I slowed my pace down and walked next to Josh as the others pulled slightly ahead. He said his ankle was feeling better, but I knew by his slowing pace, it was bothering him. “Okay, so I might have been wrong about something.”
Josh grinned. “About what? Ellie doesn’t seem to be angry and neither does Ari.”
“No, it’s nothing about what happened between us. It’s not the first time we’ve gotten into a tiff.”
Josh gave me an inquisitive look. “Then what were you wrong about?”
“Ari mentioned Alison looking at Gunner like she was interested in him. I told her she was crazy, but the way Alison reacted when Gunner walked up, and now she keeps slightly touching him every time she talks to him. I think Ari was right. Alison has the hots for Gunner!”
Josh chuckled. “Heather, come on. The girl seems really friendly. Didn’t you notice how she was doing the same thing to me? I thought it was kind of strange how openly she flirted with me, but I think that’s just her. She’s doing it with Jeff as well, and Grant doesn’t seem to mind.”
A sick feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. I had noticed how she was flirting with Josh and it immediately bothered me. When I mentioned us having to leave to go on a hike, I was stunned they invited themselves to come along. “That’s the other thing, Josh. Grant made an off-the-wall comment about Ari being pregnant and how this would be a new adventure. I was thinking he meant the hike, but why would going on a hike with two pregnant women be an adventure? If anything, it would be trying if they were to slow him down. Then when he flirted with Ellie, I thought Gunner was going to grab Grant and throw him to the ground.”
“What did he say? How did I miss that?” Josh asked.
I chewed on lip. Something wasn’t right. “You were messing with Gus and didn’t hear him. He told her how beautiful her eyes were. That they were breathtaking or something like that and he kissed the back of her hand.”
Rolling his eyes, Josh started walking. “Okay, it sounds to me like the both of them are just really open talkers. They say what’s on their minds. Maybe innocent flirting doesn’t bother them any.”
Even as I attempted to push the strange vibes away, they grew larger. I watched as Gus kept running up to Grant and barking at him. Gunner finally put Gus on a leash and kept him away from Grant.
Even the dog got a weird vibe.
Grant pointed ahead. “Alison and I come here a lot; we’ve used the trail up ahead before. There are even a few benches we can use to make things more comfortable.”
Ari sighed. “I could really use a few minutes to sit.”
Grant stopped and took Ari’s hand. “And I know exactly what you can sit on.”
Pulling her hand out of his, Ari’s face turned white. Grant gave her a wink and started walking.
Josh and I came to a stop next to Ari.
“Did he just? I mean … was he talking about the bench or was he talking about …”
Josh turned to Ari. “I can tell you he was not talking about sitting on the bench and if Jeff had heard him, I’m pretty sure he’d be flat on the ground right now.”
Covering her mouth, Ari gagged. “Ewe. Gross. Yuk! Who says something like that to a married woman with her husband nearby? And a pregnant woman at that.”
A look of horror swept across her face. She spun on her heels and pointed to me. “What in the fuck, Heather!”
“What?”
“They’re swingers!”
I laughed and shook my head. “Have you gone mad? What makes you think they’re swingers?”
Her mouth was wide open and her eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head. “Think about it! The things they’ve been saying. The way Alison keeps flirting with Gunner and Jeff, and Grant doesn’t say a damn word. He asked Ellie a few minutes ago if she’s excited. She had no idea what he was talking about and just shrugged and said yes! They think we’re swingers!”
Josh laughed as he started up the trail and we followed alongside him. “Okay, hold on. Maybe we’re reading this all wrong. Heather, did they say anything to you at all?”
My eyes widened in horror. “No! Do you honestly think if they had told me they were swingers I’d even go to their campsite? I didn’t even invite them on this hike— they invited themselves. I wanted to get away from her because she was flirting with you.”
“Ha!” Ari said as she shoved her finger in my face.
Pushing it way, I kept talking. “I mentioned the hike and Alison said she’d always wanted to … oh no.” Heather’s hands covered her mouth.
“What? Oh no, what?” Ari asked in a panicked voice.
I swallowed hard as I dropped my hands to my side. “Well, she giggled and told Grant she knew her vibe was straight on. I didn’t know what she meant when she said it, so … I didn’t say anything. Then she started talking about sex positions with me on the way over to Jeff and Ari’s campsite. She asked what my favorite was. I just laughed and didn’t answer her. She told me during the art class that her and her husband had a very open relationship.”
