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We join everyone in making s’mores and share a log. Daphne is giving us looks the whole time that only makes me want to chuck a marshmallow at her head. Somehow, I felt like I was in high school and this was my first date.
One by one, everyone heads inside their tents for the night until it’s just Holly and I left. She’s bundled up in several sweatshirts, leggings, sweatpants, and hiking boots with two pairs of socks. But I can tell from the way she’s shivering that she’s somehow still cold. I’m wearing a thermal sweatshirt and sweatpants, but I’ve always been told my body is like a furnace. I add an extra log to the fire and grab a beer from the cooler.
“Can I have one?” Holly asks quietly.
“Of course.” I grab a second beer and pop the top before handing it to her.
“Oh, shit, maybe cold beer wasn’t the best idea right now.” She chuckles, taking a sip.
“I have a blanket in my tent if you need one.” I offer.
“Nah, I probably won’t freeze to death.” She says sarcastically.
“Come here,” I hold out my arm boldly. She doesn’t hesitate to lean in, and I wrap my arms around her.
“Do you know anything about the stars?” She breaks the silence first.
“Uh, not much,” I glance up at the sky. “I believe that’s the big dipper.” I point.
“I’m pretty sure that’s the little dipper,” she laughs, and moves my hand to a different spot. “That’s the big dipper.”
“Well, clearly there’s more you can teach me.” I sip my beer and look at the ground. She finally stopped shivering. Her blonde hair tickles my nose, but I’m too nervous to move. I don’t want to stop holding her. I forgot how nice it felt to get close to someone.
Holly doesn’t speak. We both sit quietly looking up at the stars. They’re so much clearer up here, the trees parting just enough to give us a view. It’s a deep midnight blue, looking as if someone painted the sky. We both sip our beers and listen to the surrounding sounds. The bugs, the water nearby, and Louis’ snoring. That guy was one of the loudest snorers I’ve ever met. I swear he was our personal security system for the night. When he pauses and then gets louder, Holly laughs.
“I don’t know how Daphne puts up with that every night.” I chuckle.
“Earplugs, she said it’s the only way their marriage would survive. But don’t tell her that or she’ll kill me.” She laughs even harder.
“Cross my heart.” I make the motion, and she smiles with her entire face. It’s one of those genuine smiles that you can’t control if you wanted to. She catches me staring, and I swear there’s a blush across her cheeks. What I would do to kiss her right now.
ChapterFive
Daniel looks even hotter in front of the fire. Oh my god, I’m glad I didn’t say that out loud. I was one beer deep and drunk on him. He was incredibly handsome and just as kind. It was going to kill me to admit to Daphne that she was right about him. We’d been talking and somehow never run out of things to say. Even when there’s silence, it’s just comfortable and natural.
He looks down, and I can see my reflection in his ocean eyes. It would be so easy to get lost in them, at least for the night. He bites his lip and I can tell he wants to kiss me. The way his eyes keep glancing at my lips and the way he looks at me. I surprise us both by closing the distance and kissing him first.
His lips are softer than I imagined. The beers fall from our hands as he pulls me closer to him. His large hands reach for my face and push my hair behind my ear, brushing his thumb across my chin. I wrap both arms around his neck and allow myself to let go. He scoops me in one motion onto his lap, my legs straddling him. All the cold I felt is replaced with warmth and tingling to my toes. I didn’t know just kissing could feelthisgood.
Louis’ loud snore breaks the silence, causing us both to burst into laughter. Daniel holds me from falling backward, his hand on the small of my back. Our lips are inches away, but we’re both laughing and smiling, too big to kiss.
“Well, I didn’t expect that,” Daniel says.
“Louis’ snoring or me kissing you?” I bite my lip.
“Well, both.” He laughs.
“Least I can do, for someone who saved my life.” I wink. Instead of responding, he kisses me again.
It’s almostsunrise by the time we make it back to our own tents. We took turns making out and talking all night long. We probably would’ve stayed up all night, except we both knew there was no way Daphne or Liz would let us sleep in.
I almost invited him back to my tent, but considering there were kids less than 50 feet away, I refrained. He was enough of a gentleman not to ask. I fell asleep to the memory of his lips on mine. It was the first night in weeks that I didn’t have a nightmare.
Stretching, I shrug out of my clothes. For as freezing as it was last night, I was now sweating under all my layers. I slip down to a t-shirt, flannel, and leggings, thankful for the temperature change.
I’m about to leave the tent when I realize Daniel and I never talked about what last night was. I’m not some teenage girl who needs to define the relationship with every guy I make out with, but I wanted to know what I was walking out to. I would just play it cool and follow his lead.
“Holly! We’re making breakfast. Want some pancakes?” Liz smiles as I step out of the tent.
