Chapter 28
Twenty-Eight
Conor
“Why do you have so much shit?” Tweetie asks, dropping his bag next to the SUV I rented.
“I have to take two of everything. Two tents. Two sleeping bags. Two blow-up air mattresses.”
He brushes his blond hair away from his eyes. “Why?”
I load his bag, making sure to have enough room for Eloise’s stuff plus whoever Tweetie invited. “We’re not a couple. I’m not going to assume she wants to share a tent let alone an air mattress with me.”
“Where are you guys staying tonight?” he asks.
Since we’re not leaving for camping until tomorrow, we’re booked at a hotel in Milwaukee. “I booked us a suite.”
He sighs, widens his stance, and crosses his arms. “What is wrong with you?”
“You’re judging me for being a gentleman?”
“I’m judging you for not seeing what’s right in front of you.”
I lean against the truck. “Let me guess. Your guest is staying in your single room tonight and you’ll be sharing not only a tent, but probably a sleeping bag with her?”
He shakes his head. “Nah, I’m riding solo.”
“You said you were bringing someone?”
Henry pulls into the alleyway.
Tweetie chuckles. “That was just so you’d ask Eloise. Why would I bring someone for an entire weekend?”
I scowl at him. “I’m not Henry. I don’t need to be tricked.”
He shrugs. “Then make your move, Romeo.”
“It’s complicated.” Tweetie doesn’t need to know all the details of what’s going on with Eloise and me, but now that it’s over with her and Tristan, I’m having a hard time judging whether she’s ready to start something new or not.
Ruby walks out on the loading dock from the back of Peeper’s Alley, her apron secured around her waist. “This isn’t your parking lot.”
“We’re just packing up for a trip. You can fill the back room because we’ll all be gone,” Tweetie says.
“That includes that blonde?” She eyes me.
“You have a problem with Eloise?” Tweetie asks, hitting me in the stomach with the back of his hand. “Your boy here is too scared to make a move.”
“This is the runaway bride no one has brought down to meet me?” Ruby doesn’t look impressed. Of course, when does she ever?
Maybe it’s because the weather’s been so nice, but we haven’t been hanging around Peeper’s as much these days.
“You haven’t met her yet?” Tweetie asks, hitting me in the stomach again.
I step away from him. “Sorry, Rubes. She’ll be down here soon. I’ll introduce you.”
She sits on an empty keg and lifts her chin at Jade and Henry when they step out of their SUV.
“Hey, Ruby,” Henry says.
“Did you know Pinkie never introduced Eloise to Ruby?” Tweetie tattles as if Henry is our dad. I mean, his nickname is Daddy, but it’s just that, a nickname.
“Oh, you’ll love her,” Jade says, walking up to Ruby. “She’s my best friend.”
“I’ll be charmed then, I’m sure.” Ruby sounds anything but excited.
Jade glances at Henry before sitting on another empty keg by Ruby. “You don’t have to worry about these guys this weekend.”
“Then can one of you tell those three young kids to stop coming in? They seem to think that room is theirs.”
“The chipmunks?” Tweetie asks, pulling out his phone. “Are they giving you trouble?”
“No, but the girls they bring in.” She shakes her head. “It’s a younger crowd, and I don’t like it or them.”
“You don’t like anyone,” Rowan says, walking out of the private entrance from our condo unit to the alley. Both of his shoulders are filled with bags.
“Shit, Magic, you’re pretty enough. What’s all this shit for?” Tweetie asks with a grin.
“It’s Pinkie’s girl’s. Maybe you should’ve helped?” He eyes me.
“It’s mine too. Stop being so dramatic.” Kyleigh slaps Rowan on the back. “Hey, Ruby,” she says, beelining it right to her and Jade.
“Don’t worry, I got it all.” Rowan drops three bags by my car and takes the other ones to Henry’s.
“Oh, we both know how much you love it when I dote on you for being so strong.” Kyleigh and Jade look at one another and smile.
