Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
LEON
I watch Bailey more than the fire in front of me.
She tosses some more kindling onto the growing flames, intent on her task.
It’s the small details in her body language that catch my eye—how her shoulders aren’t holding the tension they were in the woods earlier, how she’s smiling and laughing at Jasper’s dumb commentary.
Seeing that she’s feeling more relaxed allows me to relax too.
I get up from the sunken-in camping chair to grab a beer from the cooler. “Anyone want one?”
“Nah, I’m good,” Jasper says. “But what do we have to eat? I’m getting hangry.”
I twist the cap off and toss it into the trash bag in the trunk, while peering at the stockpile I organized earlier. “Well, there’s—”
“Don’t you dare say beans,” Falin interrupts. “I have to share a tent with this man. I don’t need it to explode from noxious fumes.”
“You mean your noxious fumes?” Jasper teases. “Your farts are way worse than mine.”
“I do not fart,” Falin says with mock indignation.
Jasper snorts, almost losing the sip of beer in his mouth. “Okay… and I’ll be the next President of the United States.”
Bailey shakes her head, laughing, and comes to join me at the car. “In the other cooler, there’s a pack of hot dogs. We could just roast some of those for now.”
“Good plan,” I say. “Just so you know, I wasn’t going to open the beans. Those are just an in-case-of-emergency option. I agree with Falin.”
“And I third that thought,” she says. “I unfortunately grew up with him and had to share many a tent back in those days. Do not recommend.”
I grab the hot dogs from the cooler while Bailey finds the package of buns. It’s all so normal—the kind of thing I dreamed about for all those months without her. Cooking together, sharing a meal, being able to see her smile anytime and anyplace. It makes my damn chest ache.
“Should we find some sticks to roast these on?” Bailey asks.
“Already on it,” Falin calls from the fire, holding up several long branches she must have collected earlier. “I came prepared.”
“Look at you, my nature goddess,” Jasper says, grabbing Falin by the waist and tugging her into his lap.
They laugh and go back and forth with their typical flirty banter, low enough that their words don’t reach Bailey and me.
I never wanted to admit it in the past, but being around them as well as Blake and Damon when they were like this, it was hard.
I would get in a shitty mood, and I was probably awful to be around.
But now, the only thing I feel is happiness for my friends. And maybe a little envy too.
We settle around the fire, spearing hot dogs onto the makeshift roasting sticks.
The conversation flows easily between the four of us.
Jasper tells stories about camping disasters from their childhood, Falin describes some of the more ridiculous places she’s had to sleep during her various adventures around the world, I remind everyone that this is essentially my first time camping and get teased to hell for it.
Bailey laughs at all the right moments, adding her own memories from childhood.
I watch her in the firelight, how the glow of it makes her eyes sparkle, how she naturally leans in toward its warmth. She’s sitting next to me, our chairs are close enough that our knees bump occasionally. I’m conscious of every small contact, every light graze. I wonder if she is too.
“Remember that time you tried to impress that girl from your English class by cooking over a fire?” Bailey asks Jasper, grinning as she rotates her hot dog. “What was her name? Melissa?”
“Marissa,” Jasper corrects. “And I still think it was unnecessary for Dad to call the fire department. The fire wasn’t that big.”
“The fire department?” Falin almost chokes on her bite. “Oh my God, what did you do, dummy?”
“It was just a little out of control,” Jasper says defensively. “The wind picked up and maybe I used too much lighter fluid—”
“You used the entire bottle,” Bailey cuts in, laughing so hard she’s tearing up. “I remember watching from my bedroom window, horrified that you were going to burn the house down. There were flames shooting three feet in the air! I ran outside and screamed, ‘There’s a literal fire!’”
“Poor Marissa,” I add, grinning as I imagine the whole scene playing out. “What did she do when the sirens started?”
Jasper laughs and shakes his head. “She... may have hidden in the bathroom and called her mom to pick her up.”
“Didn’t she avoid you for the rest of the year?” Bailey asks, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
“Maybe I didn’t want to be her friend anymore either, Bails. You ever think of that?”
“Right,” Bailey says. “Because you had so many girls falling all over you then.”
Falin reaches over and pats Jasper’s cheek. “Don’t worry, baby. You’re much better with fire now. And I promise not to hide in any bathrooms… unless you’re in there with me.” She winks and kisses his cheek.
We eat our hot dogs and share a bag of chips.
