Looking around the small room I wondered again how the four of us ended up in such a remote place, in a two-room cabin with no electricity or indoor toilet. We were juniors, all of us from State, and we had volunteered to survey this section of mountains, a place where certain species of trees are dying at a rapid rate. Although we were in different curriculums, we each had an aspect of study that could contribute to this survey. We were at the end of our second week, and after having the luxury of hotel rooms in one small town or another we now were in a remote section of the mountains and to avoid spending too much time traveling back and forth the university had reserved this cabin for us, one that served through hikers of the Appalachian Trail, even though it was nearly a mile hike from the trail to its remote location. We came in from the opposite side, a hike of only a half mile but one we had to make a few times to get all of our gear to the cabin.
I leaned back on the floor where I was lying on my sleeping bag near the fire, for the dampness made the cool mountain air seem even colder. I stared into the fire watching the flames rise as the wood turn black, then red and finally white as it fell through the grate as ash. Sensing movement to my right I looked over and saw Ben mixing another bourbon, one of the few luxuries we had afforded ourselves.
“Hey, make me one of those, will ya?” asked Hector who was sprawled out on a bench that sat along the side wall, legs down in his sleeping bag.
Ben carried Hector a plastic cup of bourbon and coke and on his return to the small counter that was considered a kitchen he swung by where I lay.
“You want one?” he asked as he nudged me with his foot.
“Yeah.”
The door opened letting a cold breeze swirl through the room. Julian came in quickly and closed the door behind him, his cheeks red from the cold. He been to the toilet, a compost affair about fifty feet down the mountain from the cabin.
“It’s getting colder out there” said Julian as headed to the small bedroom where we each had claimed one of the four bunk platforms. I watched him go into the bedroom, rifle through is backpack pulling out a thick pullover and sweat pants. I don’t know why I did it, but I watched him slip out of his clothes, laying out the pants and shirt to wear again tomorrow. I’ve seen him stripped down before, many times these last two weeks, we all have seen each other change clothes but whereas with Ben and Hector it had been like in some locker room or in the dorm, just three guys changing, doing the quick look once or twice to check each other out, but with Julian it was different. Uncomfortably so.
He was a pretty boy, even Sarah and Jessica had called him that when they saw him walk up that morning we were getting packed up to head out. Fair unblemished skin, so soft looking, almost feminine, and they way he wore his hair, long on top that hung down over his forehead, a style worn by some women, which with his lean build made him appear androgynous. I found myself looking at him in ways that made me nervous and glancing over at Ben and Hector, I could see the same uncomfortable stares.
As day turned into night we prepared dinner with the small gas cooker. Ben handled the cooking while Hector filtered the water I had pumped from the well. The evening grew cold quickly and we sat on our sleeping bags in front of the fire to eat. The last few days had been especially tiring, with miles of hiking in the mountains so we talked very little while we ate. Once we had everything cleaned up we headed into the bedroom, each taking one of the bunk platforms, and settled down for the night. Ben was above me and Hector was above Julian across from us. The only light was a faint glow of moonlight filtered through the trees coming in the window. I lay on my side staring over at the silhouette of Julian, his faint outline barely visible, wondering what he must think about all of this. He did not seem the type to be out roughing it in the mountains. In the weeks leading up to this trip we had introduced themselves and spoken at different times about our backgrounds. Hector originally from Texas then Wyoming where his family ran an outdoor resort, Ben from south Florida, some small place near the western coast, and I from North Carolina, not far from where we started this trip. And there was Julian, from Atlanta, where his father was in some large corporation and his mother was an instructor at one of the universities. Julian had been vague about it all, never giving any details, and when conversations turned to girlfriends Julian was notably absent from those conversations as well. He had to be gay I thought as I stared at his sleeping form wondering why I wanted to know then asking myself if it mattered. The last thing I remember is rolling over to face the wall too tired to hold any thought for long as sleep over took me.
As the sun broke over the horizon we were packed up and heading out, hiking out to a trial that led down the mountain and over the next. We kept up a steady pace, stopping only to do a survey of different areas. The sky began to cloud up around ten and we knew the weather forecast for rain was accurate. We thought we had till four or five before needing to be back at the cabin, so we pushed on till noon, stopping for lunch before heading back to the cabin. It was around three when the first drops of rain could be felt, just a few raindrops here and there.
