“I still go out with my dad every year.”
“In any case, he said beer, not bear,” Patrick said.
“What’s a beer hunt?” Denise asked. “And why are we hunting beer instead of drinking it?”
“It’s a friendly competition we do when we come out,” Jase said. “We stage beer at designated points and record the coordinates. Divide into two-man teams. Try to find as many of the locations as possible.”
“What’s the winner get?” Bree asked. Her hand rubbed in a small arc across the middle of his back. He wasn’t even sure she knew she was doing it.
“Lots of beer,” Chris said.
“What’s the loser get?” Denise asked.
Chris grinned. “Less beer.”
“Did you set out the beer?” Denise asked.
“I did. Wasn’t sure you girls were going to be up for it, so I brought extra in the truck,” Chris said.
“I hear a challenge.” Denise faced Bree, hands on her hips. “Did you hear a challenge?”
Bree dropped her arm from his back and stood up straight. “I did, in fact, hear a challenge.”
“Y’all think you can beat us?” Cole asked.
Bree and Denise shared a look. A twinge pulled deep in Jase’s chest. He and Tony used to do that — know what the other was thinking with just a look. Fondness rode behind the ache instead of the guilt that usually followed. He kissed the top of Bree’s head. Without her, he may never have gotten to this point. The pain might never go away, but maybe that was okay.
He jerked at Denise’s loud clap. “Alright,” she said. “Let’s do this. What are the rules?”
“Chris, you got everything in your truck?” Jase asked.
“Yeah. Give me a sec.” He set off in a jog to the edge of the clearing where everyone’s cars were parked.
“Each team gets a map, a compass, and a list of coordinates.” Jase handed out the maps, lists, and V.E.T. Adventures backpacks to carry the beer in. “You get an hour to find as many points and beer as you can.”
Bree pulled her hair back in a ponytail. “What happens to the beer that isn’t found?”
“We get it tomorrow.” Matt shrugged. “There are usually a few bottles left out there.”
“Cool. Let me get my hat,” Bree said to Denise. She came back from their tent, her hair pulled through a faded blue ball cap.
“You sure you don’t want to join up with a couple of the guys?” Chris asked.
If looks could kill, he would have keeled over instantly from the glare Bree and Denise shot him. Jase chuckled. This was going to be interesting. He wasn’t sure Chris or the other guys knew about their CST experience.They’re going to hand the guys their asses.
Denise folded her arms across her chest, her stance a challenge on its own. “I’ll bet you ten bucks we come back with more beer than the guys.”
Chris matched her stance and smirked at her. “I’ll take that bet.”
Jase looked at Bree, who tried to hide her smile, without success. She shook her head slightly and pursed her lips, clearly used to this side of Denise.
“Yo! We doin’ this or what?” Cole asked.
Chris and Denise continued their staredown for several more seconds. “Ten minutes to plot your points,” Chris said, never breaking eye contact.
Denise grinned and threw him a saucy wink before she pivoted and joined Bree, already marking the map.
“You and Denise have something going on?” Jase asked him in a low voice.
