16. Archer

Chapter 16

Archer

Nervous energy got me out of bed, and even a run and a swim didn't help exorcise it. So here we are, sitting on a white-washed wall outside a hotel, waiting for the tour bus to pick us up, even though it won't arrive for at least half an hour.

This isn't a date. At least, neither of us has dared call it that, but it feels like one. After all, we're going on a day trip together. We get to walk through the rainforest, swim in pools, and have lunch at a farm. We and up to eighteen other people. So yeah, not a date.

We barely touch. If I move my foot half an inch, we'd be playing footsie, except our sensible walking boots would get in the way. If I relax, my elbow will knock into his, and our upper arms will brush. It'll be better once we're on the bus, as any chance of Mum or Barry wandering around the corner at exactly the wrong time will evaporate. Until then, I have to avoid any behaviour that can't be brushed off as friendly.

It's been the same for the last two days. I could probably break a record with how many times I've had to stop myself flirting with Jacob or touching him. I'm not sure what record, but there must be one; there's a world record for everything. Like throwing a washing machine the farthest and putting the most paper straws in a beard. This trip will be amazing because I won't have to hide my feelings for Jacob. It'll be like the time we spend together in my flat, only without the sex. We'll be getting a workout of a different kind, as we're going to walk for three hours along the bottom of a rainforest ravine.

"Are you okay?" Jacob asks.

I jerk my head up. "Huh? Me?"

He smiles. God, I love his smile. "Yes, you. You seem a little tense."

"No. I'm fine. Looking forward to the trip." I grin.

"Me too."

I glance left and right. What are the chances of Mum or Barry appearing? If Mum's awake, she's probably already on a sun lounger. You couldn't pay me to do nothing but work on a tan for three days, let alone two weeks. Once or twice, Barry has mentioned coming on a trip with us but baulked at the idea of this one due to the amount of walking on uneven terrain it involves. Besides, he's spent most of his time sitting with or near Mum. Am I being needlessly paranoid? Maybe. But Mum reading my text messages hammered home how easy it would be for this thing I've got going with Jacob to be discovered, and then he'd run a mile. Unlike Yumbo Centrum, this hotel is a short walk from our villa. It's also right next to our closest shop, so there's a chance that Mum or Barry—probably Barry—nip out to buy something while we're sitting here.

"You're so fidgety this morning," Jacob says.

"Just wondering when the bus will be here."

"Soon."

A family joins us in sturdy boots and huge rucksacks. I guess they're waiting for the same bus.

"How soon?"

Jacob laughs. "We were early, and the tour info says they could be up to twenty minutes late. I'm normally the one who's tense."

"Tense? I'm not tense." I shift, my knee knocking against his. "I'm looking forward to spending time with you where we don't have to look over our shoulders."

"Me too." He inches towards my hand but pulls away.

And that's why this trip means so much to me. We'll be able to touch freely. I hadn't realised how much I needed him to hold me until he couldn't.

Finally, the half-full bus arrives. We find two seats together towards the back and settle in. Once we've collected the rest of the tourists and are on our way, I rest my head on Jacob's shoulder and hold his hand on his knee, glad to be close to him once more. He kisses my hair and leans his cheek against my head. He squeezes my fingers, a small gesture that lets me know he needs this contact as much as I do.

Our first stop is Firgas, where we get off the bus to stretch our legs and look around for half an hour. It's an enchanting village, with brightly coloured doors and flowers, stunning views over the countryside, and lots of springs and watercourses. Our guide tells us it's the smallest village on Gran Canaria and, despite being entirely landlocked, has an abundance of water. So much so it's earned itself the nickname ‘Villa del Agua'. Despite its diminutive size, thirty minutes isn't long enough to thoroughly explore.

"I'd like to come back and look around longer," I say once we're back on the bus and driving away.

"It was beautiful." Jacob holds my hand.

"That's the trouble with trips like this. They always try to pack too much in, so you don't get to appreciate half of it."

