Wilbur starts paying out people, ignoring Cam.
“We’re always getting off track at these events.” LeeAnn shakes her head. “Everyone, go back to a station and wait for instruction.”
They all move slowly in silence. Meanwhile, all I can do is stare at Cam because it’s sexy as hell that he just bench-pressed me.
“He’s a keeper.” Olive nudges me with her elbow.
“Oh, we’re not…”
Her eyes widen. “Why the hell not? You’re young, he’s young. Take it from an old lady. Get it while you can. These men are a lot of talk, but that age…” She nods at Cam. “All that testosterone.” She’s staring at Cam as if he’s her favorite dessert and she’s been on a lifetime diet.
I don’t say anything, stepping away while she gawks at him.
“We should have a wet T-shirt contest next.” Earl waggles his eyebrows at me.
“I think we need some fresh air. Let’s go for a walk around the pond,” LeeAnn announces.
They all groan like a bunch of elementary kids finding out it’s indoor recess because it’s raining.
We file out and it’s still a nice day. The sun is low in the sky but still shining. Cam is intently talking to one of the more attentive men who generally seem interested in learning how to be more in shape.
“Careful of the ducks. They’re territorial,” LeeAnn reminds everyone.
We’re walking on the path around the lake and I’m pushing a nice woman in a wheelchair. Everyone is talking about the weather and how soon we’ll be inside for the winter. I wonder whether Cam will still be living with me during the winter months. If he does, we’ll be spending a lot more time together. And that scares me because I’ve seen a different version of him recently.
A duck squawks at Cam as he passes the family, and he looks back. The duck squawks again and steps out of the small brush by the pond onto the track area. Cam walks a little faster.
“Cherish that body,” Rita distracts me. “One day, you’re going to look in the mirror and wonder what happened.”
I smile at her. “I think you’re beautiful.”
The duck is now on the track and following Cam, who is almost jogging, leaving behind the man he was walking with. “Um… LeeAnn?”
“Just keep walking. They’ll turn around soon.”
But the duck isn’t turning around, only moving faster. Cam’s legs transition into a jog.
“It’s just a duck, don’t be a wuss!” Wilbur screams. “Face him like a man.”
“No, no. We don’t want anything to happen to the duck.” LeeAnn’s tone turns frantic.
“Can someone do something?” Cam shouts.
“Back in my day, we’d have that duck by the neck,” Wilbur says to the group of goons who follow him.
“We don’t harm animals,” LeeAnn says.
“Seriously? It’s about to peck at me.” Cam picks up his knees and goes into a full sprint.
“Oh, he’s fast. Hopefully not in the bedroom though.” Rita elbows me in the side, and I hold my hand there to stop her from doing it again.
I smile at her, biting down my laughter as Cam runs away from a duck who’s half flying, half running to catch him.
“What did I do to it?” Cam asks. “I’m sorry, duck, please leave me the hell alone.”
“All those muscles and underneath lies a pussy.” Wilbur shakes his head.
“I’d like to see you get a hold of that duck.” I challenge him.
He puffs out his chest and stomps toward the area with the other duck families.
“No!” LeeAnn holds out both of her hands.
Cam runs by where the duck’s family is, and the other older duck squawks, making the one chasing Cam stop and head back toward his family.
“She must be the wife. Always having to tell her husband to stop being an asshole.” Rita shakes her head.
I smile at Cam as he’s bent over, trying to regain his breath. He catches my eyes and smiles at me, shaking his head. As though we’re having our own nonverbal conversation.
Grandma comes by and pats my hand. “Great job, sweetie.”
“Thank you.” I kiss her on the cheek.
“He’s a good one. Someone you can trust.” She wraps her arm around my waist and lays her head on my arm.
I look at Cam. “I know, Grandma. I know.”
And I do, but taking that step feels like the first step on a tightrope over the Grand Canyon. One misstep and I might never recover.
18
“TWENTY SAYS SHE SAYS NO.”
Cam
I lost the bet and Rowdy was way too happy to hand over the fish costume I’ll have to wear for two hours today. Charters are slow for everyone as the season dwindles down, so we’re all hoping some late-season tourists will want to schedule an impromptu fishing trip after seeing me in this ridiculous thing.
As I’m putting it on, my phone dings.
Fisher: Cam wants to meet us, and I want my basement done. Meet at my house tomorrow at nine am. Everyone is helping. We have shit to do.
We’ve been trying to figure out a day and time that works for everyone for a week. It’s so like Fisher to get annoyed and take control, demanding everyone’s participation. And I’m grateful. I want to get this over with. Still, my anxiety picks up from thinking about having to have “the talk” with all of Chevelle’s brothers. It’s bad enough that I’ve already slept with her once without asking their permission to date her. She still thinks I’m crazy, but the other night when I brought home dinner for us, I didn’t hear her complaining about boundaries. We even shared a blanket while watching a movie.
“Sorry.” Chevelle comes over and helps me with the costume. “I suddenly feel guilty about hiding that fish and getting your charter drunk.”
“Don’t forget the laxative.” I raise an eyebrow.
“Eh… that I don’t feel bad about. That girl was all over you.”
She can’t see the smile on my face since my head is in the fish costume already. And I’m not going to call her out on why it bothered her. We weren’t a couple—strike that, aren’t a couple. But Chevelle likes me and it’s not just a little girl crush like when we were younger. She’s softening to me.
“I think I’m going to throw up.” I cough.
“I know. It’s like someone soaked it in fish guts or something.”
“Not helping.” I cough again. “Jesus, what the hell?”
“It’s just two hours.” She takes my hand and guides me out of the marina since it’s hard to see all the way to the ground in this thing. “It’ll go by in a flash. Don’t worry.”
“I won’t complain if you want to bathe me afterward?”
She lightly smacks my back. “Yeah, okay. Now use that charming personality to get us some charters.”
She leaves me on the sidewalk at the entrance to the marina, and it doesn’t take long before I have people harassing me.
“Oh, who is this?” Rylan and his buddy Declan come up.