Chapter Eleven
Benson
I didn’t do this on purpose, but I’m secretly happy Claire doesn’t want to share a tent with Piper. I’m actually looking forward to falling asleep next to her.
These past couple of days with her have changed my perspective. She’s not as bad as I thought she was.
“How are those sausages coming along?” Claire asks, eyeing them with a hungry look.
I hand her a skewer. “They’re ready. Be careful, though, because they’re hot. Oh, and there’s a bottle of ketchup on that tree stump over there.”
She walks over to the ketchup bottle, squirts some over her sausage, and takes a seat next to Piper.
“I can’t believe I’m roughing it like this. I mean, look at us, sweetheart! Sitting on a blanket in the dirt, eating food straight from a campfire. And no cutlery!”
I try not to laugh. It’s clear that Claire isn’t used to going back to basics, but it’s also kind of adorable how excited she is about doing it right now.
“If you keep this up, you could be the next Bear Grylls, Mom,” Piper jokes.
“Bear who?”
“You know, that survivalist who’s on TV a lot, eating bugs and stuff.”
Claire’s eyes widen in horror. “Bugs?” She looks at the meat in her hand. “This sausage isn’t made of them, is it?”
I chuckle. “No, Claire, don’t worry. No one will be eating bugs on this trip. We’ll stick to meat and s’mores.”
Claire relaxes and takes a careful bite of her sausage, even though she’s still holding it as if it might explode. “Thank goodness. I can handle a bit of dirt and camping, but I draw the line at eating bugs.”
“He also teaches people how to survive in the wild by drinking your own pee,” Piper says with a grin.
“Oh, my goodness. If you want me to throw up, keep talking,” Claire says.
“Let’s all just enjoy dinner,” I say, sitting down next to Piper.
She gives me a confused look, but then realizes that I’m supposed to be her boyfriend. Our legs are touching—my knee is leaning against her upper leg to be more exact—and my pulse skitters like a rabbit. I try to focus on eating my food, but it’s hard to do when every nerve in my body is hyper-aware of her touch.
“So,” Claire starts, looking between us with a glint in her eyes. “How did you two end up together, anyway? You’ve never told me the story.”
“Uh, well,” Piper stammers, probably trying to stall while she thinks of something believable. “It just sort of… happened.”
I nod. “It’s true. We just kept running into each other, didn’t we, Pip?”
“The name’s Piper,” she bites back.
Claire lets out a laugh. “She hates it when I call her that.”
“Right? Absolutely detests that nickname,” I chime in.
“Laugh all you want, but you named me Piper and not Pip, Mom,” she says.
“You’re right. Sorry, sweetheart. Please continue the story of how you two met.”
Since Piper is clearly drawing a blank, I decide to take the lead. “Uhm, it was like fate kept throwing us together.”
Mom smiles happily. “When was the moment you knew you two were meant to be forever?”
Piper almost chokes on her sausage. “Forever?”
“Marriage is forever, sweetheart,” Claire says with a nod before giving me a pointed look that tells me I should get a move on with the whole proposal thing.
“You should know we hated each other at first,” I say.
Claire’s eyebrows shoot up. “Hated each other? How is that even possible? You two are perfect for each other.”
Piper throws me a look. “Benson was kind of… intense at first. A bit annoying too.”
In an impulsive decision, I move my arm and drape it around Piper’s shoulders. “Piper thought I didn’t respect her, but I did. From the moment I met her, I was enamored by her feistiness and confidence. And kindness. I could see how well she treated anyone who booked a getaway at her glamping resort.”
Piper turns to me. “You did?”
I smile at her. “Absolutely. I knew there was something special about you, even if it took me a while to figure out how to show it properly. I felt… things for you, despite the fact that you furiously hated me.”
“You really mean that?” she asks quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
I meet her gaze, my own heart skipping a beat. “Yeah, I do. I was drawn to you from the start. It’s like you have this energy that’s hard to ignore. Even when we were at odds, I couldn’t help but like you.”
Piper’s cheeks flush a deep shade of red, and she looks away, trying to hide her reaction. “Well, I wasn’t exactly kind when we first met,” she admits. “I didn’t make it easy for you to see the real me.”
“I think that’s what drew me in more,” I confess, my voice soft but earnest. “You were so unapologetically yourself, even when it wasn’t easy. I admire that in a woman.”
“You do?” she stutters, her eyes meeting mine.
Next to Piper, Claire clears her throat. I almost forgot she was here, and now I’m embarrassed I confessed my feelings with her sitting right next to us.
Luckily for me, she lets out a long yawn and glances at her watch. “Oh, wow, is that the time already? I should get ready for bed.”
It almost sounds like an excuse, but I don’t mind. The more alone time Piper and I get to spend together, the better.
“You don’t want to wait for the marshmallows?” I ask.
“I’m exhausted. Sorry. And I’m not a big fan of sugary treats.”
“Good night, Mom,” Piper says, standing to give her mother a hug.
I get up as well and grab a flashlight from my backpack. “Here you go, Claire. This flashlight will make bathroom breaks in the middle of the night way easier.”
“That’s right, I forgot to ask. Where exactly is the bathroom?”
She looks around expectantly, like she really believes a building with plumbing will appear out of nowhere.
“Uhm, behind whichever tree you prefer,” I say.
“Behind a tree? Are you serious?”
I nod, trying to suppress a grin. “Yep, that’s right. Nature’s bathroom. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of privacy.”
“Debby is not going to believe anything I tell her about this insane camping trip. Peeing in the woods,” she adds with a shake of the head. “Well, good night. Sleep tight, you two.”
Claire disappears in her tent, leaving Piper and me alone by the campfire. I don’t know about her, but I definitely don’t want to go to bed yet.
“Want to roast some marshmallows with me?” I ask her.
She smiles, her face lighting up beautifully. “I’d love to.”