Chapter Thirty-Two
Thirty-Two
Reece
Fall in Briar Glenn was my favorite season.
The subtle chill in the air, the sweet scent of freshly fallen leaves, and the way the woods seemed to come alive with color.
It was perfect. Ideal for a camping trip, really.
Unfortunately, the rest of this situation was less than ideal.
It was finally time for the promised camping trip where I’d have to be around my sister, the guy I was secretly fucking, and two people who knew our secret.
Jimenez was supposed to join us, but he’d canceled at the last minute. Because of course he fucking did. I was really hoping that blissfully unaware golden retriever was going to be here to serve as some sort of buffer between us all, but he’d crushed those dreams with a single text message.
For the next twenty-four or so hours, I was going to be a ball of fucking nerves.
I leaned against my car, anxiously tapping my foot while I waited at the trailhead that led to the campsite for everyone else to arrive.
Of course it was Cyrus who showed up first. Just Cyrus. No Fallon.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I asked the moment he got out of his SUV.
There was no way this was happening. It couldn’t just be me and him with Atlas and Tegan.
He rolled his eyes and sighed. “Do you think I’d do this on purpose?
” he asked with that signature British snark of his.
I hated how hot it was. “Fallon is the one who set this up. I begged him to come along, but he gave me some excuse about a last-minute VIP experience at one of the clubs he frequents.”
“That’s funny because Jimenez canceled, too.”
“Fallon knows that we’re”—his tentacles gesticulated wildly—“whatever it is we are.”
Whatever it is we are…
It hurt to hear Cyrus refer to things between us that way, but I’d never put a label on things between us. He was probably waiting for me to make that move.
“Cy, I—” Before I could continue, Atlas and Tegan pulled into the parking lot.
My sister was smiling and waving aggressively in the passenger seat, obviously excited.
“Well, here we go,” I grumbled but forced a smile.
This was fine. Everything was going to be fine.
“Hey!” Tegan said, bright, chipper, and totally unaware of the tension between Cyrus and me.
“Hey,” Cyrus and I said in unison. We both sounded slightly awkward, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“Fallon and Javier not here yet?” Atlas said, looking around the parking lot.
“It seems that Fallon and Javier have other plans this evening. Ones that don’t involve hot dogs and sleeping outside,” Cyrus said.
“I mean, knowing the two of them, it’s not entirely impossible that their night will end up the same way,” Atlas joked.
“It’s their loss,” Tegan said. “I think it’ll be a lot more fun with just the four of us anyway.”
“Right?” Cyrus looked at me, his lips tipping up with a satisfied smirk. “Loads of fun.”
Why did he have to bring up loads at a time like this? He was enjoying this a little bit too much, and we hadn’t even gotten to the campsite yet.
“It’ll be great,” Atlas said. “Do you have all the stuff, Reece?”
I popped open my trunk. “Yep. I have a bunch of camping chairs, three tents—”
“I think two tents will be plenty. You don’t mind sharing with Reece, do you, Cy?” Atlas asked.
Fuck, I swear everyone was conspiring against me to make this as awkward as possible.
Cyrus looked at me, his lips twitching with a sly smile. “I don’t mind at all.”
“Perfect,” Tegan said. “The sooner we get the tents up, the sooner we can relax.”
We unloaded the vehicles and dropped everything at the campsite.
Things were winding down for the season, but with the cool, comfortable weather, there were still a fair amount of campers in the park.
One of the perks of working for the Parks Department meant that I was able to snag a double campsite reservation.
Technically, I was still working and was on call for any emergencies at all the parks we managed, but that was rare.
Campers checked in online and, for the most part, followed all the rules and regulations of the campground without any issues. I was hoping that would be the case today.
“All right,” I said, surveying the site. There was plenty of flat ground on either side of the firepit, meaning I could set Atlas and Tegan up on one side and Cy and me on the other. As far away from them as possible.
Knowing Cyrus, there was no way we were sharing a tent and just sleeping next to each other. Even if I tried to resist, all my willpower went out the window when it came to him. And if I was really being honest with myself, the whole sneaking around thing was pretty hot.
Soon, it would be time for us to take things public. That scared me in more ways than one. It meant that my sister would find out about us, but it also meant that I’d have to confront the fact that this was my first real relationship. That what I felt for Cyrus was nothing I’d ever felt before.
“We’ll take this spot over here,” Atlas said from the opposite side of the campsite.
