Library

Chapter Four

Presents!

Meg

"Meg, your phone is ringing!"

I heard the shout but was too busy trying not to burn the pudgy pie I was flipping in the pie iron. The smell of melted cheese and pizza sauce was already wafting through the air, mingling with the scent of wood smoke from the fire pit.

I dumped the pudgy pie onto a plate and handed it to Raven, who was eagerly waiting. "Karmen, can you answer it for me?" I shouted towards the camper, hoping she was close enough to hear.

"You got it!" Karmen's voice echoed back, somewhat muffled through the RV's walls.

Lennox sidled up next to me, her plate already empty. "I need another one," she moaned. "That was way too good."

I laughed as I reached for another slice of bread. "You got it," I promised, grabbing the sauce and cheese. Wendy was beside me, her hands full with her own pudgy pie iron, working just as furiously to keep everyone fed. The fire pit was the heart of the camp tonight, with everyone milling around, munching on their pizzas, and enjoying the cool evening.

Suddenly, Karmen burst out of the RV, practically tripping over herself, my phone in one hand and something else clutched in the other. "Good god!" she exclaimed, looking half amused, half scandalized.

I raised an eyebrow as I kept working on Lennox's pie. "What's got you so worked up?"

She stomped over, waving my phone and what looked like a... well, I wasn't sure what it was. "Why on earth do you have like four vibrators in your purse?" she demanded, holding up the object for everyone to see.

My jaw nearly hit the ground. "Um, what?" I paused, trying to think back to what on earth could be in my purse. I knew I had a lot in there—probably more than was reasonable—but I was pretty sure I didn't have four vibrators.

Karmen shoved the thing towards me. "I'm not one to shame someone's kink, but this seems a little excessive," she said, her tone dripping with faux innocence.

Wendy squinted, leaning closer to inspect the object. "It's like a tiny rocket," she remarked, her nose scrunching up in confusion.

"Pocket rocket?" Raven snickered, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"What on earth are you all talking about?" I demanded, now thoroughly exasperated. I handed Wendy my pie iron, muttering a quick "Here, take this," before marching over to Karmen. "That is not a vibrator," I declared, snatching the object from her hand. I looked it over, immediately recognizing what it was. With a quick twist, I popped off the top, revealing the pen tip. "It's a damn pen. A rocket-shaped pen."

"A pen?" Karmen echoed, looking at the now-revealed pen as if it had betrayed her.

"Yes, a pen," I repeated, rolling my eyes. "Lo keeps stealing my pens, so I started buying weird ones to throw him off. I ran out of bird pens, so I got these rocket ships."

Greta, who had been quietly observing the whole exchange, grinned. "A multipurpose pen, huh?" she teased. "It sure looked like a vibrator to me. When you're done giving yourself a little blast-off, you can take the top off and write out your grocery list." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, making the others chuckle.

I put the cover back on the pen and shoved it back towards Karmen. "You all need Jesus if you think I'd have four vibrators in my purse," I said, shaking my head.

Karmen turned the pen over in her hands, inspecting it closely. "I just thought you were taking the Boy Scouts motto of ‘Be Prepared' to the extreme," she shrugged.

"Prepared for what?" I shot back, crossing my arms. "An impromptu writing session or..." I trailed off, letting the insinuation hang in the air.

"Or a little fun on the side," Raven suggested, not missing a beat. "You know, in case camp gets boring."

Wendy snorted, trying—and failing—not to laugh. "Oh my god, you guys," she wheezed. "Poor Meg's just out here trying to make dinner, and you're accusing her of carrying around a secret stash of vibrators."

"A girl's gotta have her hobbies," Greta chimed in, giving me a sly wink.

I sighed dramatically, throwing my hands up in mock defeat. "If I'd known this was going to be such a scandal, I would've left my purse at home," I joked, though I couldn't help but smile at how absurd the situation had become.

Lennox, who had been silently watching with wide eyes, finally spoke up. "So... no more pudgy pies?" she asked, her tone tinged with disappointment.

"I'll make your pudgy pie," I sighed, rolling my eyes. "If these hyenas can let me do my job without accusing me of hoarding vibrators." I shot a pointed look at the others, who were still snickering.

