Chapter 44: You stink... Logan Kingsley!
A beat passed. Logan, still standing facing the opposite but his ears betrayed his steel mind. Hearing every movement of hers.
"I got us some water and food for today, by the way. When you’re done... uh... purifying your sins or whatever... I’ll be over there. Not looking."
Jean groaned, dunking herself underwater one last time. "This better not be the start of another fight."
"Oh no," Logan muttered to himself as he walked back toward the trees, rubbing his shoulder. "But it might be the start of a slow step into madness."
A woodpecker suddenly sat on his head and pecked on the back making him move. He waved it off but the bird was stubborn. And in an attempt to do that, he slipped facing the river.
"I said don’t look! Turn around. Face the tree!" Jean demanded, her voice sharp as a whip. Again!
Logan groaned but obeyed instantly, trudging over to the nearest thick tree trunk. He placed both hands on it like he was about to be arrested.
"I’m facing the tree, alright?" he called out, loudly enough for her to hear over the water. "This tree and I are bonding right now. He’s telling me about all his bark problems."
"Not funny," she snapped.
"I wasn’t trying to be."
There was a long pause, filled only by the sound of soft water splashes and occasional rustling. Logan didn’t move, even when an ant crawled onto his hand. He grimaced but didn’t flinch.