Chapter 8

“Much. Thank you, well, for everything.”

Joe felt Ron kiss the back of his neck. “No, thank you for carrying a torch for me for this long. It means more than you could ever know.”

“Didn’t have a choice, you were always so…so…perfect, and up until today, totally unattainable.”

“You’ve got me now.”

Joe wanted to ask for how long, but feared the answer. Instead he sighed and said, “Goodnight.”

* * * *

“Come on, lazybones, it’s time to rise and shine.”

Joe turned his face away from the sunlight streaming through the open tent flap and groaned. He wasn’t a morning person, and it was just his luck that Ron was.

“Joseph, out of that bed, now.” Ron’s voice, though still calm, held an edge to it.

“Can’t I have a few more minutes?”

“Nope, it’s already just after seven, and half the day’s gone by already.”

Seven? Joe couldn’t remember the last time he’d been awake that early.