William has always kept his distance from his sister Layla's boyfriends-until Colton arrives.
With his charm and easygoing nature, Colton quickly becomes a welcome presence in William's life.
As the two bond over shared interests and late-night co...
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Colton couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face as they pulled into the campsite. The familiar smell of pine trees and fresh air hit him as soon as they opened the car windows, and it brought back a rush of memories. He had been looking forward to this trip for weeks now. Sure, camping with his girlfriend’s family was a little different than the camping trips he used to go on as a kid, but the excitement was still the same.
He remembered those weekends vividly—just him and his dad out in the wilderness, no distractions, no obligations. They would drive up to some remote campsite, pitch a tent, and spend hours fishing, hiking, or just sitting around the fire. His dad would tell him stories about when he was younger, about adventures he had when he was just starting out in his career. They weren’t always the most exciting stories, but Colton loved them anyway.
His dad had taught him everything he knew about camping. How to pitch a tent, tie proper knots, build a fire that would last through the night. He still remembered the first time he caught a fish on his own. His dad had been so proud, even though it was just a tiny trout. They grilled it over the fire that night, and even though it was small and a little overcooked, it was the best meal Colton had ever tasted.
Those trips were some of the best memories of his childhood, and even though they hadn’t gone camping as much in recent years, the sense of adventure had stuck with him. That’s why, when Layla had suggested this camping trip with her family, he had jumped at the chance. It felt like a return to those simpler times, when life was just about enjoying the moment and connecting with the people around him.
He wasn’t sure how William felt about the trip, though. Colton had noticed the kid seemed a little less than enthusiastic about the whole thing. Maybe William just wasn’t the outdoorsy type. Or maybe it was the idea of spending so much time in close quarters with his family. Either way, Colton figured he’d try to help make the trip as fun as possible for him. After all, they’d gotten closer over the past few months. William was a good kid—quiet, a little awkward at times, but they’d bonded over video games and late-night takeout runs. Colton liked having him around. It made things feel more... relaxed.
Colton stepped out of the car and stretched, his legs aching from the long drive. The sound of birds chirping in the distance was calming, a reminder of why he loved being out here. He turned to the car and started unloading their luggage. Layla was already busy talking to her parents, helping them set up the campsite while William stood by the car, staring off at the surrounding woods.
“Let’s get this stuff out,” Colton said, grabbing a couple of bags and tossing one over his shoulder. “We can have the tent up before it gets dark if we hurry.”
He glanced at William, who nodded and grabbed a couple of bags as well. As they unloaded the car, Colton couldn’t shake the feeling that this trip was going to be something special. Maybe it was the nostalgia, or maybe it was just the excitement of being out in nature again, but he felt good about this. It was exactly what they all needed—a break from school, work, and the craziness of life.
