Heather’s mouth dropped open. “I didn’t know she was there or I would never have said anything! This is so stupid. I didn’t realize we were still in high school and couldn’t have friends outside our circle.”
I slowly shook my head. “You don’t get it, do you? The whole reason Ellie wanted to do this trip was because she’s worried we’re all going to drift apart, and to be honest, I feel the same way. Maybe it’s time we did drift apart some.”
Heather’s chin trembled and her eyes filled with tears. I hated to admit it, but I wanted her to hurt as much as she had hurt Ellie.
“What are you saying, Ari?”
Jeff walked up to me and turned me to him. “Hey, I think both of y’all are feeling overly emotional. Let’s call a truce, we can talk to Ellie, Heather can go hang with this couple and everything will be okay. We’ll all meet up later.”
Turning to look at Heather, I swung my eyes back to Jeff. “Fine. I’m afraid I’m about to say something I’ll regret anyway.”
As I started back to our campsite, Heather called out my name. “Ari. Ari, wait. Ari, come on, please wait!”
I kept walking, my eyes fixed on my best friend sitting in Gunner’s truck. She looked out the window with an empty stare.
“Hey, you want to talk to her?” Gunner asked.
Chewing on my lip, I walked over to the truck and tapped on the window. Ellie looked up and opened the door.
“You okay?” I asked with a smile.
Ellie sniffled and wiped her nose as she got out of the truck.
“I’m being silly and acting like a child. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the baby blues setting in late, or knowing all of this is going to be changing soon. I don’t know. Maybe it’s me being a mother has me thinking of my own mother. I don’t know, but I’m sorry.”
I reached for her hand and squeezed it. “No, you’re not acting like a child. Heather is being Heather. If she wants to hang out with this girl, let her.”
Ellie shrugged. “I’m scared, Ari. I’m scared this is going to be the last time we all hang out like this. After the babies come, we’re never going to have time to do anything. I’d be lost without y’all.”
The corner of my mouth rose some as I shook my head. “We are so much alike, Ellie Mathews. I was telling your brother the same exact thing, and guess what?”
“What?” she asked.
“It’s not true. We’ve been friends a long time.”
She chuckled and wiped a tear away. “Yeah, we have.”
“Nothing is ever going to change that. We’re going to have to work harder at finding time to do things like this though.”
“I know. I have no idea why I got so emotional.”
My brows lifted as hope filled my body. “Pregnant?”
“No,” she replied with a chuckle. “Like I said, maybe it’s some post-post-post baby blues.”
I nodded. “Maybe. Are you feeling better though?”
Her face lit up with a smile. “Yes, thank you, Ari. You always did know how to cheer me up.”
I shrugged then laughed. “Hey, do you remember the time I talked you into skipping school and we went to Zilker Park?”
Covering her hand with her mouth, Ellie chuckled. “Yes! And we fell asleep and got so sunburnt!”
“The next day at school the principal asked what happened to us.”
We both started laughing. “And you told him it was a chemistry experiment gone wrong!”
“Yes!” I cried out as our laughter quickly grew. “I said it blew up and burned our faces!”
With a snort and laugh, Ellie added, “And he sent us to the nurse who told us we were both going to hell for lying because we were clearly sunburnt!”
Ellie and I were laughing so hard, I had tears streaming down my face.
“I take it you’re both feeling better?” Gunner asked while walking up to us.
Once we were able to get ourselves under control, Ellie nodded. “Thanks, Ari. I’m sorry I was acting like a child.
“You weren’t, so don’t even think twice about it.”
We hugged and both whispered we loved each other. Pushing back, I grinned. “So why don’t you and Gunner head to the store, then we’ll head out on that hike.”
Her face lit up. “Sounds good.”
Jeff and I walked hand in hand over to Gunner and Ellie’s campsite. When I saw Heather, Josh, Alison, and another guy walking up, I started to say something, but Jeff squeezed my hand.
“Play nice, Arianna.”
I groaned slightly.
