Page 92 of Stuck with Me

Sabrina giggles and they both jump when I shut the door to the cabin.

“Howdy,” I say, a bit too loudly.

“Hey, man. Didn’t get enough of the cold today?” Dean asks, standing.

“Guess not.”

Sabrina skirts around me to head to the door but stops and places a palm on my chest. “Better watch out, stranger. Or we’ll make you an honorary Maple Ridge resident yet.” She smiles and slips inside the cabin.

“She’s right. For someone everyone keeps saying they hate, they’ve sure welcomed you in easily. Especially our Rosie.”

OurRosie? I don’t like what he’s insinuating. Or his claim on Rosie.

“Y’all were looking awfully cozy out here,” I say with a sly grin, staring him right in the eye.

His jaw pops, like he’s fixing to retaliate, but we both know he’s got nothing. “I think I’ll go see if the shower is free.”

“Good idea.”

Once Dean goes inside, I sit on the porch swing and it’s like the weight of the day barrels down on my shoulders. I debate sending Amelia the pictures from today. Or texting Hayden to get his advice. Though he’s probably the wrong person to give it—he’s never been in love either.

The door of the cabin creaks open and my nerves stand on attention. I’m not really sure who I’m expecting. I know who I’m hoping.

But my brows lift when it’s Jones who strides out. He’s got a cockiness to him I can appreciate. And yet, he’s loyal and I can appreciate that too.

“Sorry, didn’t know anyone was out here,” he says.

“No worries.”

He paces across the porch, holding a glass in his hand.

“You’re welcome to take a seat if you’d like,” I offer, not really sure why. There’s a few other chairs on the porch. But there’s something about a porch swing.

He takes a sip from his glass then gives in and strides over and plops down next to me. The swing grunts and jerks a few times until he’s settled.

We’re both quiet, looking out at the trees where the sun has already gone down but it’s still light out enough to see.

“What’s going on inside?” I finally break our silence.

He groans. “Probably strip UNO. I never play. Unless my sister’s not joining in, of course.”

I chuckle. “Makes sense.”

“I think I’ll make a fire in a bit and hang outside for a while.”

“What about Sabrina?”

He turns to look at me and I read what I already know is coming on his face.

“Sabrina is cool.” He shrugs, takes another swig. “Really sweet too. But…she’s looking to settle down. Just like nearly every woman in Maple Ridge.”

“And you’re not?”

“Hell no. There’re too many women in this world I haven’t fucked.”

I nod. Makes sense for a guy who wants to live a bachelor life, I guess. It’s maybe how I lived my life for a while. Until my granddad passed. And now, even more after learning about his relationship with Gigi. All I can think about is how I want that. I want a kind of love that is real. A kind of love that makes you do crazy shit. Like buy a cabin with a woman you just met.

“You ever been in love?” he asks me.

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