Page 6 of Only the Beginning

Pulling up to the campsite, I follow the pathway to where they said they’d be. Sure enough, Louis’ kids come running up to me, almost knocking me down.

“Uncle Danny!” Phineas and Andy cheer, and I can’t help but smile. I hate when my little sister is right.

“Hey-o.” I give them both a hug and find Marshall setting up one of the bigger tents. Louis is sipping a beer, chuckling at how uncoordinated he is, the tent clearly not getting put together soon.

“Hey man,” I shake Louis’ hand and throw my bag on the ground.

“Damn! Man, now I lost five bucks.” He groans.

“Told you he’d show up,” Marshall chuckles.

“Uh, what?”

“We bet money you’d bail on this trip like the last two,” Louis explains, handing Marshall a wrinkly bill.

“Wow, I mean, I can turn around.” I joke.

“Nah man, we have a surprise for you,” Louis smirks. He smells like beer and sunscreen despite his naturally tan skin.

“I told you he’s going to hate this.” Marshall shakes his head and goes back to building the tent.

Before I can ask what the surprise is, Daphne and Liz walk over to say hello. They both hug me, but my eyes are on the blonde behind them. The blonde whose life I saved a few weeks ago. Damn, what the hell was her name? Molly? Hope? Holly!

“We wanted you to meet someone,” Daphne says with a hint of mischief in her voice.

“Daniel, this is Holly. Holly, this is Daniel.” Liz introduces us. I open my mouth to say we’ve already met, but her slight look of panic tells me I shouldn’t.

“It’s a delight to meet you, Holly,” I shake her hand with a smirk I can’t control.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Daniel.” She smirks back.

“Well, we’ll let you guys get to know each other! Go mingle.” Daphne all but shoves us together.

“After you?” I look at Holly, and she smiles, leading the way down a hiking trail.

“So, I take it your friends don’t know about our, uh, chance encounter?” I tread lightly.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I don’t like to worry them or talk about it so,”

“No worries, it’s funny. We run into each other again.” I would be lying if I said I hadn’t stopped thinking about her since the day we met.

“Well, Daphne knew better than to tell me this was a setup, or I wouldn’t have come.” Holly shakes her head.

“Same here. They've been trying to set me up for years, and I’ve always declined.” I don’t want her thinking I was in on it.

“At least I’ll have a buddy to get me through this couple’s retreat,” she chuckles.

We wander around aimlessly for a while until we decide to head back. We make small talk about work and family life, but I honestly wanted to know more. She was completely breathtaking and brilliant, too. She wasn’t looking to be set up or even asked out. She was fiercely independent.

“So, how’d it go? Are you two a perfect match or what?” Daphne cheers as we get back. Right now, she definitely wasn’t one of my favorite people. Holly shakes her head in embarrassment, and I just chuckle awkwardly.

The boys were roasting marshmallows, so I decide to put together my tent before it gets too dark. It wasn’t anything fancy, just big enough for two people and insulated, so I wouldn’t freeze my ass off. Camping is no joke if you're not properly prepared.

As soon as I finish setting mine up, I’m about to offer Holly a hand with hers, but to my surprise, hers is already up. She’s standing in front of it proudly as she finishes hammering it into the ground. As if this woman couldn't get any hotter.

“Took you long enough,” Holly teases as I admire her work.

“Clearly you can teach me a thing or two.” I run my hands through my hair. I don’t know why she was making me so nervous.

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