“Shit, we’re going to get caught in it” said Ben who was bringing up the rear.
“Looks that way” I replied, picking up the pace, knowing it was futile for we had at least an hour to go.
At a break in the trees giving us a view down the valley we saw it, the rain coming our way, the grayed-out scenery from the leading edge back clearly showed its progression.
“Come on, let’s go” said Julian as he bumped past me getting in front. We straightened our backpacks, pulled caps down low over our heads and took off behind him.
The last hour of our hike was miserable, the trail quickly turning into a stream of water and mud, with rocks being looser than before. We had a tense moment when Hector went down at a switchback, tumbling down to the next section of trail before catching himself. I just knew he twisted an ankle the way he went down so I, along with the others were surprised to see him get up, wipe the mud and water from his face and take off in front, leading us the rest of way.
The cabin never looked so good as it did that afternoon when we finally made it back, soaked to the skin with our shoes filled with water. We didn’t bother trying to remove them or anything else under the small porch but went straight inside where it was warmer and away from the downpour.
“I’ll get the fire going” said Hector as he handed Ben his backpack then went over to the fireplace. The rest of us unpacked our gear spreading it out on the small counter and on the floor along a far wall. We hung our backpacks up to dry then went for a change of clothes.
“Hey, will one of you bring me some dry clothes” asked Hector, looking up from the small fire he was trying to get to build up quickly to a nice warm fire.
We were freezing in our wet clothes, shivering so hard our voice vibrated when we spoke. Looking at the others I could see the cold grayness of their skin and knew I probably looked the same. The fire was beginning to throw out much needed heat, for the temperature dropped with the rain. Standing in an arc in front of the fire place we began to strip out of our clothes, not stopping still every wet garment was removed and we stood naked in front of the fire.
I know what you’re thinking, ‘this is it, this is when the fun begins’ but you’re wrong. We were so cold, so miserable any thought of something happening between us was extinguished. But I for one did look cautiously around at the others, seeing how we were so different, different builds and characteristics. Ben was the largest of us, tall, with broad shoulders and chest covered in a thick matt of dark hair. His arms and legs were powerfully built from years of going to the gym and playing sports. Glancing down I saw his cock hung heavy over its sac. For his overall size it looked small, but I knew it was a deception for he was as large as anyone else. Hector was about Julian’s height, I’d guess five eight or so, shorter than my five eleven and he had the smooth dark skin that reflected his southwestern heritage. Unable to not look I noticed his cock and sac were dark, a few tones darker than his skin with a thick patch of pubic hair fanning out just above it. His arms and legs looked almost bare but thick dark hair was evident under each arm. It embarrassed me to consider how I was comparing the others, capturing quick glances at each one. Of course, I was also comparing them to Julian and even myself. I knew I probably looked younger than the others having a lean body that appeared more like a teenage body than someone becoming a man. But compared to Julian even I looked more mature and I couldn’t help but notice how the others were glancing at him, looking at the soft curves of his body, the fair skin that seemed to glow in the dim light. What was surprising was his cock. Although no longer than anyone else it was thick, very thick, and I wondered what it would be like when erect.
Finally, in dry clothes, three of us in sweat pants and shirts and Hector in worn jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt we hung our clothes up to dry and prepared dinner. Hector moved the bench closer to the fireplace where Julian and he sat facing it while Ben and I sat on the floor on our sleeping bags. We knew the rain was to move out quickly and by morning the temperatures were to climb back up, even higher than they had been the last few days. But for tonight we stayed huddled up in front of the fire trying to remove the chill from getting wet. After dinner, Ben moved around to each of us taking the small plastic plates and utensils. He went over to the small counter where we had a pan of water waiting to clean them up.
“We should fill those portable showers in the morning and hang them up in the sun to warm up while we are out” said Ben as he washed the plates.
“Good idea; we can stretch a rope between the porch and that oak tree, so they’ll be out in the sun most of the day” replied Julian as he checked the backpacks to see if they were drying out.
“A shower sounds good; it’ll be something to look forward to at the end of the day” I added as I stroked up the fire.
“We can plan on getting back about an hour before dark” said Ben as he put the last plate on the counter to dry.
When Ben finally came and sat in the front of the fire with the rest of us Hector and Julian were already dozing off, our exhaustion catching up with us. Ben and I watched the fire burn down in silence till the last log broke apart and set a few sparks up the chimney.
