On Thursday night, I met my brother at the Springhill Suites in Addison. It was walking distance from Addison Circle which was hosting Kaboom town- a huge 4th of July festival that ended with a massive firework display. Thousands of people flooded Addison the day before to celebrate, causing certain roads to be blocked off, making driving and parking impossible. Cam eliminated that problem by booking us the rooms at the hotel. We met up right after I got off of work.
"Hey Bro!" I exclaimed. He had his back to me as I entered the lobby of the hotel.
"Hey sis." Cam greeted me and I hugged him. "Jenna already went up to our room. She figured you'd want to get your hotel key and get dressed." Cam explained, handing over my key card.
"Oh great, she's already in my head." I groaned, only partially kidding.
He chuckled. "Stop it. She won't do that without my say so..."
I grimaced.
"I'm kidding. If it makes you feel better, she's twice as nervous to meet you."
Really? Huh. Good to know.
"So we'll meet you back down here around 6. Trevor and Becca should be here around then."
Great. I didn't know Becca was coming. Maybe if Trevor would have responded to my text, I would have been prepared to play 5th wheel.
"Sounds great!" I forceful cheered.
We drove to park closer to our rooms and he helped me with my bag. I already saw families and groups walking across the parking lot towards Addison Circle. The room was amazing. It was a one-bedroom suite with a mini kitchen and living room. I had no intentions of using either, but still very nice.
I showered, got dressed, and changed into a fitted white tank that had an American flag on it. I paired it with cut-off dark denim shorts. I didn't feel like doing my hair so I pulled it up in a messy bun. I threw on some comfortable tennis shoes, sunglasses, and red lipstick and was ready to go by 5:45.
I decided to go and wait in the lobby. I walked around the hotel, passing the pool. I noticed that Trevor had made it to the hotel. He was out by the pool, sunglasses on, talking to a very tall, bikini-clad brunette girl- obviously not Becca. He had his phone out and it looked like he was getting her number. I'll say it again. ASSHOLE!
I waited until they finished their conversation before I approached him.
"That didn't look like Becca." I said, pushing my shades on top of my head. He left his shades on, leaving me at a disadvantage. His blue eyes normally revealed everything he was thinking.
"Aren't you a smart one." He said, sarcastically.
"Aren't you a hypocritical homewrecker. Where is Becca anyway?"
"Meeting us at Addison Circle once she gets off work. Helping someone with directions makes me a hypocritical homewrecker?" Trevor said, with a little smile.
"Getting her number does. Why would you even offer to help? You couldn't even find your way to my new apartment." I scowled at him.
"That's why I had my GPS out on my phone- for directions not her number." Trevor grinned.
"Oh wow! You know how to use your phone?!? Did you figure out how to return my texts yet?" I said, crossing my arms.
He laughed. "I'm so sorry Lily. I'm throwing myself at your mercy. Please forgive me."
"Maybe after you buy me a beer." I smiled as we headed to the lobby together.
And like that, we were cool again. We can never stay mad at each other. That was why I had no idea why he avoided me and the inevitability of us making up last week.
5 minutes later, Cam came down with Jenna. I've seen pictures of her, but they really don't do her justice. She's tall, maybe an inch or two taller than me, and looks classy and chic in a linen white and blue striped blouse with red shorts. She has light brown fantastic curly hair and a radiant smile on her face. They made a cute couple. My brother was beaming when he introduced her to me.
"Lily, this is Jenna. Jenna, this is Lily."
I smiled politely, and Jenna immediately hugged me.
"It's so good to finally meet you." She exclaimed, hugging me tightly.
"You too." I said, hugging her back. After she pulled away, she latched onto my arm.
"Cam and Trevor talk about you all the time, so I feel like I already know you." She smiled. "I can't wait to get to know you better."
I nodded, a little thrown off by her cheerfulness. This was her nervous? She seemed totally comfortable around me. Jenna asked me a ton of questions as we walked to Addison Circle. I didn't know what would be worse: this or having to make small talk with her if she wasn't as talkative. She kept the topics simple about my job, hobbies, favorites, and friends but it was still a little overwhelming.
Cam and Trevor picked up on my discomfort. Trevor just grinned at me, and Cam put his arm around Jenna. "Why don't we take a break with the questions babe?"
Jenna sent me an apologetic look. "Sorry. I tend to over-talk when I'm nervous."
I smiled, reassuring. "Don't be nervous. I should be thanking you for putting up with Cam. I'm still confused as to how he got you to date him."
She laughed. "He was persistent. Technically, he wasn't part of my group anymore, but it's my general rule not to date participants of my anger management class."
