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August watched me for a moment, his expression softening. “Look, Veronica, I didn’t come here to make things difficult for you.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “But you also know me very well, and I’m not so easily deterred, especially when the prize is worth the effort.” He winked, then turned to the group. “Who’s ready to have some fun?”
Simon, Sabrina, and Caleb simultaneously said, “I am!”
Daphne shot me a look that was part sympathy, part surprise. “Looks like we’re all set for a real adventure now.”
“Adventure is my speciality,” Caleb said, with a confident smile. “It requires stamina, and thankfully, I have plenty of that to spare. It’s one of the perks of being the young gun here.”
Daphne laughed lightly, shaking her head. “You can have all the energy in the world, but it’s about using what you've got wisely.”
His grin widened as he responded to her playful skepticism. “Oh, I’m all about resource management. I assure you … I use my energy precisely where it matters most.”
“Are they talking in code?” Simon said.
“I’ll fill you in later, honey.” Sabrina clapped her hands. “I just love these two. I hope you end up together. Can we vote?”
“You’ve got my vote!” Simon said.
As Nakul briefed us on the day ahead, I struggled to focus. The African bush was awakening around us, the air filled with the calls of distant birds and the rustle of the breeze through the grass. It was breathtaking, yet my appreciation was clouded by August’s unexpected presence.
Nakul handed out binoculars and went over the safety rules, yet I found myself only half-listening. The thought of spending so much time in close quarters with August was unnerving. I glanced at him under the brim of my hat, catching him already watching me with a look that was all too knowing. I used to love that look. Now, it only stirred resentment.
Sabrina and Simon eagerly hopped into the first row of seats behind Nakul, the chill in the air causing them to wrap their jackets tighter around themselves. Daphne followed suit, sliding into the middle row. Before I could claim the seat next to her, Caleb darted in front of me and plopped down, his grin mischievous.
“Best seat in the house!” he declared, clearly pleased with himself.
I crossed my arms. “What are you doing? I’m sitting next to Daphne.”
He glanced down at his seat. “It doesn’t look like it to me.”
“Move,” I insisted.
Caleb’s eyes twinkled with humor. “Oh, come on, Veronica. It’s all about the wildlife today, not seating arrangements. Besides, Daphne’s a great buffer against any potential attacks, right? She’s much lighter and easier for me to toss to the lions.” He laughed.
Daphne playfully shoved his arm. “Just so you know, they like fresh, young meat, so you’d be the first to go.” She chuckled and glanced at me. “It’s fine. Sit in the back. There will be plenty of time to swap seats later.”
“That is true!” Nakul chimed in cheerfully. “We have practically an entire day in the bush! Please, take your seats and we’ll be on our way.”
I shot Daphne a glare. “Traitor.”
With a heavy sigh, I slid into one of the seats in the back row, the last place I wanted to be, knowing it left only one spot open. Next to me. For August.
As he climbed in, settling into the seat with a too-comfortable ease, I pretended to look off into the distance.
Nakul started the engine, then the safari cruiser began to move, the rumble of the tires over the rough terrain filling the silence. I took a deep breath, deciding to focus on the here and now—the call of the wild, the breathtaking landscape, the companionship of friends new and old. Maybe, just maybe, I could navigate this day without letting August get too close. If not, I would need to come up with another plan that created some distance.
As we jostled along, absorbing the raw beauty of Kenya, Nakul’s enthusiasm was infectious. He pointed to a group of zebras grazing near a waterhole, and I pulled out my phone to take a few pictures.
“See how their stripes could confuse predators?” Nakul asked. “It’s all about blending in and standing out at the right time.”
“That’s an art form Veronica is still trying to master,” Caleb joked.
Before I could retort, one of the safari cruiser wheels hit a giant pothole, jolting everyone to the left and then to the right. My arm, unfortunately, flew out, striking August rather inconveniently in his nether regions.
He yelped, then leaned over to protect the affected area. “Watch it!”
“Blame the rugged, wild African terrain, not me,” I shot back.
“I see how this is going to be,” he said. “You did that on purpose.”
