Page 5 of Taste of Surrender

While hammering stakes into the ground and securing the guy lines, I glanced over my shoulder and caught Jasper looking at me. And because I couldn’t help myself, I winked at him.

“So, what’s the plan for tonight?” Jesse asked as we got the final stake in the ground.

I shrugged. “Probably the usual. You know, a bonfire, roast some marshmallows, scare the shit out of Norah and her friend with ghost stories.”

Jesse grinned. “Yeah, probably, but maybe a little night fishing? That was fun last year.”

I nodded. “Yeah, it was.”

As we finished setting up camp, I looked around at the other campsites, wondering if I might find a girl to take my mind off of the guy I couldn’t have.

Mom and Mrs. Bennett set out chips and drinks for all of us while Jasper and Mr. Bennett manned the grill, cooking burgers and hot dogs for everyone. After we all had our plates, we gathered around the crackling fire and pigged out.

Once our parents went to bed, Jesse and I grabbed our poles and headed toward the shore to fish, but neither one of us caught a bite.

The next morning,I rolled over to see Jasper wasn’t in his sleeping bag. I climbed out of mine, and left Jesse to continue sleeping in the tent.

“Morning,” I greeted my friend’s brother as he stood next to one of the coolers.

“Morning,” he replied and cracked open an energy drink. After Jesse and I had fished—or tried to—we’d come back to the camp and found our parents asleep and Jasper playing cards with Norah and Gabby. I had no idea if he went to bed or not.

I grabbed a fruit punch energy drink and opened it. “How are you even awake right now?”

“Who said I went to sleep?” He smirked.

I stepped closer and lowered my voice. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you stayed out late to hook up with Gabby.”

He snorted a laugh. “Nothing like that. I don’t think it was much longer after you and Jesse went to bed.”

“Guess I passed out. Didn’t even hear you come in.”

“Or I’m just good at sneaking around.”

A grin spread across my face. “Good to know.”

Before he could reply, the zipper of my parents’ tent opened and both of them crawled out.

“Morning,” I greeted.

“You boys are up early,” Mom stated as she stretched.

Dad went straight for the instant coffee supply. “After hearing you kids playing cards all night, I expected all of you to sleep until noon.”

Jasper shook his head. “Needed to get breakfast started for everyone and then I was thinking of going for a hike before it gets too hot.”

“That sounds like a good plan.” Mom grabbed a coffee cup.

“That does,” I said. “Maybe I’ll go too.”

“Go where?” Jesse yawned behind me.

I turned as Jasper replied, “For a hike.”

“Maybe you should bring your sister and Gabby,” Mom suggested. “Gabby’s never been here, remember?”

When I said maybe I’d go too, I didn’t mean as a group. “Yeah, sure, whatever.” Jasper cocked an eyebrow, and I shrugged slightly. “Hope you didn’t want to go alone.”

“Nah.” He shook his head. “The more the merrier.”