Page 46 of The Other Half

“Yeah. It’s pretty cool seeing a deer my grandpa shot decades ago.” I gestured to the big buck. “He and my dad taught me everything I know about hunting and fishing, so I always feel like he’s still with me when I’m out there in the quiet. My dad still hunts and fishes with me when they come up to visit a couple times a year.”

“That’s awesome.”

“What about your parents? Do you still see them?”

It felt like the air got sucked out of the room. A heavy weight settled over her shoulders as her eyes dropped to the ground. “No. They died.”

Shit. Way to go, Jake.

“I’m so sorry, Cassie. I didn’t know.”

“No, don’t apologize. You couldn’t have known.”

“What happened?”

Silence settled between us and I instantly regretted the question. Pain saturated the depths of her eyes and I wanted to reach out and pull her into my arms.

“I can’t really talk about it. I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be sorry. I am. I shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry, Cassie.”

Pursing her lips, she forced a smile. We both shifted, and my eyes dropped to the wine bottle she clutched in her hand. It didn’t go unnoticed, and she hoisted it up in the air.

“Wine?”

“God, yes.” I laughed, blowing out the breath I’d been holding. “Opener’s in the kitchen.”

We walked in together and I uncorked the bottle.

“I don’t have wine glasses. I just realized that.”

“No worries. These will work.” She gestured to the coffee mugs upside down on the drying towel beside the sink. Grabbing each by the handle, she flipped them up and held them out. I poured the red wine into the cups, stopping when they were nearly full. When she turned them around, her eyebrows shot to her hairline when she read the fishing quotes on them. Each cup had a man holding a fishing rod, and each had a different saying.

“Which one do you want? ‘I’m a Hooker’ or ‘I fish so I don’t choke people’?”

“I’ll take ‘I fish so I don’t choke people.’ It’s funny cuz it’s true.”

Bursting into laughter, she handed me the mug. When she lifted the “I’m a Hooker” mug to her lips I nearly doubled over in laughter.

“At least the fish is pink on this one.” She gestured to the pink fish dangling beside the word ‘hooker.’ “I like pink.”

“I noticed. Your cabin looks like a bubblegum machine exploded in there.”

She glared. “It’s better than camo.”

“You know they make pink camo, right? Maybe we could try that out.”

She pulled a face. “The only way I’m wearing pink camo is if someone dresses me in it after I’m dead.”

“Well now I’m definitely getting you pink camo.” My grin widened, and her glare narrowed. “You hungry? Ready to try some fresh-caught fish?”

“I am.”

“Come on, I’ve got the grill going outside.”

We walked together with Hank leading the way out onto the porch. The smoke from the grill drifted up into the amber sky.

“Wow. It’s gorgeous out here, Jake!”