Page 26 of Staying for You

He nods, so pleased with himself. He pokes at the pad stuck to his shirt then…

Then…

He lifts one of the tampons and sticks the sucker right in his mouth.

“Oh no no no, buddy. No. That’s icky.”

“Ick?” He looks legitimately confused and offended by the fact that I won’t let him suck on a tampon.

“Right. That’s not for your mouth.”

“Unless you’re Christian G…” Cami abruptly stops talking and I turn again to look at her.

“What? Who?”

“Nothing. Never mind.” She waves me off and moves in front of me to crouch low next to Brody. “Having fun?”

He gives her the grin that I’m pretty sure he already uses to get what he wants.

“Let’s get some of this cleaned up, m’kay?”

Cami glances up at me with a blush on her cheeks and mouthssorry.I’m not sure what she’s apologizing for because it’s definitely not her fault. If anything it’s mine. Or my sister’s. I’ll go with that. I’m sure I can swing it around to make it Olivia’s fault somehow.

“Not your fault. But don’t clean him up yet. Just a second.” I reach into my back pocket and pull out my phone, snapping a picture that we can one day share with his future wife. Or just when he’s being a shit during his teenage years. Luckily, he sticks the tampon back in his mouth at just the right time so I can snap a picture and send it to his parents.

They’re traveling home today so it will be a wonderful little surprise when their plane lands and they turn their phones back on. I take a few more pictures before realizing that I’m actually focusing more on Cami than Brody so I quickly tuck my phone away in my pocket again.

We get the mess cleaned up and Cami shuts the door to the bathroom after we’re done.

“Is it always this exciting to hang out with these two?”

“I could lie and say no but really, they’re a mess. Always.”

Her smile is mischievous when she says, “I saw the evidence of such mess yesterday.”

“Thanks for the reminder,” I say, rubbing my forehead. “I’m pretty sure I can still smell the poop.”

We sit down again on the couch and I look to my left, noticing that the snow is really starting to come down.

“Wow, it’s really snowing now, huh?”

“It is. I probably better get back to the lodge.”

She sighs. “Probably.”

I stand back up and drain the last of my coffee. “Good coffee.”

“I haven’t made coffee in a maker like this in a while. I was glad you mentioned to bring regular grounds.”

I try my best to keep a good list of the amenities that we both have and don’t have in the cabins and send to all the guests when they book with me. I sell a few things at the lodge store, but if people can bring everything they need with them, most prefer it. It’s always entertaining to see people unload their vehicles for their stay. Totes and coolers full of food and drinks, case upon case of water. I’ve even watched people bring their own toilet paper.

“Are you okay here today and tonight? Have everything you need?”

“I do. I’m good here. I promise. And if I’m not, I have your number.”

I snap my fingers. “That reminds me!” I move to my coat and grab the object I’d brought with me to give her for emergencies. “I have this,” I say, handing over a walkie talkie. “It has a wide range and in this weather, sometimes my cell signal is shit. If you need anything,” I tell her then point out which buttons to push and explain, “just push this and speak into here. I’ll keep mine on and with me that way you can reach me. The kids’ parents were supposed to be in tonight but I’m not sure if that will happen with this storm.”

“Oh, no,” she mumbles, looking at both of them.

---