He frowns. "I thought you enjoyed sightseeing."

"I do. But I also enjoy having time to explore at my own pace."

"That makes sense. Maybe we can come back one day."

I arch a brow. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. One day. It would be nice to spend more time in Firgas."

"Come back with me?"

He widens his eyes slightly. "Y-yes."

I nibble my lower lip. Does he see a future for us? He did suggest spending more time getting to know each other after the holiday, so maybe he does. Hopefully, telling his friend about us was the first step, and he's getting used to the idea of telling other people. I can wait. He's worth it.

Before long, we get off the bus in the bed of the ravine. It's hot, so we quickly apply sun cream, then set off on our walk down a path of packed earth through lush vegetation.

"It's beautiful," I say.

We're towards the back of the group, and although our guide seems to be a wealth of information, her words are lost beneath the chatter of the family in front of us, who are discussing their daughter's messy break-up. But it's all right. I don't need to know the names of each tree and plant to appreciate their beauty. We're surrounded by more shades of green than I can name and every leaf shape imaginable from short and round to elegant ovals and long, pointed fronds. Large purple flowers with delicate, curling petals lend a fragrant, slightly sickly fragrance to the sticky air. Various squeaks, whistles, squawks, and chirps provide an ever-changing background track.

Water bubbles, getting louder until we reach a shallow river. The only way across is walking over fallen trees or splashing through the water. Everyone chooses to balance on the trunks. Or attempts to at least.

Jacob grimaces and points at his walking boots. Like mine, they're waterproof, but that only helps in rain, not fording a river.

"What's the matter? Don't you fancy walking along the log?" I ask.

"I'll fall."

"Nah, you won't. Put your arms out like you're pretending to be an aeroplane." I demonstrate.

He folds his arms. "How old are you?"

I laugh. "Old enough to not want to fall into the water. Is like a tightrope walker a better simile?"

"A bit."

"Aeroplanes are more fun. When I was a kid, I pretended to be a Spitfire. I'd run around with my arms outstretched, going dakka, dakka, dakka ." I kick a loose bit of bark across the path. "And that's my embarrassing story for the day."

Jacob embraces me and pecks my lips. "It's a sweet story."

My cheeks become warm. "You say the nicest things." I pull away and grab his hand. "Come on, Mister Skydiver. If you can jump out of a plane, you can walk along a log. I'll help you across."

I jump onto the log and, using one arm for balance, walk backwards and tug Jacob forward. He steps onto the log, his teeth clenched as he wobbles. I move my hand to his elbow, supporting his entire forearm with mine until he's more stable.

"You good?" I ask.

"Y-yes."

"Don't look down."

He tugs his brows together. "But how will I know where to put my feet?"

"Feel your way. Look at me."

He stares into my eyes.

I move backwards, one slow step at a time. "You're doing great."

"I was never any good at this stuff. My parents signed me up for gymnastics. The balance beam was my nemesis."

"How long did you do gymnastics?"

"Two years. I wanted to quit long before that, but Dad said I should stick it out and that quitting was a sign of weakness."

My stomach rolls. "Wow."

"Then I fell off the balance beam and broke my wrist, and Mum told Dad it was far too dangerous a hobby, and that was that."

I hook my top lip. "It shouldn't have taken a broken wrist for him to let you quit."

Jacob shrugs. "I'm not sporty."

"Not everyone is."

My foot slips. I yelp. Jacob grabs me and holds me tight.

"Aww, my hero." I hug him. His heart thrashes faster than mine.

"I saved you from falling half a foot."

"Into water."

"Shallow water."

"I'd have got soaked. I might have ended up on my arse, and that would have been embarrassing. You are my hero."

He blushes fiercely.

I stroke his cheek. It wouldn't matter if the drop were half a foot or ten. He put my safety above his fear and unease. My heart swells and goes all fluttery, and I swoon like an actress in a nineteen-twenties movie. This is the best non-date ever.