Potholes

Chapter 69 As told by Parker

Rowan was already in the driver's seat by the time we had rounded everybody up and made it back to the van. Hayden was also there, in the seat behind. He spoke up when we slid open the door.

"He's coming with us?" he asked, nodding towards Cody who slid in behind Eva to the very back seat. They shared a glance and both of their cheeks flushed red. I got into the passenger's seat, careful to avoid Emmet who sat down next to Hayden behind me.

"Where are we going?" Emmet asked. I glanced at Rowan, hoping she had a plan.

"We're running low on Eva's bat mitzvah funds, so I guess we're camping in the van," Rowan answered as I'd hoped.

Rowan drove us to the closest camping site and we decided to stay the night in a spot surrounded by towering pine trees and a view of the nearest lake. It was well past midnight and everyone was eager to get to bed, so we devised the most logical sleeping plan we could in our only half awake state of minds.

"Rowan and I could take the top," Hayden suggested.

"Well I'm not sleeping with Emmet," Cody laughed, and I saw Eva's eyes widen in surprise.

"I guess we could sleep in the bed in the back," Eva said nervously.

"Okay, that means both Emmet and Parker would have to sleep in the hammock," Rowan said, then her gaze caught mine, "are you okay with that?"

At the time it seemed like the worst possible scenario for me, but I didn't speak up before Emmet sheepishly said, "Yeah, that works."

Although I felt like I should have, something stopped me from intervening and I agreed to the plan. It took longer than it should have for us to get the beds set up and when we did everyone was so tired the van fell silent as soon as the lights turned out.

Emmet wiggled around in an attempt to make room for me in the tiny hammock and I slithered in beside him, trying to keep as much distance as possible, though I knew it was worthless as the fabric continued to push us together.

"I'm sorry," I muttered, aware that I was moving around too much trying to get comfortable in these circumstances.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" He whispered, looking at me with that concerned glint in his eyes, a manner recognizable from when we were kids. I was quickly reminded again of the boy I had liked back then, and was flooded with the wish that he wouldn't pull away with the newfound icy, nonchalant exterior he had earlier. I could hear my own heartbeat and my face was so hot I was thankful it was so dark in the car that he couldn't see my surely scarlet red cheeks. But I tried desperately to hide the nervous waver in my voice as I replied.

"Yeah," I said honestly. "I'm okay."

"Good," He said softly, moving his arm under my torso so that the only place for my head to rest was his chest right below his chin, and I brought my arm up too. "Is this better?"

"Mm-hmm," I nodded. I noticed that his heart was beating abnormally fast too.

A few minutes had passed and I was still unable to sleep, too overwhelmed by how close he was, how If I moved even slightly his face would be against mine, and how I could feel his breath on the top of my head. His arm had made it's way around my back and I could feel him twirl the end of my hair around his finger, which I couldn't tell if he was doing subconsciously or not but either way it added to my discombobulated thoughts.

I guess he could tell that I was still awake because he, in a hushed whisper, spoke once more."Why do we always end up like this?" he said, referencing the night in the hotel room. I tilted my head to face him and he did the same, our faces teasingly close. "It's like no matter what I do, I can't stay away from you."

His eyes lingered on mine a beat longer but I didn't have time to ask what he meant before he let his lashes fall softly on his cheeks and tucked my head under his chin. "Goodnight, P."

I woke early to the sound of birds and the blinding sunlight shining through the windshield. It felt refreshing to be out of town, with nothing but lush greenery, my best friends, and an adventure still ahead of us. I looked up to Emmet's peaceful sleeping face and wished I could stay laying like this forever, but I inevitably slipped out his arms and opened the van door as stealthily as I could.

"Good morning," Rowan said as I shut the door behind me.