Teddy Spenser Isn't Looking for Love - Kim Fielding Page 0,37

How did you become an expert on slugs anyway?”

“Nerd, remember? I dug my science classes.” Romeo poked the slug very gently with one finger.

“Ew. Don’t touch it!”

“Why not?” He did it again. And then to Teddy’s absolute horror, he picked the thing up and set it on his upturned hand. “I’m just going to move the poor little fellow off the path so nobody steps on it. It. Man, that sounds too cold for a living creature. What pronouns do you suppose are appropriate for slugs?” He seemed completely sincere with this question.

“I usually just ask people which pronouns they prefer. I think that’s polite.”

“Agreed. But I can’t very well ask our friend, can I?” Romeo walked to the edge of the trail, bent, and with utmost care urged the slug onto a wet leaf. It crept along, apparently untraumatized by the encounter.

Romeo looked down at his hand, which was coated with slug goo. He started to reach for his backpack strap but stopped suddenly, a mischievous grin lighting his face. “Oh, Teeeeeddy,” he crooned. He stepped toward Teddy with his palm outstretched.

“Agh!” Teddy scrambled backward, away from the slimy hand of doom. “Don’t you dare!” But Romeo advanced, so Teddy retreated—until his heel landed on a patch of mud and he slipped. For a perfect, brief moment he thought he’d regain his balance.

Then he fell hard and yowled with pain.

Chapter Ten

“I am so sorry,” Romeo said for the tenth or eleventh time. Teddy kept telling him it was no big deal, that Teddy’s innate klutziness was as much at fault as Romeo’s faux threat, but Romeo remained distressed even as he wrapped an Ace bandage around Teddy’s swollen ankle. “Is that too tight?”

Teddy winced as he moved his foot experimentally. “No, I think it’s okay.” He tried to settle more comfortably on the fallen log, but he’d also bruised his ass when he fell.

“Sit tight, okay? I’ll go get help.”

Naturally, there was no cell service, so Romeo would have to walk the two and a half miles back to the trailhead, summon assistance, and lead them back here. Which meant Teddy would be alone for perhaps two hours, feeling stupid. “No. You finish the hike. I can walk back by myself—nothing’s broken.”

“I’m not going to abandon you!”

Teddy warmed at Romeo’s declaration but shook his head. “There’s no point in both of us failing the test.”

“I am not leaving a wounded man alone in the woods just so I can impress a rich lady that I’d never heard of.” Romeo folded his arms firmly.

The rain had increased to a steady drizzle. Teddy tied his hood under his chin and gingerly stood. He could walk, sort of, as long as he didn’t put too much weight on the bad foot. It hurt, but not agonizingly so. “Let’s go,” he said, shoulders heavy with defeat.

But first Romeo insisted on taking Teddy’s backpack, and then he found a sturdy stick, broke it to a suitable length, and held it out. “Makeshift cane?”

“Sure. Why not?”

The stick helped, in fact, especially on the steeper bits. Still, they made slow progress downhill, with Teddy stopping often to rest. The forest, which had seemed so interesting before, was now just huge and uncomfortable. And if those killer coyotes showed up now, he’d never be able to outrun them.

During one of Teddy’s pauses—he’d found a log to sit on—Romeo frowned at him. “Really, Teddy. Stay here and I’ll bring help.”

“No.”

“You don’t trust me?”

“I’m absolutely positive you’re not going to leave me to the elements. You wouldn’t even finish the hike when I told you to. I just...” He shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t want to sit here alone.”

Not that he was seriously worried about being attacked by wild animals, although apparently even a slug was capable of taking him down. He knew that if he had to wait, his mind would go to all sorts of miserable places, and then he’d feel completely ridiculous when a rescue squad showed up. It was bad enough that he was failing the test; he didn’t need to get park rangers and EMTs involved.

With help from his stick, he regained his feet. “Let’s go.”

Although he looked doubtful, Romeo didn’t argue. They continued making their slow way back. Sometimes Romeo offered an arm to help steady him, and he never once displayed anything other than kindness or concern.

By the time they neared the trailhead, Teddy was exhausted, sopping wet, and gritting his teeth against the pain. But they made it, and there was