With This Heart(26)

I tried really hard to have a spiritual or thoughtful moment, but I ended up just thinking that it was getting darker and that I didn’t want to be eaten by a bear. My phone buzzed next to me on the ground. Caroline’s face appeared and any hope of having a magical moment was lost.

I snatched the phone and clicked ‘answer’.

“             Hey. You just ruined what was supposed to be one of the most moving moments of my life,” I proclaimed.

“             Were you about to have sex with Beck?”

I snorted. “No. I was scattering the first bit of ashes.”

“             Ohhhh. Yeah, sorry about that. Do you want me to sing a song or something? Maybe say a prayer?”

I twisted the urn’s lid back into place. “You don’t know a prayer, Caro.”

“             I could             make             one up, Abs. Have a little             faith             .”

“             Oh my God. I see what you just did and it is so not funny.” I still laughed because it actually             was             funny. “How’s your bum liver?”

She sighed and I knew it was a bad prognosis. “They haven’t let me go home yet.”

“             You’re still in the hospital!?”

“             Yeah, the doctors don’t feel like I should go home anytime soon.”

I chewed on my bottom lip and tried to think of something to cheer her up. Instead, I said, “It’s not too late. I could come home. I really don’t want to be away from you while you’re stuck in there.”

“             You are the most stubborn person I know and I’m hanging up before you say anything else.”

“             Call me if you need me. Any time, okay?” I added quickly, knowing her threat about hanging up was real.

“             Yes. Bye, Abs.”

The moment I hung up and started heading back to the camp site, my phone rang again. Beck.

“             You know, we’ll be together for two weeks straight. We don’t also have to be on the phone while I’m in the bathroom,” I spoke, internally thrilled at the thought that he just couldn’t get enough of me. Oh, who was I kidding.

“             Where are             you             ?”

His tone was anything but playful.

“             What are you talking about?” I asked, thinking it was strange how dark the forest had become. When I’d left the restroom, twilight was still in effect, but now darkness was descending all too quickly. Suddenly, I started to panic. I hadn’t brought a flashlight; the only light was coming from my phone’s screen.

“             You’ve been gone forever. I went to check the bathrooms and you weren’t there.”

Oh, crap.

“             I’m sorry. I had to call my friend and then I guess I lost track of time.”

I heard him take a deep, calming breath.

“             Okay. No big deal, it’s just that you probably shouldn’t wander around by yourself at night.”

I wanted to clarify that technically when I             began             wandering, night hadn’t fallen yet, but he was right so I just kept my mouth shut.

“             Do you know how to find your way back to the restroom?”

I thought I did so I said, “Yes.”

“             Okay. I’ll meet you there. Don’t hang up until you see me.” I couldn’t tell if he was overreacting or not. It probably             was             scary when he went to restrooms and I wasn’t there.