They walked side by side toward the restrooms. The small beam of Gonzalez's flashlight only illuminated a few feet of the ground ahead of them; beyond that lay an endless sea of darkness.
Their shoes crunched softly against the grass. Despite his long strides, Gonzalez deliberately slowed his pace to match hers.
Glancing up at him, Norah asked, "Have you been awake this whole time?"
He turned his head slightly, his gaze unreadable in the dark. His naturally deep voice was husky, carrying a rich, magnetic resonance in the quiet night. "I slept, but then I woke up."
She smiled. "Me too!"
The corner of his mouth twitched into a faint smile as they kept their leisurely pace.
Norah wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. "If I had known it'd be this cold, I would have just gotten blackout drunk like the others. Then I wouldn't be awake to deal with this."
Watching her tremble, Gonzalez stripped off his heavy jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "If you got blackout drunk, you'd be airing out your sleeping bag tomorrow morning."
It took a second for the joke to register, and when it did, her shoulders shook with laughter.
Swallowed up by his oversized jacket, she looked radiant. Her smile was stunning, and her bright, expressive eyes sparkled in the dim light, pulling effortlessly at his heartstrings.
The walk through the pitch-black woods suddenly felt entirely safe with him by her side.
When they reached the facilities, Gonzalez handed her the flashlight. "I'll be right next door. Don't be afraid."
The restroom had motion-sensor lights. Norah stomped her foot, and the harsh, fluorescent bulbs flickered on, making the dead silence of the mountains feel even more isolating.
She nodded, taking the flashlight and slipping into the women's side.
It was a basic, temporary setup, with only a thin wall separating the men's and women's sides. Knowing Gonzalez was standing right on the other side of that wall sent a strange, fluttering sensation through her chest. She finished as quickly as humanly possible, washed her hands, and hurried back out.
She only had to wait a moment before he emerged.
They exchanged a look, communicating without words, and began the walk back to camp.
They were nearing their tents when Norah suddenly flicked off the flashlight. Grabbing Gonzalez by the arm, she yanked him behind a massive boulder.
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