HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 804

When they returned to the campsite, the atmosphere was still just as lively as when they had left.

Several tents had already been fully set up. The aroma of grilling meat had begun to fill the air, mingling with the scent of pine wood and the cool mountain breeze. In the distance, Josh and Chris could be heard, though it was impossible to tell whether they were working together or arguing about something unimportant yet again.

Lydia's steps automatically slowed as they entered the campsite. Her clothes were still slightly damp. So was her long hair, which had not completely dried yet. Meanwhile, beside her, Cale looked far more relaxed. As though nothing at all had happened during the long time they had been away from the campsite.

The first person to notice their return was Josh.

At first, the young man merely glanced at them while helping Daven move several boxes of supplies. But a few seconds later, his brow immediately furrowed. “Wait a second.”

Josh's voice made several people turn instinctively.

“What is it?” Chris asked while busy skewering meat for the barbecue.

Josh pointed at Lydia. “Look at Aunt Lydia's hair.”

Lydia immediately closed her eyes for a moment. Damn it.

“Why is it wet?” Josh continued.

Now everyone's attention truly shifted to them.

Riana, who was helping Althea prepare dinner, turned around as well. Nathan raised an eyebrow and looked at the two of them in confusion. Even Grace stopped what she was doing just to see what was happening.

Josh still looked puzzled, and then his gaze shifted to Cale's clothes, which were not much different. “And why are Uncle Cale's clothes wet too? What happened?”

Lydia wanted nothing more than to disappear on the spot. She had no idea what her face looked like right now, but she was certain the heat rising in her cheeks came from embarrassment. Seriously. This was all Cale's fault!

Meanwhile, Cale remained as calm as ever. “We slipped.”

Josh blinked. “Slipped?”

“In the river.”

“How?” Josh stared at them for several moments. Then he looked toward the river, whose current appeared perfectly calm. From their tents, the flowing river was clearly visible. Then he looked back at them. “I feel like something's weird.”

Chris immediately chimed in. “For the first time in your life, I agree with you, Josh.”

“Enough,” Lydia cut in quickly before the two of them let their imaginations run too far.

“That doesn't help at all.”

“Yeah, it doesn't.”

Josh clicked his tongue at Chris's response.

By evening, all of the tents had finally been fully set up.

The sky gradually darkened while the temperature continued to drop. The camping lanterns were lit one by one, creating a warm glow that blended with the orange light of the campfire beginning to burn in the center of the campsite.

The aroma of food from the barbecue area slowly filled the air.

Daven and Althea were busy taking care of dinner together. From time to time, light conversation could be heard between them as they prepared food for the entire family. Not far away, Nathan and Riana sat side by side, enjoying an atmosphere they had not experienced in a very long time.

They kept Chase calm while his parents took care of other things. Every now and then, they watched everyone gathered together that evening.

And that was more than enough.

Grace ran around the campsite with energy that seemed endless. Josh was busy inventing a new game whose rules changed every five minutes. Chris became the first person to break those rules and then argued with Josh about the rules he had created himself.