“I’ve got to call it a night” I whispered, to no one in particular.
“Me too” Ben replied as he nudged Hector with his foot. “Hey man, let’s call it a night.”
Julian heard us stirring and stretched his arms out before standing up following Ben and I into the bedroom. Hector slowly rose behind us coming into the bedroom once the rest of us were stuck into our sleeping bags. I don’t remember my head hitting the pillow and the next thing I’m conscious of is Julian and Hector talking while getting coffee made.
By the time the sky was a soft blue, clear in every direction, we were making our way down the final trail we were going to do a survey from the cabin. This trail was going to climb over the mountain we were on and down the other side into a valley. Ben led for the first leg of our hike, followed by Hector and Julian with me bringing up the rear. The temperature only rose into the mid-sixties but after days of thirty and forty-degree weather it felt warm, and carrying backpacks and keeping up a steady pace we soon were sweating. We stopped after a couple of hours to grab a drink and begin surveying where we promptly shed an outer layer of clothing.
We worked quickly and efficiently, working down the mountain till we came to the creek that cascaded down the valley. Weaving back and forth over its rocky outcroppings we made our way down stream to out destination, the bridge where Highway 68 crossed. Then we reversed course and begin our hike back.
That old rustic cabin never looked so good as it did when we hiked into its small clearing. With an hour of good daylight left and already the temperature beginning to drop, we quickly stowed our gear, grabbed out toiletries and towels and headed out for our first shower in three days. The small bladders for the showers were hung on a rope stretched across the open clearing from the porch to a small oak tree. We moved them apart to give each of us room to shower without bumping into each other, with Ben on the far end followed by Hector, Julian and myself.
I’d been anticipating this shower all day, telling myself it was to feel clean again, but over and over the real reason, the one I contemplated so often I was afraid it had been evident on my face was showering next to me. Striped of our clothes there was something almost sexual in being out in the open the way we were, the sharply slanted rays of sunlight warming our skin along with the warm water from the bladder released through the small shower head. We rinsed off the worst of the dirt and grime then soaped up till the suds cascaded down our torsos and legs. Over and over I looked over at Julian, my eyes following those suds as they slid downward, over his lean body, around his thick cock and down each leg. I looked one time too many and glancing up saw he had seen me and was staring back, eyebrows raised questioningly. I looked away quickly offering no excuse and was relieved to see a minute later he was rinsing the soap off without having made a comment. The others were rinsing off and realized I had been dawdling too much and rushed to finished up.
Dried off the guys wrapped towels around their waist and headed toward the cabin carrying their dirty clothes. Hector and Ben stopped on the porch to take the large plastic tub of water inside.
“Hurry up Paul” Hector called out before Ben and he went inside.
“I’m coming” I replied as I drained the bladder. Grabbing the towel from over the rope I dried quickly, grabbed up my dirty clothes and headed inside with the others. It was a short distance, but I must have wondered a dozen different ways about Julian, whether he might be gay, why it mattered, and more troubling what it would be like if Ben and Hector were not here. Inside I saw Ben, wearing his old gym shorts, stooped at one plastic container, the water covered in suds. Hector and Julian stood around him still wrapped in their towels.
“Bring those dirty clothes over and I’ll wash them” said Ben.
“And I’ll rinse them out” Hector added as he pointed toward another plastic container, the one they just brought in with clean water in it.
Knowing the clothes would dry quicker if hung inside the cabin I strung a rope across the room near the far wall out of the way. As Ben gave a rough cleaning to our clothes then Julian handed them over to Hector to rinse then wring out, I took the wet garments and hung them up.
The room grew warm from the fire and we were slow to do anything else; make dinner, review the plan for the next day, nor for Hector, Julian and I, even to put on clothes. Ben was sitting on his sleeping bag on the floor and I sat on the bench facing the fire. Hector came over carrying his sleeping bag, spread it out on the floor near Ben and began to sit down, holding his towel to prevent it from slipping off. Ben quickly grabbed it, giving it a tug till it came loose. Hector struggled with holding it up while trying to get away from Ben. They began to horse around, both laughing, as Hector tried to hold the loose towel over his crotch while he playfully while he would reach out tugging on Ben’s gym shorts.
