‘I was just…testingthe matches,’ Fallon huffed.
A laugh rumbled from George’s chest. ‘Come on, let’s leave those to fight it out and get an actual fire started.’ He took my hand, leading me round the other side of the treehouse where a small hut was erected, a large tarp covering the logs. Yeah, Fallon and I really hadn’t looked that hard.
After a couple of missteps, Fallon still arguing about the best way to feed the flames, the fire was roaring in the pit. We’d found chairs tucked away in a cupboard inside and brought them out. Someone grabbed a giant bag of marshmallows and the bottle of tequila George had bought at the store.
Fallon flopped down into one chair, her face lit up by the glow of the fire. She hated the dark and I could see the first flickers of anxiety crinkle her features. I stepped between her legs, flopping down, wiggling my butt as I curled up besideher. The chair wasn’t that big, so I was basically sitting on her lap. She didn’t even blink; adjusted slightly, and curved her arm around my waist.
The air was growing colder as night set in. Roxy was curled up on a blanket George had brought out. He set it far enough away from the fire that she wouldn’t get caught by rogue sparks, and she was chewing happily on a bone.
George sat next to me and Fallon, smiling as he watched me get comfortable against her. Not bothered in the slightest that I hadn’t chosen to sit next to him. That fact alone irked me slightly. He never reacted how I expected him to.
In the past, people had questioned my relationship with Fallon. Her ex never liked how close we were—how tactile. Then again, he was a giant cockwomble, so no accounting for taste. George was consistently unphased by anything I said or did. He might have been okay with me not sitting next to him, but I felt the heat of his gaze on me as hot as the fire crackling away.
‘Where’s Oliver gone?’ I tore my eyes from George and glanced around, not seeing an arrogant prick anywhere.
‘Getting the chocolate,’ Fallon said.
The back door opened a few minutes later. Oliver came sauntering down to where we sat. The moment he spotted where I was sitting, he started shaking his head. ‘Oh no, that’s not happening. It’smybirthday and I’m pulling the birthday card. I want my girlfriend.’ He stomped over, chucking the blocks of chocolate he’d retrieved at George, who caught them one handed.Why was that hot?
Oliver placed his hands on his hips, staring at me with narrowed eyes. Even though he had apologised for being a raging arsehole earlier, I knew how to hold a grudge and wasn’t willing to let it go just yet. I snuggled deeper against Fallon. She let out a sigh, knowing what I was doing.
‘She was mine first. And it’s not your birthday until tomorrow.’
The amber glow from the fire lit up the pout slowly forming on his face.
‘Mybirthday,mygirlfriend. Shoo.’ He waved his hands like I was cattle that needed to be herded. George started laughing, finding Oliver’s petulance amusing.
I heaved a sigh. ‘Fine.’
With a few grumbles, I unpeeled myself from Fallon, who gave me a grateful smile. The second I’d moved, he swooped in and plucked her out of the chair, rearranging her on his lap and placing several kisses on her neck, making her blush.
Usually, this would be the time I’d pretend to vomit over all their PDA. I wasn’t given the chance as two hands on my hips pulled me backwards and my butt landed directly on George’s lap.
My squeak of surprise made Roxy’s head perk up from her bone. Finding I wasn’t in any real danger, she let out a snort and went back to chewing.
‘There’s a perfectly good chair right next to you,’ I murmured as he wound his arms around my waist, nestling me further into his hard body. My limbs went stiff in his hold. No matter how much I told myself to relax, I was on high alert, waiting for something bad to happen. Fallon and Oliver were completely lost in each other, muttering softly, paying no attention to us.
George brushed the hair off my neck so he could speak softly into my ear. ‘If you want to go sit over there, you can. I just wanted you close.’
He was giving me a choice. Healwaysgave me a choice.
‘You never say what I think you’re going to say,’ I breathed, fidgeting with my fingers.
He placed one of his huge hands in-between mine,stopping my fiddling. Drawing my attention to him. ‘That a bad thing?’
I thought about it for a minute. ‘It’s a weird thing.’
‘You guys have really never been campingbefore?’ Oliver asked an hour later.
The marshmallows had been roasted. Well, most of them had been. Turns out I didn’t get the hang of it and set a fair few on fire, prompting George to take over, and somehow turn the white fluff a delectable gooey golden colour. I marvelled at it every time, handing him several to roast, which he did with that same cheerful grin on his face. I noted the way his eyes would dip down to my lips, watching as I plopped the hot mallow into my mouth. The heat flared in his eyes when some of it dripped down my chin. He didn’t waste time before removing it with his thumb and sucking it off. Still perched in his lap, I nearly melted right alongside the marshmallow.
The bottle of tequila was also half drunk. None of us could be bothered with glasses, so we took turns passing it around.
Fallon and I shared a knowing glance before she answered, ‘Uh, we have. Once.’
Oliver peered down at her in his lap, brow raised. ‘I’m dying of intrigue.’
She looked at me, eyes rolling. The faint smile on her face told me she didn’t really mind reliving this particular experience.
