Grant pointed ahead. “Alison and I come here a lot; we’ve used the trail up ahead before. There are even a few benches we can use to make things more comfortable.”
Ari sighed. “I could really use a few minutes to sit.”
Grant stopped and took Ari’s hand. “And I know exactly what you can sit on.”
Pulling her hand out of his, Ari’s face turned white. Grant gave her a wink and started walking.
Josh and I came to a stop next to Ari.
“Did he just? I mean … was he talking about the bench or was he talking about …”
Josh turned to Ari. “I can tell you he was not talking about sitting on the bench and if Jeff had heard him, I’m pretty sure he’d be flat on the ground right now.”
Covering her mouth, Ari gagged. “Ewe. Gross. Yuk! Who says something like that to a married woman with her husband nearby? And a pregnant woman at that.”
A look of horror swept across her face. She spun on her heels and pointed to me. “What in the fuck, Heather!”
“What?”
“They’re swingers!”
I laughed and shook my head. “Have you gone mad? What makes you think they’re swingers?”
Her mouth was wide open and her eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head. “Think about it! The things they’ve been saying. The way Alison keeps flirting with Gunner and Jeff, and Grant doesn’t say a damn word. He asked Ellie a few minutes ago if she’s excited. She had no idea what he was talking about and just shrugged and said yes! They think we’re swingers!”
Josh laughed as he started up the trail and we followed alongside him. “Okay, hold on. Maybe we’re reading this all wrong. Heather, did they say anything to you at all?”
My eyes widened in horror. “No! Do you honestly think if they had told me they were swingers I’d even go to their campsite? I didn’t even invite them on this hike— they invited themselves. I wanted to get away from her because she was flirting with you.”
“Ha!” Ari said as she shoved her finger in my face.
Pushing it way, I kept talking. “I mentioned the hike and Alison said she’d always wanted to … oh no.” Heather’s hands covered her mouth.
“What? Oh no, what?” Ari asked in a panicked voice.
I swallowed hard as I dropped my hands to my side. “Well, she giggled and told Grant she knew her vibe was straight on. I didn’t know what she meant when she said it, so … I didn’t say anything. Then she started talking about sex positions with me on the way over to Jeff and Ari’s campsite. She asked what my favorite was. I just laughed and didn’t answer her. She told me during the art class that her and her husband had a very open relationship.”
Josh stumbled back and I had to reach for him.
“She … she asked you that and you didn’t think it was strange, Heather?”
With a shrug, I said, “Yes, but that doesn’t mean they are swingers. It simply means they have no problem talking about sex.”
Josh groaned. Ari patted him on the back. “Let me handle this.”
I tilted my head and glared at Ari. “There’s nothing to handle. You’re being crazy.”
Drawing in a deep breath, Ari let it out. “After she mentioned this … open relationship of theirs. What did you say?”
“Nothing,” I replied with a shrug. “She asked how long Josh and I had been together and I told her. Then she asked if we did things together a lot as couples and I said we did everything together.”
I gasped and my hands covered my mouth.
“And there it is,” Ari said crossing her arms across her chest.
“Oh no. After I said that, she giggled and repeated everything?”
Heather stopped walking and covered her mouth. “Shit! Shit! Shit! I replied back, almost everything. Then Ellie turned to me and asked if we were switching partners tonight!”