Page 71 of For Fox Sake

“Are you kidding? I’m ecstatic.” She loops her arm in mine, leading me inside. “Leave the bags in the car and then after dinner, Jake can take you to your cabin.”

I glance behind us to check on Ari, but she’s walking in with Jake, completely distracted by our surroundings.

Finley leads me through the front door, which opens into an office. I get a quick glimpse of two cluttered desks, walls of beige and pale blue, and then we’re going through a connecting door.

“We’ve put you in one of our best cabins,” Finley tells me. “Two bedrooms, a full-size kitchen already set up with the basics, and two full baths—the master suite has an attached bath. I also put one of our white noise machines in the second bedroom for Ari, just in case. Some kids have a hard time sleeping because it’s so quiet. Ari’s room has a bunk bed too. Jake mentioned she was excited about the prospect of sleeping in one.”

The door from the office takes us into an open-concept living and dining space. A massive oak table takes up the bulk of the dining area, pizza boxes stacked on one side next to a salad bowl, along with some plates and utensils.

Four people are in the living room, sitting on the plush sofa and recliner. Their chatting comes to a halt as we enter.

I’m about to thank Finley for everything, but I don’t get a chance. The next few minutes are a rush of introductions: Taylor and her boyfriend Atticus, and Mindy and Luke Fletcher—I know who he is, of course, I’ve listened to his music plenty of times.

When he shakes my hand, I can’t even speak, I just nod and flush. I’ve never met a famous musician. Or a famous anything. Now I’ve met three moderately famous people all in the same day.

After introductions, the commotion continues as everyone gets a plate of food and finds a place to sit, some around the dining table and a few in the living room.

I end up at the table with Jake’s sisters and Luke, and Ari ends up in the living room with Jake, Atticus, and Archer.

“She’s six, right?” Mindy asks, her eyes trained on where Ari is sitting on the couch next to Jake.

Archer is in the recliner next to them. He throws back his head and laughs, and Jake shakes his head, smiling down at Ari and then leaning closer to her to tell her something.

My bones ache with how sweet he is with her. She’s so comfortable with him. Maybe I should be worried about her getting too attached, but I’m right there with her.

Finley picks at her salad with a fork. “Six is a great age. Young enough that they’re still affectionate and old enough to wipe their own butts.”

I laugh. “Do you have kids?”

“No. I work with campers of all ages who come here though. We have counselors and scientists and whatnot that do all the instructing and most of the monitoring and interacting, but I like to be involved.”

“She’s amazing with kids,” Piper interjects.

Finley shrugs her off. “Taylor, how’s the plans for the next festival coming along?”

Taylor and Mindy chat about their Outfoxed Festival, a yearly event they put on every summer.

They give me the lowdown, expanding on the music, the art, the lights and campgrounds they set up for the event. I wish I could see it, but Ari and I will be long gone by then.

I keep half of my awareness on Ari, a habit that’s impossible to break when you have a small child. When she finishes eating, Jake takes her to the kitchen to wash off her hands and face.

“Did you get pie?” he calls out from the other room.

“There’s no pie in there,” Finley yells back.

He appears in the doorway, clutching his chest. “Why hast thou forsaken me?”

Atticus grabs a slice of pizza from one of the boxes at the end of the table, setting it on his plate. “After all the times you tricked me into bringing you pie, I think you owe it to us to bring one over.”

“Fine. I can get one tomorrow, but that doesn’t help us now.”

Archer rolls his eyes. “There’s pie in the fridge out in the garage, you...” His eyes drop to Ari. “Meanie head.”

“Slick burn. C’mon, superhero, let’s go get dessert.”

They disappear back into the kitchen. Distantly, a door opens and shuts.

Finley reaches over and puts her hand on my arm. “I know this might be a bizarre situation we’re in, but I am truly happy you decided to come stay for a few days. If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to ask. Honestly, it’s like we’re family.”

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