“Ari, Jeff, you remember Alison.”
We both nodded as Heather pointed to the guy standing next to her. “This is Alison’s husband, Grant.”
Looking the guy over, I smiled slightly. He was tall, slightly built and wasn’t bad looking. The baseball cap he wore hid the color of his hair.
Jeff reached out and shook his hand and said, “Nice to meet you, Grant.”
“My pleasure,” Grant answered with a wide grin on his face. He turned and looked at me. The way his eyes raked over my body made my skin crawl. “And you must be Ari. Heather’s told us you’re expecting as well. We’ve never done this with pregnant women, but it should be fun.”
The fake ass smile on my face faded. Frowning, I asked, “What could be fun?”
Alison giggled and said, “Ignore him, Ari.”
Jeff and I looked at each other. He leaned down and whispered against my ear, “Are you getting a weird vibe, or is it just me?”
“Nope, I’ve got it too.”
Jeff glanced back over to Heather and the couple. “What brings y’all over here?” Jeff asked.
Heather frowned slightly. “Well, I mentioned that everyone was going on a hike.”
“You mean we were going on a hike and you were sitting it out?” I asked with a smirk.
“Yes, Ari,” Heather said with a smile.
“Alison and Grant thought it would be a fun to go and get a chance to meet y’all. She was um … eager for her husband to meet … ah … Gunner and Ellie.”
My eyes fixed in on Alison. Her smile was a little too big and a little too eager. “Huh. Well, we were heading over to get them now.”
“No need, we saw y’all making your way over,” Gunner said as he and Ellie walked up.
“Gunner. It’s so great seeing you again,” Alison said as she reached her hand out for him. And not a hand shake reach, but a kiss the back of my hand because I’m a fucking princess reach.
He glanced down at it and simply gave her a head pop.
Heather cleared her throat and said, “Gunner, Ellie, this is Grant, Alison’s husband.”
Grant reached his hand out to shake Gunner’s then took Ellie’s hand and kissed the back of it. “What beautiful eyes you have, Ellie. The way they compete with the sky is amazing. Breathtaking.”
Oh. My. God. He did not just flirt with her out in the open like that.
“Um … thank you?” Ellie replied, making it sound like a question. I couldn’t help but notice how Gunner looked like he was ready to pounce on Grant.
I turned back to Alison to see her reaction and she stood there with a smile. Heather on the other hand looked shocked as hell. I wonder if it is too soon to say I told you so?
“All right. Are we ready to get this party started?” Josh asked.
“Hell yes. This is going to be one hell of an adventure, right baby?” Grant said as he grabbed Alison’s ass and they started walking.
Jeff and I stayed back with Gunner and Ellie.
Taking a few steps forward, Jeff turned to us. “Anyone else get the feeling we need to walk in the opposite direction of them?”
“What in the hell was that?” Gunner asked with a dumbfounded expression.
“Did he flirt with me? Like seriously right there in front of his wife?” Ellie asked.
“Yeah, well at least he didn’t eye fuck the hell out of you like he did Ari,” Jeff replied.
I shook my head. “Y’a
ll … I’ve got a weird feeling about these two.”
Gunner took Ellie’s hand. “I think maybe we’re all overreacting here. Let’s go on the hike, make the best of Heather bringing her new friends along, and enjoy the time together.”
Heather had stopped and called back. “Are y’all coming?”
“Yep!” Ellie exclaimed as the four of us reluctantly started walking toward the trailhead.
I slowed my pace down and walked next to Josh as the others pulled slightly ahead. He said his ankle was feeling better, but I knew by his slowing pace, it was bothering him. “Okay, so I might have been wrong about something.”
Josh grinned. “About what? Ellie doesn’t seem to be angry and neither does Ari.”
“No, it’s nothing about what happened between us. It’s not the first time we’ve gotten into a tiff.”
Josh gave me an inquisitive look. “Then what were you wrong about?”
