Page 91 of Forgotten Prejudice

“Fine,” I sighed. “I do miss drinking and getting high, but it’s part of staying clean. You know? Sobriety is one heck of a bitch but totally worth it.”

Ash pressed his lips together and nodded.

“What do you do when you feel like using again?”

“Remember why I got sober to begin with,” I said, thinking about my kid.

“And if that doesn’t work?”

I looked at him with raised brows. “What’s up with all the questions?”

He shrugged. “I’m just curious.”

Scratching my chin, I hummed. “Well, when that doesn’t work, I find ways to distract myself.”

“Such as?”

I snorted. He was being really curious today.

“Working out, surfing, fucking.” I glanced at him with that last one. Our eyes met, and he quickly looked away. So damn cute. “Why? Wanna keep me distracted?”

“Fuck off.” He shoved me again. “I was just being curious. That’s all.” He stood up. “I’m going to get us plates so we can eat.”

Glancing back at our food, which seemed almost ready, I nodded. “Sounds like a good idea.”

After we were done with dinner, Ash went for a short swim in the lake while I prepared the campfire for the night. It was already completely dark outside, and every once in a while, a wolf howled from afar. I regretted not bringing Pacha, Ash’s pit bull, with us because those howls were scary as fuck. The park website clearly said it was safe, but in searching for an isolated spot, we did get off the road. Well, let’s hope no one gets eaten by a wolf tonight.

“It’s a shame you didn’t join me.” Ash smiled, walking toward me while drying his hair with a towel. “The water felt great.”

I pushed another stick into the fire, and it crackled, sending sparks flying into the air while I enjoyed the sight of his naked torso. “Someone needed to build a campfire.”

“I forgot how much I love the smell of burning wood.” He smiled, then sat on the chair beside me. Rubbing his palms together, he brought them closer to the fire, letting out a soft groan of pleasure.

He didn’t bother to put on clothes after his swim and instead kept the swim trunks on. Golden skin painted with warm colors, pouty lips, and flushed cheeks, with long eyelashes that brushed against them every time he blinked—Ash was fucking gorgeous, and my heart fluttered at his appearance.

“Want some s’mores?” I asked, and he moved his eyes to me.

“Yes, please.”

I grabbed the marshmallow bag and tossed it at him. “Since I cooked dinner, dessert’s on you.”

Ash frowned, hardly catching the bag in time. “But I’ll ruin them. You know I suck at cooking.”

I laughed. “Nobody can fuck up s’mores.”

Twenty minutes later, Ash proved me wrong.

“I told you I’d ruin them,” he grunted while holding what was once a pillowy marshmallow and now turned into burned goo.

“Nah, it’s not that bad.” I tried seeing if there was a part that wasn’t burned for me to taste.

“Really?”

He sounded so cute that I braced myself and my taste buds and took a bite.

“So, how is it?” he asked, eyes full of hope.

It tasted like shit, but I forced myself to swallow before giving him a fake smile. “G-Great.” I coughed, clearing my throat.