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ChapterThirty
SPENCER
Tess spins around just as Milo, Caden, and Troy come barreling around the corner. They’ve got sloppy grins on their faces and no idea what they interrupted. We were on the edge of a moment. She was about to tell me something big. But the spell is broken now.
I’m going to murder my idiot friends.
“Heyyyy! That British guy in the kitchen told us you were out running,” Milo says. His eyes dart between Tess and me. “But this looks like more fun.” He’s got on a backward ball cap and a football jersey, just like our undergrad days.
“We came outside to investigate and heard voices,” Caden says. He shoves his sunglasses up, and they perch like magic above his brow. “You gotloud, Spence.”
“’Bout time he found his voice,” Troy quips. His blond hair is spikier than mine ever was. More gel. Extra sharp. He heads straight for Tess, but I step in front of him and go in for the man hug. Then the rest of us take turns exchanging claps on the back. When we’re done, I scrub a hand down my face. “So, what are you all doing here?”
Milo cocks his head. “You said you’re working at some camp, and there are fliers posted everywhere around town, so the place wasn’t too hard to find.” His grin is back. “Itoldyou we’d kidnap you, man.”
“I didn’t think you meant it.” I wince and take a step backward. “Especially since I really can’t go. I told you. More than once.”
“Yeah, maybe not for the whole week,” Caden says. “But how about a couple days?”
Milo socks Caden’s shoulder. “Negotiations with the prisoner kinda kill our kidnapper edge.”
I glance sideways at Tess. “I wish I could spare the time, guys. I really do. But I’m working three different jobs right now. I’ve got commitments.” As I say this, my chest expands. This is new for me—feeling important. It’s almost like I’m … bragging. But Tess is bringing out an instinct to provide. To show her I’m a man.
For better or worse.
Troy’s mouth goes crooked. “I’m sure if you ask the little lady nicely, she’ll let you go, Spence.”
“It’s not up to her,” I snap back. Also unusual for me.
Tess clears her throat, and I realize I’m being rude. We’re all talking about her like she’s not even here. And if I could reverse time, genie in the lamp style, I’d go back to ten minutes ago and lead her somewhere else to continue our conversation. Somewhere these guys couldn’t find us.
Troy twists his face into a smirk. “So are you gonna introduce us to your friend, or what?”
“This is Tess.” My throat tightens. It’s not really an answer. “Tess, meet Caden, Troy, and Milo. My college roommates.” As the guys scramble to outdo each other with theirhellosandheysandnice to meet yous,they also take turns checking Tess out.
As much as I hate watching their eyes crawl over her, I can’t blame them. Not even a little bit.
Her cheeks are flushed from the run, and her eyes are bright from fought-back tears. Untamed curls frame her face. She’s fresh and shiny and all things gorgeous. Next to her, I’m some grunting neanderthal who wants to hide his woman in a cave. But Tess isn’t my woman. And I don’t own a cave. That’s the problem.
One of my problems.
She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “So where did you say you’re all going?” She glances at me. “Or not going?”
“We have a mini reunion planned this week,” Caden says. “Back in Seattle. Just the guys.” He bobs his head, and his sunglasses slip. He shoves them back up, clearing his throat. “No offense.”
“None taken.” She offers him a half-smile.
“But wearehere to steal Spence,” he adds. “That’s cool with you, right?”
Before she—or I—can answer Caden, Milo chimes in. “We haven’t gotten together in a couple years.”
“Yeah.” Troy’s appreciative eyes are riveted on Tess. “It’s been a minute. Obviously. Lots to catch up on.”
She turns away from them to look up at me. “I’m so sorry.” She wrinkles her nose. “I had no idea.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t tell you, because I’m not going.”
“Except you are,” Troy insists.
