Love and Angels

fifteen

Laney

I wasn't the least bit jealous of the glamping tent Geo and Kass set up for Renee. Camping is one of my favorite things to do, and I prefer to rough it a bit. I'd even gone primitive camping with my parents once. It was one of the most fun trips I'd ever been on.

Lying here next to Kass in our tent—listening to the birds chirping nearby and overhead—life is perfect. I drop my hand to my side, and he takes it in his, squeezing lightly.

A moan has us sitting up abruptly.

"Are they?" I ask Kass, knowing what is most likely going on in the other tent.

Another louder moan comes from across the campsite.

"They are." He chuckles, then stands, pulling me up with him. "Wanna go for a walk?"

I nod. "Definitely."

Kass zips up the tent and puts the cover on before leading me to a trail just a few campsites down from ours. Trees overhang the trail from either side, blocking out the late afternoon sun. It's beautiful, and I wish we could camp on the trail. I sigh happily as Kass squeezes my arm, smiling down at me.

"I love this," I tell him.

"I thought you would."

We walk in silence for a moment, then Kass stops and turns me toward him.

"Do you want a tent like Geo and Renee's?" he asks, then rushes to add, "I think there're enough sheets left over... and I could go into town to get—"

"Kass," I place a hand on his face, "I don't need all that."

He smiles, and his shoulders sag in relief.

"Besides, there's too much room in that tent. They'll be freezing tonight."

He laughs. "We'll be cuddled up close and warm in our tiny tent."

"Exactly," I tell him and stand on my tiptoes to give him a peck on the lips.

We turn and walk a few more steps before I break the silence.

"Although, if you forgot the s'mores, I'm gonna have to find a ride home. That's a deal breaker right there."

"I would never forget the s'mores," he counters in mock horror, a hand over his heart. "What is camping without s'mores?"

I laugh and bump into his shoulder. "C'mon, drama queen, we've got another four miles before this trail spits out at the lake." The trail actually goes all the way around at the lake, and there are several areas where you can get to the lake if you venture off just a bit, but the spot that leads directly to it is breathtaking and unlike any other.

"How do you know that?"

"Please," I tell him, "I've camped here with my parents hundreds of times. It's the closest campground that isn't run down or trashed."

Kass smiles. "So that's why your dad recommended this place."

I look at him. "You asked my dad for a recommendation and thought I wouldn't know this place like the back of my hand?"

He laughs. "I guess you got me there."

***

When we return to the campsite, the sun has nearly set. Geo is stoking a fire while Renee sits at the picnic table wrapped in a blanket. March in Texas is cold at night but hot during the day. You could spend the daylight hours in shorts and a tank top but the evening in sweats.

Kass and I have been walking for the past hour or two, so we aren't cold in the least but the second we stop moving around, the chill will start to set in. I go to sit next to Renee, knowing I'll want to snatch up half the blanket soon.

"Where'd you guys go?" Renee asks.

"For a walk. The trail around the lake is gorgeous this time of year."

Renee smiles. "You get into any horizontal trouble out there? Will we need to get some poison ivy cream for your lady bits?"

"Gross," I tell her, looking completely appalled at what she said. "No, we didn't do it in the woods." I whisper the words "do it" and Renee's eyes widen.

"You're still a virgin?" she whisper-yells, and I cringe.

"Announce it to the whole park, why don't you?"

"Sorry." Renee glances at Kass. "I love Geo, but how on earth do you keep em' closed with a hunk like Kass?"

I laugh, and she smiles sheepishly.

After a moment, I shrug and reply, "It just hasn't happened. I'm sure he wants it to, but he hasn't pressured me."

Renee shakes her head. "He loves you. He'd probably wait decades for sex if he thought you weren't ready."

I look to Kass and admire his backside as he roasts a marshmallow over the fire. Geo bumps into him and the stick and marshmallow he's holding go into the flames, the marshmallow catching fire. Kass pulls it out and blows on it, sighing. He places his fingers just under the bottom of the burned, fluffy goodness, and I stand abruptly.

"Stop!" I yell, and Kass turns, nearly dropping the stick and marshmallow on the ground. I cringe. "They're better burnt."

Kass's brows furrow. "You hate burnt food."

I shrug. "I only like burnt marshmallows. I can't explain it. They just taste better that way." It melts my heart a little that he knows I hate burned food.

Kass walks over to the picnic table where he has a plate already made up with a graham cracker and chocolate. He places the marshmallow on top of the chocolate piece and puts a second graham cracker on top, holding the marshmallow firmly in place as he pulls the stick out. He licks the sticky residue off of his finger and... Damn, I never knew a guy sucking his finger could be a turn on.

Kass holds the plate out to me with the s'more on top and kisses my lips quickly before turning to put another marshmallow on his stick. He jogs the short distance to the fire, and Geo says something to make him laugh. Moments later, Geo comes over with his lightly-browned marshmallow and makes a s'more for Renee. He gives her a quick kiss on the lips as he hands her the plate and goes to join Kass to make his own s'more.

"We have the best boyfriends," Renee sighs with a mouthful of s'mores.

I laugh and respond with an equally full mouth, "Yes, we do."

***

Isn't that cute? Ryder thinks as he watches Kass and Laney eat their s'mores. Briefly, he wishes he could indulge in the camping treat, though he knows tasting it will pose a problem.

Kass rolls two large tree stump pieces over to the fire. He sits one of them up like a chair and pats it as he sits on the other one, sitting sideways beside it.

Laney smiles and gets up from her position at the picnic table with her friend. The blanket falls from her lap as she moves away from the table and closer to the fire. Closer to Kass.

Ryder sits in the spot Laney vacated and sighs. He'll never again get the opportunity to fall in love.

He places his chin in his hands, his elbows resting on the table. Taking in a big breath, he sighs, widening the space between his elbows. Two metal coffee cups—the blue ones with the white spots made especially for camping—roll off the table and onto the ground.

Renee stands and screams.

Ryder jerks up and falls backward off of the table as Renee glances around the campsite, looking for the person who knocked over their stuff. The wind isn't strong enough tonight to do it, and both Renee and Ryder know it. He stands from his place on the ground and begins to back away, dusting the dirt off of his backside.

The Archs are going to be pissed.

He is supposed to be unseen and unheard.