Chapter 30 Toucan Play That Game
CHAPTER 30: TOUCAN PLAY THAT GAME
LACEY
The Tortured Therapists Department
Gray: Lacey, how do you keep getting Margaret to agree to let you go on vacation?
Lacey: Because I’m the favorite!
Chloe: We all know Gray is the favorite.
Lacey: Yeah, because she works more than all of us combined.
Gray: Very funny.
Lacey: It’s amazing what she will say yes to when you ask (and have the coverage).
Gray: Y’all try not to have too much fun without me.
Lacey: We make no promises
Chloe: Speaking of coverage… Poppy you’re still starting on Monday right?
Poppy: Yep! I can’t wait!
L ogan turns onto a gravel road. The truck fills with the sounds of rubber on loose rocks and I place my e-reader back in my bag. Chris has been incredibly quiet the entire ride up so I spent the time reading. The past week and half, things have been off between us. He didn’t seem interested in talking about it, so we didn’t.
Instead, we swept the whole trivia night under the rug like it never happened. I told myself that my lack of excitement when he agreed to come with us to the cabin was due to shock, but after this short road trip, I’m starting to think part of me doesn’t want him here. I hope he cheers up once we get there, or this is going to be a very long weekend.
The road winds back and forth for a few miles before the homes start to come into view. Every house is large and beautiful. Between houses, views of the lake and the setting sun peek through the trees.
Logan pulls around a curve and our home for the weekend appears on the right. Wren’s car and Jace’s Jeep are already parked in the driveway. We would have been here earlier, but I had to work a half-day. Logan honks the horn and puts his truck in park.
“Holy shit, this house is stunning,” Poppy says, opening the passenger side door and climbing down.
She’s right. It’s breathtaking. The house before us is a large Craftsman with all the rustic charm you would expect from a lake house nestled in the North Georgia mountains. Large wooden beams, cedar shake siding, and stacked stone give it a cabin feel. The sage green paint of the siding contrasts perfectly against the warm wood and stone. Large pine and oak trees tower above it. Although there are neighboring houses close by it feels like it could be the only house for miles. The sun is beginning to set and the sounds of crickets start to fill the warm night.
“If this is what the front looks like, I can’t wait to see the view of the lake,” Logan says.
“Fuck, I hope the mosquitos aren’t this bad the whole weekend,” Chris grumbles, slapping his leg and helping Logan pull our luggage from the bed of the truck.
I finish collecting my suitcase from where he set it on the driveway and make my way towards the front of the house. Jace swings the large double doors open causing me to freeze. He’s wearing a backwards hat, a T-shirt, and khaki shorts that hit above his knees showing off his toned thighs. A large smile erupts across his face when our eyes meet.
“Hey, pixie. Can I help you with that?” In three long strides he moves toward me and reaches for my bag.
“Toucan play that game,” I chuckle reading his tee. “I like your shirt.”
“So, where’s Chris?”
“Helping Logan unload the truck,” I point behind me.
The corners of his mouth fall and he turns with my suitcase in hand. I follow behind him up the stone steps and through the front door.
The interior of the cabin can only be described as cozy. The floor plan is open with a stunning kitchen complete with a large light-colored granite island and black cabinets. A wooden table that sits ten is in the center of a large dining room. It looks handmade. The wood is decorated with natural knots and imperfections. A deer antler chandelier hangs above it. On one of the walls an enormous stack stone fireplace reaches from floor to ceiling and two worn leather love seats frame the space. The entire back wall of the house is glass and shows off the view of the lake.
I spin around at the sound of the front door shutting. Poppy, Logan, and Chris are all standing in the foyer.
“So, there are four bedrooms and a couple of pull out couches,” Tanner begins. “We figured Logan and Poppy could take the main suite down here. The rest of the bedrooms are upstairs. Lacey, do you and Chris mind sharing a bathroom with Donovan and Enzo when they get here tomorrow?”
“Fine with me. Chris?”
He nods.
“Awesome, and then Wren, you can take the fourth room. Jace and I will take the pullout couches in the rec room.”