Josh stumbled back and I had to reach for him.
“She … she asked you that and you didn’t think it was strange, Heather?”
With a shrug, I said, “Yes, but that doesn’t mean they are swingers. It simply means they have no problem talking about sex.”
Josh groaned. Ari patted him on the back. “Let me handle this.”
I tilted my head and glared at Ari. “There’s nothing to handle. You’re being crazy.”
Drawing in a deep breath, Ari let it out. “After she mentioned this … open relationship of theirs. What did you say?”
“Nothing,” I replied with a shrug. “She asked how long Josh and I had been together and I told her. Then she asked if we did things together a lot as couples and I said we did everything together.”
I gasped and my hands covered my mouth.
“And there it is,” Ari said crossing her arms across her chest.
“Oh no. After I said that, she giggled and repeated everything?”
Heather stopped walking and covered her mouth. “Shit! Shit! Shit! I replied back, almost everything. Then Ellie turned to me and asked if we were switching partners tonight!”
Ari’s face turned white and Josh groaned again. “Don’t just stand there, Heather! What did you say?”
My heart was racing. “Well, I said yes because Ellie was talking about charades for Christ’s sake. How was I supposed to know Alison would take that the wrong way!”
Ari chewed on her nail while walking back and forth.
My stomach was twisting and turning. “I’m going to be sick.”
“It’s okay, let’s catch back up with them and we can get it all straightened out. Maybe we’re all reading this wrong.”
“Fuck that, Josh! That man thinks he is going to have sex with me! That’s why he said this would be an adventure. He’s never fucked a pregnant woman before. Oh no. Jeff will kill him. If he tries to touch me, Jeff. Will. Kill. Him. The last thing I need is for my children’s father to get hauled off to jail because Heather doesn’t know what an open relationship is!”
I leaned over and moaned. I was going to get sick.
Ari grabbed me by the arm. “No way are you going to get out of this one, Heather. You brought two psychos into our group; you are going to have to fix this.”
“Me?” I cried out.
Stomping her feet, Ari answered, “Yes! We are at full capacity with our couples. You stepped outside the circle, and when I say you stepped outside, I mean you took one giant leap into crazyville and brought it back with you.”
Anger zipped through my veins. “How was I supposed to know, Ari?”
“Stop being so goddamn naïve about everything, Heather.”
“What? How in the hell was I supposed to know?”
Ari rolled her eyes and let out a fake laugh as she placed her hands on her hips. “Please. Jeff and I got a weird vibe from the very second they spoke to us. You didn’t think it was strange for a woman you just met to ask you about your favorite sex position?”
Josh stepped between us. “That’s enough. Standing here fighting isn’t going to do anything. Let’s get going before they get too far ahead. We aren’t getting anywhere arguing with each other.”
Lifting my chin, I replied, “Fine, but I think we’ll see that this was all a misunderstanding.” I knew the words I just said weren’t true, but I wouldn’t give Ari the satisfaction of knowing that.
“Uh-huh. Well okay then, I’ll let you lead the way,” Ari said as she motioned for me to walk ahead.
It didn’t take us long to get up to the top of the trail. There was supposed to be an amazing lookout.
We rounded the corner and I came to a stop. Josh and Ari walked up and stopped next to me.
“Oh shit,” Josh whispered.
Ari turned to me and slowly shook her head. “I think we can safely say, I was right and you were wrong.”
I couldn’t pull my eyes off the sight before me. There were no words I could form. Alison and Grant where all over each other. Their hands were under shirts, down pants, and they were kissing like they were putting on a show. Jeff, Gunner, and Ellie stood with their backs to them looking out over the lookout. Gus sat at Grant’s feet just staring up at them, ready to pounce if need be. Clearly the others had no idea what was happening.
“Ari, not now. We’ve got a bigger issue to deal with,” Josh mumbled.
“Yeah, the second Jeff and Gunner turn around and see this, all hell will break loose because they’ll put two and two together fast.”
Josh sighed. “Right, let’s nip it in the bud now.”