Karmen finally handed my phone to me, the screen lighting up with a missed call notification. "Oh, by the way, I think you missed a call," she said, all casual-like as if she hadn't just instigated a whole conversation about my supposedly scandalous purse contents.

"No kidding," I muttered, swiping through my missed calls. It was Lo. Of course, it was.

"Anything important?" Wendy asked, peering over my shoulder.

"Just Lo checking in to make sure we got set up okay," I replied, pocketing my phone. "I'll text him later."

"And after I get my second pudgy pie," Lennox piped up, not willing to let me forget she wanted a second pudgy pie.

"That baby has you on top of its priorities, Lennox." Greta chuckled, patting her on the shoulder.

Reva shuffled her chair closer to the fire, rubbing her hands together. The flames crackled, sending warmth into the cool night air, but she still looked a bit uncomfortable. "I hate to say this, but I'm actually a little chilly," she admitted, her voice a mix of surprise and reluctance.

From the other side of the fire, I perked up. "Oh!" I called, a grin spreading across my face as an idea popped into my head. "That reminds me. I brought presents!"

There were curious glances thrown my way as I set down my pudgy pie maker and bolted toward the RV. "Everyone stay right where you are!" I ordered, practically bouncing with excitement as I opened the door and ducked inside.

Behind me, I heard Lennox's dramatic groan. "My pudgy pie," she lamented, her tone dripping with exaggerated despair as the door swung shut.

With the windows open, I could still hear the chatter outside as I rummaged through the RV, searching for the big cardboard box I had hidden away earlier. It didn't take long to find it, stashed under the table, just as I'd left it.

"Am I the only one who is scared at what present she got us?" Cyn's voice floated in, tinged with laughter.

Nikki giggled. "It could be anything."

"Maybe it's a pair of overalls for all of us," Reva guessed. "I could totally rock a pair of those while I'm grooming."

I smiled to myself as I listened to them speculate. Reva in overalls? That would be something to see. I imagined her wrangling dogs in a pair of cow print overalls like Alice's.

"Yeah, you are probably onto something," Wendy chimed in, clearly amused by the thought.

Grinning from ear to ear, I hefted the box up and made my way back outside. "They're all the same, and I hope I got the right sizes," I announced as I stepped out of the RV, the big box in my arms drawing everyone's attention. I set it down with a thud and beamed proudly at the group. "Well, to be honest, I got everyone the same size except for Lennox. I knew she would need a medium."

Paige's voice rang out, her curiosity piqued. "Girl, open the box because you've got all of our curiosity peaked."

Before I could reach for the box, Karmen called out, "Wait, wait! We didn't get you guys anything."

Alice raised her hand, a mischievous smile on her face. "I actually got everyone something too," she announced, a twinkle in her eye. "We'll be even stevens."

"Yay for more surprises!" Greta cheered, clapping her hands together in delight.

"I bet Alice's is cow print something," Raven teased, shaking her head. "God knows I already have enough cow print hanging in my closet."

Alice laughed, a bright, infectious sound that made everyone smile. "You like it," she shot back playfully. "But let's see what Meg got everyone first."

With a flourish, I tore open the box, pulling out the first item and holding the back up to everyone. It was a black hooded sweatshirt, with the front facing me. "I just thought this would be perfect," I said, already thrilled with their reactions before I'd even shown them the design.

I turned the front of the sweatshirt toward them, revealing the bold lettering. "You don't have to be crazy to camp with us. We will train you!" I read aloud, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice.

There was a moment of silence before everyone burst into laughter, their reactions ranging from outright cackling to appreciative chuckles.

"That's so true," Reva said between giggles, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "We're a special kind of crazy and it seems like you guys are fitting right in."

"Ain't that the truth," Cyn agreed, her grin widening as she reached for one of the sweatshirts.

One by one, I handed out the sweatshirts, making sure Lennox got her medium. Each person eagerly pulled theirs on, the fabric soft and warm against the evening chill.

Reva slipped hers over her head and sighed contentedly, wrapping her arms around herself. "It's so soft inside," she murmured, her face lighting up with a smile as she snuggled into the sweatshirt.

