The fire was
roaring when they arrived. Everyone seemed to be scattered about. No one seemed
to notice that they had arrived together. Hopefully no one would. But if they
did, Julie would be ready. “We can sit over here.” Kevin took her arm gently.
“Mike brought a blanket. He won’t mind if we sit there.” They walked over
together and Mike looked up.
“Hey, Kev.
What’s up?” He gained his feet respectfully. “And you’re Julie, right?”
She nodded. “Sit
down. Kev, get your lady a drink.”
Julie almost
choked at that remark. “Unless you’d prefer a beer.” Mike had lowered his voice
significantly. “I have a few tucked away for safe-keeping.”
“No thank you.”
She took a seat at the edge of the red heavy blanket while Kevin went to get
their drinks.
“You’re Tracey’s
friend,” Mike said taking a pull of his beer. “Nice girl, that Tracey.”
If Julie didn’t
know better she would have thought that Mike had one too many of those beers he
had tucked away. She knew that whole scenario rather well. After all, she’d
been through it enough times with her mother, to know. Marie Finch, at one
point, had a major drinking problem. However, that was something that Julie
didn’t even want to think about now. She was far enough away that Marie’s
drinking couldn’t touch her. Physically anyway.
“Is punch all
right with you?” Kevin sat down beside her.
“Thanks.” She
took the cup with a smile. The punch was excellent, like nothing she had ever
tasted before. Although it had an unfamiliar twang it had a nice mixed berry
taste. It went down cool and was refreshing. She drank it all down rather
quickly, actually within seconds as she had been
quite thirsty. “Can you get me another?” She met Kevin’s eyes.
“That good, huh?” He handed her his cup. “Drink this
one nice and slow.” He scrambled to his feet. “I’ll be right back.”
As Julie watched him walk away she took another sip.
“Did that come from Jake’s private stock?”
“Excuse me?”
At that moment Mike leaned over and peered into her
cup. “He makes the best berry punch around.”
“What’s in this?”
“Probably a little bit of everything.”
Julie looked into the cup. “You mean alcohol?” She
whispered, brown eyes wide.
“Yeah.” He gave her this odd look as if to say,
‘haven’t you ever had a drink before?’ Well she hadn’t and she had no intention
of starting now. If Rob knew what was going on he’d have all of their hides. No
Alcohol! Rule Number One. They were breaking the rules.
“Did you miss me?”
“There’s alcohol in here.” She whispered before he sat
down. “That’s against the rules.”
“What Rob doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
“Oh really?” She wanted to be serious. In fact, it had
started out that way. Only now she felt airy and light. So instead of telling
him what she had at first intended, she sighed. She felt too good to argue with
him. Why bother with it now. They were here. They were together. “Sit back and
relax. Tracey is right about one thing,” he placed an arm across her shoulders.
“You worry too much.”
She leaned into his embrace. He was so warm that she
snuggled even closer. “This is nice.” Kevin took a sip of his own drink. “Being
here with you.” His breath was warm on her neck. He was so close and for once
in her life she felt completely at ease. “I like spending time with you,
Julie.”
“Yeah?” She met his eyes.
“I like you.” He whispered. “And more than just a
friend.”
Julie was hypnotized by those blue-green eyes. “I like
you too,” she returned softly, meaning every word. If it weren’t for their
current predicament she might be able to fall in love with him. However, at
this point in time that was definitely out of the question. Not under these
circumstances. The time wasn’t right. Then again, when love came knocking,
would the time ever be right?
