***
“OK, OK, I give up!” I said, raising my hands defensively. “You all win.”
“Ever heard of poker face?” Eva asked, giggling.
“Yeah, you all laugh. But my inability to be deceptive means I am an honest person. Unlike you, con artists.”
“Sore loser,” Dad commented.
“You’re mean. You hurt my feelings.”
“I’ll make some tea to sooth you, big baby,” Eva’s mother offered, to everyone’s amusement.
“That’s alright. I think I’m done for the night. If anyone needs me, I’ll be outside for the next half an hour. Need some fresh air after this massacre.”
“You only lost fake money, son.”
I patted Dad on the back on my way out, sure sign there were no hard feelings between us.
Outside, the cool night air enveloped me. I fought the shivers and started walking. My body would get used to the low temperature in a minute.
The sky was clear and stars were amazingly bright, casting an eerie light over the forest. I paused to admire the reflection on the still surface of the lake. Nature was amazing.
With a sigh of relief, I sat down, resting my hands on my knees. It was late, maybe half past midnight and I was starting to feel tired, but I wasn’t going to give up the beauty surrounding me. Sleep was overrated anyway.
Besides, tomorrow was Sunday; I didn’t have to get up.
Despite my reasoning, my body demanded I lay down. The cold grass was a shock at first, but warmed up pretty quickly under my weight. I closed my eyes briefly, breathing deeply, savoring the fragrance of the forest.
“Hey, sleeping beauty,” I heard Eva say in my face. Her breath smelled of mint.
“Hey.”
“I thought you were going for a walk.”
“I was.”
“Liar.”
I turned my head to her. She was laying on her side, resting her head on one tiny fist. The elevation gave her an advantage over me, so I couldn’t see her face from the moonlight behind her.
“Isn’t it past your bedtime, young lady?”
“You’re so funny, Dave. I’m cracking up.”
She wasn’t. She was being sarcastic. I, on the other hand, was really amused.
“The stars are beautiful,” she said quietly and turned on her back. For a moment, we looked straight into the infinite night sky, the only noise around us coming from the lake, as frogs were chatting rhythmically over the crisp air. Then, my phone buzzed.
I pulled it out of my back pocket and was blinded by its light. I squinted in order to see Helen’s text. She was asking how I was.
“How does your girlfriend feel about the incident?” Eva asked. I could detect a hint of disappointment in her voice.
“You snooping?”
“It’s hard not to. The screen is too bright. I feel like a moth.”
I chuckled. “She’s worried, naturally. Wouldn’t you be?”
I wanted to see her reaction. She looked sad.
“Of course I would. If I were your girlfriend. I mean, I worry even now, and I’m not your girlfriend. Not that I need to be your girlfriend. What am I saying?”
“I don’t have a girlfriend. It was more like a casual relationship, but I ended it, don’t worry.”
“First, why did you end it?”
“My schedule is not the best. I work a lot and a girlfriend requires attention. I want to give her all the attention, but it’s just not possible.”
“A girlfriend doesn’t require attention. A girlfriend requires you, exactly the way you are. If you work a lot, she’s there when you come home. You’re off at some point during the week. You spend that time with her. It’s not that complicated, you know?”
“It doesn’t seem fair.”
“You know nothing, young man,” she concluded, shaking her head. I chuckled.
“And second?”
“Sorry?”
“First, why did I break it off. Second?”
“Oh. Second, why would I worry?”
My smile died down as I realized I had spoken without thinking.
“I didn’t mean anything by that. I’m sorry,” I mumbled. When Eva didn’t reply, I glanced her way. She was grinning. “What?”
“You’re silly.”
“Right. Thanks. I guess.”
I let her laugh, it was only fair. The silence came back, its relaxing effect slightly diminished by the cold that was only getting colder.
“What do you say we go for a drive?” I suggested.
“A drive?”
“Yeah. All the perks of nature watching, but from the warm and comfort of a car.”
She pursed her lips, looking thoughtful.
“Why not? Let me change my clothes.”
“Sure. But don’t take all night. In ten minutes I’m coming after you.”
She stuck her tongue out before leaving me. “Cheeky girl.”
It didn’t take me long to follow her lead. My jeans were getting wet from the cold grass and I didn’t want to ruin my father’s car, so I went back into the house.
It was long past the allocated ten minutes when I finally checked the time. I grinned, anticipating her reaction when I barged into her room. “Maybe, this time I shouldn’t look directly at her,” I thought. No matter how much I wanted to see her naked again, I considered it was only right she would consent to that first.
I paused in front of her door and took a deep breath. This seemed easier in my head. Finally, I pushed the door open.
At first, I needed a second to comprehend what I was seeing. I almost apologized for catching her in her underwear again, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her scarcely covered body. Then anger took over.