Page 8 of Campfires & Canines
Cedar ignores us. "Anyway, Hazel, what kind of stuff are you into?"
"Um, I don't know, like creative things." Her vague answer hangs in the air. Her eyes light up when she realizes we’re waiting for her to continue. She isn’t used to people being interested in her.
"I like taking pictures,” she continues, tucking some loose hair behind her ears. “That’s probably my favorite.”
"Oh, I'd love to see your photography!" Marigold chimes in.
"I'm not any good. I just use my phone." She's apologetic. Who told her she wasn't any good? I clench my jaw to keep from speaking out of turn.
"What do you like to photograph?" Cedar inquires.
"Anything, like animals at the zoo and birds, stuff like that. Pigeons mostly." She laughs briefly, that beautiful rosy flush returning to her skin.
"I can think of plenty of animals around here you can photograph," Onyx interjects with a suggestive look.
I want to grab his throat and yank him across the table -
"Onyx shut up." Marigold snaps me out of my violent fantasy.
"Like the chickens and our goats," he whines, feigning innocence.
Cedar jumps in. "There's squirrels and raccoons all over the place too."
Hazel leans in, intrigued. "Oh, you have chickens and goats?"
"Yeah, a few hens. We don't have a rooster – too loud," Cedar explains, "and our two goats are Cheddarbelle and Cheesette."
Hazel bursts into a fit of infectious giggles.
"I named them." Onyx puffs up his chest.
"They're Nubian goats. Great for milk," Cedar continues, ignoring his brother.
"Our dad makes cheese with it. Mom bought him a class a few years ago," Onyx interjects, looking for more of her attention. "He even got a special fridge to age his cheese in."
"That sounds cool. I've never known anyone who made cheese. It seems difficult," Hazel muses, idly twisting the ring on her right hand around and around. It looks like a vintage wedding band with a few diamond chips that catch the light.
"It's not too hard, just messy," I add. I’ve helped Fisher out with his hobby a few times.
Onyx grins at her. "I'd be happy to give you a lesson any time." The image of Onyx with his arms around Hazel, guiding her as she cuts curds sends a jolt of jealousy through me. I’ve got to get a grip. Or Onyx needs to leave her the hell alone.
Hazel either ignores him or is oblivious to his flirting. "What do you guys do for fun around here?"
"Hang out with these morons," Marigold quips, rolling her eyes.
Cedar smiles at her, a dimple in his cheek. "There's a lot of great hikes around here."
"Video games," Onyx shrugs.
Leaning my elbows on the table, I add, “There are hammocks around to chill or read.”
"I like board games or card games," Marigold chimes in.
"Oh, me too!" Hazel grins.
Onyx waggles his eyebrows. "Want to play some poker?"
I’m going to murder him.
