Page 73 of Forbidden to Fall

“Is that dumb? Be honest.”

“Do you think it’s dumb?”

I didn’t answer right away. It was hard to hear my own thoughts over what I knew Mrs. Keller would say. But it didn’t matter what she said. The maple blondies wouldn’t be connected to her in any way.

So, the question remained: did I think it was a dumb idea to add marshmallows to my blondies?

“No,” I said. “I think it’s brilliant.”

“Me too.” He reached his s’more across, and we cheers’d.

The embers glowed more dimly by the minute, and James started packing things up. I set aside the blanket on my lap and got up to help, chafing my shoulders as the chilly air set in farther from the warmth of the dying fire.

I almost asked if we could put another log on the fire. I was enjoying this excursion into the forest too much to want to leave. Heading back to the small confines of my familiar apartment after fresh air, good food, and nature in all directions sounded like a snooze fest. Maybe that was for the best, though. I was sleep deprived, after all.

“Thank you for this,” I said, folding up the blanket. “I really needed it.”

James’s smile made my heart skip. “Me too.”

I took in a big breath, like I might be able to store up some fresh air in my lungs, and it turned into a yawn.

“Am I gonna have to carry you back?” he asked.

The image of me in his arms as he walked through the dark forest flashed across my mind. “No,” I said at the tail end of the yawn. “I’ll just sleep here.”

“Yeah?” James draped his folded blanket over his arm.

I set mine on top of it. “Why not? After this camp dinner, I’m basically Bear Grylls, right? Sleeping under the stars is novice stuff.”

“Completely.” He stopped and looked at me, his eyes narrowed curiously. “Would you really do that?”

My heart did a flip. I’d definitely been joking.

But suddenly, I wasn’t sure.

I’d driven stick shift, had dinner in the woods, and was about to do the unthinkable by adding marshmallows to my pastries.

Anything was possible.

“Isn’t it too cold?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I’ve camped out in three feet of snow before.”

“Yeah, but you’re you. I’m…”

He cocked a brow I could barely see in the diminishing light.

“Boring,” I finished.

“I can’t think of anyone I’m less bored by, Sadie.”

I couldn’t find a response. I was trying too hard to understand what it implied.

“Do you want to sleep outside? Because I can definitely make that happen.”

I opened my mouth wordlessly, my heart was hammering.

Was I really considering sleeping in the woods on a whim?