Page 20 of Tell No Lies

“I know you’re not my biggest fan, but just give me tonight. I’m not as big of a jerk as your friends give me credit for.”

I knew what it was like for people to misjudge and hold things against you, even when they were true. Not wanting to be that kind of person, I looked up into his eyes. “One night, Tucker. Don’t make me regret it.”

He smiled in response and dropped his arm to go get us each what was needed for s’mores. He returned and handed me a metal stick with a marshmallow already on the end.

There was only one chair left around the fire. Tucker tugged on my elbow to follow him. He sat and patted his lap.

One of my eyebrows shot up. Did he really expect me to go along with that?

“I promise I’ll be a gentleman. This is the only spot left.” He looked genuine enough.

I perched myself on his knees, as far away as possible. His arm slid around my waist and pulled me closer to him. He left one arm around me and reached the other with his stick toward the fire. I took a deep breath, trying to get myself to relax. He seemed to be behaving himself.

I held my stick with both hands. The flames were mesmerizing, and Tucker had to nudge me to get my attention back on my marshmallow, which was quickly turning brown.

“Oops!” I giggled.

Tucker took the stick away from me and offered me the graham crackers and chocolate with his other hand. I made us each a s’more and turned back to offer it to him. He looked down at his hands, which were holding our sticks, then back at me.

“You’re really expecting me to feed you?”

“I can only do so many things at once, Aubrey. I promise I won’t bite.”

I shook my head at him but held up the s’more and watched him open his mouth and bite in. The gooey mess covered his lips, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Very smooth, Tuck. You might need to lick your lips.”

“You could do it for me.” He winked as I made a move to stand up, but the arm around my waist held me down. “I was kidding!”

“That’s strike one. Watch it, mister.”

Before he could respond, I shoved the rest into his mouth. He groaned and glared at me while trying to keep it in. My laughter was making me shake on his lap.

“What’s going on over here?”

I looked up and met Mike’s disapproving gaze. “Nothing.” I said it so fast it sounded suspicious even to me.

Mike crossed his arms over his broad chest and sized up Tucker. “I had space saved for you over by me. That’s where your friends are sitting too.”

I looked down so he couldn’t see my indecision. I should go with him, but I was actually having fun with Tucker. He wasn’t as bad as I’d thought.

“It looked pretty crowded earlier. I’ll just come find you guys later.” I bit my lip, waiting for his reaction.

His eyes darkened, and his jaw clenched. “Fine.” He turned and walked away before I could say anything else.

“You could have gone with him.”

I met Tucker’s gaze and saw the surprise in his eyes. I guess I had shocked all of us with my choice.

“I promised you tonight.” I tried to push away the dread. I needed to prove to myself that I could survive on my own. I knew I would hear about it when I got back to our room tonight, but for right now, I wanted to enjoy the evening.

☼ ☼ ☼

None of the girls said anything about my choice to hang out with Tucker, which shocked me. At the very least, I was expecting a verbal beat down from Alexis, but nothing was said. I kept waiting for it even as we changed into our pajamas and figured out the sleeping situation, but it never got brought up.

I was lying next to Mckayla on the bed, drifting to sleep, when Talia broke the silence. “Tonight was not forgotten, missy.”

I sighed and sank farther into my pillow.