Page 52 of Heartstrings & Horseshoes

I thought liquor would be flowing at an end of summer birthday bonfire, but that’s not the case at all. I rarely drink because it makes Delilah uncomfortable. Reid quit drinking when he got with Izzy because he’d been using it as a crutch to drown his sorrows. The others are enjoying a few beers.

Living in a house where you don’t know where your next meal is coming from, if there’ll be hot water for a shower, or light when you flip the switch, fucks a person up.

I watched Delilah crumble year after year because her parents drank and gambled everything away, and she tried desperately to hold her family and home together.

I vowed a long time ago she’d never live like that again. Having her in my apartment is only the first step.

She’s not bothered that Liv, James, and Greyson are kicking back beers like it’s water. It speaks to how safe she feels here, and that makes me happy.

The birthday bonfire is the perfect way to wind down after a long week, surrounded by the best people I know. But the relaxed atmosphere doesn’t last long.

In elementary school, we learned about Rube Goldberg machines, where one action set off a complex series of reactions. But I’ve never seen it happen in real life quite like this.

James goes to get another beer, and on his way back tickles Liv’s exposed armpit, causing her to spray a mouthful of beer into Greyson’s face.

Greyson launches out of his chair, tipping it backwards, knocking over the camping table stacked with food.

Upturned dishes slide off the table onto the picnic blanket Izzy and Reid are cuddling on.

Isabelle springs to her feet and shakes her hands to get the sludge of mixed foods off her hands. The splatter hits Delilah in the chest.

It. Is. War.

“You did not just ruin my dress!” Delilah shrieks as I try to dab the food off her chest. Don’t touch her tits. Do NOT touch her tits.

“It’s not my fault!” Izzy yells.

“Greyson, what the fuck, man?” Reid growls, trying to clean the food off himself and his betrothed. Reid gets up and takes Izzy by the hand, now laughing.

We aren’t far from their cabin, and based on the amount of fondling happening, they’ll be cleaning each other off in the shower.

“Are you fucking kidding me? Don’t blame me. I was minding my goddamn business when Liv spit in my face!” Greyson roars, looking around for his sister.

Liv and James are in a heap on the grass laughing hysterically, trying to pour beer on each other.

“That’s it!” Greyson shouts. “Goddamn it James, how many times do I have to tell you to keep your hands off my sister?”

“I don’t remember. Can you tell me again?” James chuckles.

Greyson takes off, chasing James into the woods, Liv hot on their trail egging them on, leaving us alone by the fire.

Now that the chaos is over, I turn to check on Delilah. She’s got a weird expression on her face.

I take off my hoodie and offer it to her. “Here, put this on over your dress, at least you won’t get cold.”

She doesn’t take it from me. Crackling of the fire' the only sound in the eerily quiet night.

“Then what will protect you from this?” she asks as she smashes a destroyed lemon-bar pie into my face.

I’m momentarily stunned. My sweet little doll doesn’t know what’s coming for her.

Before she can scramble away, I tackle her to the blanket. She screeches and flops around beneath me trying to get away.

“Get off me! You weigh like a thousand pounds!” Delilah laughs.

“I don’t think so!” I hold her hands over her head and smear my gooey face all over hers.

Her laughter fills me with light. My sunshine in the dark of night.