Ari and Josh quickly walked over to Alison and Grant as I stood there like a frozen statue. How could I be so stupid? How could I have read this so wrong?
Josh grabbed Grant and Ari took a hold of Alison and began walking them over to me. I quickly stepped back and around the corner. Josh pushed Grant back, causing him to stumble.
“What in the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
Grant looked confused as his gaze went from Josh to Alison.
“Wait, Alison I thought you said they would be into this?”
Alison shrugged.
“I thought they would. Heather, you said you were switching partners tonight.”
Finally breaking out of my dazed look, I shook my head to clear my thoughts and answered Alison. “I was talking about charades!”
“Dear Lord,” Grant softly spoke.
Ari walked up to Grant and poked him on the chest. “Oh, I think you need to be including the holy ghost, and a few hail Mary’s in on this one, dude. Did you really think you were going to screw a pregnant woman?”
“Well I mean, if you were going to be down with it, I was.”
Snarling her lip, Ari reached up and slapped Grant across the face. “You sick bastard!”
I was starting to feel dizzy. Not to mention sick to my stomach again.
Josh gently pulled Ari back and guided her next to me. He drew in a breath and exhaled. “Grant, Alison, this group is not into that. And honestly, if Jeff or Gunner find out what you had planned, well, honestly I’d be afraid right now, Grant.”
“Very afraid,” Ari added.
Grant reached for Alison’s hand. “I think we’re going to head on back down and continue on by ourselves.”
With a nod, Josh replied, “I think that’s the smart thing to do.”
Alison stopped in front of me and gave me weak smile. “I’m so sorry, Heather. I really liked you. I was so looking forward to our time together, and I’m sorry if I misread things.”
I stood there in a state of utter shock. Ari leaned forward, pointed to my stunned expression, and said, “I think this should pretty much tell you your swinger radar is way off, folks.”
Alison frowned, then turned and headed down the trail with Grant.
“Breathe, Heather,” Josh whispered into my ear. I leaned over, placed my hands on my knees and forced air in and out.
“Holy shit. How did that happen? What just happened?”
Ari giggled. “Wow. That’s one to store away in the ole memory box upstairs.”
Josh laughed as Gunner, Ellie, and Jeff all came around the corner. Ellie looked around and asked, “Where did Grant and Alison go?”
Gus ran up to me and whined as he pawed me. “I’m okay, boy. I think.”
Josh and Ari looked at me. “They um … decided we really weren’t the type of friends they wanted to hang out with.”
Ellie’s head pulled back in shock. “Wow. They didn’t even really know us to make that assessment.”
Ari chuckled. “They knew enough to know we weren’t the type of friends they normally hang with.”
A sense of guilt rushed through my body. “Ells, I’m so sorry for what I said earlier. I really do want to be here, and I’m sorry I invited a strange couple into our group. This was our weekend. I don’t want to spend it with anyone else but y’all.”
I watched as tears filled her eyes. “No, I’m sorry. I acted like a child.”
“No, I did.”
“No, it was me who—”
Ari walked up and stood between us. “Oh, for the love of God! Both of you acted like dicks. Now, can we get on with this hike before I birth this child I’m carrying? The last hour is one I’d like to try and forget please.”
Ellie and I both smiled then wrapped Ari up in a sandwich hug.
Ari sighed then said, “All right, that’s enough sappy shit, let’s get moving. I’ve got pork chops calling my name.”
My stomach growled and everyone started laughing. As we walked off, Jeff reached for my arm and held me back.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“So what really happened?” he asked with one brow arched.
I pulled my lower lip in while taking a deep breath. With a shake of my head, I replied, “Trust me, you don’t want to know.”
The look on his face told me he might have already known.
He shook his head and glanced over to the rest of the gang. “I knew they were different.”
My eyes widened as my eyebrows lifted. “They were different all right.”
As we started to walk, Jeff let out a chuckle. “Although, I really would have loved to have seen Gunner’s reaction when Grant put the moves on Ellie. That would have been priceless.”
Looking up at Jeff, I asked, “You knew?”
He laughed and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “Dear sweet, Heather. When will you learn? Jeff knows all. He is wise. He is smart, and let’s not forget, he is handsome as hell.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. As much as I didn’t think I wanted to be on this trip, I quickly realized that there was no place I’d rather be.