Chapter 29 Miles
TWENTY-NINE
Miles
I don’t know how she’s done it, but Lucy managed to avoid me for an entire week.
But she can’t avoid me today. It’s Friday, and we both took the day off and are heading to the family camping trip.
I feel like a little kid on Christmas. I woke up at five, without an alarm, and began packing the car. I was so excited. Hanging out with my family is the best, and camping is one of my favorite things.
This year will definitely be a little different since I’m bringing a wife…
I have the cooler open in the kitchen, and I’m grabbing all the eggs and bacon that I bought a couple of days ago and setting them on the ice. Lucy and I are in charge of breakfasts for the next two days.
I hear a shuffling noise as I turn to say good morning to Lucy.
Lucy looks like she’s ready to go on an Arctic expedition.
A giant, puffy coat, a huge scarf that goes up to her eyes, along with a beanie, and she’s holding the big, fluffy blanket from her bed.
“Do I look ready?”
“To visit polar bears?”
“I’ve never been camping! I don’t know how I’m supposed to dress. Is there a dress code for this?” she asks with a laugh as she attempts to push the scarf down so her voice isn’t muffled anymore.
“Whoa, back up.” I pick up the end of the scarf to feel how soft it is. “You’ve never been camping before?”
“Yep. That’s what I’m saying.”
I grin. “This is going to be fun.”
“I’m afraid I’m going to be cold. Remind me why your family goes camping in the fall?”
“Because we’re fun.” I flop the lid closed on the cooler and grab a mug out of the cupboard, filling it with coffee and creamer for her.
“Thank you,” she murmurs as I hand it to her.
She won’t meet my eyes with me standing so close. She takes the coffee cup and clings to it like it might save her.
“Should we talk about it?” I ask.
She slowly raises her eyes to meet mine. “It?”
“Kissing.” I notice that her cheeks flush when I say the word.
“Is there anything that would change if we did talk about it?” she asks warily.
“No, probably not,” I admit.
“Then maybe we shouldn’t.”
“Fair enough. I’m sorry I misread the situation and made you uncomfortable.”
“You didn’t.” She shakes her head. “We’re not children. I can admit that you are very attractive. I leaned over there to give you a kiss on the cheek, but how were you supposed to know that?”
“And then you kissed me back.” But my mind is focused on what she said about me being very attractive. She doesn’t know it, but she’s blowing my ego out of control. Because all I’m going to think about are her words.
Her lips twitch up. “And set your mouth on fire.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Next time you kiss me, warn me if you’re wearing that lip plumper.”
“I will.”
I clear my throat and walk to the other side of the island to pick up the cooler.
“I’ve got the car all packed besides your stuff. When are we supposed to meet your friend to get Alexander?”
I did enough eavesdropping last night on the way home to know that she’s hoping to pick up her dog this weekend.
Lucy hurries in front of me to open the door for me since my arms are full. She trails after me outside and says, “Well, she thought they would be coming either through Bend or Sisters sometime this weekend. Probably tomorrow. Would it be okay to use your car to go pick him up?”
She swings the back hatch door open, and I slide the cooler inside.
“No problem at all. We’ll get it all sorted. Where we’re camping is a little closer to Sisters, but it’s no big deal to meet her in Bend. Besides, I can get to Bend from Sisters in twenty minutes flat.”
She smirks. “Is that including the ticket you get for speeding?”
“They never catch me.” I close the hatch.
“Well thank you so much for helping me get my dog. I’d kiss your cheek, but we know what would happen if I did.”
And then that cheeky little thing turns around and waltzes back into the house.
And now I’m left wondering if she’s as innocent as I thought—or if she knows exactly what she’s doing to me.