“Ari mentioned Alison looking at Gunner like she was interested in him. I told her she was crazy, but the way Alison reacted when Gunner walked up, and now she keeps slightly touching him every time she talks to him. I think Ari was right. Alison has the hots for Gunner!”
Josh chuckled. “Heather, come on. The girl seems really friendly. Didn’t you notice how she was doing the same thing to me? I thought it was kind of strange how openly she flirted with me, but I think that’s just her. She’s doing it with Jeff as well, and Grant doesn’t seem to mind.”
A sick feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. I had noticed how she was flirting with Josh and it immediately bothered me. When I mentioned us having to leave to go on a hike, I was stunned they invited themselves to come along. “That’s the other thing, Josh. Grant made an off-the-wall comment about Ari being pregnant and how this would be a new adventure. I was thinking he meant the hike, but why would going on a hike with two pregnant women be an adventure? If anything, it would be trying if they were to slow him down. Then when he flirted with Ellie, I thought Gunner was going to grab Grant and throw him to the ground.”
“What did he say? How did I miss that?” Josh asked.
I chewed on lip. Something wasn’t right. “You were messing with Gus and didn’t hear him. He told her how beautiful her eyes were. That they were breathtaking or something like that and he kissed the back of her hand.”
Rolling his eyes, Josh started walking. “Okay, it sounds to me like the both of them are just really open talkers. They say what’s on their minds. Maybe innocent flirting doesn’t bother them any.”
Even as I attempted to push the strange vibes away, they grew larger. I watched as Gus kept running up to Grant and barking at him. Gunner finally put Gus on a leash and kept him away from Grant.
Even the dog got a weird vibe.
Grant pointed ahead. “Alison and I come here a lot; we’ve used the trail up ahead before. There are even a few benches we can use to make things more comfortable.”
Ari sighed. “I could really use a few minutes to sit.”
Grant stopped and took Ari’s hand. “And I know exactly what you can sit on.”
Pulling her hand out of his, Ari’s face turned white. Grant gave her a wink and started walking.
Josh and I came to a stop next to Ari.
“Did he just? I mean … was he talking about the bench or was he talking about …”
Josh turned to Ari. “I can tell you he was not talking about sitting on the bench and if Jeff had heard him, I’m pretty sure he’d be flat on the ground right now.”
Covering her mouth, Ari gagged. “Ewe. Gross. Yuk! Who says something like that to a married woman with her husband nearby? And a pregnant woman at that.”
A look of horror swept across her face. She spun on her heels and pointed to me. “What in the fuck, Heather!”
“What?”
“They’re swingers!”
I laughed and shook my head. “Have you gone mad? What makes you think they’re swingers?”
Her mouth was wide open and her eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head. “Think about it! The things they’ve been saying. The way Alison keeps flirting with Gunner and Jeff, and Grant doesn’t say a damn word. He asked Ellie a few minutes ago if she’s excited. She had no idea what he was talking about and just shrugged and said yes! They think we’re swingers!”
Josh laughed as he started up the trail and we followed alongside him. “Okay, hold on. Maybe we’re reading this all wrong. Heather, did they say anything to you at all?”
My eyes widened in horror. “No! Do you honestly think if they had told me they were swingers I’d even go to their campsite? I didn’t even invite them on this hike— they invited themselves. I wanted to get away from her because she was flirting with you.”
“Ha!” Ari said as she shoved her finger in my face.
Pushing it way, I kept talking. “I mentioned the hike and Alison said she’d always wanted to … oh no.” Heather’s hands covered her mouth.
“What? Oh no, what?” Ari asked in a panicked voice.
I swallowed hard as I dropped my hands to my side. “Well, she giggled and told Grant she knew her vibe was straight on. I didn’t know what she meant when she said it, so … I didn’t say anything. Then she started talking about sex positions with me on the way over to Jeff and Ari’s campsite. She asked what my favorite was. I just laughed and didn’t answer her. She told me during the art class that her and her husband had a very open relationship.”
Josh stumbled back and I had to reach for him.
