Camping with My Dad’s Best Friends
Chapter 1
Ana clocked out and smiled up at the clock. She had been waiting for over a month for that day and it was finally there. Grabbing up the rest of her belongings, she barreled out of her job and into the blazing sun. There was a heat-wave happening in California and although she was burning up, even the heat could not dampen her spirits. It was time for the annual family camping trip and since she was little, she had loved the trip. With more people that year coming, it was sure to even more fun and Ana couldn’t wait.
There was a family draw each year to see where they would go and Ana’s suggestion had finally won out and they were going to see the sequoias and redwoods. She had seen them from afar, but she wanted to sleep underneath one. So her brother and his new wife were coming, her mother and father, as well as a couple of her father’s old football buddies from high school. Ana had her friend Marie coming as well, so there would be larger crew than normal.
Ana swung by Marie’s house and picked her up on the way. She had brought a small tent for herself and Ana had to giggle when she saw what was on it. “Don’t laugh Ana. I couldn’t find anything else but these kid pop-up tents. It looks like everyone is going camping this weekend because they were almost sold out at the store. It was this or some superhero in spandex to choose from.”
Ana nodded her head and covered her mouth, trying to stop her laugh. Marie was holding a pretty princess tent/backpack combo and it really was just too much. She did not want to tell her that it was going to be probably half of the size that she thought it was, as it was a child’s tent. Ana figured she would find out soon enough and she couldn’t wait to see it.
“I am not going to laugh Marie. Have you ever gone camping before Princess?” She shot her a dirty look and Ana could not help but do what she said she wouldn’t. Her friend’s face got as red as her hair and it somehow made it even more comical. Marie was a bit prissy, so the fact that it was so spot on was probably the reason for her reaction.
“Well we are going to have fun. It is really just spending some time swimming and hiking. I don’t know how much swimming we will do this time, but I am psyched for the National Park.”
“I guess. You know I love you, but I like the indoors more. Hopefully I don’t get eaten alive by bugs while we are gone.” Ana nodded her head in agreement but smiled to herself. She had expected as much from her friend. Marie was a Princess, whether she wanted to admit it or not.
The two girls rode back to Ana’s parent’s house and they parked behind several vehicles that Ana didn’t recognize. “So who all is going again?”
Ana told her, though she had never met her father’s friends. She grabbed her purse and helped Marie with her bags.
“I’m not sure which vehicle to put this in, so let’s just set them here until we are about to leave.”
Marie nodded and set down the bags that she was carrying by the stairs. She started to second guess how much of it she was going to need, especially after seeing the small backpack that Ana came down the stairs with.
“Where is your tent?”
“It is in there. You really don’t need all that stuff because you should only bring what you can carry. We will be away from the car most of the time. The campsites that we are going to are walk-in, so you will have to narrow it all down to one bag.”
Marie sighed. Her mind was going through the contents of the three bags outside and very little of it, did she not think she would need. She caught the backpack that her friend threw her and Ana helped her get it down to a manageable amount. Marie was aghast at the idea that she would not be able to bring her makeup, but Ana assured her that she would not need it.
“Girls, get in here.”
They walked in and Ana’s eyes fell on the two men before her. One was introduced as Mike. His hair was dark brown, his eyes ocean blue. The man was an inch or two shorter than Ana’s tall frame, but he made up for it with muscles. Her hands itched to touch him and feel his biceps. As soon as she thought it though, Ana was aghast that such ideas were in her brain.
Their hands touched and she pulled back from the jolt. Glenn was tall and thin, with dark green eyes and blonde hair. They were complete opposites and their touch was different on her hand as they shook it. They were both old enough to be her father, though she did not have fatherly thoughts about either one. She noticed that Marie was being flirty and they were being the same back. It aggravated her and she walked away trying not to sulk in front of them.
In the back of the extended van, Ana asked her what she was doing.
“What do you mean Ana?”
“Why are you hitting on my dad’s friend, when you already have a boyfriend of your own?”
Marie looked innocent and then suspicious.
“Why do you care?”
Ana straightened her face, afraid that her emotions were too clear. Her friend knew her too well sometimes. She knew why she cared, though at least she kept her voice to a minimum. Ana would have been mortified if anyone else in the van had heard them.
“You know why.”
“Tell me why and I will leave them be.”
Ana glared at Marie. Her blue eyes flashed at her friend’s smile. She should have known that she would try to make it embarrassing. “Fine. Because I think the short one is cute, okay? Besides, what would Matt think if you were flirting with older guys?”
Marie looked at her shocked and shut her mouth after she decided not to say what was on her mind. After a moment, the two girls giggled and Ana tried not to look towards the two men a row up in the van that was the object of their conversation. They seemed to be sleeping, but it was just too convenient and Ana didn’t trust them. She tried to steer Marie away from the older guys and back onto things that didn’t matter.
“All right guys we are here. We have a little walk tonight in the dark so make sure you have your flashlights before we get out.”