Can't Let You Go

***TALLY/HONEY***

Waking up next to Darius causes initial disorientation, but I get my bearings and check that his temperature is still normal. Careful to not wake him, I slip out of bed and go downstairs.

"Just in time for breakfast," Adam says as he sets a plate on the table.

"Thank you, good morning. Where's Lars?"

"I'm here, just taking care of some chores outside." He strides through the room with an armful of firewood.

"I'm well enough to help, you could have woken me."

The look they exchange doesn't escape me, but I ignore it and go to the privy, finding Darius waiting his turn when I'm done.

"How are you feeling?" I touch his face to check his temperature again.

"Good. Actually, well rested." He chuckles silently. "It's too bad it took a fever to get me caught up on sleep. Especially since it meant I basically wasted a free Swiss vacation."

I swat his arm and sit next to Adam at the table.

"Adam, Darius is better and we need to get home. How exactly will we work out getting back to the village?"

"There's two options. I'm only ninety nine point ninety nine percent off grid. I do have a SAT phone for emergencies. I can call my friends who drove you up to get you. Or, if Lars is willing, we can take you on the quads."

"No problem," Lars says.

"I've never been on one, so it sounds fun to me! Plus, you can take us to the bank and I'll go ahead and get money to pay you now, Adam. I'd prefer that to mailing it to you."

When we get to the end of the lodge track, Adam and Lars turn off the quads.

"How about another experience for you city folk?" Adam asks.

"Wanna drive one of these things?" Lars smiles.

"Uhh, no? I've never driven anything in my life!" I shake my head adamantly.

"Me either, but I'm in!" Darius jumps off the back and trades places with Adam.

"Come on Honey. You know you want to. Plus, when we're onsite in Chile you can impress the ground crew with your ability," Lars coaxes.

"Ability? It's not that hard. You'll get it easily," Adam encourages.

"Okay, you talked me into it." They've gotten me excited so I swap places with Lars.

After treating Lars and Adam to a meal in Evolene, Darius and I return to the rooms we've been holding at the hotel. Beyond thankful for not having to share a bathroom with other guests, I take one of the best, hot showers of my life and fall exhausted on the bed, barely able to get myself up to answer the knock at the door.

"Hey, sorry to bother you," Darius starts, "but there's a family staying in the bunkroom now and they're all in line for the shared bathroom. Do you mind if I shower here?"

"No, of course not."

He's not in there long before turning off the water and calling out, "Did you call your dad to let him know the good news?"

"I'm so tired, I didn't even think about-- oh shit! My phone. I forgot that I lost it. You'll have to call him."

Warmth creeps up my neck as the sight of Darius coming into the bedroom wearing only a pair of soft athletic shorts, revealing an unexpectedly cut physique that I wouldn't have guessed was hiding under his suit and tie.

"No problem, my phone's on the charger right now, so I'll do it tomorrow if that's fine with you."

"Fine? Uh, yeah very fine," It's harder than I would have thought to not be an ogling jackass.