She smiles. “No.”
I have no doubt that if I’d asked her out that first day we met outside Sweet Escape, she absolutely would have told me no. But I’m also confident in the fact that we’re not the same people who met that day. I haven’t let myself take a chance on dating since Phoebe, but something about Maevyn feels undeniable. An unstoppable force that I thought I wanted to stay away from. The last time I fell, it was too fast, but it was nowhere near this strong. I don’t know if that’s better or worse.
***
I was grateful that some of the other adults also weren’t ready for bed. My mind felt too wired with everything that happened today,and there’s no way I would have been able to sleep. So hours later, Tom gathered some of the dads, and we snuck out to meet up with their respective partners who were already sitting around the bonfires we used to make s’mores earlier.
“Let’s have the newbies settle it for us,” Katie says, crossing one leg over the other as she relaxes into her chair.
“Who gets the final call on a big expense? Like a holiday. The person who wants it, or the person who makes the most money in the relationship? Depending on whether they’re the same person or not,” Archer, Katie’s husband, finishes the question.
Maybe it’s the way I was raised, but I’ve always admired the way my dad looks after my mum. Not because she needs it. She is very determined and hard-working, and loves to look after others. I think his motivations come from knowing she’s the last person who will give back to herself, so he takes pride in doing it for her.
“I think it depends on how you combine your finances already. One big shared account? Joint with individual accounts? And then do you want to spend from the joined money or not.It’s important to make sure it’s not going to be something that one person will hold over the other’s head. Certain big expenses do require a bit of critical and realistic thinking, but”—I shrug—“if Maevyn wanted something that she couldn’t easily buy for herself, I’m probably selfish enough to want to step in and play hero.”
“What if it’s something like starting a business?” Tom adds. “That’s a big investment, a lot of time playing all the roles, to potentially see any profit back.”
“I would never stop her from pursuing a dream.”
Allison smacks her husband Rhett’s chest. “See! I told you I wanted to start a book lovers retreat. You should have supported me.”
Rhett’s head falls back, the sign of a man who’s clearly had this discussion one too many times. “You already see your book club girls once a month. What’s stopping you from moving thebook club to a different place now that doesn’t involve a bank loan?”
“Because I want to buy a piece of property to host big retreats.” Allison stares off into the distance with a dreamy look in her eyes. “It would be beside a lake, with a fireplace, and a library wall with one of those rolling ladders. It could have cottagecore-style rooms that authors could rent out to write their next bestsellers.”
“You just want to get paid to read books.” Rhett huffs.
“Duh. Who doesn’t?”
“If there’s dark romance, you could sign Westley up,” Maevyn says, looking over at me with a smile.
“Westley! You read romance?” Allison gasps.
“Dude. Did you know there’s like… sci-fi?” Rhett says.
“Did you know you could have avoided your little disagreement if you read a romance book? A true book boyfriend would never!”
“Thank you!” Allison leans over to me, holding her hand up for a high five.
Rhett buries his head in his hand. “I need to see a legitimate business proposal.” He looks up at his wife, who is clasping her chest, jaw agape. “Not just a mood board of how it’ll look. I want numbers.” The stern look on his face melts away as his wife scrambles into his lap, kissing all over his cheeks.
“Nice one, newbies.” Katie smiles.
“Speaking of romance,” Allison says. “Where’s the most exciting place everyone’s done it that’s not in the bedroom?”
I flick my eyes over to Maevyn, who stares back at me with wide eyes.
“Locker room,” Tom says with a smirk that has Sophie smacking his chest as a blush coats her cheeks. I found out earlier that he’s an assistant coach to our local football team, so I’m guessing that information is better kept quiet.
Katie turns to her husband, eyes wide as if to say, don’t you say a fucking word. “The kitchen. A fridge full of toys,” he says, bobbing his eyebrows up and down, while Katie melts in her chair beside him.
We all laugh as the attention shifts to Rhett and Allison next, while I’m still running ideas through my head for when it’s our turn. I have no fucking clue what to say, considering Maevyn and I don’t have anything scandalous to report, and now I’m forced to imagine scenarios where I’ve had her panting and writhing beneath me, or on top of me. There are too many options fulfilling those fantasies.
“Hotel spa.”
“Scuba-diving tour.”
Rhett and Allison speak at the same time. Their eyes snap to the other’s, both trying to recall the memories. You see the second it dawns on each of them and chuckles spread through the group, and then, all eyes are on Maevyn and me.Shit.These were not the kind of questions we prepped for.
