Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 19458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
“Tell me about it. We came out to the lake with Steven and his partner last summer, and I swear I got lost going to the restroom.”
He laughs as I open the door at the end of the hall. Another set of steps leads to a slightly lower storage closet. There are boxes packed around the edges. I grab one and prop the door open. “The door handle on this is kind of finicky,” I warn him, “so we usually just prop it open when we need things.”
I head to the opposite wall and search the boxes when I discover three with lights.
I pass one to Frankie before I feel a slight shift in the boat. I stumble back against the wall while Frankie falls forward slightly before finding his balance.
A loud bang fills the air as the door slams shut.
It takes me a moment before we laugh together at the intensity of the movement.
Frankie shrugs. “Must’ve been a Jet Ski going by or something, but damn.”
“Right? Good God.”
I stack the two remaining boxes and pick them up. “I’ll get the door,” I tell him.
As I reach it, I grab the handle and wiggle it about. It moves but doesn’t unfasten the lock.
I put down the boxes and continue trying.
The music outside starts up, the sounds of a remix of “It’s Raining Men” filling the air.
I jiggle the knob some more. Frankie stands behind me, still holding the box, eyeing the lock curiously. “You want me to try?”
“Sure.”
I step aside, and he gives it a go, but he has just about as much luck as I did.
He narrows his eyes. “So…what exactly did you do last time this happened?”
“I texted Travis to come down and get me.”
As soon as the words escape my lips, we both eye each other, clearly acknowledging that neither of us has any pockets for phones.
I bang on the door. “Um…Hayden!” I call out since he was the last person I know of who was on the boat.
As I shout louder, I realize that I’m competing with what sounds like the most deafening version of the Weather Girls’ classic pop sensation I have ever heard in my life.
And as I realize that this could seriously ruin my dream proposal to Travis, I start banging both my fists against the door. “No, no, no! Hayden? Derek?”
5
Travis
“Everything’s shaping up pretty well,” Cody says to me, crossing his arms.
“Are you fucking crazy? We have no food and no…” I look around the saloon as though there are Gary-spies on every corner listening to my conversations. “You-know-what…”
“What else are we missing?” Cody teases.
“I hate you.”
“You love me.” He sighs before squeezing my bicep through my dress shirt. I’d had to change a little while ago, and I’m burning up. What the hell I was thinking, wanting to look professional in a damn long-sleeved shirt, on the fucking water in Georgia, I don’t know. “And it’ll be okay.”
It’ll be okay? “How will it be okay? I’m proposing to the love of my life today, and I have no fucking ring!” My voice and heart rate both spike. “Christ. I’m going to have a heart attack. I seriously think I’m going to have a heart attack.” I put my hand over my chest, feeling it tighten, while struggling to catch my breath. How in the fuck had I let this happen?
“Breathe. Calm down.” Cody walks me over to a chair at one of the round tables scattered throughout the room. “No matter what, it’ll be okay, Trav. The ring isn’t what matters here.”
It doesn’t feel like it’ll be okay. I honestly can’t believe I’m freaking out this much, but Gary and I put so much fucking thought into this. All I want is for it to be perfect for him.
“See? Look at Evan? How can it not be okay with the twink on the case?” Cody nods to the other side of the room where I see Evan on his hands and knees, weaving through bodies, looking for my fucking ring. All he needs is a magnifying glass and a snack-craving dog to complete his look.
“He’s sort of sweet,” I admit.
“He’s very sweet. He’s a good guy,” Cody reminds me.
“I know he is.” I push to my feet. “I’m gonna go help him.”
Cody grabs my collar and keeps me in place. “No, you don’t. I’ll help him. You have to meet with Steven to confirm the schedule and make a call to check on the food.”
Fuck. Good thing he’s keeping my ass on track today. “No chance Hayden can whip some shit up for us if we have no food, right?”
“He’s good, but he’s not a fucking miracle worker.”
“What’s going on?” Hayden asks as he approaches. “And why is Evan crawling?”
“No reason!” jumps out of my mouth, actually making Hayden flinch. Okay…so I didn’t have to verbally assault him to prove my point. “I mean, I don’t know. Kid’s weird.”