Page 16 of This Time Around

“Thanks, it smells great. Who cooked?” I ask.

“Ty, he got up early to help Cash get all packed up.”

“You been up long?” I ask.

“A little while, the sound of Cash’s car driving past my tent woke me and I couldn’t go back to sleep.”

“You should have woken me.”

“I had company,” she says smiling at Ty.

“What do you want to do today?”

“A nap sounds freaking amazing. We were up so late, I don’t remember the last time I was up that late. I even try to avoid closing shifts at the bar. I need my sleep.”

“Hey, once everyone else gets packed up to leave, we’re going to head out for a hike, you guys want to join?” Keith’s question shifts my attention.

“That sounds like the perfect time for me to nap, you have fun,” Blake smiles, urging me to go.

After breakfast, we sat around and visited with everyone while a handful of others packed up to leave. After a few chill hours, Blake went to take a nap in her tent, and Ty, Keith, Isa, and I left for our hike.

We barely got to the trailhead before Keith started in on me.

“I thought you were getting up to fish this morning?” Keith asks. “You know, being an old man and shit.”

“That was the plan until I was at the fire until god knows what hour.”

“You have a thing for her?” Ty asks.

“Why?” I see something lingering behind his question.

“Dude, she’s fucking, She’s beautiful,” he expresses. “If you’re not going for it, you’re a dumb fuck, and I will.”

“You leave her the fuck alone, Ty. She’s a good girl. She’s special, ok. She’s not just a random hook up.”

“Who said anything about a random hook up? If I get the chance to take her home, I’ll keep her there.” He laughs.

“No shit,” Keith adds, “The way she looks at you, if you don’t make a move, you’re a fool.”

“She’s a baby,” Isa pipes in. “She’s too young for any of you fools, especially you Luke,” she warns, pushing past me.

By the time we got back to camp, it had been several hours. Blake was now awake, reading in a chair wrapped in a large blanket, with her red hair in a messy bun, and she’s biting the edge of her lip in concentration. The sight stops me in my tracks. The sun glistens on each strand of her hair, framing her face, looking like an extension of the fire glowing beside her, the light making it a breathtaking sight.

Fucking stunning.

I have to focus on reminding myself she is off limits.

“Let’s get the brats started so we can leave before it’s too dark,” Isa suggests.

“Brats sound fucking delicious,” Blake speaks up over the edge cover of her book. “Let me help,” she insists.

I open the package of brats and place them on the small grill. “You can’t just raw dog them. They need some flavor, Luke,” Blake advises.

“I didn’t bring very many seasonings, we’re camping,” I argue.

“Move over.” She pushes me out of the way and grabs a knife off the table. “Can you get me a can of beer and some salt, please?” she directs her question at Ty as she slices a slit across each brat.

When Ty hands her the open can of beer and salt, she uses them both to season the brats, adding a little more beer every so often until they are fully cooked.