𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔹𝕒𝕕 𝕀𝕕𝕖𝕒

➕ Bonus Chapter: The Question

Eli

Group campouts always came right when I seemed to really need one. I wondered if anyone else ever felt the same way.

Andy arrived early at our usual group campsite at the beach with Vince, getting there a good few hours before anyone else did. I didn't need to ask why they decided to get there that early, or what they did for so long, or why Andy had three huge hickeys the diameter of a golf ball all over his neck by the time the rest of us arrived... Jesus.

Vince also had his goddamn shirt on backwards, but I wasn't about to say anything. He noticed eventually anyway, right after he spilled mustard on himself during lunch like the fucking genius-idiot that he was. Though honestly, Vince having his shirt on backwards could have happened on any given day...

The more I got to know Ricky, the more I realized he reminded me a lot of a much younger Vince. So smart, so put-together, so well-read and empathetic... Yet somehow, neither of them could fucking figure out the dumbest shit.

Like how to match shoes to an outfit.

Or how to transport two trays of coffee back to work from the coffee shop five miles away without spilling it all over the trunk of your chrome-purple Dodge Charger.

Or how to eat hot Cheetos without getting red powder all over the goddamn front office keyboard that we all have to use.

Or how taking the cash out of our own shop's communal tip jar to give to the hot barista you met that morning as a huge tip to get them to go out with you....was total bullshit, even if he didn't take it.

I had decided to take Ricky under my wing once we started inviting him and Patrick to the campouts. He was still in rough shape, but he was a good kid.

Anyway, my point was... I loved them both -- Vince and Andy. As individuals and as a couple... They were cool. They were so perfect for each other, and that was why I was so fucking stoked about the campout tonight.

Gary and Frank were the second to arrive. Cynthia arrived next, because she got out of work later than expected. Aubrey and I were about an hour late... We arrived once everyone else had already set up camp.

Being late was Aubrey's fault, not mine, because he couldn't decide if he wanted to camp out in the back of the trunk bed with me or set up an actual tent.

Aubrey was just then helping me set up the tent -- only because I threatened not to cuddle with him in our sleeping bag tonight, if he didn't actually help me this time. Little fucker always tried to make me set this shit up on my own...

It was partially my fault, though, for continuing to spoil him. I liked doing it, and I teased him about it, but he almost seemed proud of it whenever he smiled all pretty at me when I complained.

It totally melted me.

I noticed Andy walk up to Aubrey and me while we were putting our tent together, helping us with the last of the tent set up. He stood around once he'd finished, his blue eyes darting around all over the place while he watched us finish up.

He looked nervous.

He almost always looked nervous about something, but this time he looked legitimately nervous. Something was definitely on his mind, and I'd guess he was considering whether or not to share it...

Andy cleared his throat, shifting his weight from side to side while he crossed his arms and watched us finish fastening the rainfly onto the top of the tent.

"So, Vince is acting... Weird."

We stared at him before Aubrey laughed and walked over to Andy, pulling down on his arm.