“Can we take snacks and stuff and go outside?” Gage asked.
“Of course,” Nia replied. “And since I think we’re pretty much already paired off here, with everyone sitting next to their partners from last night, I think we’re good to go. I’ll be around but trying to give you privacy as well, so let me know if you need anything.”
Gage turned to Carrie and asked, “Want to go to our spot?”
“It’s daytime,” Carrie replied.
“So? We can’t listen to music in the daytime?”
“Oh,” Carrie said and shook her head. “You mean to actually do the activity?”
“Yes.” She laughed. “You thought I was going to disobey Nia again and risk getting kicked out? No way.”
Carrie leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
“Oh, you little rule breaker,” Gage teased.
“It’s a cheek kiss.”
“I’m sure it’s foreplay for someone and could violate the fooling around rule.”
“Shut up and take a picture.” Carrie laughed and stood up. “I’ll get us some drinks and snacks.”
“I’ll grab the blanket.”
When they got back together in the great room, Carrie had the snacks and bottles of water in her hands. Gage had brought her backpack, so they stuffed those items in and left the house just as Kristina and Jennifer went out to the backyard and Debra and Sharon went down the hallway, likely to a bedroom.
“Sharon and Debra, huh?” she said as they walked down the sidewalk.
“What do you mean?” Carrie asked.
“Odd couple, I guess.”
“Why?”
“They’re really far apart in age.”
“So?”
“I don’t care or anything. I just didn’t see them pairing off.”
“Did you seeyourselfpairing off with Sharon?”
“Oh, God.” Gage laughed and replied, “No. Can I just say something and you not make a whole big thing?”
“I have no idea,” Carrie replied with a laugh of her own.
Gage stopped them and said, “Sharon is good in bed.”
Carrie didn’t say anything.
“You okay there?”
“Processing. I am processing what you just said to me.”
“I want you to understand something, okay?”
“Okay…”
