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“Ugh, men are weird,” I mutter under my breath as I pull out of the lot in the opposite direction. We’re going to the same place, but I take the long way around to avoid being stuck behind him at the one stoplight in town since it turns red at the most inconvenient times.
Cami better not invite Nathan this weekend. Our friendship is settling back to normal, but it isn’t quite there yet. Until the awkward tension dissipates, we should avoid close interaction with one another.
Also, I don’t deserve to be subjected to him walking around shirtless in a pair of boardshorts with washboard abs on full display now that I know how skillful he is in bed.
That just wouldn’t be fair.
3
Kiersten
By the time Saturday rolls around, I’m desperate for a day of lounging in the sun while sipping secretly mixed alcoholic beverages. When Cami texts me that they’re on their way by nine, when I’d normally be asleep or at the minimum just brewing my first cup of coffee, I’m already perched on my front steps with a beach tote by my side. Wearing my swimsuit—a two-piece with leopard print bottoms and a black top that wraps once around my rib cage before tying in the back—a floppy hat, and big mirrored shades, I slipped on a simple red tank and jean shorts to cover me until we arrive. Black strappy sandals serve as footwear until I plant my ass in a lounger for the day and kick them off. Oh, and my tote is full of miniature bottles of booze.
Today is going to be the perfect day. I can just feel it.
Fifteen minutes after sitting outside, Law’s black extended cab F150 turns into my short driveway. I swipe out of the coloring app I was tinkering around with and tuck my cell phone into my tote bag before climbing from my steps. The side door behind the driver flies open, followed immediately by shouts of, “Aunt K!”
“Hey, sweetheart! Are you girls ready for a fun day?” I hoist myself in beside them. Evelyn scooches to the middle of the bench seat, and Maggie is already buckled into the far right behind the passenger seat. Cami twists around from the front passenger and smiles at me with a finger wave, and Law gives me a stern look through the rearview mirror.
“Hey there, old man. Thanks for driving today.” I clap him on the shoulder before buckling in and securing my huge tote between my legs.
“Old man,” he grumbles quietly and fights the smirk on his lips. We both know it’s a joke because I’m older than he is. He just acts like a grandpa sometimes by throwing a wet blanket on Cami’s and my shenanigans.
Besides, I can admit he’s fine looking in that hot dad sort of way. Built and broad, he has small threads of gray in his dark hair that give him the edge of a sexy older man.
“How about you, Cam? Ready for some fun today?” I wiggle my eyebrows and grin.
“After the week we had, ugh. I’m glad I already had this planned, or I may have changed my mind about going. I’m beat,” she groans and rolls her head back against the headrest.
“Me too. Some R&R is exactly what we need.”
What seemed like on Wednesday to be a quiet workweek ended up the exact opposite. Our lines blew up with emergency calls ranging from my neighbor’s cat won’t get out of my yard to a four-car accident on the highway. I felt so bad every time I had to dispatch Cami and Nathan’s rig, knowing they weren’t all easy calls.
After thirty minutes of driving and bobbing along to a few of the girls’ favorite songs in the back of Law’s truck, we pull into the half-filled parking lot at the theme park.
Everyone piles out, including Law, which surprises me. I figured he’d drop us off and go do whatever manly task he had planned for the day, like chopping down trees or slugging beers. Instead, he leads us to the ticket window.
Cami’s elbow gets caught in my palm, and the younger girls pass us.
“What?”
“Is he staying?” I don’t conceal the suspicion because something is suddenly fishy.
I hit my mark because Cami looks away and chews on her bottom lip. I shake her arm.
“What did you do?” I hiss and step around her, forcing her avoiding gaze to meet mine.
“Um, don’t be mad, okay? I may have invited him.”
My brow wrinkles. “Why would that make me mad?”
She sighs. “Because I invited both of them.”
“You did not.” My growl is an unladylike rumble. “Cami, please tell me you didn’t.”
She has the decency to appear remorseful. “I’m sorry, but you said it yourself. After the week we had, we all could use some R&R, him included.”
I toss up my hands in exasperation and
