Music was blaring from a boom box sitting on one of the makeshift picnic tables. There were six tables, all made by tossing a piece of plywood over two sawhorses while folding chairs mixed with white plastic lawn chairs to provide places for the women to sit. Crystal was pleased to see that Laura had already made up two plates and claimed the end of one of the tables. "Smells great," she said as she approached.
"I figured you'd be hungry after all that running around," Laura said, pulling out the adjoining chair. Crystal picked up a spare rib and bit into it, smearing sauce all over her mouth. "Kinda messy."
Laura laughed. "Hold still," she said, using a napkin to wipe the sauce off. "There, now you don't look like a little kid."
"Is that all you're going to have? Corn on the cob and some potato salad?"
"You know I don't eat red meat," the writer said, picking up the corn and frowning when several drops of butter dripped off to hit her pants. "The chicken is still cooking."
"I'll hop up and get it for you when it's ready," Crystal said, her mouth once again coated by the tangy sauce.
"I can get it."
"That's all right, I'll probably be ready for more by that time. Hey, how is that potato salad anyway?"
"Here, try it." Scooping some onto her fork, Laura held it out for her to taste. Crystal hesitated for only a second before opening her mouth.
"Oh look, now they're feeding each other," Alex, seated at the same table, teased. The other women within earshot laughed, causing Crystal to blush.
"You're just jealous," Laura said, sticking her fork into Crystal's macaroni salad and taking a bite for herself.
"Damn right," Alex replied, causing more laughter. Someone announced the chicken was ready and Crystal jumped up from her seat. "Give me your plate," she said. "How many pieces do you want?"
"One breast would be good," Laura said, holding out her plate. "Some more macaroni and potato salads if there's any left too please."
"Sure, no prob." Crystal disappeared over the grills and returned minutes later with Laura's plate as well as two beers. "Thought you might be thirsty," she said by explanation as she set everything down on the table.
"I never drink this much," Laura said, picking up the can of beer and taking a sip. "I've had three already."
"I've had a few more than that," Crystal admitted, taking a long pull on her drink before sending her fork into the macaroni salad on Laura's plate. "So what do we do once we're done eating? It's too light out still to start the bonfire."
"Probably another volleyball game."
"You up for that?"
Laura shook her head. "Probably not. Why, are you?"
"Not if you're not going to play," Crystal said, earning a snicker from Alex. Feeling the need to explain herself, she added "I'm not very good at it."
"I'll tell you what. If you really want to play, I'll do it too," Laura said, shooting a look at Alex before the cop had a chance to comment on their private conversation again.
As expected, once everyone was replete someone suggested volleyball. Crystal shook her head, citing wanting to let her stomach settle before playing again. Laura took their empty plates to the garbage while she finished her beer. Noticing several women slipping into one of the storage sheds, the blonde smiled and excused herself from the table to join them, knowing full well what they were up to.
When Crystal returned several minutes later, her eyes were definitely slitted. Laura took one look at her and shook her head. "Should have known you'd find the pot smokers," she said. "So are you completely stoned now?"
"No, just got a good buzz going," Crystal said. "Does it bother you?"
Laura hesitated before answering. "It bothers me when you use it to hide from reality but just to relax with some friends, no, that doesn't bother me." Despite everyone else being out of earshot, she lowered her voice before adding "I care about you, you know. I don't like seeing you hurt yourself." "I know," Crystal said, putting her hand on Laura's shoulder. "I don't like it when you kill yourself staying up all night writing just to meet that deadline either so we're even. Come on, you feel up to kicking some ass in volleyball now?"
"Are you sure you can play? I mean, being buzzed and all."
"Sure, maybe it'll make the ball seem to be moving slow enough so I can catch up with it," Crystal said, giving Laura's shoulder a quick squeeze before releasing it.
"We won't be playing much longer anyway," Laura said as they headed for the volleyball area. "The sun's going down. It won't be much longer before Carmen starts the bonfire."
Laura's prediction proved to be true as less than hour later the bonfire was started and everyone claimed their space around the fire. Crystal took a seat on one side of the writer while Jenny sat on the other side. Alex plopped down on the blonde's right, passing out beers from the cooler she had dragged over while others refilled their plastic cups from the keg on the porch.
"What's that, number five?" Crystal asked as Laura brought the plastic cup to her lips.
"I think so," the writer replied. "I don't think we're going anywhere tonight."
"Well you have the tent in the Jeep just in case," Crystal said. "Is it big enough for both of us?"
"It's a two man tent and the sleeping bag is double sized so there should be enough room," Laura said. "You're not one of those that tosses and turns all night, are you? Because if you are, you're sleeping on the grass instead."
"I'll be good, I promise," Crystal said, pulling her cigarettes out of her pocket and lighting one. "Besides, I'll probably be so toasted from the beer and pot that I'll just close my eyes and pass right out."
"Just make sure you wait until you help me get that tent up," Laura warned, her nose wrinkling as the wind blew the smoke at her. "Jenny can tell you from experience that tent is a bear to get set up."
"It'll be easier for you to put the back seat down and sleep in the Jeep," Jenny piped in, having heard her name mentioned. "It takes the better part of an hour to get that monster put together. I haven't had that much to drink if you want me give you two a ride," she offered. "In that death trap you drive?" Laura asked. "Not a chance. It's one thing to get bounced around all over the place sober but it's something else entirely to do it with a belly full of beer."
"That's true," Jenny said. "I certainly wouldn't want you to ruin the seats by throwing up or anything."
"It'd probably be an improvement, Doc," Crystal joked. "When are you going to break down and buy a decent car?"
"The day our dear Laura can walk past a mess without stopping to clean it up."
"I guess that means you'll have that Thing until it falls apart then."
"Hey," Laura said, doing her best to look wounded. "How did I get in the middle of this?"
"You're in the middle, that's why," Crystal said, nudging the writer with her elbow.
"So Laura," Alex said. "Tell us about the story you're working on. Is it another one with Bobbie the detective?"
Laura finished taking a sip of her beer before nodding. "Yes, it'll be the third in the Bobbie series."
"Are you going to finally let her have a girlfriend this time?"
"I think so. At least I have her having a strong attraction. Whether it turns into love or not I haven't decided yet."
"Oh you have to," Crystal piped in. "With lots of romance and passion."
"Yeah, especially the passion," Alex said. "I want at least three good sex scenes."
"Love scenes," Laura corrected. "And I haven't decided about that either. I'll see how it develops. I heard you were involved in that high speed chase last week."
"Oh yeah," the cop said. "It was the weirdest thing. I pulled the twit over for a broken taillight but when I ran the plate it came back to a different car. Turned out the guy worked for a chop shop and was in the middle of transporting the car there when I came up behind him." Alex carried the discussion for a while before the subject changed yet again and someone else picked up the conversational ball.