Asher walked out of the lake and snagged his towel. He was drying his hair as he sat down beside me in the sand. “Having fun?”
I blinked quickly to clear my eyes before looking up at him. “Yeah.”
His eyes narrowed. “Ally?”
I swallowed hard. “I’m fine.”
He frowned at me, obviously not believing me. He reached down and offered me his hand. “Let’s go for a walk.”
I let him pull me to my feet. He held on to my hand as he moved down the shore.
Ethan was coming back from the bathroom when his eyes snapped to our hands. He shot a look at Asher. “And you bitch when I just say something to her around you.”
“Go to hell,” Asher shot back. I pulled my hand from Asher’s as the knots in my stomach grew tighter. Were they even going away anymore?
Ethan shook his head as he walked by. “You can’t have it both ways, man.”
We were silent as we walked down the shoreline. We eventually walked through the campsite and down the west trail and when we were far enough away, he took my hand again. “What put that look on your face?”
I squeezed his fingers. “Ever since the fire, I’ve been having these dreams.”
“What kind of dreams?” His voice was soft.
“About the fire.”
He looked down at me. “Tell me.”
“We’re in the hallway, crawling toward the stairs.” I swallowed hard. “And when we reach them, I hear him. Dad’s voice. And I wake up looking for him, positive he’s there.”
“Ally…” His eyes were warm.
“I stopped looking for him years ago.” I shook my head. “I know he’s gone, so, why do I wake up looking for him?”
He let go of my hand and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I moved my arm around his waist as he pulled me closer.
“How do you feel when you hear his voice?” His touch was calming, helping me to think.
I thought about it. “Like I did when I was a kid. Happy, safe, loved…”
His hand on my shoulder squeezed gently. “Could you be wanting to hear him?”
“I thought I forgot his voice.” It sucked to admit it, but it was the truth.
“And now you hear it whenever you dream.” He held me against his side.
I shook my head “It’s not hearing his voice that bothers me, it’s waking up looking for him.”
“You want him to be there, Ally. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“It just blows.” I muttered.
He kissed the top of my hair. “I know. I’ve been having weird dreams too.” He sighed as he took my hand again. “And every time, at the worst part, I hear my mom’s voice yelling my name. And I wake up.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’ll take the weird dreams if it means hearing her.”
“But, don’t you wake up looking?”
He shook his head. “I watched my mom slowly wither away. She was in a lot of pain at the end.” He met my eyes. “When she died, it was the worst moment of my life so far. But I knew it was coming. She wasn’t hurting anymore.” He shrugged. “I’m just glad I get to hear her.”
Huh. I hadn’t thought about it that way. It wasn’t something to reach for, it wasn’t something to hate. In a way, it was a gift. I got to hear him again and instead of wanting more time, more words, maybe I should just appreciate what I hear when I hear it.
“I like the way you think, Ash.” My voice was warm and soft as I smiled up at him.
Miles
Zeke started back toward the camp. After weighing my chances, I decided now was the best time. Asher and Lexie were walking down the lake shore further down, he wouldn’t be able to overhear us.
I got out of the lake, grabbed my towel and headed back to camp. We needed to deal with this and now was better than later.
When I reached camp, Rory was loading his truck with his sleeping bag and talking to Zeke. “I’m leaving the tent for the girls, but I have to get on the road now.”
I crossed the campsite to stand beside Zeke. “You’re leaving?”
Rory sighed. “One of the guys on the force had a baby and I need to head back to cover his shift.”
Rory went back to loading his duffle bag as he avoided looking at us. “Could you guys pass that along to Lexie?”
“Yes, of course.” I eyed him. His face was flushed, his eyes sharp. He was furious about something… Rory hurried into the truck and sped off.
Zeke turned and started toward his tent in the tall grass.
“Zeke.” He stopped. “We need to talk.”
“What’s there to talk about?” He didn’t even turn around.
“Zeke.”
He turned and glared at me. “This is not what you want to do right now.”
