While we wait, I notice Charlie’s gaze lower to my chest, which seems pretty brazen until he asks, “Do you own any item of clothing that isn’t trademarked?”
I pretend to think. “Nope. Even my underwear is DC.”
He blinks. “Washington?”
“The comics. Wonder Woman.”
“Right.”
“They had a thong version, but I think Diana Prince would opt for full coverage, don’t you?”
He shifts awkwardly. “Can we stop talking about your underwear now?”
“You brought it up.”
“I was talking about your T-shirt.”
I glance down at the Tree of Gondor design. “This one is lucky. I wore it last year on trivia night and my team won.”
“In that case, I’ll plant myself right next to you.”
I smirk. “It’s trivia, not a lawsuit.”
“I already told you, I’m not a litigator.”
“Maybe you should’ve been. Seems like winning is important to you.”
He doesn’t answer. We’re greeted by cheers when we deliver the pitchers to our section.
“If I’d have known beer could garner such a positive response, I would’ve had a keg delivered to the camp,” Charlie says.
Gloria lifts her chin. “We don’t negotiate with blackmailers.”
“Technically it’s bribery,” Charlie says.
“Oh, in that case, you should have.”
“There’s still time,” Angela quips. She pulls a pitcher closer to her and unwraps a straw. “What’s everybody else having?”
Angela doesn’t need Charlie’s keg. I’m convinced she stores bottles of alcohol under the floorboards of her cabin. She would’ve made an excellent smuggler during Prohibition.
We divide into teams and Charlie makes good on his promise to stay close to me. He slides into the booth and immediately pats the empty seat beside him. For some reason, it doesn’t occur to me to object, so I dutifully slide in beside him. Ben and Laura join us.
We agree to call ourselves Balrog’s Revenge. Correction: we all agree except Charlie, who abstains because he doesn’t know what a balrog is.
Laura covers her face. “I have secondhand embarrassment right now.”
“What happened to the judgment-free zone?” Charlie asks, although he doesn’t actually seem bothered.
“This is a field trip,” Laura replies. “We’re free to be as judgy as we want until we get back to the campground.”
“In that case, I’d like to comment on the decor.” He points to a life preserver affixed to the wall. “Why is there a nautical theme in a mountain bar?”
“Oh, that’s for emergencies. There’s a pond out back. Once in a while someone drinks too much and wanders into the water.”
“That seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen.”
“Only you would see opportunity in someone else’s tragedy,” Laura says.
