Chapter 21 #2
Nina adjusts the orange beanie against her head, quickly knocking back the shot of liquor into her mouth. “Ugh.” She gags. “Yeah, maybe I’ll take the Gatorade.” Her long, rusty flannel sways against her leggings as she walks back to the van.
“Florence?” Cici holds up a cup to me, dark amoretto swishing at the bottom.
“You remembered.” I grin. The liquid swirls onto my tongue as I nurse it into my mouth.
“Pace yourself— we’re not as young as we used to be.” Cici giggles, lifting a glass bottle of Angry Orchard.
The van door slams, Jett and Nina step around the vehicle with two twenty-four packs of beers and a gallon jug of Gatorade.
“You guys know we’re only here for the night, right?” I chuckle.
“And we’re going to make the most of it,” Cici coos as her tongue darts out.
Bear rubs his hands together eagerly. “This reminds me of high school all over again. Minus the beer kegs.”
Nyx leans down, his hands embedded in the earth, blowing against the spark of the flame beneath the stacked logs.
Jasper snorts, eyeing Bear. “I don’t even want to begin to imagine your high school days.”
Bear’s laugh rolls in his throat. “Yeah, you don’t want to.”
Nina squats down beside him. “We can reminisce a little, Bear, twenty bucks to which one of us stands the longest in the woods at midnight.”
His eyes shine with challenge. “I’ll take that bet. But if you lose, you play seven minutes in Heaven with me.”
Her nose crinkles as she debates it. “Then I’m changing mine— if I win, you let me buzz your hair.”
Our gasps pierce the silence of the night as we gape at Bear. This man has never cut his hair in his life.
He strokes the stub of his chin, eyes drifting to the dark abyss of the forest. “Deal.” He spits into his hand, extending it to Nina.
“Um, I’ll just take your word for it big guy.” He wipes his palm onto his cargos, grumbling as Nina backs away into the log. The fire roars to life just in time as the sun sinks behind the bow of the mountain.
My toes curl into my fuzzy socks as the flames heat my cheeks.
My chest warms as I think of the past few weeks I’ve spent with my team.
Every morning, it’s been the gym, breakfast, and then the ranges.
No one allowing me out of their sight until nighttime.
A month ago, I would’ve hated it and chased them off.
Now, I almost look forward to it. My tremors have gotten better, surprisingly; I’ve only been waking up once or twice.
And by the time my alarm clock blares, one of the seven are already at my door.
Greer stays hidden, keeping her distance from us.
Jasper pinches back the knees of his jeans as he sinks into the empty space beside me, the green of his eyes illuminating in the firelight. Strength needs to be held too. I tell myself, struggling to remain still as his thigh brushes against mine.
“You okay?” he asks, taking a sip from his can.
“Yeah, I’m good. This is good.” I smile tightly, looking around to our chattering unit enjoying themselves. Nyx stands close to the fire, hands clasped against his chest inside his overalls, his eyes darting to the pop of the flame as I catch him staring.
The liquor begins to roll smoother with each sip I take, the liquid flowing warmly down my throat. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you drink before,” he responds.
I snicker, licking a drop from my lips. “Yeah, I don’t really drink. I used to, for fun of course. But not anymore,” I admit.
“Why’s that?” Jasper tilts his head curiously.
A root slaps against my heart, my throat drying. “I-I just don’t.” I look away, my eyes boring into the bright flames ahead, my mask tauntingly dancing with them.
Jasper clears his throat, his leg pressing into mine. “Does it have something to do with the narc?—”
Cici’s slim fingers slip over my eyes, the ends of her curls tickling against my cheeks. “Guess whoooo?” She giggles.
“Already?” I laugh, as she hiccups behind me. I turn around to see Matt steadying her waist, grinning down at the blonde beauty. “It’s only been an hour!”
Cici wraps her arms around my neck, snickering as she bends into my ear. “You’re welcome,” she whispers soberly. Ah. So she heard.