I couldn’t help but laugh as Julian came over and sat next to me. Looking over I saw him laughing too, but when he turned toward me his laugh changed, became something different, a smile. I don’t why I did it. Even later, I still questioned what made me do it. I had thought if anyone would have done something like that it would have been Julian, not me. But I had done it, made the first move. I reached over and slipped my hand between the overlapping ends of Julian’s towel putting it on his thigh. He didn’t turn away from my stare nor react surprised. He just smiled. I grew embolden and squeezed his thigh then slid my hand upward till I felt the soft loose skin of his sac along the back of my fingers. It molded itself to the contours their shape enveloping them in the warmth of his body.
I hadn’t realized how silent the room had grown, no more laughing or horsing around from Ben and Hector. Looking over I saw them watching us, mouths open in surprise, but I didn’t stop, couldn’t bring myself to pull my hand back for I suddenly realized how much I wanted this.
“W-w-what are you doing?” asked Ben.
“I…I…I don’t know…”
And I wasn’t sure I did know what I was doing as I moved my hand to Julian’s growing erection, the thick shaft filling my hand, forefinger and thumb unable to touch.
“You really doing this?” asked Hector as he watched my hand moving underneath Julian’s towel.
“You want us to stop?” asked Julian and I noticed he included himself in what was happening, made himself a part of this touch, the grope and manipulation of his cock by me.
“Huh…no…not really” replied Ben as he eased up on his knees watching as intently as Hector. We could see how his gym shorts tented outward, his cock growing erect as he watched.
Julian pulled his towel apart, let it drop flat on the bench revealing his rising cock and my hand moving along its thickening shaft. He reached over and tugged on my towel, pulled the side closest to him over leaving my own cock half exposed. I pulled the other side off leaving myself fully exposed too. His hand moved to my cock and we manipulated each other, tugged and stroked the other’s cock. I felt my arousal, the touch of his hand on my cock, the way it made me grow hot, even my breathing increase in pace. Glancing over I saw Ben had a hand inside his shorts manipulating his own cock, and Hector, towel around his legs, opening stroked his own cock.
Julian leaned to me, kissed my neck and tongued my ear sending shivers down my spine.
“Fuck me” Julian whispered, “put that cock in me.”
Julian shifted around straddling the bench and he guided me to do the same facing him. He lay back as I felt his hand on my right thigh give me a pull toward him, a simple gesture, so obvious in its intent. I moved toward him and he raised his legs resting them on my shoulders.
“Oh shit” whispered Hector and I saw them knee walk closer, watching intently as I scooted up close to Julian till my cock was touching him, dragging wetly over his thigh, up along the side of his cock and over it.
Julian took me in hand rubbing my drooling cock over his opening, up and down, exciting me more, my arousal growing uncontrollable and I pushed against him as I shivered with the sensation. Looking down I saw the look, the one of desire, a desire so great nothing else mattered. I pushed against his tightness. Julian lay back with arms stretched over his head grasping the end of the bench. His lean body arced over the bench as he pushed back. I felt it, that tight opening squeeze the head of my cock and I pushed forward steadily easing into Julian. First the head then inch after inch of the shaft, I pushed forward sinking into Julian feeling the way his body seemed to suck me in, envelope my cock in the heat of his body.
I rose up and over Julian, feet on the floor and my hands holding his legs, and began to fuck, to drive my cock through that tight opening. Julian grew verbal, noisily begging me to fuck, to fuck harder, and I fell into a powerful rhythm. He reached out toward Hector, fingers moving frantically, and I heard him beg Hector to come over, to give it to him. I knew what he wanted. He wanted this sex, cock, thrusting into his depths and now begging for another, one he could taste, feel moving over his tongue filling his mouth. Hector moved as if in a trance to the end of the bench and bent his legs pushing his cock down till the wet head raked over Julian face leaving a slick trail over this forehead, down his nose then over his lips. Julian opened his mouth and took that slick wet head letting it slip into his mouth. As Hector eased his cock into Julian’s mouth, Julian became more animated, his whole body undulating beneath us. His hands held Hector by the waist and guiding him to fuck faster, to move his hips with greater urgency. Moaning around Hector’s cock Julian seemed to be as loud as before, more so in a way and it drove me to fuck harder, hips smacking his ass as I plunged into his depths, every inch shoved inward. I rocked him roughly on the bench, rocked him against Hector, the two of pushing inward at the same time impaling Julian on our cocks.
