The post-dinner packing session was, predictably, a battleground.
What had started as Rai squawking in outrage when Zade playfully grabbed a handful of his ass quickly devolved into a chaotic, breathless squabble over bag space.
They shoved, kicked, and wrestled clothes into zippers with the frantic energy of two feral cats trapped in a closet.
And, by the time that last bag was snapped shut, neither had a single drop of energy left to throw another insult. Exhausted, they collapsed into Rai's bed together, instantly dead to the world.
And, then, the morning arrived far too quickly.
After a rushed, sleepy breakfast, the entire group boarded the bus by 8:00 AM, ready for the long trek back home.
As the bus pulled away from the hotel, Zade reached over, resting a heavy, warm hand on Rai's thigh. Zade's eyes hovered on the fabric over Rai's bent knees. "Do they hurt?" he asked softly.
