Page 23 of Pick Me This Time

11

STERLING

“The others will be here in a couple hours,” Eric said as he parked in front of a small cabin on the shore of the lake. The water rippled in the light breeze, catching the midday sunlight like shimmering silver. Waves lapped gently at the wooden pier beneath a clear blue sky.

Peace settled over me. I loved city living, but it couldn’t offer wide open spaces like this. The buildings huddled shoulder to shoulder like the people crowding the sidewalks. It was usually exciting but being out in the middle of nowhere made it clear how stifled I’d been feeling. I felt like I could breathe again.

The area was heavily wooded and we hadn’t seen another dwelling for miles. We had the area to ourselves and there was a small creek nearby Eric claimed had good fishing. I couldn’t imagine catching anything, but the idea of sitting by a creek with my friends sounded just fine to me.

With the surprise of finding out that Jake, Rachel, and also Daphne would be joining us, I hadn’t expected to feel any peace at all, but as I drank in the cabin with a firepit in front overlooking the lake and a hammock stretched between two trees outside, I couldn’t deny there was something in my soul that just felt lighter.

I grinned as I climbed out of his truck. “This place is heaven.”

Eric chuckled, following me out and grabbing his duffel from the back of the truck. “Let’s see how you feel after sleeping on the couch. Daphne and I will take the loft and there’s only one bedroom, so Jake and Rachel will have that.”

I picked up my bag and followed him around the truck to the front of the cabin. The hammock swayed seductively in the mild breeze. The trees it hung between were large and it seemed sturdy enough. The fire pit was close enough to feel it without becoming rotisserie chicken overnight.

I jerked my head at it. “I might actually just sleep in that hammock. The fresh air will be good for me.”

He nodded and unlocked the double doors that led to the small living area inside. “You’re welcome to sleep wherever. Just don’t come crying to me if you wake up with icicles on your balls.”

I laughed. “It’s not even cold out yet. And I could use some quality time with mother nature.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll get you a little sun, vampire.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not that pale.”

“Of course not,” he said, grinning. “I just hope you brought your sun block, Count Dracula.”

“You know, now that you mention it, I’ve been avoiding food with garlic.” I slapped my hand to my neck. “Quick, let’s find a mirror.”

We both laughed and Eric clapped me on the back. “It’s good to see you again, man,” he said.

“You too,” I said, nodding. “Thank you for inviting me out here.”

“Of course.”

Already, I was feeling a little more centered, being surrounded by nothing but nature and friends. The only sounds were the rustle of the leaves, the water, and some birds chirping nearby. It was like I could feel the tension bleeding out of me with every breath I exhaled.

Eric glanced at me, a smirk on his lips as he opened the door. “Guess you can’t take the country out of the man, after all.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “There’s still a little bit of small town left in here.”

“I think you’re still completely small town deep down inside,” he joked, waving a hand to motion for me to follow him in. “There’s a perfectly good couch in here, yet you’re talking about sleeping outside under the stars. Big shot Manhattan investors don’t do that.”

“Really?” I shot back. “What is it you think they do, then?”

He shrugged, eyes crinkled with laughter at the corners as he led me through the living area to the open-concept kitchenette. “I don’t know for sure, but I’m assuming they look for the nearest five-star hotel and ask for a suite with a view. I don’t think any of your people would sleep out here on a hammock.”

“They’re not that bad,” I joked. “It wouldn’t have to be a suite. A deluxe room with a hot tub on the balcony would do just fine.”

He chuckled. “Did you bring those beers?”

I nodded, slinging the duffel off my shoulder and pulling out a couple six-packs. “There’s more in the cooler in the truck. I brought some other stuff too.”

“Cool,” he said, picking up the beer and adding it to the drinks he’d already put in the fridge. Working together, we fetched the rest of the stuff from the truck and carried it inside, stocking the fridge with beer, meat, and water. Then we cracked open a drink as we started sorting through the fishing supplies.

“We should head to the creek and see if we can catch something before the others get here,” Eric suggested once his rod was ready. “What do you think?”