"Perfect for a chilly night like this," Nikki added, tugging her hood up and giving a satisfied nod.

Wendy was already pulling her sleeves down over her hands, practically making herself a cozy little nest inside the oversized sweatshirt. "Meg, these are awesome," she said, her voice slightly muffled as she pulled the hood up over her head.

"I'm glad you like them!" I beamed, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the fire.

"These are perfect, Meg," Alice said, glancing around at everyone bundled up in their new sweatshirts. "We're definitely going to need these when it gets even colder."

Greta pulled her hood up and struck a pose. "Do we look like a gang now?" she asked with a mock-serious expression.

"Girl Gang!" Alice, Nikki, Karmen, Raven and Wendy shouted in unison.

"Um, what?" Greta laughed.

"It's really not that deep," Karmen laughed. "A while back, we were joking about how the guys were part of the club, but the girls weren't a part of anything. So," she drawled, "the Girl Gang was born."

"Now you guys can be a part of it, too," Alice added.

"We're a gang, and the coziest one around," Raven joked, pulling her hood tighter around her face like a cocoon.

Paige laughed, giving Greta a playful shove. "I never thought we would be a part of a gang. Look at us. All we needed to do was go camping with the Fallen Lords ol' ladies."

"I'm in," Reva agreed, raising her hand. "Girl Gang for life."

The laughter and chatter continued as we settled back into our spots around the fire, each of us a little warmer, both inside and out. I felt a sense of contentment wash over me as I watched my friends, all of us, bundled up in our matching sweatshirts, laughing and enjoying the night. There was something special about these moments, something that made all the planning and effort worth it.

We were now part of the Girl Gang, and hot damn, that was freaking awesome.

Alice

"Did you really get everyone presents, or were you just trying to look cool?" Nikki asked quietly from next to me. The firelight flickered across her face, giving her a mischievous glow. "Because if you need me to run to the store to find some presents, I can totally do that for you. Just cause a distraction, and I'll sneak out."

I rolled my eyes and shook my head, unable to suppress a smile. "You're a boob, you know that, right?"

"I should be offended by that," she replied, her tone mock-serious.

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, watching as her lips quirked up into a grin. "But are you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She shook her head and sat back in her chair, the grin widening into a full laugh. "Not at all. What gift did you get everyone?"

We were all sitting around the campfire, just chatting after Meg's delicious dinner of pizza pudgy pies. We each had two, but I was pretty sure Lennox would have had a third if Meg had made her one. The warmth from the fire wrapped around us, the crackling of the logs, and the quiet hum of nature around us were so peaceful.

We had all decided tomorrow we were going to venture out from our site and see all of the amenities the campground had to offer.

"You're just going to have to wait and see," I teased, leaning back in my own chair and feeling the tension of the day melt away. I had tried to act like driving the camper all this way wasn't a big deal, but I had actually been really stressed out. At least for the next seven days I could relax before having to climb back in Mini Weenie behind the wheel.

Nikki pouted out her bottom lip in an exaggerated expression of disappointment. "That's no fair. I'm like one of your best friends. I should know what you've got up your sleeve. If it wouldn't have been for me running away and meeting you at the diner all those years ago, you wouldn't be here right now."

I chuckled, shaking my head at her attempt to guilt-trip me. This wasn't the first time she had tried to use our history as a way to get what she wanted. "Are you trying to make me feel guilty?"

Nikki nodded, her expression serious, but her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Yes, and it better be working."

It wasn't, of course, but I played along, rolling my eyes again. "It's not, but I will go get my present for everyone. It's something we can all use all week."

Nikki pumped her fist in the air, a triumphant look on her face. "More presents!" she called out, her voice carrying across the campsite.

Greta, who was sitting on the other side of the fire, snorted in amusement. "I would ask you how old you are, but it really doesn't matter. None of us act our age. I want more presents, too."

"And you never should," Meg chimed in, pointing a finger at Greta. "Once you start acting your age and how people think you should act, that's when you start to get old."

I nodded in agreement as I stood up, brushing off my pants. "Exactly. Now, if you'll all excuse me for a moment, I'll go grab your surprise."

