ChapterTwenty-Five
Davis checked under the overhang for animals. When he found none, he motioned Sunny inside, then crawled in behind her. The dirt above should protect them from being seen on heat sensors, and, even if it didn’t, they needed to stop. They’d walked another two hours after leaving the cabin, and they were both past exhausted.
A helicopter had sounded by the cabin’s location, touching down a mere twenty minutes after their message had sent. His only consolation was that the whump-whump of the rotors, once the bird took back to the air, had headed away from them after circling for several minutes. Hopefully, that meant they’d fallen for his fake trail.
“Aah, musty dirt.” Sunny sighed as she took her pack off and set it against the roots hiding the opening. “Feels like home.”
The small space wasn’t any bigger than the first overhang they’d hidden under. There would barely be enough space to stretch out in. Didn’t matter. He was so tired he could probably sleep standing.
She pulled the sleeping bag out of her pack and laid it out in the dirt. Dark circles bruised the skin under her eyes. None of the spark that drew him to her flashed.
This trip would destroy her.
It would’ve been better if she’d never stumbled on their camp. Sure, he’d be dead right alongside Justin. But at least she’d be safe.
Maybe, if he worded it right, he could convince her to stay here. He’d scout ahead to the mine, sneak in, then be back without having to put her in any more danger than necessary. He ran his hand through his hair as his stomach quivered.
She’d never go for it.
But he had to try.
She crawled into the sleeping bag, then patted the tiny space of fabric next to her with a hesitant smile. Any other time, he’d be clambering to hold her. Shoot. Even now, he wanted to wrap her in his arms and never let go. Holding her would only make what he had to say harder.
“Tomorrow, can I convince you to stay here while I scout ahead?” He scanned past the roots blocking their hiding spot so he didn’t have to see her reaction.
“You’re nuts.” Even her disagreement didn’t hold spunk. It just frayed the air with thready exhaustion. “I’m not letting you go alone.”
“I’ll be better on my own. I’ve snuck into enemy camps more times than I can remember.” He finally looked at her. “It’s Infiltrating 101. The fewer bodies moving, the less chance of getting caught.”
She snorted and shook her head. “Nice try, but no. I may not be a super soldier, but I’ve successfully snuck up on more animals bow hunting than I can remember.” She propped herself up with her arm, tipping her head to the side. “Do you know how hard it is to get close enough to a dall sheep to shoot it with an arrow? I can guarantee it’s a lot harder than sneaking up on a person.”
“Sunny, please.” He’d beg if he had to.
“Davis, it’s not gonna happen.” She lay back down. “Look, we’re both exhausted. Can we please get some sleep?”
He clenched his jaw. The force spiked pain up to his temples as he jerked his gaze back down the hill. The Rebels and their stubbornness. Were any of them conciliatory? He peeked back at her, and she lifted her eyebrow in challenge.
Probably not.
Mulishness ran thick in their blood.
He growled and stretched out beside her on his back, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Stubborn.” She pressed her face against his shoulder.
“Glad you recognize that about yourself.”
Her weak huff of a laugh broke his heart. Before all of this, she would’ve been poking at him or tickling him… anything that she could in mock defense. Now, she couldn’t even laugh fully.
He closed his eyes as they grew hot. She shifted beside him. Her lips pressed gently against his neck before she settled her face back to his arm.
“Get some sleep, soldier.” She whispered the command with a tired sigh.
“Yes, ma’am.”
He uncrossed his arms and gave in to the need to hold her. With his arm around her back, she melded to his side. This time, her sigh filled the musty space with contentment.
“I love you, Davis.” She draped her arm across his middle and settled her head over his heart. “No matter what happens, I want you to know that.”
No matter what happens.
The exhaustion morphed into a heavy, dull pain throughout his body. She wasn’t as confident with their crazy plan, either. A tear escaped, racing across his skin and pooling in his ear. He didn’t wipe it away, just tightened his arms around her so that no space remained between them. She wouldn’t see his weakness, anyway.
“I love you too, Firefly.”
It hurt to push the words out of his tight throat. Hurt to have this much hope when it came to her, yet so many insurmountable obstacles to make that hope reality. For longer than he should have, he laid awake, cherishing the fleeting feeling of her in his arms.