Kinsley takes my keys and looks at her uncle briefly before holding her hand up to her mouth and whispering, “Might I suggest an excellent podcast.”
“Kins!” Sam barks, and her eyes go wide like she’s just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
“Or just enjoying complimentary cookies and coffee is good too!” she rushes out and hops off the step stool. “I’ll just go take these keys to the guys in the back, and we’ll call you when your car is done.”
Kinsley scampers off, and I turn my eyes back to Sam who is smiling so big at his niece, his entire face lights up. When he looks back at me, I ask with a laugh, “What’s with the seriously adorable child labor?”
He shakes his head and pushes up off his elbows to his full height. “It’s bring your niece to work day.”
I frown. “That’s not a thing.”
“I made it a thing,” he says with a wink. “School is off today, and that one has been driving her mom nuts, so I’m just trying to help out.”
He smiles sweetly, and our eyes hold for a few seconds before Kate clears her throat behind us.
We both turn quickly to refocus on Miles as he says, “Well, let me show you ladies the comfort center so I can get back to work. My boss is a hard-ass.”
I hear Sam grumble under his breath as I follow Miles and Kate to the back. Before I round the corner, I can’t help but look over my shoulder, and my smile grows when I catch Sam checking me out. I know it shouldn’t make me feel so good because I have a plan, but damn, it kind of does.
Kate shows me the coffee machine, and we both get a cup of our preferred beverage before taking a seat at a high-top table. I look around at all the patrons with their Styrofoam cups, scrolling through their phones, or munching on a cookie. The Price is Right is blaring on the TV, but it all seems very cozy as a whole. I can see why Kate likes to hang out in here.
“So Meg, I have one more little tiny thing to say to you, and then I’ll drop it and let you go back to living in la-la land.”
I roll my eyes and exhale heavily as I wait to hear what craziness comes out of her mouth next. “Let’s hear it.”
“Okay, so let’s say your plan to win your ex back works. You end up married with babies and a crazy football player’s wife lifestyle that you’re convinced you will love. That’s all fine and good, and I hope that for you, you know? But right now, this moment, this weekend…you are a gorgeous twenty-two-year-old single woman with a hot, bearded ginger who’s bending over backward to help you out. Why not make your time with Sam really count? Why not make him your last fling before the ring? Sam is the perfect no-strings kind of guy. He doesn’t do relationships. Ever. No exceptions. You’re going to be locked up in a cozy cabin with him for two days, and I really don’t want your muscles to only be sore from snowboarding if you catch my drift.”
“Oh my god!” I exclaim and whack her on the arm because this is all so embarrassing. It’s one thing to read Kate’s dirty books, but it’s another thing entirely to have her basically coaching me about sex. “You are so not giving me permission to bone Miles’s best friend. You are completely unhinged.”
“I’m not unhinged, Meg. I’m a realist. And you’re an idealist, which gives you tunnel vision and causes you to miss the real adventure opportunity here.”
Kate’s voice goes quiet as Sam comes striding into the comfort center with his niece skipping alongside him. Kinsley reaches up and holds his hand like it’s completely natural and she does it all the time. They head over to the cookie case, and she picks out a treat and then gives him puppy dog eyes when she asks for two. He gives her a firm no and then turns his back to grab her a napkin.
She quickly grabs a second cookie when he’s not looking and stashes it behind her back. He looks over at her with a frown, and her angelic smile turns devilish as he turns her around and busts her with cookie number two. With a bemused smile, he shoves her toward the door, and she goes skipping away merrily with her two cookies.
Before Sam walks out the door, he swerves his eyes to where Kate and I sit watching him. He shoots us a sexy sheepish smile, and then with a wink, he’s gone.
Oh my heck, another wink.
Leaning in close, Kate whispers, “Admit it, Meg, you’ve got it bad.”
I realize that my chin is propped in my hands and my mouth is curved up into a swoony smile as I watch Sam disappear around the corner. Covering my face with my hands, I mumble against my palms, “Are you sure he’s a no-strings guy?”
“Absolutely positive,” Kate responds.
I turn to look at her. “I don’t even know him that super well yet.”
Kate shrugs and grabs my phone up off the table. “You have a week to get to know him.”
I stare at it in confusion.
“Text him, Megan.” She laughs at my denseness. “You’d be surprised by how powerful the written word is.”
I bite my lip and pull Sam’s number up on my phone. “What should I say?”
Kate shrugs. “What difference does it make? Tell him a stupid joke or something. Whatever it takes to get the ball rolling.”
As my finger hovers over the screen, I eye Kate and say, “You know if my brother knew about any of this, he would murder all three of us, right?”
“You leave your brother to me.” She winks and sinks her teeth into a cookie before cracking open her laptop and most likely taking notes about this insane love story that is currently my messed-up life.
A Reel Expert Can Tackle Anything
My cell phone rings, and I assume it’s Maggie because it’s Friday and she’s supposed to be here any minute now to ride out in my truck to the ski chalet, but when I look at the screen, I see Miles’s name illuminated.
My shoulders tense as I answer the call. “Hello?”
“Hey, man, how’s it going?”
“All right,” I say slowly, feeling nervous for why he’s calling.
“Listen, I was wondering if I could ask you a favor.”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“Kate and I are headed to Longmont this weekend to visit her folks.” The phone muffles as Miles whispers into the line. “I was hoping to ask Kate’s father for permission to marry her this weekend. Kate has no clue.”
“Okaaay,” I reply with a soft laugh. I knew the minute Miles bought that ring it would burn a hole in his pocket.
“Anyway, I assumed Megan would come with us, but she says she isn’t feeling well. I feel kinda bad leaving her here all alone since this isn’t her town and shit…but I really do need to see Kate’s dad in person to do this, ya know?”
“Yeah, I get that.”
“So I was wondering if you could check in on Meg?”
My body tenses with his very innocent request. “Check in on her?”
“Yeah, stop by with some soup for her tomorrow maybe. Make sure she doesn’t need to see a doctor or something.”
“You want me to bring your sister soup?” I ask for clarification because I’m a guilty motherfucker.
“Yeah, man. I wouldn’t ask, but she’s my baby sister, ya know? I normally watch out for her, but I can’t, so I’m hoping you can.”
I pull my lips into my mouth and exhale through my nose before replying. “I can watch out for your sister, Miles.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, hating that I’m keeping this secret from my best friend, but I also made a promise to Maggie that I can’t break. “I’ll check in on her tomorrow.”
“Awesome, you’re the best. We’ll be home Sunday afternoon, so depending on how she’s feeling, you might need to go back Sunday morning. That cool?”
“That’s cool.”
“You’re a great friend, Sam, you know that? I know I’m a shitty one these days, but you’re a great one. I really appreciate it.”
My head bows in shame. You wouldn’t think I’m a good friend if you knew what I did last night while picturing your sister. But of course, I don’t say that. Instead, I continue to lie to my friend and don’t mention a word about taking his sister to a secluded cabin for the weekend. I am such a fucker.