“Who do you hate, Brett Bouchard?” Kelty leaned forward in her chair.There she was.Impulsive and feisty, in all her nine fifteen p.m. glory.
“It’s private.” Brett grinned, crossing his left ankle over his healing right knee. Penny chortled as Kelty’s face transformed from intrigued to hawk-like.
Kelty leaned forward. “Don’t you dare. You can’t bring something up like that and edge us.”
Tyler’s smile was smug. “I know what’s on it.”
Kelty whirled. “He trusted you with this information?”
Tyler lifted his hand and twined his pointer and middle finger together. “We’re like this. I know all Brett’s secrets.”
Kelty’s head swiveled between the two of them. “One of you better give me something.”
Brett threw his arm over the back of Kelty’s chair. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you one of the line items on my list if you sing the chorus of—”
“Don’t you dare say it.”
Brett could barely keep a straight face. “Of Photograph by Nickelback. It has to be done like the Chad himself.” Penny clutched her midsection. Before she’d even known Kelty’s last name, she knew about her hatred for that song. She was as curious as Kelty to know what was on Brett’s list. She clapped her hands together and whooped, egging her friend on.
“You bastard.” Kelty stood next to the fire, clearing her throat, and Sean’s face reddened with silent laughter. She held up her roasting stick like a microphone and started in with impressive dedication to Kroeger’s throaty rasp.
Penny just about died when a couple with a toddler walked by, and the kid tried to wander into their site to get a better look. When Kelty finished and sat back down, they applauded as she, Emma, and Sean wiped tears from their cheeks.
The fire glowed against Brett’s face and made his eyes glisten as he reached for his phone in his pocket.
“This list is on your phone? What kind of psychopath are you?” Penny almost dropped into another bout of uncontrollable laughter.
Brett’s laugh was a wheeze as he flipped to the right screen. “Kelty, that was an impressive performance, so I’m going to give you three.”
Sean pulled Kelty’s chair closer so he could lean over and kiss her cheek.
“Wow, enough with the PDA, Thompson!” Tyler scolded, and Sean gave him the finger for the second time that day.
Brett cleared his throat. “Kelty, here you go. Three entries on my hate list: Nellie Olson from theLittle House on the Prairietelevision production that ran from 1974 to 1983, Muffy from the children’s cartoonArthur, and Triumph the insult comic dog onCFCN.”
Kelty gaped at him, then started laughing so hard Sean had to slap her back to get her to breathe normally. Penny’s abs screamed, and her face felt like it might split at the seams. Brett nearly dropped his phone in the dirt as his shoulders shook.
“How long have you been keeping this list?” Emma finally squeaked out.
“And how long is it?” Penny wheezed. “I have so many questions.”
Brett untied his hair and teased it out. “Grade four, and I have fifty two entries.”
“My favourite is ‘The Todd’ from Scrubs.” Tyler ran a hand over his face.
“What the hell, buddy! That wasn’t approved discussion of the hate list.”
Tyler shook his head as he tried to compose himself. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself.”
Penny stretched her arms over her head. “I’m going to pee my pants.” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed this hard, and it was a good reminder to do Kegel exercises more consistently.
“Grab your toothbrush. I’ll walk with you down to the flush toilets.” Emma jumped up only to have Tyler pull her into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and rubbed his scruff against her neck until she squirmed then let her go. Sean didn’t even complain.
Kelty got up and went to the van then reappeared with her toiletry kit. They walked down the gravel road in the dark with Emma's headlamp to guide them.
“That was an impressive rendition of Photograph, Kelt.” Emma nudged her with her hip.
“Desperate times.” Kelty coughed a laugh, her voice raw.
