Straight Laced Read Online Free

managed to get out. At least I didn’t seem like a complete idiot this time.
    “Summer, you going to help me unpack this stuff or what?” I turned around and watched Tori attempting to pull a blue cooler out of the trunk of the car. I ran over to her and grabbed ahold of one of the handles. “Thanks.”
    It didn’t take long to get things unpacked , but by the time we were done, Tori and I were both starving. We sat in the folding chairs around the fire pit and made fun of Brent and Nate’s poor attempt at starting a fire. They took turns telling each other what to do, but even I, the girl who knew nothing about starting fires, knew they had no idea what they were talking about.
    “How about you dorks t ry using some fire starter?” Lynn handed Brent a white squeeze bottle with a red lid.
    “Mom, we almost had it.”
    “Well, almost having it isn’t going to cook us dinner.” She chuckled. Brent squeezed the bottle and liquid landed on the small flame they’d managed to get started using a small piece of cardboard. The flame shot into the air and I watched as it spread across the pieces of firewood. Lynn walked back into the camper and came back out with a tray of hot dogs. “It’s about time. Let’s cook these babies.” She passed out metal cooking sticks and we each grabbed a hot dog.
    Nate was sitting directly across from me. I watched the light from the fire dan ce across his face while he stared at the fire, mesmerized by the flame. Every once in a while Brent would say something to make him laugh, the sound of his laughter gave me goosebumps. I love the sound of laughter in general but there was something about his laugh that enthralled me.
    “I can’t wait to go out on the boat tomorrow.” Tori took a bite of her hot dog.
    “I know —me too. First boating day of the year, the water is going to be freezing, though. Mom, did you get a chance to go down and check it out?”
    “No , I haven’t. I should’ve probably done that when we got here but I was too busy showing you guys how to start a fire.” She looked over at Tori and I, smiled, and shook her head.
    “We were trying to do it the old fashioned way!” Brent joked.
    “Yeah, I’m sure.”
    “Nate and I can go check it out after we eat.”
    “All right, good. I’m exhausted, so I’m going to bed.” Lynn got up and walked into the camper. “Good night!” she yelled before closing the door behind her.
    “We wanna go.” I looked over at Tori and she smiled at me. I knew that smile anywhere. She had a plan and I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like it.
     
    ** *
     
    “Guys! Wait for me!” Tori yelled from a few feet behind us.
    “Tori , hurry up! I told you not to bring that blanket.” Brent shined the flashlight back towards Tori and we watched her trying to make her way down the steep rocky hill. She didn’t just bring a blanket, she brought a damn comforter. Sometimes I wonder about this girl, but you gotta love her, she always made everything we did together that much more interesting.
    “But I’m cold ,” she whined.
    “Then maybe you should’ve stayed by the fire.” Brent sounded irritated. I didn’t blame him, Tori hadn’t stopped whining since we left the campsite.
    “Shit! Summer , help me! I’m stuck!” I turned around and could only make out a bulky figure in the moonlight. I looked ahead and Brent and Nate were already at the dock, so I walked back up the hill to Tori.
    “What are you doing?” I couldn’t hold back the laughter any longer. She had somehow gotten herself tangled around a tree, hair and all.
    “I tripped.”
    “Seriously? This wasn’t part of your plan?”
    “Really? Does this look like it would be part of a good plan?” I had to laugh again. “Well , don’t just stand there… help me out!” I attempted to pull a piece of her hair off one of the tree branches. “Ouch!”
    “Shhhh. You’re like super stuck and I can’t see a thing. There’s no way I’ll get you out of here