Fake Boyfriend - Miley Maine Page 0,18

you just going to stand there and watch me?” I asked.

“I am,” he said.

I grabbed the small hammer that had been tucked inside the tarp, and found the loops at the edges where the stakes went, and hammered them into the ground. I stood with my hands on my hips. “Does that pass inspection?”

Jackson gave the tent a good shove. It rocked, but it didn’t collapse.

“Pretty darn good,” he said. “Now you know how to do it.”

I squinted at him. “Did you plan that? Was that your sneaky way of cheering me up -- getting me to see that I could do something?”

“I promise I am not nearly that good at understanding human behavior. I just know that it feels good to accomplish something. And doing something physical helps get your head back on straight.”

The light from the golden sunset illuminated Jackson. I could look at him all day and night. “I think it’s pretty wise.”

“I’ll take all the compliments I can get,” he said.

“You deserve quite a few,” I said. “I’m serious.”

He ignored what I’d just said and walked off. “Next we need firewood,” he said over his shoulder. He walked closer to the treeline and picked up a stick. “This is what you need.”

I guess he didn’t want to talk about himself.

“Have you ever built a fire?” he asked.

I shot him a look. “What do you think?” When I was allowed to do activities as a child, they included things like tennis, and boating, and golf. Things that can be done in a country club. Nobody starts fires in a country club. Not if they want to stay out of jail.

He showed me step by step how to build a campfire, which I thoroughly enjoyed. He brushed the dirt off his hands and stood up. “Before long, you’ll be a survivalist.”

“I doubt that,” I said. “Now what?”

“Usually I’d cook on the open fire.” He pulled a small pan out of the backpack and unfolded the handle. “Are you hungry?”

“A little. Did you bring food?” I asked.

“I have a few things. But, most of the time I hunt.”

“What do you hunt?”

“Up here, mostly ducks. Some deer.”

“Wow.” Was there anything Jackson couldn't do?

“You’re not horrified?”

“No,” I said. “I’ve never been upset by hunting, not if it’s done for eating.”

“I can teach you that too.”

I didn’t want to be a survivalist exactly, but I wanted to know how to take care of myself. There were basic skills I’d never learned, skills that even the other rich kids learned, but I didn’t because my parents were always too busy. “That would be fabulous.”

We sat by the fire, and Jackson pulled out a packet of dehydrated pad thai, and dumped it in the small stainless steel pan. “It’s not gourmet, but we only need water.” He showed me how to cook the food over the open flame.

“I didn’t bring plates,” he said. “Or an extra fork. I didn’t expect to have a guest with me.”

“I don’t mind sharing,” I said. There was a lot I wouldn’t mind sharing with Jackson.

“Camping chairs are a little beyond my capacity,” he said. “But there’s an old towel in my Jeep.”

He handed over the pot and fork, and I took a big bite. Thai sauce went all over my face.

Pretty sexy, Loren. Way to go.

Jackson laughed, but he handed me a towel. “That’s your napkin for today. You’ll have to wash it out when you’re done. “

“I wish we had some marshmallows and chocolate.”

“I'll tell you what. If we get lucky enough to catch a few fish, I’ll be able to cook them on the fire.”

“That sounds delicious,” I said. “Do you bathe here?” I asked, pointing to the lake.

“I’d usually rinse off in the lake and use my shower bag if I need soap, but tonight we can use the campground facilities. And when you need drinking water, I have water sanitizing tablets.” He pulled out a small bar of soap and shampoo, gave me a pair of his flip flops and a towel. “I’ll show you where they are.”

I didn’t argue. Having him walk beside me was a relief. Inside the bare-bones shower, I washed my hair. The hot water not only got me clean, it felt like I was scrubbing the stress of the day off my body.

I got dressed in my spare outfit and brushed my teeth -- thank God I’d packed at least that much in my oversized Hermes purse, even if the stupid thing had gotten me mugged. When I walked