I started tapping my leg. “I should have said something-”
“You of all fucking people… yeah you should have,” he growled, his hands clenched into fists.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t going to say anything then-”
He shook his head. “You know everything about me. You know my history. You know all of my shit.” His eyes were hard as they met mine. “You knew I cared about her. You knew what she…” He turned away, his shoulders rigid. “You had Autumn. You’ve had other girlfriends…”
“So, because of your past, you should get any girl you want?” That cold anger filled my chest.
He turned back to me, his eyes blazing. “Fuck you! This isn’t about Lexie!”
“Then what is it about?” I’ve been racking my brain for a month trying to figure out why he wouldn’t talk to me.
“You didn’t tell me. You didn’t warn me!” His fists shook. “I could have dealt with it. I could have fucking managed to get over it. But you didn’t give me the option.”
Stunned, I could only gape at him as my stomach dropped.
Zeke ran his hand through his hair. “You know I would have walked away. ‘Cause you’d be better for her than I ever could. But you didn’t fucking tell me.”
Shit. I understood now… I got it. Zeke was pissed that I didn’t trust him as my friend to understand… Son of a… “It didn’t even occur to me that I was doing that.” I swallowed hard, my mind racing. “Put me on probation. What do I need to do?”
“Just stay the fuck away from me for a while.” Zeke turned away and stormed toward his tent. I closed my eyes. I’m the biggest idiot on the planet.
Chapter 10
Lexie
When Asher and I walked back into the campsite, Miles announced that Rory had gone back to town for work.
Then Ethan spoke up. “We’ve got beer.”
Tara had gotten upset because we wouldn’t let her take beer to her friends but she perked back up when we told her to invite them for dinner, beer and marshmallows.
Dinner was three hours ago, and I had to admit that nice Tara was kind of fun. She cracked jokes, she relaxed, she was a completely different Tara. Or maybe that was the beer?
It was well after dark when we finished the board games and started the fire.
Everyone was arguing over how the best marshmallow is roasted when Danielle spoke up. “How about we play Never Have I Ever?”
I eyed the others. “With this crowd?”
Everyone chuckled.
“Come on, it’ll be fun.” Tara raised her right hand. “Nothing will ever leave this campsite. I swear on my new school wardrobe.”
“Whoa.” I was impressed. Tara loved her clothes. As in crazy loved. “That’s a promise we can actually count on.”
The others shared a hesitant look.
“This could be fun.” Isaac took a bite out of his s’more.
“I hate that fucking game,” Zeke groaned, rubbing his eyes with one hand.
“You hate all drinking games,” Ethan pointed out.
“Alright,” Miles said. “But we do reserve the option of not answering by finishing our drink if we aren’t comfortable.”
“Deal!” T
ara chirped.
“Who’s going first?” Asher asked, shifting in his chair.
“Lexie.” All of my friends said at once.
I flipped them off. “Assholes.”
They chuckled.
“Fine, I’ll go first.” I looked around the group and had my first one. “Never have I ever kissed a girl.”
The guys groaned. Us girls laughed as they drank.
I turned to Danielle. Her face turned pink. “I can’t think of anything. So, skip me.”
Everyone turned to Tara. She looked around the group with a mischievous grin on her face. “Never have I ever peed standing up.”
I chuckled. “Nice.”
“So, that’s how this is going to play out?” Ethan shook his head before taking a drink.
Everyone turned to Dean. “Never have I ever kissed a guy.”
“Oh, copycat.” I took a drink of my beer.
“It’s strategy,” Dean countered.
“Never have I ever gotten a ticket,” Miles offered.
Isaac flipped Miles off while he and I drank.
Everyone turned to Zeke.
Zeke sighed. “Never have I ever played the guitar.” Both Asher and Ethan drank.
“You play?” I crossed my legs and shifted in my chair.
“Badly.” Asher’s cheeks tinted pink. “Ethan gave me five lessons and then made me promise never to touch another guitar.”
