Aftermath

36

By the next afternoon, everyone was settled in, and the festivities were taking off. The drinking had begun after lunch. There were people playing frisbee across the yard, a couple of the guys had set up a table for beer pong, and some of them sat around the porch chatting.

Cal sat beside Matthew in a hammock, toying with the idea of getting a blanket and taking an afternoon nap out in the nice weather. The excitement of the weekend was proving disruptive to her sleep, and she hadn't been sleeping well. She knocked her shoulder against his snatching his attention from the group sitting around them chatting.

"Do you think everyone would hate an afternoon nap time?" she whispered when he ducked his head to bring his ear close to her. Matthew chuckled and nodded his head, pulling back enough to lean into her ear.

"Probably so. Do you need a nap?" Cal shrugged her shoulders as he moved to offer his ear again. She didn't need one, but if the opportunity arose she surely wouldn't object. She shook her head no a moment later.

"No just sounded so lovely in this hammock." Matthew chuckled and rested a hand on her leg spreading his fingers over her knee.

"What time is it?" He asked facing the group again. A few of them moved to look before someone hollered out that it was half past 4. "We should probably get started on dinner." He said turning back to her and she nodded.

By the time the homemade dough was ready, Cal had a few girls in the kitchen helping her top them and put them into the oven.

"Emma, could you make this one?" Cal said handing off a list of ingredients to her, "and Celia, this one is for you to make."

"We can help too!" All three girls looked up to see Meg, Quinn, and Elaine shuffling into the kitchen to help out.

"Sara, Holden, and Wendy got roped into a game with the guys so we came to see where we could be helpful," Elaine explained.

"Great!" Cal quickly made three more lists for pizza recipes and handed them off. While they made themselves busy assembling, she took stock of what they had left to see if they needed anything. The fridge was fairly well stocked, but the coolers were all empty outside.

"Hey, Cal!" Rob jogged over to her from where a group was playing frisbee. "If you need a group of us to run out anywhere and pick stuff up, let me know and I'll handle it."

"That would be great actually," she said looking down at the cooler again. "Do you think you could help me restock the coolers and then we can figure out a better idea of what we need?"

"Don't worry about it! I'll get some of the guys to help stock them. We will let you know what we run out of after the coolers are filled!"

"Awesome, thanks, Rob!"

The pizzas were all baked and the guys were back from their trip to the grocery store before Cal made it back outside again. When she stepped on the porch she was shocked to find that there was a huge sheet hung up to play an outdoor movie on, as well as a table set up for a pizza picnic in the yard while they watched it.

"I hope you love it. It was quite a feat keeping you away." Matthew said jogging up to her. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck squeezing him tight.

"I do, I had no idea!"

"Surprise then!"

First, they all watched a funny movie, enjoying the pizza and drinks and the last bits of warmth while the sun finished setting, more than actually watching the movie. After the movie ended everyone pitched in to put away the food, clean up, and start a fire. Cal had just poured another drink, unsure of what number she was at for the day. She stumbled back outside from the kitchen to a conversation about a drinking game.

If she had thought she was drunk before, she was obliterated after the game. She made a mental note to learn the rules of new drinking games before she was too intoxicated to learn them in the future. Cal was sitting on the steps of the back porch getting her bearings for a moment before finishing her trip back to the bonfire, after an eventful walk over to the cooler for another drink.

"Do we think you should even open that one?" She jumped looking up to Matthew and smiling, she shrugged her shoulders.

"Maybe..." She stuck her hands out and he lifted her into a standing position.

"I think they're about to put on a scary movie now that it's all spooky and dark."

"Are you not even tipsy?" Matthew laughed and shook his head.

"I haven't had more than a few beers, you're the drunkard remember?" Cal smacked his chest, "Kidding!" he said in an attempt to save himself from her attack.

"I'm going to grab some blankets, and we can go watch the movie?" She nodded and stepped back disconnecting herself from him.

"I'll be here," she said gently as he walked up to the house.

They made their way over to the movie once he'd returned and Cal nearly tripped over her own feet when she saw the hammock chair was available still.

"Slow down, Cal." he chuckled "You're hardly sober enough to tackle a spot like that on your own." Matthew sat down and planted his feet on the ground holding it steady so Cal could crawl in beside him and get comfy. He spread a blanket over the two of them and relaxed back into the hammock a little more getting comfortable as well.

"Do you like scary movies?" Cal spoke quietly tucking her chin on his shoulder.

"I don't mind them one way or another."

"I think they're silly. But sometimes they are interesting." Matthew readjusted so his arm was behind her and pulled her further against his chest.

"So cozy." she sighed and then laughed. "I was supposed to just think that." Matthew laughed at that lightly.

"I don't know if I have ever seen you this drunk, Cal."

"I don't think I'll make a habit of it, I'm sure I will pay for it." her words slurred from her mouth uncontrollably. "I hate it, I can tell I'm being silly and out of control, but I can't stop doing it either." She felt his hand move down from her waist to rest on her calf curled up beside her.

"You still with me?" She heard faintly, she wasn't sure how long it had been since either of them had spoken, but her eyes had drifted shut.

"Mmm," she managed, wiggling so her toes were covered again and safe from the chilly night air.

"The movie is only half over, are you ready for bed?" Cal struggled to find words for longer than any person who was awake would. She felt a hum in Matthew's chest and her hold on him tightened when he moved, thinking he was taking her away.

"Not yet," she said urging him to stay still and keep her there, "wait."

"If you insist," he said with a smile in his voice. He settled back in and she moved until she was tucked fully up against his side, a leg hooked over his abdomen. This time she willingly closed her eyes and let herself relax into a light slumber as the movie kept playing.