I couldn’t help but giggle as I watched Gunner agree with Ari that truth or dare would be fun.
Leaning closer to him, I whispered, “Smart man.”
“Did you see the death stare she shot me?”
Laughing, I replied, “I was afraid for you.”
“I was afraid for my balls she was about to grab and twist,” Gunner stated with a wink.
Ari clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention.
“All right, y’all. Who wants to go first?”
I glanced around and no one raised their hands. Ari tilted her head and wore an evil grin. “Fine, no volunteers for truth or dare, so I’ll pick who goes first.”
She narrowed in on Josh. “Josh, you’re up first.”
Jerking his head back, Josh asked, “Me? Why me?”
“Oh, you know why,” Ari stated as her brows drew together.
“Wasn’t that in a movie? What was that movie called?” Heather asked while looking around at each of us. She didn’t even seem to care that Josh wore a scared as hell expression on his face.
Gunner leaned in and softly spoke while staring at Josh. “Poor bastard. I wonder what she’s going to make him do, because you know the stupid ass will pick dare and Ari knows it.”
I instantly felt sorry for Josh because I knew Gunner was right.
Sitting up straighter, Josh put on a brave face. “I’ll go first and I pick dare.”
“Told you,” Gunner said with a chuckle.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ari smile that big before. She turned on her heels and walked over to the ice chests. Lifting the lid, she pulled out a bag and Heather and I gasped.
“Oh. No,” Heather said.
Spinning around, Ari walked back over to Josh.
“Eat seven of these without taking a drink of water.”
I was almost positive Josh was already starting to sweat.
“Peppers?” Josh asked while swallowing hard.
“Is he already sweating?” Jeff asked with a full-on laugh.
Ari pushed the bag closer to him. “What’s the matter, Hayes. You afraid to eat a few jalapeño?”
“A few? Two would be a few, Ari. You said seven.”
Looking around, Ari said, “Looks like we have our first failed dare for the night.”
Josh grabbed the bag from Ari and opened it.
“Josh! You hate spicy things!” Heather cried out.
Standing, Josh gave Heather a reassuring look. “I’ve got this, princess.”
Heather looked at me with wide eyes and a dropped mouth. We both knew, he so didn’t have this.
“This should be fun,” Gunner said while taking a drink from his beer.
I gripped Gunner’s leg while I watched Josh reach in for a pepper.
“Seven. One right after the other,” Ari confirmed again.
A look of horror washed over my face when Josh quickly popped the whole pepper into his mouth and chewed. He reached in for another and repeated the same action for seven peppers.
“Holy shit. He’s crying!” Jeff cried out as he laughed hysterically.
“Oh, Josh,” Heather said as she rushed over to him with a bottle of water.
Josh grabbed the water and downed it. “Fire. On. Fire. Gonna die. Help … me.”
Gunner jumped up with another bottle of water. Snatching it from his hands, Josh drank it so fast he was spilling it all over himself.
“Can’t breathe!” Josh hissed while drinking yet another bottle. “Bread! Something! Help!”
Ari let out a contented sigh. “I didn’t think you had it in you, Hayes.”
Josh glared at Ari while Heather handed him another bottle. Pointing to Ari, Josh said, “I hate you right now.”
With a half pout, half smile, Ari replied, “Awe, you don’t mean that, buttercup!”
Josh downed a beer. “My shit’s gonna burn for weeks.”
It was then everyone lost it laughing, including Josh.
Pulling my knees up to my chest, I smiled as I looked around the fire at my friends. They were more than friends. They were my family and I loved them. I was going to cherish this weekend forever.
Soft breath hit my neck, rousing me from my sleep. “Hey, sweetheart. You fell asleep.”
Sitting up, I stretched and let out a long yawn. “Gosh, I was tired,” I replied while looking around the fire. “Where is everyone?”
“Jeff and Ari just left to head to bed. Josh and Heather called it quits pretty much right after you dozed off.”
“Why didn’t you wake me up, Gunner?”
He shrugged. “You looked so peaceful sleeping with your head in my lap. I figured you needed the rest.”
A part of me was disappointed Gunner would let me sleep. The idea was to spend time with our friends, but I knew I was being emotional and silly.
“You’ve only been asleep for maybe thirty or forty minutes.”
Relief swept over my body. “Oh good! I thought maybe I had missed out on fun times.”
Laughing, Gunner stood and reached for me. He took my hand and gently pulled me up to him.
“Well, after no one else showed interest in Ari’s truth or dare game and we started talking about the ranch, you quickly dozed. Poor Heather’s head was bopping all over the place before Josh got up and took her back to their tent.”
Wrapping my arm around Gunner’s waist, we slowly walked to our campsite. “Poor, Heather. I’m sure she is exhausted with carrying twins!”
“No doubt. I’ve never seen Josh so happy before. I mean, truly utterly happy.”
Grinning, I held onto him tighter. “They’re so perfect for each other.”
Gunner stopped walking and turned to me. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?”
My nose crinkled up as I gazed into his eyes. “I think so, but maybe you should tell me.”
He slowly grinned and replied, “I think I’d rather show you.”