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. You go, I’ll wait until you’re in your tent to put out the fire, so you can see,” I offer.
She rises from her chair, a little unsteady on her feet and saunters to her tent. Each step creates the most delicious sway of her hips, and I can’t help but watch.
This girl is going to be my undoing.
I roll over and look at my watch and see it’s 8:30.
The smell of eggs and bacon wafts through the air, arousing me from my sleepy state, and my stomach instantly growls.
I throw on my sweats and hoodie and walk out to see Blake talking to some people she met last night.
She fits right in, like she does in any setting, even though she always stands out to me.
Seeing her this morning is quite the contrast to the quiet, reserved version of her I witnessed last night.
She must have just needed time to warm up.
I stand back for a second and take her in.
I have seen her in many states over the years, pretty much living in my home when she and April were in high school, but this right here is my favorite version of Blake.
She is always beautiful, but her beauty in the morning is effortless, it’s similar to the one that caught my eye that one Christmas morning.
Sleep still lingering in her eyes, in a dreamlike state.
Her hair slightly tousled, skin slightly flush.
Fuck, it’s perfection. If I could wake up to this sight every day, I’d die a lucky man.
“Morning,” she speaks gently as she hands me a coffee. “I was just getting ready to come get you so you could eat.”
“Thanks, it smells great. Who cooked?” I ask.
“Ty, he got up early to help Cash get all packed up.”
“You been up long?” I ask.
“A little while, the sound of Cash’s car driving past my tent woke me and I couldn’t go back to sleep.”
“You should have woken me.”
“I had company,” she says smiling at Ty.
“What do you want to do today?”
“A nap sounds freaking amazing. We were up so late, I don’t remember the last time I was up that late. I even try to avoid closing shifts at the bar. I need my sleep.”
“Hey, once everyone else gets packed up to leave, we’re going to head out for a hike, you guys want to join?” Keith’s question shifts my attention.
“That sounds like the perfect time for me to nap, you have fun,” Blake smiles, urging me to go.
After breakfast, we sat around and visited with everyone while a handful of others packed up to leave. After a few chill hours, Blake went to take a nap in her tent, and Ty, Keith, Isa, and I left for our hike.
We barely got to the trailhead before Keith started in on me.
“I thought you were getting up to fish this morning?” Keith asks. “You know, being an old man and shit.”
“That was the plan until I was at the fire until god knows what hour.”
“You have a thing for her?” Ty asks.
“Why?” I see something lingering behind his question.
“Dude, she’s fucking, She’s beautiful,” he expresses. “If you’re not going for it, you’re a dumb fuck, and I will.”
“You leave her the fuck alone, Ty. She’s a good girl. She’s special, ok. She’s not just a random hook up.”
“Who said anything about a random hook up? If I get the chance to take her home, I’ll keep her there.” He laughs.
“No shit,” Keith adds, “The way she looks at you, if you don’t make a move, you’re a fool.”
“She’s a baby,” Isa pipes in. “She’s too young for any of you fools, especially you Luke,” she warns, pushing past me.
By the time we got back to camp, it had been several hours.
Blake was now awake, reading in a chair wrapped in a large blanket, with her red hair in a messy bun, and she’s biting the edge of her lip in concentration.
The sight stops me in my tracks. The sun glistens on each strand of her hair, framing her face, looking like an extension of the fire glowing beside her, the light making it a breathtaking sight.
Fucking stunning.
I have to focus on reminding myself she is off limits.
“Let’s get the brats started so we can leave before it’s too dark,” Isa suggests.
“Brats sound fucking delicious,” Blake speaks up over the edge cover of her book. “Let me help,” she insists.
I open the package of brats and place them on the small grill. “You can’t just raw dog them. They need some flavor, Luke,” Blake advises.
“I didn’t bring very many seasonings, we’re camping,” I argue.
“Move over.” She pushes me out of the way and grabs a knife off the table. “Can you get me a can of beer and some salt, please?” she directs her question at Ty as she slices a slit across each brat.
When Ty hands her the open can of beer and salt, she uses them both to season the brats, adding a little more beer every so often until they are fully cooked.
“Come get ’em while they’re hot,” she yells over the music playing in the background.
She reaches for a plate. “I got it, you cooked, I serve,” I propose as I load two plates with brats, chips, and all the fixings.
“Shit, these are great,” Keith says with a mouth full of food.
“They are exceptional,” Isa compliments, but it sounds like she’s hesitant to give her this little feat, but then she continues, “Best camping brats I’ve had.”
Hmmm…
“Thanks, guys,” Blake responds. Her voice is soothing even when her words are simple.
Once everyone is full, and every last brat is gone, they start packing up their tents and collecting their scattered belongings.
“It’s starting to get dark, you sure you don’t want to stay another night?” I ask Ty.
“No, we have early shifts tomorrow at the hospital. Good thing Blake came along, or your ass would be out here all alone, and no one would hear you scream if a bear attacked,” he jokes.
“Fuck off,” I chuckle as we say our goodbyes.
I helped them load up the car and stood around talking shit for a few minutes, but now that they’re gone, I can focus on Blake.
I grab two beers and pull my chair up next to Blake, who is cuddling under a blanket close to the fire.
I struggle to keep my eyes to myself, not wanting to reveal the battle raging within me.
“Are you sure you don’t want to pack up too and head out?” I ask her as I slide into the chair next to her.
“I loved meeting your friends and putting names to the faces I’ve seen at the bar, but I really love our time together, just the two of us. So, yes. I am positive I want to stay another night,” she reassures me with a smile.
“I love camping.” I sigh. Being outdoors is one of my favorite things.
“Hey, do you remember when we tried going on that camping trip right after April and I graduated. Your dad rented a camper and everything, and then we got record breaking monsoon rains and couldn’t make it up the dirt road.” She laughs.
“Yes, you and April were singing at the top of your lungs, pissing him off while he tried to back us out.”
“You were so calm,” she adds.
“What do you mean?”
“We were acting the fool trying to mask our fear, and you just sat there calmly helping your dad navigate down the small hill from the back seat. You were comforting.”
“I was scared, but someone had to bring sanity to the party, and it wasn’t going to be either one of you, or dad for that matter. He was stressed.”
“What was your mom doing? I don’t remember her at all.” She laughs.
“She got out of the car, said she’d meet us at the bottom. She’d rather risk the rain than deal with our shitshow.” I laugh
“That’s right, fun times.” Her words are starting to slow.