Everyone chuckled as we turned to Ethan.
“Never have I ever worked in a garage.” Ethan grinned at Zeke. Zeke muttered wordlessly before he drank.
Everyone turned to Isaac.
“Never have I ever had two girlfriends at once.” Isaac looked pointedly at Ethan. Ethan glared at him and drank. So did Asher.
My mouth dropped open. “Really, Asher?”
He held his hands out and shrugged. “One relationship was ending as another started there was a couple of days overlap.” Asher cringed “I didn’t mean to, it just kind of happened. I told each of them about it and I apologized though.”
“See, now we’re getting to the fun stuff.” Danielle smiled.
We went around and around like that for at least an hour. Eventually, it was my turn again. My face was warm, my head fuzzy. “Never have I ever slept next to a girl in bed.”
Each of my friends shot me a look and took a drink, so did Tara, Dean and Danielle.
“Tara!” Isaac’s eyes grew wide, his jaw dropping.
Tara waved her hand. “Sleepovers when I was, like, six.”
“Same here!” Danielle looked around the group again. “Never have I ever gone commando.”
Fuck. Zeke, Ethan, Isaac, Asher and Dean took a drink. So did I.
“Wait, wait!” Ethan stopped Tara from speaking. “I’ve got to hear this story!”
“Remember that winter formal dress?” I shrugged “I could not wear panties in that thing. It ruined the line of the dress.”
The guys chuckled. Miles’ ears turned pink while Zeke shook his head.
“Never have I ever made out with a guy.” Tara announced. I went still… what? Wow. I didn’t see that one coming…
“Oh, damn, she’s bringing out the big guns,” Isaac said.
I took a drink along with Danielle.
It was Dean’s turn. “I’ve never had a one-night stand.”
Ethan cursed then drank. “I can honestly say we both knew it was only one night though.”
I just shook my head.
Zeke took a second. “Never have I ever meditated.”
I groaned and took a drink.
“Never have I ever rebuilt a perfectly good engine just because I was bored.” Ethan grinned at Zeke.
I laughed as Zeke drank.
“Don’t try picking on Beautiful. She’s smaller and it doesn’t take much to make her drunk.” Ethan lectured. Zeke nodded that he was right.
“Never have I ever gotten freaky at school,” Isaac announced.
“Define freaky.” Ethan raised his eyebrow.
“Anything beyond first,” Isaac answered.
Ethan grumbled and drank. Everyone laughed.
“Where?” I asked, unable to figure out how he could have pulled it off.
“A car, in the janitor's closet…” Ethan shrugged. “There are a hundred little places.”
Everyone turned to Asher.
“Never have I ever gotten arrested.” Asher looked at me.
“I was never technically arrested, I was just brought home in a cop car.” But I drank anyway.
“From my house.” Asher smiled.
“Hey! I warned her.” I had warned Jessica that if she ever hit Asher again, I’d hit her. I don’t bluff.
Everyone turned to me.
“Never have I ever played strip poker.” I took a shot.
Unsurprisingly, Ethan drank, but so did Isaac and Asher.
“So, this is what you guys do when I’m busy on game night?” I snickered.
Everyone laughed then turned to Danielle.
“Never have I ever, known what I’m going to do with my life.” Danielle said. When no one drank, she explained. “I don’t know what I want to be. So, if you do…”
Zeke, Ethan, Miles, Asher and I drank. So did Tara.
“Tara?” I grinned as I scratched at the label on my bottle. “Spill.”
Her face turned pink. “I… want to be a fashion designer. I like designing clothes, sewing them and making something new.” She shrugged awkwardly before looking down at her lap. “It’s stupid.”
“No, it’s not.” She turned to me. “I want to be a tattoo artist. It’s no stupider than that.”
“I want to make puppets and dance with them,” Isaac chimed in.
I gestured toward Isaac with my bottle. “Now that’s stupid.”
Everyone burst out laughing. Isaac winked at me, making me smile.