“I love you too.” I chuckle, playing along with her. Matt pulls her gently back into his arms, throwing me a quick wink as they stumble away into their tent.
Jasper leans in. “I didn’t take her for a light weight.” I wrap my arms around my waist, leaning toward the warmth. “She’s usually not.”
The moon shines above as the hours slip by, bottles lying around half empty. We go down the list sharing high school stories and childhood memories. But as I ignore my turn continuously, the night grows quiet.
Nina perches beside Jett, her arms wrapped around his neck to ground herself. I stand, pushing slowing off the log to gain my balance. A hiccup escapes my lips as I stumble to the remaining alcohol next to Cici’s tent.
Nyx reaches for my elbow, steadying me. “Woa there.”
I can feel my scorched cheeks spread into a crooked smile. “Thank you, sir.”
Cici’s head pokes out of the tent, her perfectly curled hair now disheveled. “Sir!” She drops her head into her arms squealing. “Come on, Angry Bones, you can finish it.” Then she yanks the bottle from the ground, waving it tauntingly in the air.
My eyes glimmer with the challenge. “Oh, give me that!” I jerk it from her hand, prancing back to the log. I leap onto it, not so carefully, placing one foot in front of the other as I shuffle across, only to stop in the middle, to strike a flamingo pose.
“Easy, tiger.” Bear chuckles, reaching to steady my arm.
“You know, Florence, we haven’t heard much out of you tonight.” Jett calls, his lips twitching into a feral grin.
“Hmm. What would you like to know.” I wobble down the log, Bear escorting me along the way.
“Your favorite color!” Cici hiccups, half her body still hanging out of the tent.
“Blue! I think,” I answer.
Cici bursts into laughter, rolling into the grass. “No it’s not!”
Nina snorts, her head tilting back into the night sky as her own laughter ejects from her throat. Jett holds her steady, taking a quick swig of his beer.
“I think the ladies are cut off for the night,” Bear states.
“Who are you? My dad?” I laugh.
Nina howls. I double over, clutching my stomach as my laughter runs out of oxygen.
“Her dad!” Cici kicks her feet into the air. Birds flee from the trees, our hysterics echoing into the woods.
A stone-cold voice murmurs into the night. “I still want to know about the Narcan.”
Our howls die instantly, all eyes landing on me. “I don’t think that’s any of your business,” Nina clips at Jasper, straightening beside Jett.
Nyx coughs, moving his stick into the embers of the dying fire.
My nails dig slightly into Bear’s wrist. “No, Nina, it’s okay.”
I jump off the log, landing perfectly onto one foot. “And she sticks the landing!” Cici calls, stumbling to her feet. Matt jolts from the tent, instantly at her aid.
I toss my hands into the air, digging my hiking boots into the earth for stability “What would you like to know about the Narcan, Jasper?”
He tosses his beer back, leaning onto his knees. “Why is it such a big deal?” he asks.
“Jasper.” Cici warns, the warmth of her voice evaporating.
I lift a hand to silence her. “I’m wearing my big girl panties. I’ve got this.” She eyes me wearily but allows me to continue. “It wasn’t a big deal until you made it one,” I bite out, leaning back into my weight as I sway.
Jasper blinks, frustrated at my response. “I wasn’t trying to make it a big deal. I just wanted to know why something like that was in your drawer. It’s not a charger or a notepad, an ordinary item that usually takes space in one’s dresser. I was worried. Still am.”
I struggle to glare at him, my vision blurring over the drifting ashes.
Bear gently grabs my shoulders, directing me back to the seat of the log. “Maybe that’s enough for tonight,” he coaxes
I shake my head, gripping the wood as the fire rises in my throat. “I am so sick and tired of you and everyone else digging into me! I have Narcan in my drawer, Jasper, because my supposed to be husband relapsed three days before our wedding!”
“Florence stop,” Cici’s voice cracks.