Chapter 16

When the boys were gone, Maddie and I mostly talked and laughed, enjoying our girl time. We made up the beds in the trailer, with sheets and blankets and pillows. We ate some chips from a big bag that Adam had brought. By late afternoon, they still weren't back, so we started drinking, sitting around in camping chairs near the not-burning fire pit. I'd had two beers when I saw Parker coming through the forest area by the lake, and I was feeling good. Happy.

   I hugged him without thinking, once he was close enough. He held me close, his hands on my lower back. When we pulled away, I linked my hand into his right away.

   "So, how did it go?" Maddie asked, after kissing Adam.

   "It was good. We caught a few little guys, but threw them back," Adam told her. "Parker did well."

   "I really didn't, but it was fun anyway," Parker said quickly, smiling at me.

   I couldn't help but feel even more attracted to him now, even though I knew I'd always been attracted to him. I was seeing his true personality now. He was calm and relaxed. He was happy. And it was amazing.

   It was dinner time before we knew it and Adam roasted hot dogs for everyone. We sat around the fire, drinking and laughing. Parker didn't drink, though. 

   "You've never been to school, gone camping, or drank beer?" Adam asked, while Maddie shot him a look.

   Parker shrugged. "I've moved around a lot. It's hard to make friends when you're not anywhere for too long."

   My chair was close to his and I saw the look in his eyes, even though he wasn't looking at me.

   "Well, you've got friends now!" Maddie yelled, then laughed at herself.

   When it got dark, we roasted marshmallows and ate them by the dozen. Maddie climbed into Adam's lap, tucking a blanket around them both. I scooted my chair closer to Parker's as I finished another beer. Everything felt so good, calm. I especially liked seeing Parker so comfortable.

   "So, I know something else you've likely never done, Parker," Maddie said loudly, avoiding eye contact with me.

   I was sure I knew what was coming, so I shook my head at her.

   "What's that?" Parker asked.

   "Maddie," I warned her.

   She ignored me. "Truth or dare!"

   "Are we fourteen?" Adam asked, but laughed.

   "No, I've never played," Parker said, and no one was surprised.

   "Okay, you start then," Maddie told him. "Just pick someone and ask."

   He looked at me, his eyes wide. Then he turned his head back to Maddie. "Maddie, truth or date?"

   "Ohhh," Adam laughed, while I stayed quiet.

   "Dare!" she yelled, not even hesitating.

   "Oh, okay. Uh, I dare you to... do a cartwheel," Parker said, then smiled.

   Maddie jumped up, making the blanket go flying. "Ha. Little did you know, I did gymnastics for five years."

   "Can drunk Maddie do a cartwheel?" I laughed.

   "I'm half drunk, but yes," she answered.

   And she did a nice looking cartwheel, right there beside the fire.

   "So, my turn," she went on. "Bec, truth or dare?"

   I was afraid to answer, because I knew what was coming again. Maddie had questions and I had not really told her what was going on with me and Parker. But I was drinking, so I felt okay about it.

   "Truth."

   Maddie grinned. "Have you ever had sex in a trailer?"

   "Uh, no. You know I haven't," I told her, while she was laughing. I wanted that question to be over, so I asked Adam, "Truth or dare?" 

   "Dare, obviously," he answered right away.

   "I dare you to..." I began, thinking. "Kiss someone."

   Maddie was already climbing back into his lap, laughing again. Adam stuck his tongue out at me.

   "Boring. Well, it's not boring to kiss my girlfriend, but..." He let his voice trail off so he could kiss her. "Did you think I'd kiss you? Or Parker?" Adam laughed.

   Parker was looking at me, then shook his head a bit. I shrugged, smiling at him. I was buzzed.

   "I need a beer," Maddie said, pulling away from a more-than-a-kiss from Adam. "Bec?"

   I nodded at her and watched her jump up and walk over to the trailer. It was late and dark, but I didn't want it to end. Any of it.

   "So," Adam began again. "Parker, truth or dare?"

   "Oh, the game is still on?" he asked, half joking. He was the only one who hadn't answered yet. "Uh, truth."

   "Hmm," Adam said, then grinned. I saw his face light up as the fire crackled. "Are you and Becca actually just friends?"

   My eyes shot back to Parker, then over to Adam again. Maddie hopped out of the trailer and walked over to hang me a beer. Parker was quiet, not looking at me.

   "What did I miss?" Maddie asked, heading back over to sit with Adam.

   He intentionally snorted. "Waiting for Parker to answer his Truth question."

   "And that was...?" she wanted to know.

   I bit my lip, waiting. I was watching Parker for a reaction. I had no idea what he was going to say.

   "We're friends," he began, then kicked some dirt with his shoe. "Just friends? I don't know."

   "What was the question?" Maddie yelled, looking at me.

   I opened the beer can with a pop, and Parker finally looked over at me. I didn't know what to say, so I drank back the beer, fast. Adam laughed again, whispering something to Maddie. She gave me a look that I shrugged off. But now I was drunk-drunk. And I had to blink, hard, to focus my eyes. We all knew that the game was done.

   Adam was pouring some water on the fire half an hour later. Maddie was yawning. I was shivering a bit, as I stood up, glancing at Parker. My first step, I stumbled.

   "You okay?" he asked cautiously.

   "Yeah," I said, but my second step was wobbly, too.

   "Get that girl to bed," Maddie yelled, looking at Parker.

   He stood up, reaching for my hand. I took it, because I needed to, but also because I wanted to.

   "G'night!" Maddie yelled again, in a sing-song voice.

   "Night, Mads," I called back.

   Inside the trailer, the light was on at the front. We walked to the back, holding hands, and it got darker. The bottom bunk had the pillows and a blanket, with our bags tucked underneath. I was still a bit dizzy, so I sat down, looking up at him in the darkness. I could barely see his face.

   "I'll sleep on the top," he said, not coming any closer.

   "There's no pillows or blankets up there," I said stupidly.

   "Well, can I have a pillow then? You have two," he replied. I couldn't tell for sure but I hoped he was smiling.

   "Just sleep here," I said, patting the spot besides me as I laid down. The bottom bunk was not really meant for two, but I did not care.

   "Becca..." His voice was very unsure.

   "I'm cold, c'mon, we can keep each other warm," I said, my words mumbled.

   I saw him hesitate, but then he bent down and came towards me. We barely fit, laying next to each other. Parker had to bend his legs to even fit them, but he didn't complain. I pulled the blanket up over both of us and turned in to face him. I knew what I was doing, though I may not have done it if I was sober. Our faces were pretty close. Too close.

   "Parker," I whispered.

   He sucked in a breath. "Yeah?"

   "We're not just friends," I said, keeping a straight face.

   "Becca... you're drunk..." he told me, as if I didn't know that.

   "Yeah... and you're cute," I said back, then moved in to kiss him.

   He let me, but pulled away after a second, surprised.

   "Night, Parker," I finished, already closing my heavy eye lids.