The group disperses to claim their beds. Chris follows me up the staircase, holding both of our bags. Our room is one of the smaller spaces, but just as homey as the rest of the house. The bed is covered with a red plaid duvet and little black bears decorate every lamp and throw pillow.
“Is everything okay?” I ask once we’re behind the door and away from all of my friends.
“Yeah, I’m great. Looking forward to having the weekend off work,” Chris says.
“You sure?” I step toward him, reaching out to rub my hand down his arm. He takes a step back and I take a deep breath. “Look, this is going to be a really long weekend if you act like you’re mad at me the whole time. Is this still about Jace?” My voice is slightly raised.
“Let’s not be dramatic. I’m fine.”
“Dramatic? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re making something out of nothing. I’m fine. This weekend is going to be fun. Let’s go back downstairs before everyone starts wondering what’s keeping us up here.” He walks out of the room leaving me standing there wondering why I thought him coming was a good idea.
Wren meets me at the top of the stairs.
“You good?” she asks.
“I’ll be fine.” I roll my eyes. “Is your room decorated with black bears like ours?” I laugh.
“Moose,” she giggles. “Or is it meese?”
We make our way down the staircase. The boys are all on the back deck huddled around the grill and Poppy is sitting on one of the couches in front of the fireplace. She’s holding a paperback and I smile to myself when I realize it’s one of the recommendations I sent her.
“Are you finally going to read a book? I love that one.”
“I read,” she deadpans.
“Yeah, textbooks and research articles,” I jest.
“That’s only because I was in grad school. Now that I’m done and can actually relax, I figured I would start with the list you gave me.”
“Well that one is one of my favorites, plus it’s super spicy. I think you’ll like it.”
“Wren, have you ever read it?” Poppy shakes the book in Wren’s direction.
“No, I read mostly fantasy with a touch of romantasy when I’m in the mood.”
The doors off the dining room slide open and Jace walks inside. The smell of the burgers and the sound of laughter wafts through the open doors. I watch as he makes his way into the kitchen and over to the fridge. He has to be the only man alive who could make a shirt that silly look this good. His arms are covered in black ink and for the first time since he’s been back I find myself wanting to study them and discover what’s there.
I feel Poppy push her hand against my knee, and when my eyes shift back to my best friend, I find her studying me like she knows something I don’t.
“So, Lacey, you sure you’re okay?” Wren asks, kicking her legs up and covering herself with a big red blanket covered in little black trees.
“Yeah, why?”
“Our rooms share a wall and I could have sworn I heard you and Chris fighting?”
“Ugh, no. I don’t know what his deal is. Maybe he’s hangry or tired.”
“So things are good between the two of you?” Wren asks.
“Yeah? How’s the sex?” Poppy probes.
“Non-existent.” I try to laugh off my answer, but both of my friends wince.
A loud crash comes from the kitchen and my shoulders tense. My eyes flit toward the kitchen and Jace is standing there with his eyes locked on me. When my eyes find him, he quickly drops to the floor to pick up whatever fell.
I watch as Jace stands and heads back for the deck. The door slides shut and I feel my shoulders relax.
“Y’all haven’t slept together?” Poppy asks. “I mean he spent the night after trivia, so I assumed you had. What’s going on?”
I let out a groan. “I don’t know. We’ve kissed, but that’s it. He says he wants to take things slow.”
“Okay, that’s weird as fuck,” Wren says. “I mean y’all are exclusive, so what’s his hold up?”
I shrug. “We’re not exclusive. We haven’t had that conversation either. I think he thinks Jace and I still have a thing for each other. He’s been acting all pissed off and jealous since trivia night.” I roll my eyes.
Poppy and Wren’s eyes find one another.
“What?” I ask.
“I didn’t know y’all when you were together before, but you two definitely are giving off a will they or won’t they vibe,” Wren says, her voice hushed.
“No. We’re trying to be friends again. That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?” Poppy asks. “I mean you were both so in love and then you weren’t. It kinda feels like the universe is giving y’all a second chance. I mean he looks at you like he still loves you and you look at him like?—”
“Stop,” I yell, slapping her knee. “Maybe you shouldn’t read that book. It’s giving you too many ideas.”
Jace: I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. I’m here if you need to talk.