Page 12 of The Rival in South Africa
I kept snapping pictures, but Alex’s voice carried over the gentle noises of the evening. He laughed easily with Rex while drinks were poured, and he clinked his glass with the two Americans when everyone had a drink.
Alex glanced up and caught me watching him. His smile turned smug, and I rolled my eyes before getting back to my camera. When I finally put the camera down and joined the group, Alex handed me my glass. I half expected a quip like, “It’s not as good of a gin and tonic as I would make, you know I’ve taken a bartending study,” or a challenge of, “Let’s see who can correctly identify the botanicals in your gin.” Instead, he tipped his glass to mine.
“Cheers, Nikki.”
“Cheers.”
As the cool bitterness slid down my throat, I thought this sounded like a truce.
FIVE
Upon returning from our drive,we were given thirty minutes to freshen up before dinner was served. The meal was amazing, the tables lit with candlelight and platters served family-style. Two roaring fireplaces on either side of the main lodge meant we didn’t even notice the drop in temperature outside until we were trailing one of the guides back to our tent.
I followed Misola’s footsteps and the bob of a lantern along the path as she spoke over her shoulder. “We sometimes get some wild animals here on the paths, but usually, if they hear you, they move away quickly.”
I wrapped my arms around my waist, trying to keep warm, knowing we’d be back at the tent soon. Not that it would be any better there.
Alex trudged behind me. I was tired—exhausted—after a long day, and while I knew the cold was coming, it was sharper than I realized it would be. I was ready to curl up under the covers and sleep.
Despite his nap that afternoon, I doubted Alex was doing much better.
“Here you go.” Misola raised the lamp ahead of us, and the tent glowed softly from the lanterns through the canvas. The gauzy, light fabric, which had let in a breeze during the day, had been covered in roll-away canvas.
We thanked Misola and ducked through the flap of the tent. The room was warmly lit, with four lanterns spread throughout the space. It was even…romantic.
“Holy shit,” Alex said behind me. “It’s fucking freezing cold!”
I straightened up, never mind that I was cold and slightly miserable too. Tomorrow I’d bring a fleece to dinner for the walk back. “Itiswinter, Alex.”
“Yes, well, Idoknow that. I just thought…well, it’s Africa.”
“Did you bring anything warm?”
“Not really, no.”
We quickly took turns under the hot stream of water, and as soon as I slipped out of the bathroom, I leapt up onto the bed. I had on leggings and a long-sleeve cotton shirt, prepared for the cold. I was also pleasantly surprised to find a hot water bottle tucked inside the bed. I stretched a toe out and found one on Alex’s side too.
The water shut off, and within moments Alex was hurriedly brushing his teeth, spitting into the sink, and leaping out of the bathroom too. I screeched when he launched himself over my side of the bed as he scrambled to get under the covers.
“Cold, cold, cold.”
I blinked. Good lord. “Whatareyou wearing?”
“Um. Boxers.”
“You didn’t pack pajamas?”
“One, I usually sleep naked, so I’m doing you a favor right now. Two, I didn’t realize we’d be sharing a bed, as previously mentioned. Three, I was expecting it to be much warmer, and four, I also expected some kind of central air.”
“Well,” I said stiffly, “I’m sorry this vacation isn’t living up to your standards. I don’t know what you were prepared for, but these luxury safaris are—”
I was cut off by a sultry moan coming from Alex’s side of the bed and some wobbling of the mattress that felt...scandalous. “What are you doing?” I raised up on my arm and glared at him. Pervert.
He cracked open an eye. “Did you know there are hot water bottles in the bed?”
I huffed and slouched back against the pillow. “Yes, I discovered that.”
We were silent for a moment, the bed slightly shaking.
