“I just don’t think alcohol is a good idea. I’ve heard it can make you more emotional. I’m already a bit insecure with her around.”
She takes a deep breath. “Don’t take it personally. Please. Andrew is super smart when it comes to school, but when it comes to life, he can besostupid. I think what happened is he started to catch feelings for you and then went back to school and realized how inconvenient it is to not see you all school year. Then he found this little fox, and he felt somewhat happy. But Andrew’s happiness with Angelina is nothing compared to his happiness when he’s with you.”
I blush a little at her conclusion, but then I brush myself off and get back to reality. Narrowing my eyes, I grumble, “Don’t go around saying these things and getting my hopes up. I’m a big girl. I can accept the fact that Andrew isn’t interested.”
She gives me a sympathetic look. “I’m your best friend. Do you think I’d lie to your face like that just to spare your feelings? We are way past that in our friendship.”
She walks over to the fire pit where Andrew is starting a fire for us and Angelina is sitting in a chair, scrolling on her phone.
Seriously, what does Andrew see in her? She can’t even get off her phone for a camping trip?Her incredible boyfriend is right there surrounded by the best nature has to offer, and she doesn’t even have the decency to enjoy it?
I shake my head, realizing that I am now staring at her boyfriend as he starts the fire.Get it together.
“Hey, you two!” Rebecca gathers their attention. Holding up the bottle of tequila, she explains, “I was thinking we couldmake this trip a little more interesting and have some margaritas with dinner tonight. What do you think?”
Angelina peers up from her phone and squeals in glee. “I love margaritas!”
Of course she does.
Andrew stops building the fire for a moment. I watch him look from Rebecca’s hand holding the bottle, over to me, and then back to Rebecca. “I don’t think margaritas fit the vibe of our camping trip.”
Angelina groans a little and leans in toward Andrew. “Come on, Andy! Lighten up a bit. Margaritas are so good they’ll go with anything.” She takes a look at the bottle Rebecca is holding. “It looks like Rebecca even got us some good tequila.”
Andrew’s facial features sag a little. “Alright, I’m in. We don’t need to go crazy though.”
Rebecca nods. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. We’ll be responsible.” She moves back toward the table where the cups are and shouts over her shoulder. “You just worry about getting the fire started, and I’ll make us some drinks to sip on while we wait.”
I know better than to leave Rebecca alone with our drinks, so I follow her over.
She is already pouring some of the margarita mix into the first cup. Handing it to me, she says, “Here, this will be Andrew’s.”
I eyeball it. “How much alcohol did you put in here?”
“I only put about a shot in it. He’s a big guy and this isn’t his first drink ever, so he can handle a measly shot. Trust me.” She waves her hand nonchalantly.
I watch her pour the other three cups. They seem heavy-handed to me, but I wouldn’t know what a shot of alcohol looks like unless it’s in a shot glass. She passes me another cup and then walks to give one to Angelina.
Before I bring Andrew his cup, Rebeccaturns back to me. “Oh, while I’m thinking about it, let’s put the food back in the truck, so the raccoons don’t ransack our camp tonight.”
I bob my head and set the cups on the table for a moment as I fill my hands with the three different kinds of cookies out on the table. Rebecca joins me, opening the truck door for me before filling her arms with tomorrow’s breakfast items.
I return to the table and inspect the cups. I don’t remember which was which. The one on the left looks to be more full, so that’s probably Andrew’s.
I shuffle over to the fire and hand Andrew his cup and lean in to whisper in his ear, “I’d drink slowly. I don’t know how much alcohol Rebecca put into this.”
He nods. “I’ll be fine. My parents make us margaritas at home sometimes.”
I wince as he takes his first sip, which is more like a gulp.
Rebecca sips her cup and watches me as I just hold mine. “Come on, Emma! At least try it. I poured you a lighter one, and I had Dani specifically look for this mix, so it won’t be too sweet.”
I sip off my drink and am surprised to find Rebecca was right. I take another gulp and feel my insides warm. “It’s pretty good.” I hold my cup up in the air with a smile.
Rebecca gives me a pleased look, and I think worry crosses Andrew’s face for a moment. I brush it off as I continue to sip on my drink.
A while later, I have no clue how much later, we finally clean up the last of our dinner as we each finish our third margarita. These things are so good! I don’t know what I was afraid of earlier. I giggle to myself at the thought of earlier me being so opposed to this idea. The giggle quickly turns into full-blown laughter as I sit in the chair around the fire with the other three.
Rebecca looks at me inquisitively before her face splits into a huge grin. Her eyes are glossy, and her cheeks are a little pink. Angelina has the same look to her.
