Page 57 of Dr. Aster

“You’re a little badass, you know that?” I said, feeling better if we kept talking so I didn’t have to think about Yogi.

“I’m not a badass. A badass would risk making noises to scare the thing out of here. I’m not willing to take chances like that.”

“You’re taking a risk just sitting here and letting it decide if it wants to come in and fuck with us.”

“No,” she said. “You’re taking a risk by not shutting your mouth and letting the thing leave.”

“Well, obviously, it’s fine with me talking,” I stated. “It hasn’t come in here yet, and that’s all I’ve been doing.”

“I’m going to be too dead to hike anywhere tomorrow,” she said, more irritated by that than the bear in our camp.

“Because you’re not sleeping?”

“Yes, Einstein. The fucken bear won’t leave, and you won’t shut up.”

“Well, forgive me if I’m acting like a little bitch. It’s my first bear encounter. I prefer the Winnie the Pooh variety over this guy.”

“I’m glad you admitted that,” she laughed.

“Everyone loves Winnie the Pooh. Don’t even,” I defended myself.

“Of course they do,” she nodded teasingly. “But that wasn’t what I was talking about.”

“What, then? That I’m acting like a bitch?”

“Yeah,” she chuckled again. “I get it. It’s a bear, and they’re insanely unpredictable and scary. But listening to your nervous chatter and all the stupid shit you keep saying, it’s just—honestly? Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine you would be scared of anything.”

“Yeah, well, I’m surprising myself with many firsts tonight,” I said.

First and foremost, my enjoyment of cuddling.

“Like what?” she said.

I stayed quiet, not knowing what kind of lie I could come up with to answer her.

“Nothing,” I said.

“No,” she pried. “Come on, Mr. Nervous Chatter. What the hell else has your mind been reeling over?”

“I think the bear took off,” I said.

“Nice try,” she answered. “Tell me.”

Her interest was so cute that I didn’t want to keep the warm thoughts to myself.

“I’m enjoying our time together,” I said, running my hand over her arm stretched out next to her and between us. “I’ve never liked having a woman fall asleep in my arms, but I think I really liked it. Until the asshole bear ruined everything.”

“You’re a mystery to me,” she said.

“How so? I just revealed something to you that I never would’ve had I not had this brush with death tonight.”

She laughed. “No. Everything seems like a joke or some crazy John prank, and I can’t figure out if you’re being honest or sincere?”

“You can rest assured that I’m being sincere,” I said, knowing that talking like this could potentially fuck me. “I like this.”

“Well, I’m happy that you like this.”

Enter the awkward silence. This was the part in romance movies where the music comes on, and they start making out. Except there was no music, just awkward silence.

---