It's Pucking Complicated

What Lies Beneath

KNOX

From the minute we arrived, that guy hasn't taken his eyes off Isadora.

I recall his name. It's Phillippe. He's a friend of Eric Lowell's, and I remember when they mentioned he'd be here. The reason why he caught my attention is that I felt it even at the barbecue that he and Isadora knew each other, and even now, she's acting all weird and storming past me.

What the hell is going on?

"This way," Josh says from far ahead, oblivious to what's happening. Isadora is walking ahead of me, shoulders all hunched from the cold, and I already know she's in for a shitty experience. She must truly not have any experience camping for her not to know that she should've packed warm clothes.

God, this girl is so mysterious.

How does she know Phillippe?

I don't know why, but I have to get to the bottom of this.

Josh wasn't kidding; his tent is pretty far from the fire pit area. With the loud music and all, we'll definitely be out of earshot. Plus, we're too close to the water, so it's going to get cold as s**t. I look at Isadora again and shake my head.

"Here," Josh says, gesturing at an empty spot. At least the ground is level. "The good thing is that the bathroom is just over there. Oh, so is the water source. So, we'll be alright."

We immediately start setting up camp. I've done this countless times, so I don't really need his help, but I don't tell him that. Isadora spots someplace to place the plate of cookies, then says, "I'll be back."

"Where are you going?" I ask right away.

She gives me a look. "Do you really expect me to tell you?"

I say nothing and she gets going. I watch her until she reaches the bathroom, then continue. Josh makes a sound at the back of his throat and I whip my head in this direction. "What?"

"Nothing, man."

I narrow my eyes at him. He immediately changes the subject and tells me that the money we all chipped in for the trip went into buying mostly liquor, but that Eric Lowell and Phillippe took care of bringing the food, and that there's more than enough.

"Fresh s**t, too. Not a can in sight," he claims.

Now that Isadora isn't around, it's the perfect opportunity for me to try to figure out who that guy is. "That guy Phillippe...He's not from around here, is he?"

"Well, he's always studied in New York, even back in high school, but his family's from around here. You've heard of the Grubbens, haven't you?"

My body practically turns to f*****g stone. I look up quickly, asking, "His name is Phillippe Grubben?"

"Yeah."

I stand up slowly. I have no doubts in my mind that Isadora now knows exactly who that guy is. What I don't understand is why things are so awkward between them when their parents are pushing for them to get married.

Married.

"Oh, you should know that Halvick isn't coming."

"How'd you know that?"

"Phillippe mentioned it. Eric asked."

This is just getting weirder and f*****g weirder. So, they all know each other? What the hell is going on?

Why the hell did she say yes to fake dating me when she knew she was engaged to someone else? We haven't known each other that long, and this is news so old my Dad knows about it.

"Hey. You okay?"

I run a hand down my face. Now isn't the time for all this thinking. "Yeah. Let's just finish up."

Isadora returns. I unroll the sleeping bags and arrange them inside the tent. I've already lined the ground with a rug. It's not so small that we'll be cramped, but it's just enough for two people to sleep in comfortably. Next, we have to fill the air mattresses, but there's only one. I'll be using a sleeping pad. Josh helps me fill it up, and then everything's ready.

"Here," Josh says to her, taking the plate of cookies. "Let me put this inside. There's a foldable table there."

"Thanks," she remarks, immediately wrapping her arms around herself. The sky's already dark, so people are bringing out lanterns, and I can smell smoke in the air. They're starting the bonfire.

It's safe to say it's a cold night.

I head inside the tent after Josh walks out and unzip my duffel to search for my hoodie and my jacket. The jacket's definitely too big for her, so it'll have to be the hoodie. I walk back out and see her and Josh standing a little too close, and he tells her something that makes her laugh.

I approach them and they go silent. What the f**k?

"Here," I say, thrusting the thing at her. "If you brought any other sweater with you, throw it on, too. The more layers you've got, the better."

"Like I said," Josh cuts in, "if you need another jacket, just let me know. I have an extra one."

"Thank—"

"That won't be necessary."

Isadora and Josh both look at me. I narrow my eyes at him, then say, "Yeah, it'll be a perfect idea for my girl to be wearing your s**t around camp."

"Oh, so I should just freeze instead?"

"Whose fault will that be?"

Our eyes are locked now. Heck, I can't explain why I'm suddenly so irritated by them both. I think it's a combination of things. Josh puts his pathetic hands in the air and says, "I meant nothing by it. You're probably right. People should think that you're...you know..."

I say nothing.

Isadora shakes her head at me and brushes past me, heading inside the tent. Josh fixes those bug eyes on me, but I don't entertain him. Why the f**k would he suggest such a thing? Doesn't he know that people will be watching and that it's important that we send the right message? Because if we're not gonna bother doing that, then we might as well end this s**t right here.

"I meant nothing by it, dude."

I say nothing.

"It's not like people will know the jacket's mine."

I start saying something, but we're approached by Eric, and of course, Phillippe. Eric's all cheery—I can tell he had something already—and Phillippe's looking around.

For her.

"You're way back here?" Eric asks, slapping my shoulder. "You're gonna be away from all the action!"

"We'll live."

Eric bursts out laughing at this, but I wasn't trying to be funny. I make eye contact with Phillippe and he seems to grow uncomfortable. The fact that his family wants to end their partnership with mine because of Walter Halvick makes my blood boil. Dad looked so f*****g helpless, even though he didn't want me to see it that way.

There are levels to how messed up this is.

"That's funny," Eric remarks, slapping my arm. "Come on, let's get this show on the road. Play some games. Tell some stories. Drink the s**t out of the night. Eat good food. Tomorrow, we're going hiking."

Isadora walks back out of the tent and I make sure I'm looking at her face when she spots Phillippe. Sure enough, she tenses up, but she inches closer to my side. The hoodie looks way too big on her, but it's better than nothing.

"Yeah," I tell Eric. "Let's go."

I throw an arm around her shoulders and she surprises me by leaning into me. Phillippe and Eric walk ahead, Josh is right behind them, and Isadora and I follow. The way Phillippe looks at her doesn't escape my notice.

What the hell is going on here?