Page 43 of Trick or Tease

“Yes. No. I don’t know.”

“Ohhh, you are so sprung on Garrett!”

“Shush! Stop saying that. We are not in middle school.”

“Sabrina loves Garrett.” She sang the words.

The truth was, I hadn’t stopped thinking about that almost-kiss on his balcony. The way he’d looked at me, the way my pulse had jumped when he’d stepped closer. Even now, just remembering it made my stomach flutter in ways that were absolutely not helpful.

“Okay, fine,” I admitted. “Maybe it wasn’t completely meaningless. But that doesn’t change anything. He’s still leaving, and I’m still staying. End of story.”

“It doesn’t have to be the end of the story,” Lucy said gently. “Maybe you could⁠—”

“What? Follow him to New York? Give up everything I’ve worked for here to chase after some guy who thinks my life is quaint?” I shook my head firmly. “No way. I’m not that girl, Lucy. I won’t turn myself inside out for a man who can’t even appreciate what I have here.”

“You better be careful,” she warned. “Because Garrett is New York. He’s not going to come back. So, if you’re not interested in leaving, you need to guard your heart. Those Hogan boys have a way of stealing those things when you least expect it.”

“My heart is firmly in my chest and he is not getting his greedy little hands on it.”

She burst into laughter. “Alright, but I will make my man beat up his big brother if he hurts you.”

“Good. But I think I could kick Garrett’s ass. He might look like he’s all big, but he’s gone soft. All that city living.”

16

GARRETT

Istood there on the gravel driveway, squinting in the afternoon sun as Dad patted the side of their massive RV like it was a prized horse. The thing was enormous. It dwarfed my Mercedes. The damn thing was easily thirty feet long. It was a sleek gray with blue racing stripes.

“She’s a 2018 Winnebago Vista,” Dad announced proudly, his chest puffed out. “Got her from a dealer up in Albany. Low mileage, barely used. This is a Class A. We are going to be living in the lap of luxury, let me tell you.”

Mom emerged from the driver’s side door, practically bouncing with excitement. “Garrett, you have to see the inside! It’s got everything—full kitchen, queen bed, even a washer and dryer!”

I had to admit I was impressed. This wasn’t some beat-up camper held together with duct tape. This was a legitimate home on wheels, probably worth more than most people in Greenleaf made in two years.

I was glad they actually splurged on their transportation. It was good to see them treating themselves to something nice.

“Come on, take the tour,” Dad insisted, gesturing toward the open door.

Billy was already climbing up the steps, whooping like a kid at Christmas. “This is incredible! Look at this thing!”

I followed reluctantly, my Italian leather shoes crunching on the gravel. The interior was surprisingly spacious. Dark wood cabinets lined one wall. The kitchen was a decent size. Two leather recliners and a couch that they were all too happy to tell me pulled out into a bed. Just in case I wanted to fly out and stay the night in their RV.

I couldn’t decide if they were serious.

“Three months on the road,” Mom sighed dreamily, running her hand along the kitchen counter. “We’re going to see the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, maybe even make it to the Pacific Coast.”

“It’s nice, guys,” I said. “Really nice. Are you sure you can handle this thing, Dad? It’s huge.”

He grinned. “Son, I’ve been driving tractors and farm equipment since before you were born. This is just a bigger truck with a bed in it.”

I wasn’t entirely convinced, but I kept my mouth shut. Dad had that stubborn set to his jaw that meant arguing would be pointless. I wouldn’t want to try parking the damn thing, but he seemed confident enough. Maybe in thirty years, I would also find myself trying to drive a giant house on wheels.

“We’ve got GPS, backup cameras, the works,” Mom added, patting a tablet mounted near the driver’s seat. “Plus your father took it for three test drives before we signed the papers.”

Billy emerged from what I assumed was the bedroom. “You guys are going to have the time of your lives. This beats the hell out of that cramped cabin we rented at Lake George last summer.”

“Language, William,” Mom chided, but she was smiling.