“Jesus” uttered Ben and I remembered he was still in the room, closer now, shorts taken off, hand stroking the hard cock sticking straight out.
Turning back to Julian I kept up my pace till all I could see was our sex, all my senses focused on it, the rest of the room mere shadow, darkness, as I thrust into Julian over and over and over. The room smelled of it, the masculine scent of our sweating bodies exerting themselves. The only sounds were the grunts and moans of the four of us. It pushed me to the edge till I felt the surge, the need for release, and I shoved inward all the way, my hips slamming against Julian’s ass and I came. Jabbing forward trying to get deeper into him with every ejaculation, I pushed myself till spent. Then I slowly moved my cock in Julian, piston it through my slick warm load till I was too sensitive to continue.
I pulled out, my cock still half hard, wet, dripping, and stood to the side of the bench opposite Ben. I looked down at Julian, the way he was taking Hector, that cock pushing inward bulging his cheeks and throat, then up to Ben. He was looking at me, a look of awe. I saw his eyes move down to Julian, scan along the undulating body, skin glistening wetly, nipples sticking out hard, stomach heaving up and down and that fat cock, hard, drooling, slapping down on Julian’s stomach wetting it with every touch.
“Do him…come on Ben, give it to him” I whispered, “he wants it.”
Ben straddled the bench, lifted Julian’s legs pinning them to his chest as he moved up close. I watched intently as Ben put his cock to Julian opening where my load was leaking out and he smeared it with the head of his cock, rubbing it over the opening in circular motions. I took my own cock in hand and stroked slowly the wet slick shaft feeling it grow erect once again as I pushed Ben by the ass with the other, encouraging him to do it, to penetrate Julian. He penetrated that wet opening and just kept on pushing, inch after inch, till he was all the way inside of him. Julian moaned around Hector’s cock as he undulated on the bench, pushed with his hips trying to sink Ben deeper into his body.
Ben shifted up, folded Julian over and began to fuck, to drive cock deep into Julian’s hole. I dropped to my knees and watched, watched how that cock sank all the way inward them pulled back out, sometimes all the way only to bust through Julian’s opening once again. Ben was relentless, his arousal driving him to fuck with a roughness that surprised me. He rocked Julian across the bench, pushed him till Hector’s cock was sunk into his mouth and throat. I saw Hector shaking, his entire body rigid, muscles straining as if lifting heavy weights. He pulled out of Julian’s mouth and stroked himself once, twice, then on the third time he came. Thick wads spurt out over Julian, leaving puddles across his stomach and chest. Hector kept stroking his cock as he shot again and again, impossibly so, till Julian was covered in it, the last dribbling over his face.
Spent, Hector pushed his cock down and Julian took it, the wet slick shaft slipping through his lips. The smell filled the room. I stroked my own cock, feeling a renewed arousal, my shaft quickly hard within my hand. Ben leaned down, slipped his arms around Julian and lifted him up pressing their bodies together. He carried Julian to the sleeping bags on the floor in front of the fireplace and lay him down on his back. He moved over him, folding him in half, ass raised up still speared on his cock. I watched as Ben’s body began to move again, rise up revealing his cock then pushing down, fast, hard, bodies slapping together. Ben fucked Julian, no other way to describe it. The physical nature of it, the way he exerted himself, everything he had focused on driving his cock into Julian. I was watching so intently I didn’t realize Hector was next to me till I felt his hand push my own away and take me, stroking my cock. He moved behind me and I felt his cock, once again hard, fully erect, rub over my ass then press tightly against it. He kissed my shoulder then the back of my neck as he pushed me to lean over. I complied, bent at the waist till my chest rested on the bench while my eyes never left the scene before me, Ben fucking Julian.
I felt Hector’s fingers moved down my ass, rake over my opening, penetrate its tightness. He moved them around stretching me open till I was pushing back trying to get them deeper. I was disappointed to feel them pull out, to leave me feeling empty but then I felt it, his cock pressing against me. It felt impossibly big, too thick to enter me, but I pushed back wanting it, needing it. I felt myself stretch open as I took him. I shivered with the penetration, raised up with the pain of the initial stretch of my opening to take him, crying out with the pain, the pleasure, of it all.
