Chapter 7

I jerked awake to the sound of scratching on the tent wall. When I opened my eyes, I saw nothing but the navy blue of a sleeping bag. It wasn't mine. I was curled in a tight ball inside my sleeping bag and was surprised to find myself huddling into Justin's side.

My shivering stirred him, but I didn't move away.

"Morning," he mumbled in a husky voice.

"G-good morning," I stuttered.

He moved around beside me but didn't look up. "You alright?" he asked with concern.

"It's freezing!"

Justin moved again, taking his warmth away from my face. "You unzipped yourself. You're all twisted." He reached over me to fix my sleeping bag and zip it up. Then he played with the top of the bag and wrapped it around me head.

"You're a burrito now. Better?" he asked.

I was still shivering. "Not really."

He chuckled softly. "Maybe you shouldn't have taken off your pants."

I still refused to look up, hoping that burying my face in fabric would defrost it. That didn't mean I wasn't very aware of the hand Justin kept on my shoulder, trying to warm me up with friction.

"Why do people choose to do this?" It wasn't making sense to me. Especially in winter.

He chuckled again. "Oh, come on, it's not that bad."

The sounds of rustling outside the tent disturbed the serenity inside. I rolled onto my back and away from Justin when I head Sascha's voice. She sounded worried as she asked someone if they knew where I was.

An amused Justin said, "you should probably call out to let her know you're fine."

I shook my head and rubbed my eyes. "Nope. After last night, she can stress for a few minutes." It was mean, but I was still a little grumpy with her.

Justin rustled in his sleeping bag and I glanced over my shoulder at him. He was lying on his back with both hands behind his head, hair tousled from sleep and looking adorable. The only thing I could imagine that could make him look better, if that was even possible, was if he was shirtless.

We didn't move as our gazes locked and I wondered what it would feel like to run my hands through his messy hair.

That was an unexpected thought, and I was relieved to hear Dale's voice interrupt after a few moments too many. "She's in with Justin."

"What?!" Sascha balked in surprise. "You're kidding!"

I missed the rest of their conversation as I hurried to unzip myself. She would no doubt want details, not that there were any, and the sooner I got out there the quicker I could settle her down.

"Don't forget to put your pants back on," Justin reminded me, sounding strained.

I blushed. I'd almost crawled out of the sleeping bag in my underwear. That would give him quite the view, and I knew I would never recover from such a blunder.

Smiling awkwardly, I grabbed my jeans from the corner of the tent where I had thrown them last night and wriggled them on inside the sleeping bag. Justin kept that amused expression but was tactful enough not to watch my struggle.

When I was fully clothed, but still freezing, I opened the door to the tent and met Sascha's curious gaze. She was waiting for me only a few metres away, and she was definitely curious.

"You don't get to say a word," I frowned as I stepped out of the tent. Only she and Justin were close enough to hear me, but I wasn't oblivious to the looks being sent my way from across the fire pit. Emily was clearly annoyed, and Darcy's expression was a mystery.

"So not fair," she whined.

"So is having your bed commandeered."

She winced ruefully. "Yeah, but I'm not sorry about that." Her shame vanished and was replaced by a giddy grin.

How could I stay mad at her when she'd clearly experienced a pivotal moment in her life last night? I took her hand and pulled her away, knowing Justin shouldn't be privy to this conversation. "How was it?" I urged, laying on the enthusiasm to make up for my grumpy demeanour.

Sascha actually put her fist to her mouth and bit down.

"That good, huh?" I snickered.

She shook out her arms. Definitely good then. "I just... I'm so glad we waited. I think it made everything that much more... intense." It had been two months since they first went out, and two weeks since declaring they were in a relationship. For Sascha, who usually jumped into these things without much thought, this experience must be monumental. I wondered what it felt like to build up such intensity and then be completely satisfied when it finally happened.

I listened to her gush for a little while longer, wrapping my arms around myself trying to stop the shivering. I really needed another jumper.

