“We were married eight months later,” Corey said. “Everyone thought we were too young to be married at twenty-two years old, barely knowing each other. Our friends—”
“Your friends—”
Corey chuckled. “Fine, my friends placed bets on how soon we’d be divorced.”
“But here we are, twenty years and four kids later.”
Tears pricked my eyes. Their happiness was almost as blinding as the sun.
“That’s a beautiful story,” Joey murmured. “Incredible really.”
Andrea grinned at him. “When you know, you know, and I knew the second my eyes landed on him across that quad he was meant for me. Sometimes life is crazy and happens that way.” She gestured to the two of us, her smile widening. “Like you two. You two remind me of us. All your sweet smiles and holding on to each other with those lovey-dovey looks. That’s why I wanted to take your picture so badly, so you can remember how you feel together right now. Whatever you feel right now, don’t lose it, because daily life will try to tug at it until you’ve forgotten this feeling.”
I turned away to wipe away my tears. Maybe she wasn’t clairvoyant with other people like she’d been in her own relationship. We weren’t them. We couldn’t be.
I couldn’t find the words to explain and I wouldn’t. No way would I pop her happy little bubble with the truth, and besides, I’d most likely never see this couple again.
Although I had no doubt the impression she left was something I’d remember forever.
“Thank you,” Joey said, his voice gravelly like he was thinking the same as me. As the path widened, he stepped to my side and took my hand, giving me a gentle squeeze before settling his hand at my lower back. “That’s sweet of you.”
Andrea shrugged again. “It’s the truth. And hey, since we’re staying at the same campsite. Want to join us for drinks later? I have bottles of wine in our cooler that need to get emptied before the ice melts.”
She had me at drinks. Wine was a no-brainer.
I glanced at Joey for confirmation.
“We’d like that,” he confirmed.
The rest of the hike lasted two hours. We spent the time walking with Andrea and Corey, laughing. Eventually, Corey asked Joey if he was the Joey Taylor he thought he was. Turned out Corey grew up in Michigan, a huge hockey fan, before he and Andrea met in college at Purdue. We talked about our upcoming trip, our plans for Michigan and he gave us restaurants to stop at and enjoy at Mackinac Island and Grand Rapids.
By the time our hike was done and we trudged back to camp in need of a wash-up and food before meeting them later, Andrea and I had exchanged numbers, she’d followed me on TikTok, and I felt like I’d known her forever.
I was tipsy on wine and high on life as Joey and I stumbled back to the RV. We’d spent hours with Andrea and Corey, and despite the twenty-year age differences between us, I’d decided she was my new big sister and I wanted to be her when I grew up. With them currently living in Minnesota, I had no idea when our paths would cross, if ever again in person, but I had no doubt Andrea would keep in touch.
I was still laughing at the stories she’d shared of her children when we reached our van.
“I like them,” I said, still giggling as we stepped inside.
“I do too. They’re good people. But mostly, I like you,” Joey said.
I spun slowly until I faced him. His tone was so serious, his expression so intense, I immediately sobered.
I wasn’t quite sure like was what he meant.
“Good.” I nodded. “I like you too.” I tried for aloof, but based on the predatory gleam in his eyes, I failed.
“Do you?”
“Yep.” I backed up as he prowled closer. Already my body was responding. It didn’t even take a touch from him. One look and I was ready. Willing. Wanting. Desperate for his hands and mouth on me, inside of me.
Andrea had given me a dream to shoot for—never let this feeling fade.
I doubted she meant this particular feeling, but if I could feel like this forever, I’d never be sad again.
Or alone.
21
Gabby
The first hotel we stayed at was in Milwaukee. Tomorrow, we’d board a ferry to take us across Lake Michigan. Yesterday and the day before, we’d slept in the RV in truck stops, able to use full-size showers and enjoy running water for a change of pace, but nothing could beat an actual hotel.
I stood outside the door, a bag over my shoulder, two at our feet, as Joey used his phone to electronically unlock the door. At the click, he opened it, kicked one of the suitcases on the floor into the doorway so the door didn’t close on us as we entered.
“Oh my God,” I groaned as soon as I saw the bed. Even better, there was a hot tub in the corner overlooking the lake. It was early afternoon and had taken us five hours on the road to get there after we left the Amish Village in Iowa where we’d stayed last night and spent the day visiting.
I could now say I had experience building a barn, but no joke—the Amish could party when the work was done.
Joey and I both woke up with the headache to prove it, eased only by the way he slowly slid into me from behind on the bed. He’d woken me slowly, aroused me at a much quicker pace, and by the time we both orgasmed, my headache was a distant memory.
But now… a bed.
“A king-sized bed,” I muttered. I could weep with joy.
Behind me, bags thumped to the floor and the door slammed shut. Joey was at my back in a second, his arms wrapping around my front. I was still gazing at the bed like it was heaven-sent and Joey must have had the same thought.
“I have loved every night I’ve spent with you in tents and the RV, but I am fucking hard at the thought of finally being able to have you in a real bed.”
He proved it by rocking into me, his thick hardness I knew so well pressed against my lower back.
Oh yeah. I wanted that too. Wanted it in a way I wasn’t sure the desire would ever die.
But first things first.
I turned to face him and stepped closer to the bed. If I didn’t get my eyes off it, I might fall face-first into it and collapse. We had plans later to explore the city, go out for dinner. I would even be able to wear one of the few dresses I’d brought on the trip.
Granted, it was probably a wrinkled mess from being jammed into my duffel bag, but that’s why irons were invented.
Joey followed my steps until he was almost leaning on the bed. He reached out his hand, brushed the fluffy, thick white cover looking as soft as clouds.
“Do you want that? Because I have ideas for you—bent over this bed. On your knees on it. Riding me without the fear of burns on your knees.”
I smirked at that. Needless to say, the bed in the RV wasn’t the softest. More firm leather we’d learned the hard way more than once.
I pointed a finger at him and scowled. “Keep that thought alive, then, handsome, because I would shank you right now for first dibs in the shower.”
“We could do that together.”
I shoved him in his chest, hard enough he fell to the bed. Laughing, he pushed up to his elbows, one of his hands reached down and he groaned as he rubbed his erection, obvious beneath his athletic shorts.