17. Friday
CHAPTER 17
FRIDAY
W hen Maggie arrived at the Whippoorwill trailhead on Friday, Becker was waiting for her.
“Ready for the re-rematch, McArthur?” he said, by way of good morning.
“Hope you’re in the mood to lose.”
But Maggie’s taunt was backed not so much by her usual earned confidence as it was by pure bravado. After she’d left Oak Ridge the previous morning, she had spent the day absorbed, or trying her very best to be, in research about how Blue Harbor could make money outside of the seven weeks in June, July, and August that it was an operable summer camp. She’d pulled together a solid list of options to consider — bachelorette weekends, wedding venue, writing retreat, workplace retreat, meditation retreat (really anything that you could brand as a retreat was a solid possibility). The financial problems had sprung from Asheville’s growing popularity driving up property values, but Maggie was going to make Asheville’s growing popularity work to her—or, to Blue Harbor’s—advantage.
She’d made good progress, which was the sort of thing that usually left her feeling energized and buzzing. But by dinner time, all she’d felt was a little nauseous and a lot tired. The lack of sleep must finally be catching up with her. So, despite having holed up in the cottage all day, she skipped her now standard appearance in the dining hall, refilled Parton’s water and scooped him some kibble, and then collapsed onto her mattress. She’d slept like the dead until her alarm went off at 6:00 a.m.
Daniel won the race in a photo finish, but it should never have been that close. Maggie wondered whether maybe she was coming down with something. She really did feel sluggish. This time, it was her demanding the rematch. The re-re-rematch.
Still, when they’d jogged back down to the Blue Harbor entrance sign and Daniel somewhat half-heartedly said he’d better get back, Maggie raised an eyebrow, and Daniel’s winner’s grin somehow got even wider. Ten minutes later they were both in the cottage’s surprisingly comfortable shower.
Morning sex, Maggie had discovered, had a variety of benefits, not the least of which was that there was no danger of anyone sleeping over afterwards. Accidentally or otherwise.
And that was a Friends With Benefits Pro-Tip.