"Especially not dropouts." Trevor joked.
"No. Not graduates either. Most of them are still on some type of probation." She laughed. "After a few weeks, he told me if I went to coffee with him one time, he would stop pestering me. I'm so glad I did." She smiled up at Cam. He bent down to give her a kiss on the lips.
I smiled at them. "Sure he didn't slip you something in your coffee?" I quipped. Cam just chuckled.
Trevor elbowed me.
I nudged him back.
Since Becca was joining us, we decided to stay close to the main stage and food vendors so she could find us easily. We went ahead and ordered food. Jenna picked street Italian food with a chicken and cheese panini and cannoli chips. I went for Cuban food with deep-fried Cuban rolls and plantain chips. One of Cam's favorite restaurants is Texas de Brazil, so I was not surprised he got their plate that had Brazilian sausage, sirloin, and chicken with bacon. Trevor went for classic festival food with a turkey leg. We found an empty table, close enough to hear the music from the 36th Infantry Division Band. Jenna and I hold down the seats while Cam and Trevor go get us drinks. I told Trevor I would forgive him if he got me a beer. He did better and bought me a huge margarita. Even if I was still mad at him, I would have forgiven him on the spot.
We were eating, talking, and having a terrific time when Trevor got a call from Becca. He answered it and explained where we were. I swear, not even 2 minutes later, she was calling back. After trying to explain it to her again, Trevor got up to go find her.
"So I guess she follows directions as well as she follows TV shows?" I tilted my head at him, questioningly.
"Be nice or I'm going to tell her you have permanent PMS." Trevor smiled at me, before jogging off.
"Don't think much of his girlfriend?" Jenna asked me.
"She's not his girlfriend, but I generally try not to think of them at all until they've been around for at least 2 months." I responded.
Cam shook his head at that. 20 minutes later, Trevor and Becca returned. She was carrying a plate of nachos and a water bottle. Trevor had a cup of fruit and funnel cake fries. After they sit down, he gave the fruit to Becca and offered to share his fries with me. I declined, figuring he should be sharing his dessert with his date.
"Are you worried about gaining weight?" Trevor asked me, bluntly.
Becca gasped and looked at Trevor, horrified.
"No... Why? Should I be???" I peered at him in surprise.
"No. I noticed you haven't been eating any sweets. Just curious." Trevor replied.
Cam gave me a concerned look.
"Not everyone has a sweet tooth like you Trevor. It's supposed to be a sometimes food." Jenna commented.
Becca giggled. "I know. He eats whatever he wants and doesn't even worry about it. You're welcome to my fruit." Becca offered me.
"Thanks." I smiled at Becca and Jenna, thankful for their support. Trevor still didn't let it go.
"I mean, you're turning down funnel cake. You didn't eat any of EJ's birthday cake. Those are special occasions, not everyday." Trevor pressed.
I grabbed a fry and shoved it in my mouth.
"Mmmm nothing more patriotic than deep-fried sugary goodness." I talked and chewed, obnoxiously. "Happy?"
"Yes." Trevor grinned.
"No. Chew with your mouth closed. You know better." Cam scolded.
They laughed at him as I gave him a dirty look.
"The older you get the more you look like dad. Now you're starting to sound like him." Before, any comparison to our dad would set him off.
Cam smiled. "Thanks. Vamo' a lo que vinimo.'"
I giggled at one of my dad's favorite expressions. Translation: Hurry up and finished what we came to do.
After we ate, we still have an hour until the airplane and firework show, so we go to the midway area. We rode rides together. Everyone rotated on a couple of rides so I wasn't the loner on all of them. The system was working fine until the 4-person quad jump. Cam offered not to go, but I refused. When they left, I tried my luck on some games. On the basketball hoop, I spent $10, but I made the shot and won an oversized Mavericks plush ball. The guy running the game was nice enough to take my picture with it. I posted it on social media immediately with the caption:
ALL I DO IS WIN! WIN! WIN! NO MATTER WHAT!
When I joined back up with them, Trevor looked at my ball in disbelief.
"Where did you get that from?"
"I won it!" I said, dancing around with it arrogantly. "While you were riding rides, I was putting in work son!"
He laughed at me. "Let's go. I want one too."
I led him to the same game. The guy remembered me and confirmed I made the shot. Trevor spends $20 before he gives up. Cam doesn't even try. He believed the games are rigged and a waste of money. Trevor does win a dart-throwing game. He won a little stuffed turtle. I snickered at it when he gives it to Becca.
"Shut up Lily." Trevor said with a grin.
I laughed. "I didn't say anything. Besides, size doesn't matter, right Becca?"
