Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
We had more than enough food for everyone. Lindsey, Macy, and I joined the guys outside, bringing our sides and desserts. Lindsey grabbed her pasta salad, and we distributed serving spoons, laying everything out on the table. Dillon and Mike brought over the meat, still sizzling on the tray.
We dug in, Macy and Dillon helping the kids with their choices. I had half a hot dog and some of each salad. When Mike asked why I wasn’t hungry, I told him I had been snacking while I was in the kitchen. Lindsey and Macy giggled.
“I think the ladies were up to something,” Mike told the table.
We adamantly shook our heads. Mike reached an arm around me and scooped me into his lap, tickling me until I shouted, “We had White Russians!”
The rest of the table watched with horrified fascination until Mike set me back on the bench. Then they began to laugh uproariously, even the kids who had no idea what we were talking about. We finished dinner and took several trips into the house with dirty dishes. I was on dish duty, scrubbing the plates and utensils. Dillon cleaned the grill, Macy put all the food away, and Lindsey helped the kids wash up and get ready for bed. They were going to put Mary Ellen down with Nicky and Daisy and just carry her home when it was time. Jason and Mike cleaned up the picnic area, and when we all converged again, the work was done.
Dillon made a fire in a small pit next to the picnic table. Macy spread out blankets, and we curled up on the ground, each woman with their dedicated lover. I checked my phone in a lull of conversation and noticed a missed call. Listening to the voicemail, I frowned.
Macy picked up on my discomfort from the opposite side of the fire pit. “What’s wrong?”
“You know that cabin we looked at yesterday?” I asked. “They’ve rented it to the other person.”
“I’m sorry,” Macy commiserated.
“What cabin?” Mike shifted behind me so he could see my face.
“Oh, it was really nice. More of a house than a cabin. Nice and secluded. It had this great bar in the basement,” I told him.
“Off Deer Tail Road?” he asked.
I nodded. “You know it?”
“I’m the other guy,” he said.
“What?” I gasped.
Everyone around the fire sat up in shock.
“Oh my gosh.” Macy grasped Dillon’s hand.
“What are the odds?” Jason said, squeezing his wife tight.
“Stop.” Lindsey swatted at him.
“What do you mean?” I asked, distracted.
“That’s how Jason and I met.” Lindsey leaned back against her beau, her eyes twinkling in the firelight.
“You each wanted the same cabin?” Mike asked.
“We became roommates, and the rest is history,” Jason said.
I blushed. “We’re not roommates.”
“No,” Mike agreed.
“You can have it,” I said.
“No.” Mike shook his head. “I’ll call the guy back and tell him to give it to you.”
“No,” I insisted. “Congratulations, you were the better candidate.”
“I don’t think I was ‘better,’” he said awkwardly, “just first in line.”
“This is not how I remember our arguments going,” Lindsey murmured to her husband.
Jason kissed her ear, agreeing with a low growl.
I ignored them. “Don’t call him back. Take it. You’re ready to move out on your own. Macy and Dillon can put up with me for another week.”
“Of course,” Macy agreed, “more than another week. We love having you with us.”
I smiled.
“You’re sure?” Mike asked hesitantly.
“Yes, I’m sure. I know you’ve been wanting to get out of your place for a while.” I said firmly. Then a flirtatious thought popped into my head, and I had to voice it. “But maybe you’ll invite me down to the basement after you sign the lease.”
His eyes lit up with a fire that made me sure he was thinking exactly what I was thinking. We probably weren’t the first couple to have sex on a private bar. Everyone around the fire laughed, but no one called us out.
“Absolutely, I will invite you over,” he said.
“Young love,” Jason sighed.
“Wasn’t that long ago,” Dillon agreed.
“Hey, you two,” Macy warned them.
“Just kidding.” Dillon squeezed his wife tight, planting a rough kiss on her temple.
I closed my eyes, leaning against my date. The fire was blazing, and the friendship was strong. I wouldn’t have traded this cozy moment for all the cozy rental cabins in the world.
15
MIKE
Ireclined on the ground beside the fire pit, Tammy’s head on my stomach. Staring up at the night beyond the cabin, I felt small. I could hear Dillon and Jason talking quietly to each other, but I couldn’t hear the women’s voices. Maybe, like Tammy, they were all dozing or lost in thought like I was.
I felt bad for getting the cabin instead of Tammy. Without knowing that she was my competition, I had called the guy back earlier that day. I wanted to explain what would come up on my background check, and he said he had seen it already. He said that he had been considering denying my application, but he would listen to what I had to say. I explained the situation, explained that I wasn’t a drug addict, that I had never been high, never sold anything illegal, and that I had been framed.