“One job. You had one job.”
I pushed the cart down the aisle and tried not to listen to Ari.
“How in the hell do you forget to pack two giant containers of food? How?”
One. Two. Three. Deep breath in. Let it out.
“I could see forgetting your clothes. But the food? Really, Gunner?”
Four. Five. Six.
“He’s not even paying any attention to me,” Ari said as she threw in three bags of chips then totally had a mood shift. Clapping, she grinned wide and stated, “Oh, sloppy joes sound good!”
“Yeah, those do sound good!” Ellie agreed while looking at me and shrugging.
“I thought she wanted steaks?” I asked with a puzzled look.
Ari turned and pointed to me. “Hey, I want those too.”
Thank goodness there was an HEB close by or we would have been living off of snacks from the park store.
I watched as Ari, Heather, and Ellie loaded up the cart almost to the max. I knew camping brought out the munchies in all of us, especially with Heather and Ari being pregnant. Their love of certain foods certainly grew the last few months. But with the way they were loading up the cart, you’d think they were afraid we would run out of food.
“Y’all do know we’re only there for a few days right?” I asked.
Three heads turned and glared at me. “But Josh and Jeff do eat a lot of food,” I quickly added. Ari grinned and Ellie scrunched her nose up while walking over to me. Leaning in, she gently kissed my cheek. “Good save, babe.”
“Well, I was about to be shred to pieces by two hungry pregnant women.”
Ellie giggled and headed back over to the girls. After checking out, I loaded the new ice chest I had bought down with ice and filled it with the food. The girls were in the truck as I walked the cart back to the store.
Hitting Jeff’s number, I sighed.
“You get some food?”
“Yes. And now I have a new ice chest as well.”
The asshole laughed. Some friends I had. “Should I fire up the pit?”
“Yes, and for your sake, I hope you can turn up the heat and cook these bitches fast. Ari is about to rip my head off.”
“Just give her a Snickers bar. It’s her pregnancy weakness.”
“Ah, that explains the giant bag she threw in the cart.”
Jeff chuckled. “I’m surprised she only put one bag in.”
“Luckily I had a gut feeling and threw two more bags into the cart.”
“Smart move.”
I let out a light-hearted laugh. “We’re on our way back.”
“Good luck.”
Stepping into the truck, I took a peek into the back seat to see both Ari and Heather breaking pieces off of a loaf of French bread.
With a soft groan, I turned back and started the truck. “I’m gonna need it if they run out of bread.”
The small area we sat in was illuminated by the blazing fire. The warmth felt good as it hit my face. I drew Ellie in closer to me as she nestled her head against my chest.
“This is perfect,” she whispered.
I kissed the top of her head and agreed. “It was a good idea, I’ll admit.”
She lifted her head and gave me that sweet smile of hers.
“All right, story time,” Jeff said standing.
Rolling my eyes, I spoke, “And there went the peacefulness.”
Ellie playfully hit me on the stomach while Jeff called Gus over to the sit next to him.
Jeff rubbed his hands together and looked around at everyone. “We can’t roast marshmallows and sit around a fire without a ghost story.”
“I love ghost stories!” Ellie replied as she snuggled in closer to me. The warmth of her body caused mine to come to life. I fought the desire to pick her up and carry her back to our tent and make love to her. I knew this was what she wanted for now, and I would be content with it. At least for a little while.
Jeff turned on the flashlight and stuck it under Gus’ face.
“There ronce rwas a rory about a roung girl.”
My jaw fell to the ground as Jeff continued to talk like Scooby-fucking-Doo.
“Dude, why in the hell are you talking like that?” Josh asked as Heather hit him on the arm.
Ari giggled. “He’s talking like Scooby Doo. Because Gus is telling the story … get it?”
Josh’s forehead furrowed as he looked between Jeff, Ari, and Heather. “I get the reference, but there are no kids around.”
Jeff laughed. “Jesus, Josh. That’s how dogs talk.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. “Scrappy Doo doesn’t talk like that.”
Jeff’s mouth opened to speak, then he shut it and sent me a glaring look. “Let me tell the damn story the way I want to tell it, will ya?”
I held up my hands in defeat while Josh lost it laughing.
“Well now I’m not in the mood to tell the story,” Jeff said while turning off the flashlight.
Josh leaned toward the fire. “Dude, are you pouting right now?”
“Fuck you, Josh,” Jeff spit out.
Ari stood up. “All right boys, let’s not act like we’re children. It’s time to bring the adults hiding in you back out.”
Ellie covered her mouth to hide her chuckle.
Ari continued to speak. “I say we play truth or dare!”
I groaned and shook my head. “Seriously, Ari? You just told us to grow up and now you want to play truth or dare?”
Her hands went to her hips and I knew this was one battle I wasn’t going to attempt to fight.
“Truth or dare sounds like fun,” I quickly added.
Ari wore a huge smile. “I thought so, Mathews.”