“What in the hell was that all about?” I asked while we all watched Ellie walk off with a serious pout on her face.
“You don’t think she’s upset about Alison, do you?” Heather asked.
Gunner walked up next to me, his eyes still on his retreating wife. “Who’s Alison?”
“Heather was sitting next to her in that stupid art class,” I said. Glancing over to Heather, I narrowed my brows. “What did you say to her?”
Her eyes widened in shock. “Me? Why do you think it was me who upset her?”
I shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because she was fine until you talked to her. Then she got all weird. I mean, what was with the whole thing about Heather already has plans?”
“I simply said I didn’t want to go on a hike and that Josh and I were going to go over to Alison and her husband’s campsite. Then I suggested that her and Gunner spend some time together. I might have also said y’all would probably like to spend some alone time with each other.”
I gasped. “Wh-what?”
“What?” Heather asked while swinging her eyes between the three of us.
Jeff held up his hands. “I’m staying out of this one. Totally neutral.”
Gunner stuck his hands in his pockets and locked his lips shut.
Turning back to Heather, I glared at her. “I can’t believe you made plans with another couple on our couples camping trip!”
“Are you serious right now, Ari?”
“Yes! You might as well have told Ellie you’re tired of hanging out with her and you’re going to find someone knew to hang with.”
Heather threw her hands up in the air and huffed. “This is insane. Are we not allowed to have friends outside of this group?”
“Of course we are, but we’re on this trip together. You know how much Ellie’s been wanting to go on a hike. You blew her off for this … Alison chick. Who, to be honest with you, was looking a little too hard at Gunner, if you ask me.”
“Me?” Gunner asked all innocent and cute. “Why are you dragging me into this?”
“Because she was. She was eye fucking you more than the art instructor was.”
“That’s insane!” Heather said with a gruff laugh. “We were talking the entire time and she seems nice.”
My eyes met Heather’s. “I know what I saw, Heather. My bet is this girl is trying to get in with the group.”
“What? Yes, she mentioned possibly coming over this evening and hanging out around the fire, but that was it. Maybe they just want to meet new friends. Why are you being so weird about this?”
“When did she invite y’all over? Before or after Gunner showed up?”
Heather shook her head and folded her arms across her chest. “I’m not doing this with you. Ellie is behaving like a child who is not getting her way and honestly I’m a little surprised by her behavior. I don’t want to go on some stupid hike! I didn’t even want to come on this damn camping trip in the first place!”
“Gunner? We … um … we need to run up to the park store.”
All eyes turned to see Ellie standing there. Her eyes were filled with tears, and I instantly started to walk her way. She held up her hand and forced a smile.
“I’m sorry if y’all are not having fun. Jeff and I thought this would be a fun way to spend the weekend, but I understand if you’re not enjoying yourselves. If you want to leave, I understand.”
Heather walked up next to me, “Ellie—”
With her chin trembling, Ellie forced a smile. “It’s fine, Heather. Go hang out with Alison and her husband. I’m sure they’re nice people. And honestly, if you’d feel better leaving, that’s totally fine. I’m sorry for my … childish behavior.”
Spinning on her heels, Ellie quickly walked over to Gunner’s truck.
Anger filled my body instantly as I looked at Heather. “Well, looks like you just got your free ticket to go home.”
“Wait, Ari, that’s not fair. You didn’t want to come on this camping trip either!”
“I’m actually enjoying myself, Heather, if you haven’t noticed. I miss Luke like mad, but being all together has been exactly what I needed. I’m sorry if you don’t feel the same way.” I shook my head in disgust. “And I would never say something to hurt Ellie. Never.”
Heather’s mouth dropped open. “I didn’t know she was there or I would never have said anything! This is so stupid. I didn’t realize we were still in high school and couldn’t have friends outside our circle.”
I slowly shook my head. “You don’t get it, do you? The whole reason Ellie wanted to do this trip was because she’s worried we’re all going to drift apart, and to be honest, I feel the same way. Maybe it’s time we did drift apart some.”
Heather’s chin trembled and her eyes filled with tears. I hated to admit it, but I wanted her to hurt as much as she had hurt Ellie.
“What are you saying, Ari?”
Jeff walked up to me and turned me to him. “Hey, I think both of y’all are feeling overly emotional. Let’s call a truce, we can talk to Ellie, Heather can go hang with this couple and everything will be okay. We’ll all meet up later.”
Turning to look at Heather, I swung my eyes back to Jeff. “Fine. I’m afraid I’m about to say something I’ll regret anyway.”
As I started back to our campsite, Heather called out my name. “Ari. Ari, wait. Ari, come on, please wait!”
I kept walking, my eyes fixed on my best friend sitting in Gunner’s truck. She looked out the window with an empty stare.
“Hey, you want to talk to her?” Gunner asked.
Chewing on my lip, I walked over to the truck and tapped on the window. Ellie looked up and opened the door.
“You okay?” I asked with a smile.
Ellie sniffled and wiped her nose as she got out of the truck.
“I’m being silly and acting like a child. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the baby blues setting in late, or knowing all of this is going to be changing soon. I don’t know. Maybe it’s me being a mother has me thinking of my own mother. I don’t know, but I’m sorry.”
I reached for her hand and squeezed it. “No, you’re not acting like a child. Heather is being Heather. If she wants to hang out with this girl, let her.”
Ellie shrugged. “I’m scared, Ari. I’m scared this is going to be the last time we all hang out like this. After the babies come, we’re never going to have time to do anything. I’d be lost without y’all.”
