“Tell us another ghost story, uncle Blake,” Jake pleads. It’s hard to say no to Jake when he gives you that adorable look.
Blake smiles and pulls his gaze away from me. “Okay… let me think…”
The sun has already setand we’ve been sitting by the fire for over two hours. It’s time for the kiddoes to go to bed. Blake and I work together to make sure they do a tick check and brush their teeth. They’re comfy in their pajamas, and tucked into one of the pop-out tent beds. They love sleeping together, and they only get to do so when they’re camping so they’re pretty excited.
“Okay, right to sleep,” I say as I tuck them in. “No chatting, okay?”
“Okay, auntie Maeve,” Jake says – he’s so damn sweet.
Blake shuffles his way in rudely and takes over. He turns on the mattress heater, tucks them in and kisses them both on the cheek – it’s very sweet. He can be a jerk, but he has his moments.
“So, um… I think I’m just going to go to bed and read my book,” I tell him, reaching into the cabinet under my bed for my pajamas. I’ve brought a thick onesie sleeper, super warm, and totally not sexy. The book I’m reading is kind of a bore, but it beats sitting awkwardly at the campfire with Blake.
“Really?” he says. “Doesn’t surprise me. I bet you go to bed every night at nine-thirty, after you brush your teeth, floss, wash your face, put on your face cream, and stick in your retainer, of course.”
God… he infuriates meso much. I hate that he knows me so well – he’s pegged me perfectly. Everyone knows I’ve worn adult braces – my smile has completely changed. I had too many teeth for the size of my mouth; I had lots of crowding and two or three teeth stuck out at odd angles. I’ve always been really self-conscious about it, but we could never afford braces. It wasn’t a consideration until I met Peter, when he suggested I get braces, and offered to help me pay for them. I don’t regret it – I have a perfect smile now.
“Actually, it’s usually ten-thirty. Must be the fresh air wearing me out.” I smirk. “Or maybe it’s just me trying desperately to get away from my present company.”
He slaps a hand against his heart. “Touché.”
“Stop acting like you know me so well,” I scoff.
“But I do.”
I shrug, aggravated beyond words. “On second thought, I think I’ll have a beer and go sit by the fire.”
He smiles playfully, and I want to slap that grin right off his face. “You drink beer?” he asks.
“I do.” I actually don’t – I don’t know what I’m trying to prove. Maybe I’m just trying to show him that he doesn’t know me as well as he thinks he does.
I grab a beer from the refrigerator, trudge outside in a huff, pad over to the fire, and slap my rear into my folding chair. The fire is almost dead, and I throw in a log. I shake it up with a stick, willing it to grow strong and warm me – it’s freezing out here.
“Wait, let me,” he says. He positions the logs and sticks just so, and next thing you know, large hot flames reach into the dark sky. Such a show-off.
He takes a seat next to me. “Sorry, I can’t help it,” he says. “I like teasing you. Always have.”
“I know.”
“I don’t know why…” he goes on. “I’m not like this with other women… just you.”
I smile. “Lucky me.”
I take a sip of my beer – it’s disgusting. I’ll need to inconspicuously drain it on the ground without him noticing.
“I think it’s because you’re so prissy, Freckles. You always have been. You walk around thinking you’re better than everyone else—”
“I don’t,” I argue. “I don’t think I’m better than everyone else.” Why would he even say that? Is that how he sees me?
He shrugs and pokes the fire. “You say that but… you’re too good for this town, right?”
“I’m not…”
“Probably why you moved away.”
My body tenses and my heart gets away from me. How dare he? He knows more than anyone why I moved away – he was there.
“Uh… don’t you think it had more to do with you breaking my heart, and what happened…” my words trail off. It’s the last thing I want to talk about.