“Take me…let me in” Hector whispered in my ear as he sank deeper and deeper into my body. And I did, suddenly relaxing to his penetration, feeling that cock sink into me till our bodies were pressed together. It filled me, Hector’s cock and I found myself whispering, over and over the same phrase.
“Fuck me…fuck me…”
Hector lightly bit my earlobe and whispered in my ear “yes” as he began to fuck.
I rocked with every push inward, my moans vibrating with my movement, as Hector thrust into me. I felt every push inward, the way it filled me as he seemed to go deeper than it was possible. I continued to watch Ben and Julian, the way Ben’s cock piston in and out, their pace too fast to last long. Ben let Julian’s legs slip down and wrap around his waist as he lay his full weight on top of Julian, ass undulating with their fuck. I watched how Ben ground his cock into Julian as his body shook and shivered. I knew Julian was taking Ben’s load as I felt Hector increase his pace, hands holding me by the waist in a tight grip as cock piston in my own hole.
Ben rose, and Julian climbed to his feet, his own cock still hard, aroused till it angled upward with drool hanging from the head. I watched Julian cross the short distance till his cock loomed large and heavy in my face. I knew what he wanted.
I stuck out my tongue and licked the head. I tasted Julian, the slightly sweet taste of him then put my lips to it. He moved forward, slowly, making me stretch my jaw open as he filled my mouth. He worked it slowly back and forth through my lips and over my tongue. He combed his fingers through my hair then held my head as he drove in deeper, the head of his cock pushing into my throat.
Closing my eyes, I took them, Julian and Hector, felt the way they used me, cocks pushing into my body. Reduced to the physical sensation of our sex I lost track of time, of place, only aware of our bodies locked together in sex. How long did it last I don’t know, not as long as it seemed, but not long enough. The first thing I became conscious of was the spatter of warm cum on my back then Hector pressed tight to my ass crying out he was coming and finally, my mouth flooded with Julian’s cum. Julian’s cock was too thick and spurting too much and when he pushed inward cum pushed out of my mouth and trickled down my chin, down my neck and chest.
Then it was over, Julian stepped back letting me breath normally, his cum still trickling down my chin. His cock hung partially flaccid, wet and shiny in the dim light. Glancing over I saw Ben ease down on the bench next to me and knew he had jacked off on me while watching us fuck. Easing up on my knees Hector sat down next to me. He was still breathing hard, his whole body glistening wetly from his exertions. I turned and sat down next to him, suddenly feeling exhausted, every muscle fatigued. We were quiet for a moment, no one daring to say anything. Then Julian and Ben began to snigger, to laugh quietly at first. Hector then I joined in till we were laughing.
“Jesus…did we have some pent-up energy or what?” asked Ben.
Ben and Hector lay in their sleeping bags in front of the fire sound asleep. As I watched their slowed breathing I wondered how they would act in the morning. Afraid and ashamed at what we had done, or would they act like it was no big deal moving on as before, or would they…
I dare not think of it, not now, the possibly too much to comprehend. I followed Julian into the small bedroom and watched him spread his sleeping bag on a lower platform, then take mine and unzip it all the way opening it up. He laid down near the wall and patted the place next to him. I smiled at the simple gesture and eased down next to him. He covered us with my sleeping bag and we snuggled up together, me on my side facing out and he spooned up to my back. It felt right, the way the two us lay, our bodies warming each other. I felt Julian’s breathing fall into a rhythm of sleep, each exhale softly caressing my neck. It was comforting and soon I was lulled into a deep sleep.
The remainder of our trip we worked tirelessly to finish. Hector and Ben had been a bit standoffish that next morning, but we talked about it, what our expectations were and how we couldn’t make judgments against each other nor expect it to happen again. And it didn’t, there was no more sex between the four of us, but each night thereafter Hector and Ben would sleep apart from Julian and myself. They didn’t do anything to interfere or prevent us from being together, even making jokes about it toward the end.
Julian and I stayed together till the end of college, but knew, when that day came we would be going our separate ways, pursuing our life’s ambition. So, on a hot humid day in late spring I found myself, diploma and an acceptance letter in hand, boarding a plane for south Florida wondering what lay ahead. Julian was already on the west coast, his new life started. Another chapter about to begin, for the two of us.
To get in touch with the author, send them an email.