“You guys always insult each other like this?” Lia waved a hand in the air and gave it back as good as she got.
“Only in public. We’ve got this love hate relationship thing to maintain.” And that was that as far as explanations went. Kristen could have elaborated that this had been going on since kindergarten or junior high or whenever their moon cycles went bananas.
Unfortunately, Damien cleared that right up when he chimed in stoically making us all cringe. “Because the hate fucking is so good.”
“Shut it dummy.” Kristen kicked him under the table and his knee bounced up wobbling drinks and plates.
“That. Hurt.” He growled at her rubbing his leg. He turned to Lia as if he might say something even more inappropriate like kissing it better. I wouldn’t put it past him.
“Damien. Don’t.” I snapped back.
Instead he smiled. “Hey, we should plan another group camping trip, wouldn’t that be fun?”
“Okay, random switch in topics and no thanks, it would not be fun if you recall the last one we were on.” I met Lia in the woods. I was doing my damnest to keep her out of there right now.
“Oh come on, we promise no pranks.” Kristen whined.
“You told the guys there was a bear in the woods and stole all our clothes. No bueno.” Remembering that trip was not on my list of things to repeat, even if Kristen wasn’t hating on Damien twenty-four seven like usual.
“Naked boys in the woods?” Lia inquired smirking.
I reached over the table to tweak her nose warning her, “Don’t get too hopeful sweetheart. The next trip will be a payback to the girls.”
No way in hell was I reliving that again buck ass naked traipsing through the forest and right into the group of German tourists. I was certain that there were online photos of my dong covered in leaves floating around the internet with my hanging pine cones swaying in the wind. I couldn’t run for office now even if I wanted to with that scandal out there.
“Spoil sport.” Kristen nudged. She had no idea how curmudgeonly I could get with missing pants and my frank and beans swinging in the wind.
“I think I’ll pass, thanks.” Lia sucked down more of her drink and I wished I was sitting next to her. I bet her lips tasted cool and sweet and far better than this conversation.
“What, no more stranded nights in the Ranger Cottage for you?” I teased.
Lia rolled her eyes. “Nope, not even if you promise to behave like a perfect boy scout.”
Kristen tapped her lips. “Whit, you weren’t a–”
I kicked under the table getting Damien instead. I didn’t hurt girls, but their boyfriends were fair game.
“Oww, what did I do this time?” He yelped clutching his leg. Opps. Now wasn’t the time to fess up to that mistruth.
“It’s like you didn’t want me to–” Kristen still doesn’t get it, but this time Damien covers for me winking. He tapped her leg under the table for me.
“Ouch. I’m gonna beat your ass later.” She leaned down rubbing her leg.
“So untrustworthy.” Lia aimed the comment to me.
“I’ll admit that stings.” Clutching my chest we’re back to joking and all is well. I never got my question answered and I doubted I would, but I could live with that for right now if it meant we were okay and I didn’t have to fess up to a mirror in the cabin.
“Alright, no camping, but we need to do something this weekend.” Damien dumped the sugar packets rearranging them in the box on the table.
“Like?” I was up for suggestions, but not if they were PG and kept me out of Lia’s pants. I could hang with my friends whenever, but I didn’t know the next time I could see Lia again.
Damien rolled his head back groaning, “Call TJ and ask her to tell Hunter we’re doing something.” He made noises leaning back in the booth.
“Really? He’s your cousin.”
I took a pink packet and misfiled it to fuck with him.
“Seriously,