Girls and their games.
I round the truck, picking up Eloise’s bags. Ruby talks with Jade and Kyleigh about camping and how she’s a city girl and doesn’t see the sense in sleeping on the ground when there are perfectly good mattresses to be had. I put Eloise’s tote bag on the top of the luggage since I don’t know if she wants it up front with her.
“Shit, I forgot to pull out my charger.” Tweetie’s shoulder presses to mine as he moves Eloise’s bag off his and digs inside for his phone charger.
Eloise’s bag topples over, and everything falls out of the top. “Fuck, Tweetie.”
“Sorry.” He reaches to help me.
“I got it.”
“Tweetie,” Kyleigh calls him over, and he walks away.
I pick up Eloise’s book, a notebook, her phone charger, her AirPods, and all the other stuff she had in the tote. I put the items back inside but spot a stray piece of paper between my duffle bag and one of the sleeping bags. It’s another list in Eloise’s handwriting, and it’s not titled anything.
The first thing I read is “Watch porn together.”
I look to my left, but everyone is talking, and no one paying me any attention.
I shouldn’t be reading this, but I can’t help myself, especially when I see “Have an orgasm by oral.” What the fuck? Has she never come from a man’s tongue on her pussy?
“Here she is,” Kyleigh says, and I shove the paper back into the tote and pack it away. “Come here. We have someone really important to introduce you to.”
“Sorry I’m late,” Eloise says.
Stepping away from the truck, I join the group and take the rest of her bags.
“Oh, thanks,” Eloise says.
“You’re welcome.”
She wouldn’t be thanking me if she knew my dick was currently half chub from reading what I’m pretty sure is a rundown of sexual shit she wants to knock off her list. I place her bag in the truck, and I swear her tote bag is the only thing I see in the sea of bags. It’s like Where’s Waldo, and once you spot him, you can’t unsee him.
Shutting the back door of the SUV, I huddle around Ruby with everyone else.
“So, you ran away?” Ruby asks Eloise.
Eloise glances at me and back at her. “I did.”
“And this fool asked you to move in with him?”
She glances at me again. “He did.”
“Well, I’m sorry you almost married an asshole. I can vouch for Conor. He’s a great guy—when his head is out of his ass at least.”
I scoff at her. “Rubes?”
“Why does she get the warm and fuzzy version of you?” Jade asks Ruby.
“Conor doesn’t have a son whose young heart is at risk.” Ruby’s explanation makes sense. Henry had Bodhi to consider too. “If you have to hear it out loud, I like you. Does that make you happy?”
Jade nods enthusiastically, and Henry puts his arm around her shoulders.
“Oh jeez, get out all of you. I have a bar to run.” Ruby stands from the keg. “Ladies, don’t be jumping around scared of spiders. Show them how it can be done.” She eyes each of the women, then rests her eyes on Tweetie. “No picking up strange women in the woods. In fact, stay out of the woods. I’m not putting cream on your poison-ivy-covered ass.” She waves and walks back into the bar as we all say goodbye to her back.
“She’s fun,” Eloise says.
“Be thankful she was so nice,” Jade says as she and Henry walk toward their SUV.
“I guess we’ll see you there.” Rowan waves, tucking Kyleigh into his side. “We’re going to make out like teenagers while Daddy drives.”
Everyone laughs while I cringe, and I walk Eloise to the passenger side.
“Tweetie, do you want shotgun?” Eloise asks him.
“Fuck no, I’m sleeping.” He slides into the back seat.
I open the door and lean down to say into her ear, “I hope you can control yourself. I can’t be distracted.”
She climbs in. “I’ll try, but you’re so sexy I’m not sure I can.” She waves her hand, fanning herself.
I chuckle and shake my head, rounding the back of the SUV. All I can think about is that list in her bag and how much I want to be the one to help her fulfill it too. Hell, even more than the other one. Finding that just made this trip that much harder for my blue balls.