When Dale came over and wrapped his arms around Sascha's waist, he piqued my interest. "Sorry I stole your accommodations," he apologised with sincerity, but it quickly turned to cockiness. "Looks like you found an alternative though."

"Out of necessity," I reaffirmed. There was no other reason for my sleeping in Justin's tent.

He shook his head with amusement. "I mean, you achieved something last night that many have worked hard for but have continuously failed at." I had a protest on the tip of my tongue, but he continued before I could remind him nothing had happened between me and Justin. "Plenty have been there, but none have had the pleasure of sleeping in his bed."

What was that supposed to mean? Plenty have been there? That didn't surprise me. Justin was hot and very charismatic. I'd seen his attraction in action. But what about no one having the pleasure of sleeping in his bed? What did Dale mean? Was he speaking literally or figuratively?

I was about to ask as much when the man in question stepped up behind me. He was close, so close I could feel the physical tension building between my back and his chest, even though no part of us touched. He also smelled extra good in the morning.

Sascha visibly tried to supress her smile. Dale had no such considerations and smirked outright at his mate. I sucked in a deep breath.

"Breakfast anyone?" Justin asked, clearly picking up on the tone of our conversation.

Dale made a face at Justin and then pulled Sascha away.

When they were out of earshot, I turned to face Justin, hoping I didn't show how mortified I was currently feeling. Neither of us stepped back. "Please tell me there's coffee," I mumbled.

Justin shrugged. "No macadamia latte's today, but I do make a mean instant coffee if you're up for it," he chuckled.

"I'll take any sort of caffeine right now, as long as it's hot." It will have do.

"Why don't you go and get changed, put a few more layers on, and I'll make you one," he offered.

I wasn't saying no to that. "Thank you," I told him, watching my feet with fake interest. It took more courage to look him directly in the eye as I said my next words. "And thanks for giving me a place to sleep last night."

He smiled his beautiful smile, the one that made girls weak at the knees. "Anytime."

I left him then to find a warmer outfit. Thankfully, Sascha and Dale had cleaned up after themselves and my bag didn't look like it had suffered any trauma overnight. I grabbed a fresh set of clothes and took them to the toilet block to change, knowing it would be easier than attempting it in the tent.

The public toilet and shower block was shared by the other campsites on the property. It wasn't unhygienic, but it also wasn't the classiest bathroom I'd been in. It did its job just fine though.

While I changed, my mind lingered on Dale's words. Many had been there, but none had the pleasure of sleeping in his bed. Surely this was different. There was nothing sexual about my visit to his bed. It was just sleeping.

When I made it back to our site, Justin had a coffee ready for me. Even though it was instant, I guzzled it down like it was fresh water on a hot summer's day. I'm certain Justin thought I had a caffeine addiction when I asked how I could make another one. He was entertained by my antics and helped me refill my mug.

The day officially started when the boys donned their boardshorts and wakeboards and backed the boat into the water. There was a few hours before we had to head home and they were all keen to make the most of it. In my opinion, they were absolutely bonkers. No one in their right mind would willingly get in the frigid winter water.

I stood down on the bank and touched said water with one toe. Nope! There was no chance I'd put more of my body in. That posed another problem, one Sascha found herself facing as she stood next to me. How were we supposed to get into the boat? It wasn't far from the shore, but perhaps we should have thought this through.

Darcy, Emily and Seone were already in the boat, having already been in it when it entered the water. That was the smart thing to do. Lewis simply walked into the water up to his waist like the temperature meant nothing and pulled himself onto the back step. Is that what we were supposed to do?

I looked down at myself and my jeans. They wouldn't roll up passed my shins.

"Never fear, Dale and Justin are here!" came Dale's heroic voice from behind us. He swept Sascha into his arms and carried her to the boat, sacrificing himself to the cold river. Sascha squeaked when he pretended to drop her.

Justin stepped up next to me. "You ready?" he asked, already amused by the look of horror that was no doubt on my face.

Was I ready to get on the boat? Sure. Was I ready to be held in Justin's arms? My heart started thumping just thinking about it.

"Well it's now or never," I mumbled under my breath.