As I walked towards the camper, I could hear the low hum of conversation behind me, the soft laughter of my friends filling the night air. I slipped into the camper, the cool air inside a sharp contrast to the warmth of the fire outside. The box I had hidden earlier was still tucked away in the bathroom, just where I'd left it.

I had been on the lookout for something special that everyone could use on this trip. When I saw these tumblers, I knew they were perfect. They weren't just any tumblers—they were something that would bring a smile to everyone's face every time they looked at them.

"What's in the box, Alice?" Greta called out, her curiosity piqued as I walked back to the fire.

"Tell me what's in the box!" Cyn echoed, her voice playful as always.

Everyone laughed, the warmth of the fire mirrored by the warmth in our little group. I couldn't help but smile at how well we all clicked together.

"Since Meg got us all these sweatshirts," I began, holding up the box for everyone to see, "I thought we all also needed something to drink out of this week."

I set the box down on the picnic table, opened it, and pulled out a smaller rectangular box. With a bit of dramatic flair, I opened it and pulled out the first tumbler. The gasps and giggles that followed were exactly what I had hoped for.

It wasn't just any tumbler, though. I had them custom-made with a camping scene. But this wasn't just any camping scene.

"Are those cows?" Lennox asked, squinting at the cup in my hand.

"A flying cow?" Meg leaned in closer, examining the design.

I held the cup up, proud of the little detail. "Just one. I think he's trying to jump over the moon. And they aren't just cows—they're Highlands," I beamed. "Just like my babies back home."

"You have Highlands?" Reva's eyes widened in surprise. "Like, real ones?"

I laughed at her reaction. "Yes, real ones."

Reva leaned in close and whispered, "I'm coming home with you. I've always wanted to pet a Highland. My heart belongs to the dogs, but I've heard mini Highlands are just like dogs. Are yours mini?"

"Uh, full-size, and you can come anytime," I assured her, grinning, "but probably give me a little bit of notice because as much as Wrecker loves me, unexpected company tends to piss him off a bit." Especially when I knew someone was coming but didn't tell him. Not that I'd ever done that before. Much.

"Gimme, gimme," Wendy called out, wiggling her fingers at me. "You haven't given me any cow stuff lately. My collection is getting sparse."

I handed out the cups, watching as the girls' faces lit up with delight. They oohed and aahed over them, turning the tumblers in their hands to admire every little detail.

Meg's eyes sparkled as she turned hers over. "I love how colorful they are. These are just perfect, Alice."

Lennox grinned, pointing at the cow jumping over the moon. "This is my favorite part. It's adorable!"

Reva was already cradling her cup like it was a precious treasure. "I just want to squish its little face. So cute!"

Greta popped off the lid of hers and raised it high. "You can bet your buns I'm going to be using this baby all week, starting right now. Who needs a refill?"

"I would say I would whip up a batch of margaritas, but Wrecker didn't let me bring my blender," I pouted.

"There is one in the RV," Meg pointed out. "And all of the fixings, too."

"No, no," Greta called. "I'm just filling this baby up with a wine cooler tonight. You can't go camping with Meg and not drink a few Jamaican Me Crazy." She walked over to the cooler and pulled out a bright pink wine cooler. "Anyone else?" she asked as she filled her cup.

"I need a virgin one," Lennox laughed. "I miss my wine coolers since Jonas knocked me up."

"Only a few more months until you can pop one open," Greta promised.

"What about you and Bear?" Cyn asked. "Any plans to have another cub?"

Greta glared at Cyn while she poured the bottle into her cup. "Did my mother tell you to ask me that? Is August not enough for you people? I pushed one baby out of my body already."

Cyn held up her hands defensively. "I am asking out of my own interest. I'm ready for some more babies to be running around the clubhouse."

"You'll have Lennox's soon, and you also have Royal, Luna, and Bristol's babies." Greta motioned to her body. "As of this time, my body is Bear's playground."

Cyn wrinkled her nose. "You could have just said no babies right now."

Greta shrugged and tossed the empty bottle in the trash. "It's like you've never talked to me before. I climb Bear like a tree, and then he–"

"Stop," Meg called. "I don't want to hear the end of that sentence. I know I said not to act like your age, but I think this might be the exception. I am too old to hear about your… free time."

