"Yeah, I don't think that technically counts," I added.
I had finally agreed to go on a trip to Lane's cabin in the Smoky Mountains with them for New Years. Now that Gabby was bailing on us, it meant it would just be the four of us going now.
Hell no. That was not happening.
The trip was not about to turn into some double date weekend trip.
I had to nip this shit in the bud real quick. "Since Gabby isn't going now, I'll just stay back too," I announced to the table, bringing everyone's attention my way. Apparently my canceling was now more intriguing than a cougar girl fight. "Why don't you two," my hand went back and forth between Cora and Lane, "go have yourselves a nice little romantic holiday together."
"Hell no," Gabby stretched out the two words, "you are not getting out of this." Her bony finger pointed my way. "You have to go have some fun for me since I will be stuck in freaking hell." I rubbed my hands together noticing the sweat already forming around them. Gabby was high if she thought I was going on this trip without her.
"Wait a minute now," Lane called out. "This romantic getaway weekend sounds kinda kinky and I like it. What does a romantic weekend entail exactly? Does it mean I get laid frequently? If so, count me in." He grabbed Cora's head bringing her cheek to his lips before giving her a kiss.
"Shut it, Lane," Gabby scolded. "Daisy is not bailing."
"Daisy isn't bailing on what?" The familiar husky voice came out of freaking nowhere behind me. Damnit! I swear he was some sort of freak hybrid with weird ESP that told him exactly when to show up and dip into conversations he didn't need to be in. The chair next to me shrilled against the floor and Keegan turned it backwards, flopping down on it with his legs straddling the back of the chair. He turned directly towards me with raised eyebrows awaiting my answer.
"She's trying to get out of going this weekend because I have to bail and attend the Annual Douglas New Year’s Party," Gabby tattled, making me want to strangle her tiny petite frame. Sometimes, I loved the girl yet other I wanted to wring her neck. I knew Keegan would eventually find out I bailed but I was counting on it happening when he was in the car heading there and too late to sweet talk me into going.
His face went sour. "The fuck you aren't going. You can't leave me alone with these two assholes."
"I'm sure Piper would be happy to go with you. Then you won't feel so alone," I quickly rebutted. That girl would walk on the damn sun without her beloved high heels if Keegan told her it would turn him on.
"Hell no," blurted out of Cora's mouth at the same time as "fuck that" bellowed from Lane's.
"Friends don't stick other friends with Piper Douglas," Cora said, applying lip-gloss. "Otherwise, you will have to come sneak me in beauty products in prison.”
"All of you guys can just shut the hell up now because I am going to be the tortured person who is going to be stuck with Piper," Gabby mumbled, frowning.
"Fuck, I forgot you two were related," Lane chucked over at Gabby, and she kicked his shin.
"I'm not related to that evil troll," she protested, clearly annoyed. "Just because your mom starts banging her boss doesn't mean you automatically become related to all his uptight family members."
"Daisy," Keegan said my name softly. "You're going," he demanded, "and we are going to have a fuckload of fun."
I shook my head. "It might be. …weird." Might be? Hell, it WAS going to be weird. Sure, I see him almost every day when he takes me back and forth to school and we've shared a bed a few times too many, but we were actually going to be by ourselves, unsupervised and most likely drinking. I was going to be toast on this trip.
"It's settled. Daisy will be there," Keegan proclaimed to the table. Grabbing a carrot from my tray and tossing it into his mouth, he moved in way too close for comfort. "Don't forget your bathing suit for the hot tub," he breathed into my ear. Goosebumps immediately popped up on every inch of my body. He chucked, noticing his effect on me. "I can't wait to see that tight little body barely covered for me." He finished the last word, got up and walked away from the table.
CHRISTMAS MUSIC played in the background as I stood on my tiptoes, grabbing two mugs from the top shelf of the kitchen cabinet and setting them down on the counter in front of me. I poured the hot chocolate, then added my final touches: nine marshmallows, hot fudge and chocolate chips (in that exact order.)