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"What if you run out?"

"Then I'll open my mouth. I'm pretty sure the rain won't let me run out," I said, touched at his concern.

"You'll need to be careful on your trek down. It'll get steep in some places, so you'll have to skirt around until you find a shallower route."

I started to tell him he wasn't telling me anything I didn't know, but I could tell it was stuff he needed to say. He needed to know that he was helping. I patiently listened to his tips as he droned on. Eventually, he ran out of steam and I snuggled up against him.

The cave had once again become pitch black as another night settled on us.

"You awake?" I whispered, not wanting to wake him if he was sleeping.

"Yeah," he answered.

"What's your favorite memory?" I asked, needing to hear his voice.

He was silent for several minutes after I asked the question. I was beginning to think he had fallen asleep when he finally answered.

"The time my parents took me to the Grand Canyon."

"Yeah? Did you ride a donkey?" I joked.

"Actually, yes," he laughed.

"Ha, I was just kidding, but you really did?"

"Yep, I remember being like six or seven and my parents and I taking donkey rides down the canyon. My mom freaked because she was afraid of heights, but she still went anyway."

"I think I would have been like your mom. Heights scare the bejesus out of me," I admitted.

"I didn't know that, but you went with me on the hardest trail on the mountain. Why?"

"Because, I was worried about Alyssa," I said, only answering half truthfully.

"Was that the only reason?" he asked, sounding disappointed.

"No," I said, smiling in the dark. "You might've had something to do with it."

He laughed softly next to me. "Does Rick know you're afraid of heights?"

"Hell no, I wasn't about to admit that. I'm sure poor Rick freaked out when he picked me up at the airport only to realize I didn't have a lick of his outdoorsiness in me."

"You might be surprised. Believe me, if I was the jealous type, I'd be green with envy at how much he raves about you."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah, really. Do you always doubt yourself?"

"Ha, my doubts stemmed from you, Greeky," I said, snorting on a laugh.

"Greeky?" he asked, puzzled.

"Oops, I guess the cat's out of the bag. That's what Amy and I started calling you," I said.

"Is it some kind of weird slang for geek?" he asked, puzzled.

"If I tell you, we'd have to deflate your ego before we could get you out of here in order for you to fit," I teased.

"Ha-ha, you're a laugh a minute. You should start your own comedy club."