The corner of my mouth rose some as I shook my head. “We are so much alike, Ellie Mathews. I was telling your brother the same exact thing, and guess what?”
“What?” she asked.
“It’s not true. We’ve been friends a long time.”
She chuckled and wiped a tear away. “Yeah, we have.”
“Nothing is ever going to change that. We’re going to have to work harder at finding time to do things like this though.”
“I know. I have no idea why I got so emotional.”
My brows lifted as hope filled my body. “Pregnant?”
“No,” she replied with a chuckle. “Like I said, maybe it’s some post-post-post baby blues.”
I nodded. “Maybe. Are you feeling better though?”
Her face lit up with a smile. “Yes, thank you, Ari. You always did know how to cheer me up.”
I shrugged then laughed. “Hey, do you remember the time I talked you into skipping school and we went to Zilker Park?”
Covering her hand with her mouth, Ellie chuckled. “Yes! And we fell asleep and got so sunburnt!”
“The next day at school the principal asked what happened to us.”
We both started laughing. “And you told him it was a chemistry experiment gone wrong!”
“Yes!” I cried out as our laughter quickly grew. “I said it blew up and burned our faces!”
With a snort and laugh, Ellie added, “And he sent us to the nurse who told us we were both going to hell for lying because we were clearly sunburnt!”
Ellie and I were laughing so hard, I had tears streaming down my face.
“I take it you’re both feeling better?” Gunner asked while walking up to us.
Once we were able to get ourselves under control, Ellie nodded. “Thanks, Ari. I’m sorry I was acting like a child.
“You weren’t, so don’t even think twice about it.”
We hugged and both whispered we loved each other. Pushing back, I grinned. “So why don’t you and Gunner head to the store, then we’ll head out on that hike.”
Her face lit up. “Sounds good.”
Jeff and I walked hand in hand over to Gunner and Ellie’s campsite. When I saw Heather, Josh, Alison, and another guy walking up, I started to say something, but Jeff squeezed my hand.
“Play nice, Arianna.”
I groaned slightly.
“Ari, Jeff, you remember Alison.”
We both nodded as Heather pointed to the guy standing next to her. “This is Alison’s husband, Grant.”
Looking the guy over, I smiled slightly. He was tall, slightly built and wasn’t bad looking. The baseball cap he wore hid the color of his hair.
Jeff reached out and shook his hand and said, “Nice to meet you, Grant.”
“My pleasure,” Grant answered with a wide grin on his face. He turned and looked at me. The way his eyes raked over my body made my skin crawl. “And you must be Ari. Heather’s told us you’re expecting as well. We’ve never done this with pregnant women, but it should be fun.”
The fake ass smile on my face faded. Frowning, I asked, “What could be fun?”
Alison giggled and said, “Ignore him, Ari.”
Jeff and I looked at each other. He leaned down and whispered against my ear, “Are you getting a weird vibe, or is it just me?”
“Nope, I’ve got it too.”
Jeff glanced back over to Heather and the couple. “What brings y’all over here?” Jeff asked.
Heather frowned slightly. “Well, I mentioned that everyone was going on a hike.”
“You mean we were going on a hike and you were sitting it out?” I asked with a smirk.
“Yes, Ari,” Heather said with a smile.
“Alison and Grant thought it would be a fun to go and get a chance to meet y’all. She was um … eager for her husband to meet … ah … Gunner and Ellie.”
My eyes fixed in on Alison. Her smile was a little too big and a little too eager. “Huh. Well, we were heading over to get them now.”
“No need, we saw y’all making your way over,” Gunner said as he and Ellie walked up.
“Gunner. It’s so great seeing you again,” Alison said as she reached her hand out for him. And not a hand shake reach, but a kiss the back of my hand because I’m a fucking princess reach.
He glanced down at it and simply gave her a head pop.
Heather cleared her throat and said, “Gunner, Ellie, this is Grant, Alison’s husband.”
Grant reached his hand out to shake Gunner’s then took Ellie’s hand and kissed the back of it. “What beautiful eyes you have, Ellie. The way they compete with the sky is amazing. Breathtaking.”
Oh. My. God. He did not just flirt with her out in the open like that.
“Um … thank you?” Ellie replied, making it sound like a question. I couldn’t help but notice how Gunner looked like he was ready to pounce on Grant.
I turned back to Alison to see her reaction and she stood there with a smile. Heather on the other hand looked shocked as hell. I wonder if it is too soon to say I told you so?
“All right. Are we ready to get this party started?” Josh asked.
“Hell yes. This is going to be one hell of an adventure, right baby?” Grant said as he grabbed Alison’s ass and they started walking.
Jeff and I stayed back with Gunner and Ellie.
Taking a few steps forward, Jeff turned to us. “Anyone else get the feeling we need to walk in the opposite direction of them?”
“What in the hell was that?” Gunner asked with a dumbfounded expression.
“Did he flirt with me? Like seriously right there in front of his wife?” Ellie asked.
“Yeah, well at least he didn’t eye fuck the hell out of you like he did Ari,” Jeff replied.
I shook my head. “Y’all … I’ve got a weird feeling about these two.”
Gunner took Ellie’s hand. “I think maybe we’re all overreacting here. Let’s go on the hike, make the best of Heather bringing her new friends along, and enjoy the time together.”
Heather had stopped and called back. “Are y’all coming?”
“Yep!” Ellie exclaimed as the four of us reluctantly started walking toward the trailhead.