Page 31 of Campfires & Canines
She picks up her phone and bag.
"I mean, I don't plan on being in a relationship. I don't do dates or anything. But if I did..." I'm an idiot.
She stands. "It's fine. I'm sure you're busy, I'll go."
Her tone is breezy. She betrays nothing of the hurt that I saw.
"I'm sorry. I fucked this up."
"Slate, I appreciate the tattoo.” She sets her shoulders, determination glinting in her beautiful eyes.
“And you're gorgeous, so I don't regret kissing you. But if you don't date, that's fine. Don't stress it. I'll see you later." She is smooth and confident.Indifferent.
With a brittle smile, she marches past me. The door slams behind her. Thunderstruck, I walk through the bathroom to my bedroom and faceplant into my bed.
I’m a worthless slug.
She was recently cheated on and dumped, and then I let my little obsession get the better of me. Now she feels rejected again.
Unfortunately, I don't see any solutions. I let things go too far and here is the consequence. There's no universe in which I can have her.
Heath is going to kill me if he finds out I kissed her.
6. Girlfriends & Gardening
Hazel
Ispend dinner avoiding Slate. Marigold gushes over my tattoo. Surprisingly, my uncle isn't called away for work. He sits across from me. We're joined by Marigold's family - her father, Elm, grandmother, Sable, and her two brothers, Indigo and Cobalt.
Her father is about Heath's age, and I wonder if they grew up together like Slate and the twins. Indigo is his copy with reddish-brown hair cut short and ocean-blue eyes. He has a calming energy that reminds me of Sable. I understand why Indigo would bethe one to work for her.
But the youngest brother, Cobalt, is more like Marigold. His bright strawberry-blonde hair is always in his eyes and he never stops talking. He's all light and laughter.
Heath and Elm recount old adventures for us, including a time they were camping with Hawthorne, and Elm accidentally answered nature's call in front of a hunting camera. Heath retrieved the feed and presented him with a framed picture for the holidays of him squatting against a tree - luckily a bush was covering the crucial bits.
Marigold's heard the story before and she starts laughing before the end, her face cherry red.
I picture my dad, Heath, Elm, and Hawthorne running around between cabins, getting into all kinds of trouble. The previous generation doing all the same things we did as teenagers. Or rather, the things I would have done, if I had been raised here instead of a thousand miles away.
A strange mix of longing, grief, and happiness aches in my chest. Marigold must notice, because she draws me into her storytelling and makes me laugh so hard my eyes tear up again.
In our cabin, Heath and I share some hot cocoa and he tells me more about my dad as a kid. Even though Heath was younger, he was the natural leader, always making plans. My dad was the one keeping the peace and making sure everyone was cared for. They were a team. I can feel how much he misses his brother as if his emotions are soaking into me from across the living room.
The next morning, I wake up with my mind already buzzing with an idea. I meticulously fold up my disastrous and gloriouskiss with Slate and tuck it into the furthest corner of my mind. There's so much more to be excited about.
The pine air is brisk and I tug my flannel around me. I love the slower pace and the peacefulness the forest brings. And I have never felt so accepted as with this new group of friends. In three days, they've burrowed into my heart. It’s time to be honest - I want to stay.
Los Angeles seems dull in comparison with the vibrant community, even though it’s tiny. The idea of going back makes me sick. Here under the swaying branches, I feel more alive than ever before.
I imagine having dinner every night at the picnic tables, laughing with Marigold and the twins, even Slate. It wouldn't be too shabby. I could even flirt with Onyx and Slate would be jealous. Nope! Slate does not factor into this. If anything, he’s a drawback.
I’ll need an income. I can't mooch off my uncle forever. And a place to stay. He might prefer to not have a roommate. In my head, I'm already assembling a checklist.
The trees thin and Crickett's diner comes into view across the clearing. It's mid-morning, so it's mostly empty. The kids are all in class with Marigold.
Halting, I prop my hands on my hips. Where do I start? I don't want to bother my uncle in his office, so I turn left. There's a small building beside the school. Heath said it’s a store. A bell jingles as I push the door open.
It looks like an old convenience store with wood floors, sturdy shelves, and a selection of household and personal items. There'severything from soap to clothing to snack foods. There are even tools and batteries on the far wall.
