Page 338 of Small Town Firsts

I go to reply, but he steps around her, placing himself between us, creating a buffer with his body. "Melanie, I need you to listen to me, and I need you to listen carefully." She nods eagerly, like a puppy begging for scraps. "There is no us. There has never been an us and there never will be. What you're doing is considered harassment, and if you don't leave Emmalyn and Stella alone, you will force my hand in pursuing this with the dean."

She tries to laugh, like he's joking, but we all know he isn't.

Before she can say anything else, Sterling turns around to face me, clearly dismissing her. "Are you ready to go, baby?"

"Yup." I pass him my bag and turn to Stella. "I'll see you there. What time is Gabe coming to pick you up?"

"Oh, he texted me five minutes ago that he was waiting outside, but I wasn't packed yet."

"Well, then let's go," I say, and together all three of us head downstairs, blatantly ignoring a fuming Melanie as we all file past her.

"Exactly how far away is thecampsite?" Stella asks, looking apprehensively at the woods in front of us.

"Not that far, princess," Gabe replies with a deep, masculine chuckle.

"Listen, you outdoorsy giant, camping is not my thing, but I'm here and I'm making the best of it."

Gabe grins, pleased he was able to get a response out of her. The two of them realized quickly they could rile one another up within seconds and have been playfully at each other's throats ever since.

"Retract your claws, kitten," Zach says, slinging his arm around Stella's shoulders. "You know Gabe can't help himself. Every now and then he has to prove how big and manly he is."

Gabe puffs out his chest. "I'll show you big and manly."

Zach's eyes widen and he licks his lips. "You don't have to prove anything to me, babe."

"And that's enough of that," Sterling says, approaching our little group with both of our backpacks slung over his shoulder. "Let's go."

We hike about a mile through the woods, down a well-marked trail, until we come to a circular clearing. The guys immediately set to work pitching our tents while Stella and I gather wood for a fire. Ever the gentleman, Sterling sets up Stella's for her as well.

"Are you sure about sleeping out here?" she asks, glancing around like a bear's going to pop out and gobble us up.

"We're gonna be fine, Stell."

"Says you! You and Sterling get to share a tent together, and Zach and Gabe have their tent together. Where does that leaveme?" She throws her hands in the air. "Bait! That leaves me as bait!"

"I'll sleep with you, and Sterling can sleep alone."

Judging from the pained sound Sterling makes, he must've overheard me and is not a fan of the decision, but I know he won't fight me on it because my happiness means more to him than a night of sleeping alone.

After our camp is set up, Stella asks, "Okay, so who brought food?"

I snicker, knowing that she has an entire pantry of snacks in her bag.

Gabe looks back at her with comically wide eyes. "What do you meanbroughtfood?"

Stella tilts her head to the side. "You know, that stuff you eat?"

Sterling moves in closer behind me, bringing his lips to my ear and whispers, "You've got something I want to eat."

I elbow him in the ribs, but I'm laughing.

Gabe continues giving Stella a blank look, somehow keeping a straight face as he says, "I thought we were gonna like hunt and gather...you know, everyone gets their own food."

"Like on those TV shows," Zach says, catching on to his boyfriend's plan. He begins pulling his shirt over his head. "You know, likeNaked and Afraid!"

Stella's cheeks blush brightly at the sight of Zach's abs. "You stop right there!" she shouts, but it's no use.

Gabe joins in and whips his shirt off as well, despite the fact that it's cold outside. "What's wrong, Stella? You don't want to play with us?"

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