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Connor was a cousin I’d never met. I doubted the man knew that I existed. My uncle had written Dad and me out of the family history.
The door to my cabin opened and Jolie framed the doorway in the thermals I’d given her to wear. I glanced from her to Liam and gritted my teeth when I spotted his slack jaw as he stared at her.
Shifting my attention back to Jolie, I was annoyed to find my clothes weren’t as shapeless on her as I’d like in this moment. They were big, but so were her tits, and it was undeniably clear she caught a chill from the brisk morning air.
“Jo, honey. Why don’t you put on a coat?”
I pointedly let my eyes drop to her chest and hers followed suit. Immediately, her arms crossed over her chest as she backed up and closed the door.
Liam chuckled, but when he saw my face, he stopped and spread his arms. “Sorry, cuz. Uncle Ted told me you weren’t alone, but he didn’t say you were hiding a smokestack.” He whistled. “I can see why you’d quarantine with her.”
“It isn’t like that,” I said, though it would be if I had my choice in the matter. He didn’t need to know that. “Mind your manners.”
With more than six years separating us, I’d always taken the role of older brother, even though he was my closest friend. Despite my zap of jealousy, ultimately I could trust Liam with Jolie now that he understood she was off-limits.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. I’m just saying—”
I gave him a look that cut off what he might have said. He raised his hands in surrender in time for Jolie to come out in jeans with her coat zipped up tight and boots covering her feet. She stopped far enough away we formed a social distancing triangle.
“Jolie, this is my cousin, Liam. Liam, this is Jolie.”
He held out a hand before remembering himself. “This is going to take some getting used to,” he said, dropping his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Jolie. Take care of my cousin here.”
“I’ll do my best, and nice to meet you too.”
“Well, I best be getting on,” Liam said.
“Where are you heading?” Jolie asked.
“New York,” Liam said wistfully.
“Best of luck,” I said. “Make sure you keep me updated with what’s going on. You know your mother is going to be on my ass about where you are.”
He didn’t have to tell me she didn’t know what he was up to. We both knew she would talk him out of it.
“I will. You two stay safe.” He gave me a knowing look and I narrowed my eyes at him in warning. “Though I have to say, not much to do up here.” His eyes bounced between us. “But I’m sure you guys can figure out some way to pass the time.”
“Bye, Liam,” I said as he laughed and hauled himself back into his truck.
I stepped away so he could back up and turn around to head out.
“Ignore him,” I said, hoping what my cousin said hadn’t made my uphill battle even steeper.
“I like him,” Jolie said with a huge grin on her face. I scowled in response. “Don’t worry. I don’t like him that much.”
“You better not.” I took her hand because I liked touching her. “I have something to show you.”
We walked back to the spot I’d taken her the day before. But now there was something there.
“A swing?” she cried, letting go of my hand and running over to it.
I’d spent the morning cutting a log and sanding it down with a power tool to save time. Then I cut holes on either side of the plank for the rope I’d used to hang the swing on a tree branch not close to the edge, but close enough to enjoy the view.
“Sit,” I said.
Eagerly, she did as I asked.
“I remember something about you not going to the playground much as a kid,” I said.