"Don't look so afraid," he laughed. "I swear I'm a gentleman."

I had no doubts about that, but gentleman or no, when he picked me up and held me close to his chest, he was the cause of my body flushing with warmth. I wrapped my arms around his neck feeling very exposed. When he walked us into the water, I even tried climbing further up his chest to avoid touching it in any way.

It was an instant loss when he placed me gently on the end of the boat, like I'd been plunged into the freezing depths of the water. I was blushing again, and that made me feel as embarrassed as I did this morning when everyone saw me crawl out of Justin's tent.

I tried keeping my distance from him then, which wasn't hard because he sat in the observer's seat for most of the adventure.

The water was freezing, and the wind was a close match. Sascha and I sat at the back of the boat so some of the chill was blocked by the windscreen. It didn't help much and we huddled together under Dale's dry towel. He was driving the boat and we all watched as Seone and Lewis braved the water.

Wakeboarding was an extreme sport, and even novices like these guys looked incredible doing it. They jumped the waves protruding from the back of the boat with ease. I wondered how much strength it took to hold onto the rope like that. It looked like a lot of work.

When Dale and Justin switched places with the others, my eyes were glued to them from the moment they jumped into the water. Sascha was now in the observer's seat, having had a quick lesson from Dale on all the hand signals she needed to know. Lewis was driving the boat and he made sure to keep looking back in case Sascha missed anything.

I had to admit, regardless of the temperature and freezing water that hit him from all directions, Justin looked hot. There was something highly appealing about the board shorts and windswept hair. It reminded me of his first appearance yesterday, and that unclipped life jacket. Now that was a sight I wouldn't mind seeing again.

I only pulled my eyes away when Darcy came to sit beside me. "How are you going?" she asked, pulling the sleeves of her matching green sweats over her hands. He hair was up in a messy ponytail and she looked pretty in the mid-morning sun. Apparently she could also wakeboard but wasn't crazy enough to get in the water today.

"I think my nose has frostbite, but otherwise good," I laughed.

"Hot tip, moisturise as soon as we get back," she smiled, and then looked out at Dale and Justin. When she returned her attention to me, she seemed a little awkward. "So listen, I don't want to sound bitchy or anything, but I feel like I need to say this."

I sat upright, completely surprised by her tone. Was I about to get some sort of lecture?

Darcy continued after a long pause. "Justin is like a brother to me. He's been there for me and Dale and my family through the hardest time of our lives, and he's the most supportive and caring person I've ever met. I really don't want to see him get hurt."

Why would he be hurt? Was she implying that I would hurt him? We were just friends, and even then, we barely knew each other. I shook my head. "I have no intention of that." Why would she assume I'd hurt him?

"I don't think you would ever intend it. Does anyone decent ever mean to hurt those they care about?" She held her hands to her chin, lost in thought. "I'm just going to get this out and over with. I like you," she admitted looking back up at me. "And I know he does too. But Justin doesn't let himself get attached too often. He's been through a lot and it's hard for him. When he does let himself feel, he goes all in. He feels everything so deeply, and when he ends up hurt, it's not pretty. He deserves better than that."

That was new information. What was I supposed to say to that? I looked around. No one else could hear our conversation over the boat's engine.

"I'm sorry," Darcy apologised, looking sincere. "I don't want to freak you out or anything. I know you guys have a history, and I don't pretend to know details about that, but I just felt like I needed to say something. I see how he acts around you."

"No, that's fair," I told her as steadily as I could. "I understand."

She reached over and squeezed my hand before turning her gaze back to the boys on the water.

The lump in my throat was growing. I never expected to be on the receiving end of such a speech, and from someone as close to Justin as Darcy.

First, Justin liked me. Whether it was just at a friend level or something more, that was unclear. Either way, it did send thrills through me, which made it all the more confusing. Second, he rarely let people in, but apparently I was one of the lucky few. And third, I had to wonder if I was inadvertently hurting him already, and did my presence really have such an influence on him?

Darcy's words were stuck in my head, and for the next few days, they were all I could think about.