“Never have I ever gone skinny dipping.” Tara looked around the group as Ethan, Isaac and I all drank.
“When was this, Beautiful?” Ethan demanded as soon as he finished his sip.
“Southern California, there are city pools everywhere and not a lot of security.” I shrugged. Everyone chuckled.
“Pass me another beer, Zeke?” Asher asked.
“Yeah, me too, this one’s about to kick.” I looked at the little bit I had left. The guys passed everyone another beer then we continued.
“Never have I ever said I love you to a girlfriend, or boyfriend for you girls,” Dean posed to the group. Ethan and Miles drank.
“Wait, as in an established dating relationship?” I asked carefully.
Dean nodded. I didn’t drink.
“Really, Beautiful?”
“If I don’t feel it, I don’t say it. I’m more surprised about you guys. Isn’t that the go to for getting laid?” I asked, looking at each of them.
“I’ve been close, but there was always something off,” Asher admitted.
“We just use our bodies.” Isaac shrugged. “Take off the shirt and the girls come running.” I chuckled and looked at Zeke, eyebrow raised.
“I don’t lie. Fuck, that’s why Riley and I broke up,” Zeke took a drink from his beer anyway. Fair enough.
We all turned to Miles.
“I’ve never watched porn,” Miles announced.
“You have to say never have I ever.” I stage whispered. Dean and Danielle started giggling.
“Oh, right. Never have I ever watched porn.” Miles looked around the group. All the guys drank. Including me.
The twins gaped at me, while Asher eyes grew wide.
“What? Girls have hormones too! Well, I like to read it in books actually.” My shit eating grin spread across my face as I looked at Isaac. “Why do you think I wouldn’t let you open that middle drawer on my desk.”
Isaac’s eyebrows shot into his hairline. “I’m so opening that drawer when we get back.”
“No, you’ll stay the hell out of her room.” Zeke’s voice was hard and sharp. The others ch
uckled while Zeke and Isaac glared at each other.
I was really starting to feel those beers now. The world seemed warm and fuzzy. And by the look of it, the others were too.
Zeke’s eyes were unfocused for several heartbeats. He shook his head. “I’ve got nothing, pass.”
Ethan grinned. “Never have I ever beaten the shit out of someone for pushing a girl.” Zeke and Dean both drank. Tara bit back a smile as she watched Dean with warm eyes. If she swoons, I’m outta here…
“Never have I ever stayed up all night and day working on cars.” Isaac smirked at Zeke. Zeke narrowed his eyes at him and drank.
“Never have I ever rode a motorcycle,” Asher chimed in laughing.
“Seriously? I’m already drunk, guys,” Zeke grumbled in a suffering voice.
“Suck it up,” I told him grinning from ear to ear. His eyes were glazed and warm when they met mine. A shot of heat curled through me and I had a wicked idea.
“Never have I ever slept naked,” I announced.
Us girls chuckled as all the guys but Miles drank.
“Why don’t girls sleep naked?” Ethan asked.
“For me, it’s boobs.” I shrugged. “I like to have the girls under control.”
Almost everyone chuckled while Zeke rubbed his eyes with one hand and Miles turned red.
“I don’t want my dad or brother walking in. They never knock.” Danielle opened her next bottle of beer.
“Same,” Tara chimed in. “Plus, as a girl, you get judged for it.”
“By who?” Isaac scowled.
“Other girls.” Danielle, Tara and I chimed in unison. We shared a look and chuckled.
“Now that we’ve answered that question. Danielle, you’re up.” I reached down and scratched Hades’ ears.
“Never have I ever had feelings for a guy friend.” Danielle smiled around the group.
“Neither have I.” Ethan chuckled.
The guys laughed as I drank.
Danielle looked like she wanted to ask more but Tara got a sparkle in her eyes. “Never have I ever… had sex.” Tara and Danielle giggled as everyone looked at everyone else.
When the Dead Have It Easy Page 13