Sage’s POV“The salad is ready!” Kehlani yells out for everyone to gather for dinner.I stand next to her, placing the flowers I picked with Corbin a day ago. The red petals cut through the lush green of the salad and looks pretty in contrast with the almonds and feta cheese that’s also in it.Some of the guys cooked up chicken to throw in individually for anyone who wanted it. It’s sweet that they respect Kehlani’s decision on being a vegetarian. I’ve seen people make fun of them and even try to do things purely to upset them whether it works or not, it’s wrong.Everyone grabs a plastic bowl and takes what they want.I load up my salad and take a piece of chicken. Kehlani has wanted me to try the vegetarian diet, I think I will try it one day to see how it is, but today I want chicken.I sit by the fire to escape the mosquitoes. Lynn sits to my left while Ryker sits on my right.Everyone eventually gathers into a circle and eats the salad.I hope they think the flowers are pretty.“H
Sage’s POVJayce flips the blond hair out of his face, “well look who it is,” he smiles in my direction, “if I would’ve known Thiago had such a pretty girl in his tent, I would’ve come back later,” he laughs.Thiago chuckles, “Che, nano?”The beauty of his native language doesn’t go unnoticed by me. The way it just comes out so naturally while I’d struggle to sound cool and collected speaking those same words.Jayce wiggles his way through the tent, also having to crouch like Thiago has to when he walks through and sits next to Thiago, leaning into his ear.Faint whispering sounds fill the tent, making me feel out of place. I can’t help but think that maybe I should go and give them their privacy so they don’t feel as if I’m intruding.As I begin to stand, Thiago sets his hand on my bare thigh. I hold in a gasp as his hand gently squeezes my leg as if he’s telling me to stay.Sitting back down next to him, I realize his hand isn’t removing itself from my thigh. I wish he would, it’s m
Sage’s POVI wake up to the sound of my alarm softly playing piano music.The only reason I’m getting up this early is so I can shower in Kehlani’s RV without having to worry about anyone having to use the bathroom.With my shower caddy in hand, I haul it over to the RV with my change of clothes in my other hand. It’s a lightwash jean skirt; I also have a black belt and a pink tank top.It’s not very ‘lets go camping’, but I kind of brought all of my clothes with me on this trip.I quietly open the door to the RV and step through to the bathroom. It’s small but very functional. The only thing it doesn’t have is a bathtub. I can’t wait until we get to the cabin in a few weeks, then I’ll be able to take long hot baths.The shower runs cool as I strip out of my clothing and lay it in a neat pile in the sink so it doesn’t get wet when I step out of the shower.The bathroom is a tight fit, but very functional.Cool water washes over my warm skin, thoroughly waking me up.In the summer, coo
Sage’s POVKehlani explained everything to me.They aren’t individually dating, they are all together. They are all with each otherMy brain doesn’t exactly know how to process this information. I’m not upset by all means. I think I’m more in shock! I’ve never heard of a dynamic like this.Kehlani stares at me with worry lines written into her soft skin. The RV is silent as my brain fills up with more questions than answers.Everyone is getting the bonfire ready while we are in here. They are probably just waiting on us by now but my body feels too stunned to move.“Please, say something,” her voice wavers.I can tell she’s worried about my reaction.“Please,” she whispers.Shuffle closer to her on the couch, “if y’all are happy then I don’t think there is anything wrong with this.”Kehlani perks up slightly, looking at me with her soft brown eyes, “you’ll consider it?”Just then it hits me. She’s asking if I will take part in this whole thing. I have questions.“Do y’all not get…jeal
Sage’s POVThe obtuse tapping that stupid woodpecker is doing pricks at my morning ears. I hate the sound right now when I would usually love it. I typically love all sounds of nature.“I’m surprised that bird is still around,” Kehlani croaks next to me, “don’t they usually move on to bigger and better trees by now?”I giggle and shrug, “I wish he would leave, what time is it?”The blankets pull and shift as she turns over to check her phone, “it’s seven.”I sigh, at least it’s not five in the morning. My dad used to make us all wake up at five every day to do our morning chores. Feed the chickens, clean the animals homes, help my mom with breakfast. I used to hate it.“Let’s name it,” Kehlani suggests as she turns back towards me.She looks like she could win a beauty pageant right now. Even with the tight and messy curls, unwashed face, morning breath, and pajamas.Hopefully I don’t look too bad.“Cash?” She throws out a name to which I immediately shake my head to.“Seems too rich
Sage’s POV “Come on, babes. It’s only a few more people. It’ll be fun!” Kehlani explains as we sit inside her RV. I shake my head, “eight more people is a lot more,” I laugh. Going on a three month long camping trip with just Kehlani is different than going with eight other people that I don’t even know. “They are nice, I swear,” she grabs my hand over the table, “and if you want to come back early, we will ditch their asses.” The thought is tempting. I love camping, growing up it was like one big camping trip. My parents are considered hippies but most of their traditions, I haven’t adopted. The only one that really stuck around was loving nature and being outside. “But, what if they don’t like me?” I think out loud, knowing my thoughts are safe with her. A small sigh leaves her mouth, “they’ll adore you, babes. I know I do.” The corners of my lips curl, “fine,” I give in easier than I expected to. It’s not that I hate people. They are just hard to trust sometimes. I grew up
Sage’s POV “Lynn, come outside with me. I need help with something.” Kehlani not so subtly laughs in some sort of nervous state. Lynn follows her out the door, leaving me to my own devices. I know I had to of heard her right. She asked if I have ever been in a relationship with multiple people. Kehlani must’ve told her that my parents are hippies and she automatically assumed I grew up on a commune with other like-minded people. But no, we were on our own. The painting Kehlani made sits in the small living room, still unfinished. I take note of the small details she painted into the sand with her oil paints. She’s painting a beach scene that she probably has stored in her memories. I don’t know how she does it, and she does it well. When Kehlani and Lynn come back in, they catch me closing up the white Chinese containers and stocking the leftovers in the fridge. “Good talk?” I tease with a smile. Lynn smirks much to Kehlani’s dismay as she lightly elbows her. “To answer your e
Sage’s POV I scramble through my luggage to find an outfit. Who is that? Finally pulling out a pale yellow sundress that has thin straps to help hold it up and a boho-like pattern. It stops mid thigh. I pair the dress with brown flip flops, simple, but comfortable. I hear more of the mysterious voice as I approach the door, slowly sliding it open to catch a peek of who this man is. “We just bought a load of food for the trip. We will probably have to get more once getting to the cabin.” Kehlani explains to the man who’s back is facing me. She doesn’t seem to notice me as she shows him a few things we bought yesterday. We will be purely camping for a month then for the last two months, we have rented a cabin to stay in. My knowledge in foraging and living off the land will come in handy for sure. It makes me actually proud to be from a family of hippies. He hums, moving a kinky curl that has fallen from her messy bun and into her face to behind her ear. My stomach does a flip.