Cyn smothered a yawn with her hand. "I think I'm going to turn in for the night."

"It's only ten-thirty," Reva pointed out, sounding slightly incredulous.

Cyn glanced at her wrist, where there was no watch in sight. "And that means it's an hour past my normal bedtime," she said matter-of-factly.

"Oh, boo," Greta jeered with a grin. "We're on vacation."

"We're on vacation for the next six nights, too," Cyn shot back, laughing. "If I stay up late tonight, I'll be in bed by seven tomorrow. It's all about balance."

"Yeah, I think I'm going to call it a night, too," Wendy chimed in, stifling a yawn of her own.

"I'm right behind you," Meg added, her eyes glancing at the fire. "The fire is dying down, and I'm not going to add any more wood."

I timidly raised my hand, feeling the same tug of exhaustion but also not wanting to be the one to end the fun. "I say we all pack it in, and then we can start the fun all over tomorrow."

Greta threw her hands up in the air in mock exasperation. "Fine, but we better do some cool shit tomorrow."

Meg stood and stretched her arms over her head, her joints popping as she did. "Cool shit is on the top of my list all week, Greta."

One by one, everyone began to rise from their seats. Cyn, Meg, Reva, Greta, Lennox, Paige, and Raven all headed toward Meg's RV, moving slowly, their tired bodies eager for rest. The night air was cool, and I could hear the quiet rustling of leaves as we all shuffled off, the fire casting the last of its glow over us.

I followed Karmen, Nikki, and Wendy toward the camper. The door creaked as we opened it, and we all climbed inside, the familiar, cozy scent of the Mini Weenie wrapping around us like a warm blanket. The space was small with four people in it, but it had everything we needed—barely. We all busied ourselves getting ready for bed, brushing teeth, changing into pajamas, and trying to avoid bumping into one another in the tiny bathroom.

Nikki and I shared the bed in the back, which was the only one that stayed a bed all the time. Wendy and Karmen had the bed that used to be the kitchen table, now folded down into a makeshift mattress. It wasn't the most comfortable setup, but we were all too tired to care.

Once everyone was settled, Karmen called out, her voice muffled by the blankets. "I never once thought I would be trapped in a tin can, but I'm glad it's with you guys."

"We're not trapped," Nikki laughed from beside me. "I'm actually pretty cozy. I like Mini Weenie."

"Aww, are you the big spoon, or is Alice?" Wendy chuckled from across the camper.

We all laughed, the sound bouncing off the walls of the Mini Weenie.

"We're not even touching, thank you very much," Nikki replied, her voice filled with laughter.

"Well, I just want you to know, Wendy, I'm used to being the little spoon, so if things get cold tonight for some reason, you know what you need to do," Karmen warned, her tone playful.

"Maybe I should go see if there's any room in Meg's RV," Wendy laughed, the sound tinged with exhaustion.

"Oh, come on," I jeered, "the Mini Weenie will miss you."

"I know, I know," Wendy sighed, her voice growing softer. "I'm too tired to move, anyway."

"Yeah, I agree," Nikki murmured, shifting beside me. "Who knew camping would be so exhausting?"

"And it's only the first day," I giggled, the sound tapering off as sleep started to creep in.

For a moment, there was silence. The kind of comfortable quiet that only comes after a long day with people you care about.

"Thanks for inviting us along, Alice," Nikki said sleepily, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"Ditto," Karmen and Wendy called out in unison from their bed.

A warm glow spread through me as I listened to their soft breathing, which soon turned into the rhythmic sounds of sleep. The camper was filled with peace, a perfect end to our first night.

I laid there, staring up at the ceiling of the Mini Weenie, feeling the gentle rise and fall of Nikki's breathing beside me. The day had been everything I hoped it would be. We had laughed, teased, and talked until the fire died down, and now, here we were, tucked away in our camper, surrounded by friends.

Freaking perfect.

Comments

0 Comments
Best Newest

Contents
Settings
  • T
  • T
  • T
  • T
Font

Welcome to FullEpub

Create or log into your account to access terrific novels and protect your data

Don’t Have an account?
Click above to create an account.

lf you continue, you are agreeing to the
Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.