When we’re finished praying for the kids, I offer one of my own, silently.
Lord, is this the kind of church you want for me? Are you trying to show me what I could belong to if I stay?
Because, I have to admit, Harvest Valley feels less like a building and more like a family than it did when I arrived.
The sun has fully set by the time Hayden passes out the marshmallows, graham crackers, and bars of chocolate. Sticks with marshmallows speared onto the ends find their way to the fire, and the flames turn everyone’s faces orange and gold.
Romilly makes her way over to me. She hands me a foam cup of hot cider before sitting beside me with her own. The log we’re sharing is small enough that our knees touch, and I’m painfully aware of it.
When I look at her, I notice her staring at my forearms before blushing and glancing away. And then a little shiver races through her, so I take off my jacket and wrap it around her shoulders.
Vi smirks at us. “How romantic.”
“Stop it,” says Romilly with wide eyes.
But Vi only smiles.
Taylor makes her way over and rubs her hands together. “Me and the other girls are about to play truth or dare. Romilly, you and Bash should join us.”
Romilly winces. “Truth or dare? Really?”
Taylor nods. “Yep. Come on.”
Romilly shakes her head. “No, sorry.”
Taylor turns her gaze upon me next.
“Absolutely not.”
But Heidi skips over to us, clapping her hands. “Romilly and Bash, you’re not getting out of it. You have to play!”
The two of us try to protest, but it’s no use. Logan rubs his hands together with a wide grin on his lips. “Come on, guys. Don’t be cowards.”
“You’re just as bad as them,” Romilly tells him.
“Yes, but you already knew that.”
Romilly sighs. “We’re counselors. It’s really not appropriate.”
But then a circle is formed, and the questions begin whether we like it or not.
Upon request, Ryan eats a burnt marshmallow with zero hesitation. Fernanda dares Logan to sing a show tune at full volume, which he does with insane skill. Greg reveals he cried during the end of Toy Story 3, earning a round of supportive nods and one fist bump from me.
“Romilly,” Dev says, her voice sing-song. “Truth or dare?”
She shakes her head. “Truth.”
Dev’s grin turns villainous. “Who’s the last person you thought about kissing?”
Her face flames. Across the fire, Logan raises an eyebrow like he’s daring her to say it.
“Pass,” Romilly says. “And let’s avoid questions like that. Keep it innocent, girls.”
Dev snickers. “Fine.”
“She totally was going to say Bash,” Cami whispers to Heidi.
“I was not!”
