The Vincent Boys 02 - The Vincent Brothers

wasting all those years with the preacher’s daughter.”
    I heard Ashton ordering Beau to calm down and ignore her.
    “I’m not into overused merchandise. I’ve got standards, you know.”
    The surprised laugh from Lana had me smiling like an idiot. I loved making her laugh. She’d relaxed and leaned into me when I’d tightened my hold on her. Knowing I made her feel safe and unthreatened was a heady feeling.
    “Once the Vincent boys were the hottest thing around. You’ve not lived up to your potential. You’re both boring. One day you’ll crave that excitement you missed out on,” Nicole snarled at me before flipping her dark brown hair over her shoulder and walking over to Kyle, who had stood silently while watching her make a play for me.
    “Come on Kyle, I’ve had enough of this place.” She stalked past him and Kyle threw me an apologetic look before following her.
    “Why does he put up with her?” Ashton asked as they walked away.
    “Because she’s an easy lay,” Jake replied.

Chapter Thirteen

    Lana

    “If you’re going to sleep in Beau’s tent then who is going to sleep with me? I don’t want to sleep in a tent all by myself. There are black bears in the Cheaha Mountains. I know this for a fact because I googled it.”
    Ashton threw me a saucy smile over her shoulder, “Well, I’m sure you could share a tent with Sawyer. I have no doubt he’d rather share with you than Jake.”
    I flopped down on her bed and groaned in frustration. Sharing a tent with Sawyer would be difficult. We’d been on two dates since the field party and not once had we done anything more than kiss. After I’d put the brakes on his hand slowly creeping up my thigh, he’d been hands off on my body.
    “He hasn’t offered that and I am not asking him. Can I get a lock for my tent?”
    Ashton laughed and threw another pair of shorts on her bed to pack. “Bears can’t unzip tents, Lana.”
    “Well, chainsaw psychos who wander the woods looking for young girls all alone to chop up into pieces can,” I replied.
    “There are no chainsaw psychos! I can’t believe you’ve never been camping. It’s safe, Lana. I promise.”
    “Easy for you to say. You’ll be snuggled up safely in the arms of Beau Vincent. I’m more than positive he could take on a black bear,” I muttered.
    Ashton pulled a large red backpack out of her closet very similar to the royal blue one that Sawyer had helped me pick out. The excitement for our upcoming trip made me wish I could share in her joy. But every time I tried to get excited visions of black bears, snakes, and chainsaws haunted my thoughts.
    “Stop frowning. You’ll be fine. I’ll get someone to share a tent with you. You won’t be left alone.”
    Reaching for the tiny little bikini Ashton dropped on the bed, I picked it up and raised an eyebrow in surprise. “So, I’m guessing your mom hasn’t seen this one?”
    Ashton rolled her eyes and snatched it out of my hand before glancing back at the door to make sure it was still closed. “No, she hasn’t. I bought it for this trip.”
    “I just bet you did,” I teased.
    Ashton frowned, “Shhhh... do you not remember all the begging I had to do to make this happen? The only saving grace we have is the fact Sawyer is going to be there and they believe you and I are sharing a tent. And I might have left out the fact Beau will be there.”
    “Ashton! You did not! What if they ask his mother?” I asked horrified.
    “That ain’t gonna happen. My parents and Honey Vincent aren’t exactly chummy.”
    “Okay, if you say so,” I replied just as my phone alerted me that I had a new text message.
    Sawyer: What’re you doing?

    Me: Watching Ash pack
    Sawyer: Why aren’t you packing?

    Me: B/C I’m stressing over the black bears that are going to eat me in my sleep

    Sawyer: HA! No black bears will eat you. They don’t do red heads. You’re safe.

    Me: Very funny. I happen to know that they aren’t very picky and that there are plenty of them in Cheaha.

    Sawyer: Naw, I’ve never seen one there.
    Me: Well they’re there. Google it.

    Sawyer: I’ll keep you safe.

    Me: Maybe during the day but at night when I’m alone in my tent they’ll come for me.

    Sawyer: Alone in your tent? Um, no. You’re in my tent.

    I lifted my head to see Ashton watching me as I texted back and forth with Sawyer.
    She was amused to say the least, “Well, what’s he saying?”
    “That I’m sharing his tent.”
    Ashton raised her