Raven groans incensed and slams the door again.
When we’re finished, Knox and I guide Raven out and to the back of the truck. I rip off the blindfold, and Raven blinks, her eyes adjusting to the light.
Her mouth forms a silent O as her hands clasp together against her chest. “Y’all did this for me?”
“Of course,” I answer.
Raven takes in everything from the blowup mattress in the bed that we covered with pillows and blankets to the projector on top of the cab and the screen we set up at the tailgate. She runs her hand over the soft fabric and picks up the two bouquets of white chrysanthemums we laid out for her. She brings them to her nose, inhaling, and turns to us, smiling.
“They’re my favorite. Thank you,” she chokes out.
“Let me help you up.” Knox enthusiastically grips Raven by her hips and lifts her over the side of the truck. He helps her remove her shoes, then does the same for himself.
I move to the other side of the truck and hop in.
Raven snuggles between Knox and me with a bright smile on her face. “What movie are we watching?”
“Florence gave us a recommendation, but we’ve never watched it before,” I reply.
Raven vibrantly wiggles side to side. “Let’s watch.”
As the movie plays, we learn quickly that Raven is one of those people who likes to talk through movies, and she notices everything. And I really do meaneverything.
“Was no one driving that log truck?”
“Why is Emmett carrying a bag of eggs? I thought vampires don’t eat.”
“Were they supposed to be kicking a soccer ball or passing a hacky sack? Because there was nothing there. They were kicking air.”
“Why does Bella blink so much? Does she have dry eye?”
“Does anyone else think Edward looks like a disco ball?”
Knox and I can’t stop laughing at her commentary. Her lack of filter reaffirms how far we’ve come together in such a short amount of time. When we first met, Raven was flirty, sure, but that wasn’t really her. Her real deep thoughts are not ones she shares with everyone, so seeing her like this makes her even more sexy in my eyes.
“Would you let me be a spider monkey and carry me around on your back?” Raven’s frown is pensive.
Knox and I can’t help but bust a gut laughing at that one.
“I’m serious,” Raven claims, shoving at our shoulders. But that only makes us laugh harder.
Raven narrows her eyes, then changes her tune to indifference, poking the beast. “It’s okay. I wouldn’t want to hurt your fragile backs. Old men shouldn’t lift that much anyway.”
Knox and I sober abruptly.
“Who are you calling old men?” Knox shoots Raven a predatory expression.
The sly smile on Raven’s face has me feeling jittery. “I mean, think about it. You’re closer to fifty than you are twenty. It’s not like you can go chasing me through the trees.”
Knox plays into her hands. “I resent that. I could track you anywhere.”
“Prove it.”
Knox’s eyebrows slide up his forehead slowly in puzzlement.
“Chase me.” She turns to me. “Both of you.”
I have a feeling I’m going to like where this is going. “Why?”
