Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“So, Gabe,” Wade says, turning the conversation toward him. “How’s it feel being the new guy in this crazy group? Or better yet, how does it feel camping out under the open stars rather than sleeping on thousand-dollar sheets in your big mansion?”
Gabe laughs, a deep, genuine sound and doesn’t take offense, although Wade’s tone makes it clear he wasn’t just teasing. “It’s definitely a change of pace, but I’m enjoying it. You all have a lot of great memories together.”
Kat leans her head on Gabe’s shoulder, her voice soft. “We do. But we’re making new ones too.”
Abby raises her beer bottle, her eyes sparkling in the firelight. “To new memories.”
“To new memories,” we all echo, clinking our bottles together.
The conversation flows easily, stories of past horse shows, pranks we pulled on one another, and the general mischief of our youth. Gabe listens attentively, occasionally adding his own humorous anecdotes.
Trey catches my eye again, a small smile playing on his lips. He’s been more relaxed tonight, and I wonder if it’s because he’s making an effort to mend the bridges he burned with Gabe. It’s a good look on him, this willingness to change and grow.
It gives me hope.
As the night deepens, the fire burns lower, and the moon brightens. I lean back in my chair, staring up at the twinkling lights above. There’s a peace here, among these trees and these people, that I haven’t felt in a long time.
“Holland, remember that time we all got lost in the woods?” Abby says, breaking the comfortable silence.
I laugh, nodding. “How could I forget? We thought we were following the trail, but we ended up going in circles for hours.”
Trey chuckles, shaking his head. “I still say it was Wade’s fault. He was the one who insisted he knew where we were going.”
“Hey, I was confident,” Wade protests, holding up his hands. “Confidence is half the battle.”
“And the other half is actually knowing where you’re going,” Kat teases.
Our laughs echo through the trees. It’s times like these that I realize how much I’ve missed this, missed them. Despite everything that’s happened, we have a bond that time and distance can’t break.
Or at least, I really want to believe that. Not just as it applies to these people, my friends who I left behind long ago.
I want to believe it about Trey as well.
Wade gets up and rummages through the cooler to pull out another beer. “Who else is due?”
We’re all out here to drink and have fun, so we drain the last remnants and accept new brews.
“Let’s play Never Have I Ever,” Wade suggests with a mischievous grin as he settles back into his camp chair.
Kat raises an eyebrow. “Are we twelve?”
Wade laughs. “Come on, it’ll be fun. Plus, I bet there are some stories we haven’t heard yet.”
Abby nods enthusiastically. “I’m in. It’s been a while since we’ve played.”
Gabe looks a bit unsure, but Kat nudges him with a playful smile. “Don’t worry, it’s easy. You’ll catch on.”
“What are the rules?” he asks hesitantly.
“One of us asks a question, ‘Never have I ever’ followed by something you’ve never done. Anyone who’s done it has to take a drink. If no one has done it, then you have to take a drink.”
“What’s the point?” Gabe asks dubiously.
“To get to know each other better,” I supply at the same time Wade says, holding up his beer, “To get drunk. I’ll start.”
We all scoot closer to the fire, forming a tighter circle. Wade looks up, pondering before he says, “Okay, never have I ever… skipped school.”
Trey coughs into his mouth. “Bullshit.”
Wade grins. “Okay, yeah… I skipped school. Never have I ever… gone skydiving.”
Gabe tips his beer and Kat looks at him in surprise. “Really?”
“I’ve done lots of cool stuff, babe.”
I’m also taking a sip of beer and Wade’s eyes widen. “You went skydiving, Holland?”
I nod as I swallow. “Over the Swiss Alps. It was amazing.”
Glancing at Trey, I see a soft smile on his face, a clear indication he’s happy that I’ve had good memories.
Abby is next. “Never have I ever… gotten a tattoo.”
Kat rolls her eyes and sips her beer. “Lame, Sis. We all know you’re afraid of needles, which is weird considering you’re a veterinarian.”
“They gross me out on people,” she defends herself.
Gabe chuckles and takes a sip of his beer, surprising everyone again. “You have a tattoo?” Kat asks, eyes wide with curiosity.
“A small dragon,” he says, tapping her on the nose with his finger. “And frankly… I’m surprised you haven’t seen it yet given the fact you’ve—”
“Hey, hey, hey,” Trey exclaims, holding out both hands. “We don’t want to hear why Kat should have seen it.”
“Where is it?” Kat demands, her eyes narrowed. “I would have seen it.”
“You weren’t looking hard enough,” Gabe says, cutting a side eye at Trey with some degree of satisfaction before saying, “But I’ll let you explore next time we’re alone.”