Anger filled my body instantly as I looked at Heather. “Well, looks like you just got your free ticket to go home.”
“Wait, Ari, that’s not fair. You didn’t want to come on this camping trip either!”
“I’m actually enjoying myself, Heather, if you haven’t noticed. I miss Luke like mad, but being all together has been exactly what I needed. I’m sorry if you don’t feel the same way.” I shook my head in disgust. “And I would never say something to hurt Ellie. Never.”
Heather’s mouth dropped open. “I didn’t know she was there or I would never have said anything! This is so stupid. I didn’t realize we were still in high school and couldn’t have friends outside our circle.”
I slowly shook my head. “You don’t get it, do you? The whole reason Ellie wanted to do this trip was because she’s worried we’re all going to drift apart, and to be honest, I feel the same way. Maybe it’s time we did drift apart some.”
Heather’s chin trembled and her eyes filled with tears. I hated to admit it, but I wanted her to hurt as much as she had hurt Ellie.
“What are you saying, Ari?”
Jeff walked up to me and turned me to him. “Hey, I think both of y’all are feeling overly emotional. Let’s call a truce, we can talk to Ellie, Heather can go hang with this couple and everything will be okay. We’ll all meet up later.”
Turning to look at Heather, I swung my eyes back to Jeff. “Fine. I’m afraid I’m about to say something I’ll regret anyway.”
As I started back to our campsite, Heather called out my name. “Ari. Ari, wait. Ari, come on, please wait!”
I kept walking, my eyes fixed on my best friend sitting in Gunner’s truck. She looked out the window with an empty stare.
“Hey, you want to talk to her?” Gunner asked.
Chewing on my lip, I walked over to the truck and tapped on the window. Ellie looked up and opened the door.
“You okay?” I asked with a smile.
Ellie sniffled and wiped her nose as she got out of the truck.
“I’m being silly and acting like a child. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the baby blues setting in late, or knowing all of this is going to be changing soon. I don’t know. Maybe it’s me being a mother has me thinking of my own mother. I don’t know, but I’m sorry.”
I reached for her hand and squeezed it. “No, you’re not acting like a child. Heather is being Heather. If she wants to hang out with this girl, let her.”
Ellie shrugged. “I’m scared, Ari. I’m scared this is going to be the last time we all hang out like this. After the babies come, we’re never going to have time to do anything. I’d be lost without y’all.”
The corner of my mouth rose some as I shook my head. “We are so much alike, Ellie Mathews. I was telling your brother the same exact thing, and guess what?”
“What?” she asked.
“It’s not true. We’ve been friends a long time.”
She chuckled and wiped a tear away. “Yeah, we have.”
“Nothing is ever going to change that. We’re going to have to work harder at finding time to do things like this though.”
“I know. I have no idea why I got so emotional.”
My brows lifted as hope filled my body. “Pregnant?”
“No,” she replied with a chuckle. “Like I said, maybe it’s some post-post-post baby blues.”
I nodded. “Maybe. Are you feeling better though?”
Her face lit up with a smile. “Yes, thank you, Ari. You always did know how to cheer me up.”
I shrugged then laughed. “Hey, do you remember the time I talked you into skipping school and we went to Zilker Park?”
Covering her hand with her mouth, Ellie chuckled. “Yes! And we fell asleep and got so sunburnt!”