“She … she asked you that and you didn’t think it was strange, Heather?”
With a shrug, I said, “Yes, but that doesn’t mean they are swingers. It simply means they have no problem talking about sex.”
Josh groaned. Ari patted him on the back. “Let me handle this.”
I tilted my head and glared at Ari. “There’s nothing to handle. You’re being crazy.”
Drawing in a deep breath, Ari let it out. “After she mentioned this … open relationship of theirs. What did you say?”
“Nothing,” I replied with a shrug. “She asked how long Josh and I had been together and I told her. Then she asked if we did things together a lot as couples and I said we did everything together.”
I gasped and my hands covered my mouth.
“And there it is,” Ari said crossing her arms across her chest.
“Oh no. After I said that, she giggled and repeated everything?”
Heather stopped walking and covered her mouth. “Shit! Shit! Shit! I replied back, almost everything. Then Ellie turned to me and asked if we were switching partners tonight!”
Ari’s face turned white and Josh groaned again. “Don’t just stand there, Heather! What did you say?”
My heart was racing. “Well, I said yes because Ellie was talking about charades for Christ’s sake. How was I supposed to know Alison would take that the wrong way!”
Ari chewed on her nail while walking back and forth.
My stomach was twisting and turning. “I’m going to be sick.”
“It’s okay, let’s catch back up with them and we can get it all straightened out. Maybe we’re all reading this wrong.”
“Fuck that, Josh! That man thinks he is going to have sex with me! That’s why he said this would be an adventure. He’s never fucked a pregnant woman before. Oh no. Jeff will kill him. If he tries to touch me, Jeff. Will. Kill. Him. The last thing I need is for my children’s father to get hauled off to jail because Heather doesn’t know what an open relationship is!”
I leaned over and moaned. I was going to get sick.
Ari grabbed me by the arm. “No way are you going to get out of this one, Heather. You brought two psychos into our group; you are going to have to fix this.”
“Me?” I cried out.
Stomping her feet, Ari answered, “Yes! We are at full capacity with our couples. You stepped outside the circle, and when I say you stepped outside, I mean you took one giant leap into crazyville and
brought it back with you.”
Anger zipped through my veins. “How was I supposed to know, Ari?”
“Stop being so goddamn naïve about everything, Heather.”
“What? How in the hell was I supposed to know?”
Ari rolled her eyes and let out a fake laugh as she placed her hands on her hips. “Please. Jeff and I got a weird vibe from the very second they spoke to us. You didn’t think it was strange for a woman you just met to ask you about your favorite sex position?”
Josh stepped between us. “That’s enough. Standing here fighting isn’t going to do anything. Let’s get going before they get too far ahead. We aren’t getting anywhere arguing with each other.”
Lifting my chin, I replied, “Fine, but I think we’ll see that this was all a misunderstanding.” I knew the words I just said weren’t true, but I wouldn’t give Ari the satisfaction of knowing that.
“Uh-huh. Well okay then, I’ll let you lead the way,” Ari said as she motioned for me to walk ahead.
It didn’t take us long to get up to the top of the trail. There was supposed to be an amazing lookout.
We rounded the corner and I came to a stop. Josh and Ari walked up and stopped next to me.
“Oh shit,” Josh whispered.
Ari turned to me and slowly shook her head. “I think we can safely say, I was right and you were wrong.”
I couldn’t pull my eyes off the sight before me. There were no words I could form. Alison and Grant where all over each other. Their hands were under shirts, down pants, and they were kissing like they were putting on a show. Jeff, Gunner, and Ellie stood with their backs to them looking out over the lookout. Gus sat at Grant’s feet just staring up at them, ready to pounce if need be. Clearly the others had no idea what was happening.
“Ari, not now. We’ve got a bigger issue to deal with,” Josh mumbled.
“Yeah, the second Jeff and Gunner turn around and see this, all hell will break loose because they’ll put two and two together fast.”
Josh sighed. “Right, let’s nip it in the bud now.”