"Hey! You two planning to gather the whole forest?" Derek called, waving them back. "Maya says dinner in twenty!"
They returned with their firewood, the moment between them unresolved but not forgotten. André stacked his collection neatly by the stone fireplace while Gia arranged kindling in a careful pattern like she'd been taught during their teenage camping trips. Their fingers brushed once as they worked, a fleeting contact that sent a current of awareness through them both.
Dinner was a lively affair, with Derek regaling them with tales from football practice and Tasha sharing gossip about their teachers' rumored romances. Maya had outdone herself with a feast of grilled trout caught fresh from the lake that morning, roasted potatoes with rosemary from the small herb garden outside, and a summer salad bursting with colors.