Jasper and I finish off another beer while the girls crack open a few seltzers.
This night feels nostalgic despite never camping before.
It reminds me of summer, spending time at the Shea’s, back when things were simpler.
When our biggest worry was whether Jasper would hog all the good snacks.
As we’re finishing up, and a quiet settles around the fire, Falin stretches and leans into Jasper. “You know,” she says casually, “I’m getting kind of tired. All this fresh woodsy air.” She makes a clearly fake, exaggerated yawn.
“Already?” Jasper asks. “It’s still early.”
“I know. But I’m really tired.” She draws out the word. “Maybe we should turn in early tonight.” She gives him a meaningful look that even I notice but it goes completely over his head.
“But we haven’t even made s’mores yet,” Jasper protests. “I bought all the stuff.”
Falin suppresses a sigh and tries again, running her hand up Jasper’s arm. “S’mores can wait. I was thinking we could... you know... get comfortable in the tent.”
“Oh, are you cold?” Jasper asks. “I can grab you another sweatshirt from the car.”
Falin looks like she’s about to strangle him. This is peak entertainment. Bailey catches my eye and our looks mirror each other.
“Actually,” Falin says, “Leon, didn’t you mention earlier there was some spot you wanted to show Bailey? Something about the view?”
What is she talking about?
I blink at her, confused for a moment, but quickly realize what she’s doing. Creating an excuse to get Jasper alone while giving Bailey and me some privacy.
“Oh. Right. That spot by the lake,” I say, playing along.
“What spot?” Jasper asks. “That sounds cool. I wanna come.”
“Oh my God,” Falin says, exasperated. “Just come here.” She gets up from her chair and just about drags Jasper into the tent. He must catch the hint finally, since he doesn’t object.
She zips their tent shut, calling out “Bye!” in an exaggerated tone. I can’t help but shake my head at the whole performance.
“Well that was… something,” Bailey says, settling back into her chair.
I blow out a breath and nod slowly. “Subtlety isn’t her strong suit.”
“I can see that.” She smiles and her face lights up against the firelight. “So should we actually go look at this mysterious lake spot? Or was that just Falin being devious?”
“Oh, there’s a spot. It’s going to blow your mind,” I lie through my teeth.
She raises a brow. “Oh really?”
“Absolutely. Prepare to be amazed by my extensive knowledge of this place I’ve definitely been to before and totally didn’t just make up on the spot.” I stand and offer her my hand with mock seriousness. “Your tour guide awaits.”
She laughs but lets me pull her up. “By tour guide, do you mean guy with a questionable sense of direction who may or may not get us lost in the dark woods?”
I try to make a shocked expression but it probably comes out like a goofy grin. “Me? I’d never.”
“Well, now I’m totally at ease. How could I possibly refuse such a romantic gesture?”
“Exactly, I’m basically the king of romance. Just wait until you see how I dramatically gesture at... whatever we find out there.”
We step away from the fire just as a husky moan sounds from inside Jasper and Falin’s tent.
“Oh God,” Bailey says. “That’s our cue to leave.”
She intertwines her fingers with mine, sending sparks up my arm. It’s such an innocent touch but it’s everything after what she’s been through.
I lead her toward the lake, trying to make it look like I know where I’m going, but actually hoping we don’t trip over a rock or run into any wildlife.
The moon is nearly full tonight, which is honestly a miracle because otherwise we’d be stumbling around in complete darkness.
Should have grabbed a flashlight, but it’s too late now.
Almost like I planned it, we eventually get to the lake’s edge and find a clearing with a rock, large enough for both of us to sit on.
“You actually pulled it off,” she teases. “It’s beautiful over here.”
“And best of all, away from Jasper and Falin right now.” We laugh and settle next to each other.
The playful energy from our walk here starts to shift as we sit in the quiet.
Sounds of nature fill the air along with the roll of water lapping gently against the shore.
Bailey’s body is close enough to mine that I can smell her shampoo, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from her.
I want to lean in, wrap my arms around her, feel her soft skin against my fingertips.
When I hear my name, I blink, realizing I was completely absorbed with studying her details. “… right, Leon?”
“Uh… yeah, sure.” I clear my throat and hope I didn’t just say yes to some ridiculous question.
“So… how’s your mom doing?”
I suppress a laugh. “You want to talk about Mum right now in my ultra special romantic spot?”
“I wouldn’t go that far… I think a family of mosquitos just drained half my blood supply.”