“Uh, okay,” I said awkwardly. I looked at Cyrus, noting the shit-eating grin on his face. “Guess that means we’re over here,” I mumbled.
“Guess so,” he said, smug as fuck.
“Why does the universe hate me?” I said under my breath.
“Personally, I think the universe favors you. I mean, you’ll think that when I’m sucking your cock later.”
“Cyrus,” I hissed, throwing the tent poles on the ground. He wasn’t wrong, but he didn’t need to say it out loud. “Will you shut up!”
He laughed. “It is too easy with you.”
“You can’t talk about that sort of thing with my sister over there.”
“Relax. No one can hear us. You should be more worried about them hearing us later.”
I couldn’t do this. I stepped away from our tent and watched Atlas and Tegan struggle with theirs across from us.
“Do you guys need a hand? I think Cyrus has everything under control over here,” I offered.
“That would be great. I don’t remember this being that hard when we were kids,” Tegan said. Her arms were full of tent poles, and she couldn’t seem to get them to connect.
I went over and plucked a pole out of her hand. “That’s because Dad and I would do it while we gave you some menial task, like collecting kindling.”
She dropped the rest of the poles and crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s not how I remember it.”
“Well, you’re remembering it wrong.” I gave the pole a little tug, easily snapping it together.
“Thanks for your help, Reece,” Atlas said. With his giant paws, he couldn’t get the poles threaded through the tent canopy.
“It’s no problem at all. I’ve been camping enough times that I could put one of these together in my sleep.”
While I finished their tent—with minimal help from Atlas, might I add—Cyrus and Tegan set up the rest of the campsite.
A plastic tablecloth pinned to the picnic table was covered with plates, utensils, and snacks. Plastic cups were stacked next to the jug of drinking water I’d brought, and the spigot hung over the edge of the table, making it easy to fill up cups or wash hands.
Four camping chairs circled the firepit, just far enough away that no one’s boots, paws, or tentacles were in danger of getting burned.
“It looks so good,” Tegan said, surveying camp with her hands on her hips.
“It does,” Atlas agreed. “Great work, baby.” He wrapped his arm around her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Fuck, he was a good guy. He practically worshipped the ground she walked on.
We sat around the firepit taking in the sights and sounds of nature.
“This is so nice,” Tegan said, wiggling in her seat. She was so happy being out here. It made me feel good that we all came together to make it happen.
“It is,” I agreed.
“What’s in the cooler, Cy?” Atlas asked. He and Tegan were responsible for snacks, I brought the camping equipment, and Cyrus was assigned to the actual meals.
“I went the traditional route with burgers and hot dogs, and tomorrow morning I’ll make bacon and eggs before we pack up.”
“And I brought everything for s’mores,” Tegan added.
Fuck, I loved s’mores. The perfect mix of melty, sweet, and crunchy.
“Perfect.” I looked at the charred pieces of wood sitting in the firepit.
In my rush to get everything together, I’d forgotten to grab firewood.
“I have to go to the storehouse and get some firewood,” I said, rising out of my chair.
“The bathrooms are over that way. Anyone need to go?” The image of Cyrus kissing me while he pinned me to a tree flashed in my head, and I selfishly hoped that Atlas and Tegan would say no and Cyrus would say yes.
That little fantasy was crushed when Tegan hopped out of her chair and said, “Oh, I do.”
Atlas and Cyrus looked at each other. Tegan didn’t clock it, but to me, it was obvious that Cyrus was speaking to Atlas telepathically.
Atlas smiled at my sister. “Nope. I’m good.”
“Me, too,” Cyrus added.
For the second—or was it the third?—time today, I’d been set up.
“All right, suit yourselves.” I shrugged. “I don’t want to hear any complaining when you have to find it in the dark later.”
Atlas chuckled. “I think we’ll be just fine.”
I started down the path that led to the storehouse and bathrooms with Tegan following behind me.
One of the first projects I’d petitioned for when I took over the Parks Department were clearly marked paths to the park’s amenities.
I wasn’t going to have anyone else go through the childhood trauma I’d experienced traipsing through the woods by myself.
Other than our crunchy footfalls over the fallen leaves, the forest was silent. The last rays of the setting sun filtered through the trees, casting shimmering shadows as the breeze shook their leaves.
Even though I spent every day outdoors, I never got tired of Briar Glenn’s beauty: The fresh air. The lake. The thick forests and wide, sprawling fields. I couldn’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be. As long as it meant that Cyrus was here with me.