Rebecca closes the back of Andrew’s truck and stops to look at me. I think she’s talking still, but I haven’t been listening. My focus is on the driver’s side of the truck, where the door is open, and Angelina is perched in the driver’s seat while Andrew strokes her thigh and gives her a lingering kiss. He turns away from her and begins walking our way. “Do you two need any help loading things up? Angie and I packed the cooler. She even made cookies for us. Wasn’t that nice?”
Rebecca gives me a concerned look before turning back to Andrew. “You know Emma already made us her grandpa’schocolate chip cookies. What are we going to do with two batches of cookies?”
Andrew looks at her funny. This Angelina, or Angie as Andrew so lovingly calls her (bleh), gets on my nerves. She wasn’t even supposed to be a part of this trip when we started planning it. It was just going to be me, Rebecca, and Andrew, like it always is. Then Andrew decided that dating a girl for three months justified allowing her to crash our perfectly planned camping trip.
“I don’t think we will have any problem putting those cookies away,” Andrew replies. He’s so annoyingly clueless, but I can’t be mad at him. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to stay mad at Andrew.
“It’s fine, Becs. I’m sure Andrew and I will polish them off easily.”
Rebecca still doesn’t look convinced. She sees right through me. She knows the pride I take in these cookies, and I’m pretty sure she can see there’s a little bit more bothering me than sharing the spotlight for cookies.
“Sorry, Emma. I know how much my Andy loves these cookies, so I just thought it’d be a good time to bring them along,” Angelina, not so helpfully, adds.
I can’t believe this is who Andrew had to pick as his first girlfriend. Yes, she’s pretty, but everything she does is so irksome. First of all, she calls Andrew Andy, despite the fact that anyone who knows him is aware hehatesthat nickname. Second of all, she hates reading. I tried to make conversation with her, asking her about her interests, but reading was not on the list. When I asked her if she reads, she said, ‘Eh, I read when I have to for class, but who can be bothered to read a whole book? They’re boring.’Ican be bothered. Andrew has no problem being bothered, and he should be with someone who appreciates books the same way he does.
I take a calming breath. Andrew is one of myclosest friends, and I want to support him. He clearly likes Angelina, so I need to make more of an effort to like her too.
“Are we ready to head out?” Andrew asks the group.
Rebecca and I nod as Angelina hops into the passenger seat. “Let’s get this party started!” Andrew cheerily hops into the driver’s side of the truck.
The site we picked is not that far away from our houses. It’s maybe a ten-minute drive and is just on the other side of the lake. The sunrises are incredible over here. I drag Rebecca out here at least once a week on our morning runs, which is how we initially got the idea for this camping trip.
Once we unload everything, Rebecca, Andrew, and I put the tents up. Angelina pretends to be useful by placing all the food out on the table, but come nightfall, that is all going to have to be put away because the raccoons will definitely get into it.
“Andrew, you could at least tell her that her work is absolutely useless,” I mumble to him as we slip the cover over the top of my and Rebecca’s tent.
“What do you mean?”Since when was Andrew this stupid?
“We aren’t going to eat all of that food today, and the raccoons will get into it if it gets left out.”
Angelina turns toward us and throws both her arms out, pointing to the table. “There, it’s all organized by meal and everything.”
“It looks great, Angie,” Andrew encourages her with unnecessary enthusiasm. He walks over and plops a kiss on the tip of her nose. She pulls him in for a hug, nuzzling her cheeks into Andrew’s chest.
I groan and turn away, catching Rebecca staring at me yet again. She grabs my wrist and begins pulling me away from thecampsite. “Emma and I are going down to the water,” she announces.
“But my towel is in my bag,” I begin to argue, but she is quick to clear the air.
“We’re not going to be swimming.”
“Uh, Becs, I know we are close, but not like that,” I try to lighten the mood. Why does she seem so grumpy all of a sudden?
She rolls her eyes and starts walking faster, still gripping my wrist. Her grasp is a little too tight.
When we reach the water’s edge, she picks up a rock and skips it. I know what that means. She wants to talk for real.
I pick up a rock, skip it, and wait for her to start the conversation. I’m not even sure what she wants to talk about. It came on so suddenly. I don’t see why she felt the need to discuss whatever it is now, while we are on the camping trip with Andrew and his little puppy dog. Sorry, I mean his girlfriend.He’s my friend. I need to try harder, I remind myself.
“I know what’s going on,” Rebecca begins. “The reason you turned sour on this trip, the reason you’re all of a sudden being an asshole to Andrew. It’s because you’re in love with my brother. Isn’t it?”
I’m stunned into silence. I don’t even know how to respond. I can’t believe she would say something so ridiculous. I’ve always thought Rebecca in some ways knows me better than I know myself, but now? She clearly doesn’t.
“I’m not in love with Andrew!” My bewilderment makes me sound less than believable, but I keep going. “Are we good friends? Yes. Would I consider him one of my best friends, behind you? Of course.”
“Thank you for that,” she interjects, sounding sincere.
“Do I love that we can talk about books and food and life? Absolutely. Maybe he’s grown up to be kind ofgood-looking, and I feel all warm when we touch, but that doesn’t mean I love him,” I conclude.
