here.”
“I wa s more worried about bears,” I pragmatically note, “not scavenging hillbillies.”
Troian’s eyes widen . “B-b-bears?”
Nikole sli ngs her arm around her girlfriend’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, hun,” she says, kissing her on the temple. “I’ll protect you.”
“B ut I’m little!” Troian protests. “I’ll be the first one the bears eat! I’m like the appetizer course!”
Nikole and I share a knowing look and begin walking in the direction of the inland lake.
“Don’t leave me!” Troian yelps , quickly moving her legs to catch up.
I tip my head up to the sky and admire the clear blue color. I take a deep breath and fill my lungs with the scent of water and pine trees. I have to admit, I’ve missed this. I’d lived all my life in a place just like this, and it felt good to be back. “So who else is showing up this weekend?” I ask.
“Just one more,” Troian says vaguely. She gives me a furtive look. “She had work this morning, so she’ll be by later this afternoon.”
I nod and don’t ask any other questions; I’m too distracted by the view all around me. The dense forest clears away to reveal a well-kept lake and a sandy beach with no other people around within view.
I immediately ditch my sandals in favor of wading out into the lake. The water is cold on my feet and ankles, but nothing I can’t handle. The lake floor is slightly muddy and my feet sink into the soft mush. I pick up my feet and watch the small clouds of silty sand cloud the water.
I’m mesmerized by my surroundings, but not so much that I don’t hear Nikole and Troian’s quiet conversation.
“You didn’t tell her?” Nikole asks in hushed tones.
“She’ll be fine,” Troian says dismissively. “It’s not going to be a big deal.”
Nikole sucks on her teeth and shakes her head. “Okay. But it’s your funeral when she shows up and Elle freaks out.”
“Babe. I know what I’m doing,” Troian insists in a quiet voice. “It’s going to be just fine.”
Nikole groans . “You’re not trying to play Match-Maker again, are you? Hun,” she sighs rubbing at her face, “they both just got out of serious relationships.”
Troian flashes her girlfriend a cheeky smile. “Exactly. The timing is perfect.”
+++++
A dark blue SUV rolls to a stop just behind the black Jeep.
“Oh, good!” Troian cheers . “She’s here early.”
After wading in the lake for a few minutes (although Troian refused because she was convinced a fish was going to eat her toes), we returned back to the campsite to start properly setting up.
I hold up a hand over my eyes to shield my gaze from the sun’s glare, but I can’t make out the figure in the driver’s seat. The engine cuts off and the driving lights turn off. I watch as the person inside the car moves around a little, before the driver’s side door opens, and a long, bare leg appears.
The words were out of my mouth before I can stop herself: “Oh my God.”
Nikole walks up to the leggy blonde as she climbs out of the parked vehicle. “Hey, Hunter,” she grins. She gives the newcomer a quick hug. “Glad to see you didn’t get lost. Troian’s directions aren’t always the best.”
“I heard that,” Troian grumbles loudly.
I stare in disbelief for a moment, my task of setting up my tent momentarily forgotten. I watch as Nikole and Hunter talk with each other, both animatedly talking with their hands and laughing at something.
Hunter’s grey-blue gaze pull away from Nikole to inspect our camping spot. When she spots me , her eyes widen and she momentarily freezes. But I’ve got to give the girl credit; she recovers quickly, her surprise turning into a shy smile, and she waves a quick hello from across the camping
“I wa s more worried about bears,” I pragmatically note, “not scavenging hillbillies.”
Troian’s eyes widen . “B-b-bears?”
Nikole sli ngs her arm around her girlfriend’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, hun,” she says, kissing her on the temple. “I’ll protect you.”
“B ut I’m little!” Troian protests. “I’ll be the first one the bears eat! I’m like the appetizer course!”
Nikole and I share a knowing look and begin walking in the direction of the inland lake.
“Don’t leave me!” Troian yelps , quickly moving her legs to catch up.
I tip my head up to the sky and admire the clear blue color. I take a deep breath and fill my lungs with the scent of water and pine trees. I have to admit, I’ve missed this. I’d lived all my life in a place just like this, and it felt good to be back. “So who else is showing up this weekend?” I ask.
“Just one more,” Troian says vaguely. She gives me a furtive look. “She had work this morning, so she’ll be by later this afternoon.”
I nod and don’t ask any other questions; I’m too distracted by the view all around me. The dense forest clears away to reveal a well-kept lake and a sandy beach with no other people around within view.
I immediately ditch my sandals in favor of wading out into the lake. The water is cold on my feet and ankles, but nothing I can’t handle. The lake floor is slightly muddy and my feet sink into the soft mush. I pick up my feet and watch the small clouds of silty sand cloud the water.
I’m mesmerized by my surroundings, but not so much that I don’t hear Nikole and Troian’s quiet conversation.
“You didn’t tell her?” Nikole asks in hushed tones.
“She’ll be fine,” Troian says dismissively. “It’s not going to be a big deal.”
Nikole sucks on her teeth and shakes her head. “Okay. But it’s your funeral when she shows up and Elle freaks out.”
“Babe. I know what I’m doing,” Troian insists in a quiet voice. “It’s going to be just fine.”
Nikole groans . “You’re not trying to play Match-Maker again, are you? Hun,” she sighs rubbing at her face, “they both just got out of serious relationships.”
Troian flashes her girlfriend a cheeky smile. “Exactly. The timing is perfect.”
+++++
A dark blue SUV rolls to a stop just behind the black Jeep.
“Oh, good!” Troian cheers . “She’s here early.”
After wading in the lake for a few minutes (although Troian refused because she was convinced a fish was going to eat her toes), we returned back to the campsite to start properly setting up.
I hold up a hand over my eyes to shield my gaze from the sun’s glare, but I can’t make out the figure in the driver’s seat. The engine cuts off and the driving lights turn off. I watch as the person inside the car moves around a little, before the driver’s side door opens, and a long, bare leg appears.
The words were out of my mouth before I can stop herself: “Oh my God.”
Nikole walks up to the leggy blonde as she climbs out of the parked vehicle. “Hey, Hunter,” she grins. She gives the newcomer a quick hug. “Glad to see you didn’t get lost. Troian’s directions aren’t always the best.”
“I heard that,” Troian grumbles loudly.
I stare in disbelief for a moment, my task of setting up my tent momentarily forgotten. I watch as Nikole and Hunter talk with each other, both animatedly talking with their hands and laughing at something.
Hunter’s grey-blue gaze pull away from Nikole to inspect our camping spot. When she spots me , her eyes widen and she momentarily freezes. But I’ve got to give the girl credit; she recovers quickly, her surprise turning into a shy smile, and she waves a quick hello from across the camping
Similar Books
