I’m about to find a reason to run upstairs when Lily comes out of the bathroom. I need to get her on my side; that way she won’t be pushing Kale on Sunny while they’re away.
“I think we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot,” I tell her.
She crosses her arms over her chest, looking like she wants to be anywhere but trapped with me in the hall. “What makes you say that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s the way you hate me.”
“I don’t hate you, Miller. I don’t trust you. You’re too smooth and too . . .” She waves her hand around.
“Too what?”
“Too . . . Ken.”
“Ken?”
“You know, like Barbie and Ken.”
“What does that even mean? Ken’s not a bad guy.” Randy’s little sister used to watch Barbie movies all the time. We’d get stuck babysitting when his mom had to work.
“You’re a player.”
“You think Ken’s a player?” If anything, Ken was whipped.
Lily rolls her eyes. “All this charity stuff you do doesn’t change the reputation you have with women. Sunny’s my best friend. I don’t want to see her get hurt, and you seem like a guy who does that often.”
“How do you get to decide what kind of guy I am based on the little you actually know of me? I’m not looking to hurt Sunny. I care about her. I’m trying here, Lily, but you’re not giving me much to work with.”
She plants her hands on her hips. Oh, man. Here we go.
“I’m ready!”
I look up to see Sunny at the top of the stairs with two wheelie suitcases. It seems like she prepared for an all-inclusive vacation rather than a camping trip. I sprint up to help her. It’s unnecessary. She’s more than capable.
The guys come out of the kitchen with Sunny’s parents. Everyone shoves their feet into Birks and heads outside. I have my bag with me since I’m planning to leave at the same time, even though I don’t have to be at the airport for hours.
The door opens to reveal not one of those beat-down camper vans, but a for-real camping trailer. Where people can sleep. It’s old, but seems well maintained. Still, I don’t want Sunny stranded anywhere with Kale. I also want to check out the inside so I can see the sleeping sitch.
Daisy hugs everyone while Robbie shakes hands with Ben and Kale, then hugs Lily and Sunny. I stand back, observing the interactions, wishing I was going instead of that Kale fucker. When it’s my turn, I go for Lily first. It’s like hugging a steel pipe. I shake her boyfriend’s hand, then I turn to Kale. He’s looking too smug. I need to fix that.
I take his hand and squeeze harder than I need to. “Take care of my girl for me.” I know Sunny’s going to be annoyed at me for saying something she likely considers sexist, but I need to make it clear I’m in this for the fight.
“You’ve got nothing to worry about. I always do.” He gives me a pat on the shoulder, his satisfied smile pushing my last damn button.
I lean in close and give him a slap on the back, lowering my voice so only he can hear. “Not as well as I do.” I wink and turn to Sunny.
She’s not happy. I can tell by the pinched look and her pursed lips. I pull her into my arms and hug her tight. Putting my lips to her ear, I whisper, “He gets you for a week. I only got you for two days.”
I take her face in my hands. If her parents weren’t here I’d tongue-fuck the shit out of her mouth. Instead I brush my nose against hers, then kiss the tiny dimple on her left cheek. “Have fun, Sunny Sunshine.”
“I’ll try.”
“But not too much.” This time I press my lips softly to hers.
She holds onto my forearms, fingernails digging in. “I won’t.”
I’m relieved when Benji and Kale get into the front seats, and Lily and Sunny get in the back. I can see right inside. There’s a table with cushioned seats that turn into a bed. I grab the door before Sunny can close it and peek in. There’s definitely room for a four-person orgy in here.
“Wow. This is spacious. How many does it sleep?” I wait for one of them to meet my eyes.
“There’s two double beds,” Kale says from the front seat, back to being a smug jerkoff.
“And we have tents,” Sunny says.
Her panic is clear. She’s expecting me to say or do something to cause a scene. I want to. We need to have a conversation, but it isn’t going to happen now. It’s a shit situation. Still, I drop my bag on the driveway and cram myself into the confined space. I’m blocking her parents’ view since I fill the entire door.
This time I lay one on her. She gasps, and I slide my tongue between her parted lips. At first her hand goes to my chest like she’s about to push me away. I suck on her tongue, and she fists my shirt, making a plaintive noise that tells me she’d like me to continue. Lily coughs, reminding me we have an audience. I’m completely aware of this.
I break the kiss and bite the inside of my cheek when Sunny tries to keep our mouths connected. “I’m sorry I keep messing things up. I get it. No more bunny pictures. I promise. Just remember how much fun we had while you’re away with your friends.” I pull my phone out of my back pocket and hold it up, snapping one of the selfies I usually hate while I kiss her on the cheek.
I point at Lily. “Make sure no bears eat her.” Sunny’s confusion matches my frustration as I close the door.