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“My pleasure. There is much more available in the main tent. Help yourself when you get hungry.” He turned back toward the other employee, taking two safari jackets and pith helmets from him. “We also brought you these. The early mornings can be crisp and cool here in Kenya. You will just need them for the first hour, then the heat will come quickly.” He hung them on the stand near the door, then turned back to me.
“That’s perfect. Thank you for the thoughtful provisions,” I said.
He smiled. “My pleasure. You are expected at the front to leave on your game drive in twenty-eight minutes.”
“We’d better get a move on then,” I said, grateful we’d requested the coffees before we had gone to bed.
Daphne walked over and took a cup. “Nectar of the Gods.” She took a sip and sighed. Then she took a bite of the pastry, closing her eyes and smiling.
After the employees left, I reached for my coffee, but before I took a sip, I said, “See? This is much better than running into August at breakfast. It’s rude that he showed up out of nowhere.”
I was very aware that I sounded slightly bitter. Last night, Daphne and I had dinner alone on our deck, surrounded by the soft sounds of the African bush, just to avoid August. Even though it was beautiful, and the pan-African cuisine was exquisite, the undercurrent of my ongoing efforts to steer clear of him tainted the evening. What made it worse was I could hear the other guests laughing and enjoying their dinner together at a large communal table on the main deck.
“Veronica,” Daphne started, her tone softening as she continued to munch on the pastries. “I know he hurt you, but isn’t this a bit much? He’s not a bad guy.”
I turned to face her. “Breaking someone’s heart doesn’t exactly qualify one for sainthood, Daph. I need space from him, and this game drive is the way to get it. He’s not a morning-person either, so it’s the perfect plan. Sorry I made you wake up so early, but it’s for a good cause—my mental health. Plus, you won’t have to see my brother either, even though age has never been a deterrent for true love.”
Daphne shook her head, looking amused. “Nice segue. Okay, let’s relax then and just go with the flow. You never know what the day will bring.”
That was true, but how was I going to relax and enjoy my vacation when I needed to plot every move to avoid August? I would just have to worry about that later. There was no time to waste.
We finished the coffee and pastries, brushed our teeth, then changed out of our pajamas in record time. With our jackets on and a sense of adventure, or perhaps it was just the caffeine and sugar seeping into our veins, we headed out. The main tent was just a short walk away, but the path felt different in the early morning silence, almost sacred.
Nakul, our safari guide for the morning, greeted us with a broad smile. “Good morning, ladies! Ready for an adventure?”
“We are,” I affirmed, managing a smile back as the first hints of dawn began painting the sky in beautiful strokes of pink and orange.
We got some muffins, still warm from the oven, and more coffee before heading out to the beige 4x4 safari cruiser parked nearby. Just as we were about to climb into the vehicle, Sabrina and Simon appeared, their faces bright and eager, like two schoolchildren on their first field trip.
“Good morning, everyone!” Sabrina exclaimed, wrapping us in warm hugs like we had known each other for years. “What a wonderful surprise. I’m so happy we’ll be going on this game drive together! Youngsters aren’t usually morning people, so we thought we might miss you today.”
“This is going to be fun!” Simon looked around, his brow furrowing slightly. “Where are the men?”
I shrugged. “Being lazy, I guess. I’m sure they’re still sleeping.”
Just then, a familiar voice chimed in from behind us, one I was hoping not to hear for most of the day. “Not quite … We just prefer a more dramatic entrance.”
I turned, my heart sinking as August and Caleb approached, both looking far too chipper for this unearthly hour. The sight of August, here, now, sparked a slew of emotions inside me, the strongest one being plain irritation.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
August shrugged. “Going on a game drive, from what I can tell.”
“How did you know I would be here? You know I’m not a morning person.”
August’s response came with a slight, knowing smile, the kind that always managed to both irritate and unsettle me. “Well, I figured you’d do exactly what I wouldn’t expect, just to avoid me. You’re far too smart to be predictable, but you should know now I know you better than you think.”
I felt a flash of frustration—how dare he turn my own tactics against me? I wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.
“Like now, for instance,” he continued. “You probably think I’m being smug.”
I blinked twice.
His chuckle was far too composed for my liking.
“That’s what I thought,” he said.
I rolled my eyes, not wanting to admit even to myself that his presence was more disconcerting than I’d expected. Smart, confident men had always been my weakness, but he also had the charm and good looks to go with it.
