“Why are we doing this again?”

“Because it’s fun.”

“Says who?”

Eva quirked an eyebrow at him. “Quit the sass.”

“Sorry mom.”

Alistair looked around the dense woods. Matt had announced they were going camping weeks ago but he’d still been surprised when his mom had told him to pack last night. Who went camping anymore?

Matt popped up behind him, scaring the crap out of him. “Don’t do that!”

His stepfather smirked. “You have to be prepared! Ready at all times.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Al grumbled. He should be at the pool with Eden, not out here in the middle of nowhere.

“Matt, what about here? This looks like a good spot.”

Al stopped and waited while his parents looked around, grinning at each other like idiots.

After setting up camp, the four of them sat around a fire pit. Al watched as Matt lit a fire. “I thought we were going to rough it out?”

“You have to cook your own food. I think that’s as rough as we’re going to get.” Matt grinned.

“What if my matches are all soaked after the shipwreck?” Al sulked. How was this helpful? They were glamping. None of this would be useful if he ever truly got stranded.

Matt walked over and sat by him. “Hey, this will be fun, I promise. I’ll teach you how to make a fire tomorrow but tonight I want to set up camp. Give it a chance, please?”

Alistair immediately felt terrible. There weren’t very many things that Matt got excited about. “Yeah, sure. Okay.”

“Alright!” Matt stood up. “Let’s unload the wagon and pitch tent!”

Al rolled his eyes but smiled. His stepdad was so weird.