73. Chapter Seventy-Two
Chapter Seventy-Two
Kian
Making Scarlett cry didn’t end with her running away from me this time.
It ended with both Trick and I comforting her, and the feeling that this vacation might actually have been arranged by the Fates.
Sure, I engineered things to happen a certain way, but they made sure Scarlett was the twin who showed up, and they’re making double-sure we get close.
It might be a good thing she took too many suppressants, even if she can’t see that right now.
Whatever happens, we know she’s supposed to be with us.
She’s gonna see that, and it can only bring us closer.
I pass the next marshmallow to Xane, having to shuffle closer to that side to reach.
He takes it after a second, apparently lost in thought as he stares at the sea.
“How’s Riley?” I ask, loud enough for everyone around the fire to hear.
Xane sighs. “He finished the beer. Tomorrow’s not gonna be fun.”
“Yeah, but we already knew that. Is he coherent?”
“Enough to ask me to bring him whatever’s left in the jet. I told him I tossed it.”
“You tossed his miniatures?”
He looks away, so I know he didn’t.
When he looks back at me, a whole three seconds later, he nods.
“Okay good,” I murmur, wondering why he’s lying to us.
We need Riley to sober up and stay that way.
It’ll be impossible to go on a four-day hike if he’s wasted, even if it’s only part of the time.
I try to remember how much booze was on the jet.
At least a dozen miniatures. Probably more.
Enough for Riley to get hammered for another night.
If Xane didn’t empty them, what did he do, exactly?
Pretty sure if they’re around somewhere Riley will sniff them out.
I guess it’ll be obvious when that happens.
It’s not like anyone will be able to stop him.
“Where are the crackers?” Trick asks.
I move my shirt carefully and pull out the plastic plates with the box of crackers on top.
Scarlett takes the bundle out of my hands and passes it to Trick.
They sort out their plates and crackers and then Trick gets up and brings the rest to Xane on the other side of the campfire. He nods as he takes it and then he sets it down by his side.
He still has his marshmallow. This isn’t really his kind of dinner, but I thought it would be fun.
That’s why I packed them, at least. To try and create a fun setting for us all.
Trick and Scarlett are in the right spirit for this, but Xane and Riley definitely aren’t.
Riley might as well not even be here. He’s probably napping now so he can wake up looking for a midnight snack at the appropriate time.
I take Scarlett’s empty skewer and put another marshmallow on it before I hand it back to her.
Trick gives me his next, and within a few minutes the three of us are slow toasting our sweet treats while Xane scrapes his off the skewer and pulls a face as he sandwiches it between two crackers. He’s making a mess in his hand.
I shake my head, stopping before he can notice.
“We should talk about the sleeping arrangements,” I start.
“Scarlett gets the bed on the jet,” Trick says quickly.
“The bed?” she asks, sounding shocked.
I can’t help but smile. The jet is pretty small, but it does have a bedroom cabin.
“It’s at the back,” I explain. “The door doesn’t look like a door, but it’s there.”
“Wow,” she murmurs. “I never would have known.”
“We could have had more seats on board, but it’s usually just the four of us so Xane decided a bed cabin might come in handy for Riley.
We’ve never used it though. I mean, besides for extra storage since you can fit a lot of stuff in the space under the bed.
You might need to make it, but the blankets and pillows are in there. ”
“Scarlett can take the bed tonight while we’re here,” Xane chimes in. “I’ll be on watch since Riley’s drunk.”
“I guess that makes you and I roommates,” I tell Trick.
“It does,” Xane confirms.
Trick shrugs. “Whatever.”
He looks at Scarlett, and it’s obvious he has no intention of leaving her side.
I don’t, either, but I’m not gonna make Xane worry about that.
If he’s not thinking about it, he won’t be checking up on us.
He has other things to worry about.