Page 58 of Win My Heart

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I spent the rest of last night alone in my apartment, hiding from my friends so I couldn’t be talked into to any more adventures I didn’t want to go on. I also thought maybe if I hide away, they would forget about me.

But alas, around nine this morning, there’s pounding at my door. Ruby and Gia stand there, smiling, to-go cups of coffee in their hands. They hand one to me and tell me to pack up. Gia gives me direction on what to pack. Once I hit the parking garage with the rest of the group, I immediately notice that Wade is missing, not to mention I haven’t heard his name come up once. He hasn’t texted me in a day or two, so I don’t actually know if he’s coming with.

I’m starting to suspect I’ve been played. If so, I’m not above enacting revenge on a certain redheaded devil.

Less than an hour later, I’m still grumbling as I shove my backpack into the backseat. I’ve asked Ruby at least three times if I need to go buy gear, and she assures me it will all be fine. I know I said I wasn’t going to buy stuff, but being forced to go camping without any gear just annoys me.

Morgan, Dex, Gia, and Simon pile into a car, while Matt and I hitch a ride with Ruby and Link.

We make the forty-minute drive to the Indiana Dunes National Park in more like an hour since it’s mid afternoon on a Friday.

Driving through the large campsite, Link shares that they were able to score three sites right next to each other. I ask how close we are to the restroom and he laughs. His response: “Close enough.”

We park and everyone hops out of the vehicles. I mosey. Because Ruby was right, I won’t complain, but I’m giving myself as much time to live in my disappointment that I gave into her ultimatum for just a few more moments.

“Cheer up, buttercup. Wade will be here soon.” Ruby smiles knowingly at me and then walks away.

Once the vehicles are unpacked, the guys start to set up camp. Morgan, Gia, Ruby, and I take Link’s car to the ALDI that’s less than ten minutes away. We have nothing in way of food for the trip, and I’m not sure why supplies weren’t bought last night. But, not my problem. I’m here against my will.

Between the four of us, we divide and conquer and are back at the campsite forty minutes later. Who would have thought a bunch of gamer boys would be so adept at camping?

Color me impressed because as I get out of the car, there are four tents up, and a campfire has already been started.

We make quick work of getting the cold food into a big cooler with ice we just bought. Then we get bug spray, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and other necessities organized.

Last thing to do is set out the dozen mismatched camp chairs we have piled on the ground. That’s when a third car drives up and parks.

Wade.

My mind is immediately relieved that he’s here, yet my heart starts to race at his presence. This is it. This is the first time we’ve been in a group setting since we started fooling around.

The guys yell out their greetings, and Wade pops his trunk and pulls out what I assume is a tent. He and Dex survey the space, and Dex takes the tent from him and sets it down near another. Wade collects more stuff from his trunk before joining Dex.

I slowly unfold a chair but watch him as he walks by. He makes eye contact, the corner of his lips tilting up as he walks by.

That’s it?

What am I, chopped liver? A rock forms deep in my gut.

I’m broken out of my minor mental meltdown when Link yells, “Uh, guys. Where’s that extra tent?”

I don’t register what he’s asking until I hear Simon mutter, “Oh shit.”

I look up from the chair I’m unfolding as my eyes land on Link. Maybe he’s just playing around. But then I drag my gaze over the campsite and see there are only four tents, with Wade setting up the fifth. Sure enough, there isn’t a tent for me.

Simon walks over to the vehicles and pops the trunks, looking for it. “Hey, G. What did you do with that tent I told you to take down to the car?”

Gia looks up from poking the fire just as Ruby chimes in.

“Oh, I saw a hole in it. I left it in your apartment. Was that the extra tent?”

My gaze ping-pongs from Gia to Simon and back to Ruby.

Simon narrows his eyes. “There wasn’t a hole.”

“I know I saw one.” She holds her ground.

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