Page 62 of Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother

Mark sniggers.“Do you really think we can get him to do that?”

Abi nods.“I do.Look.In like fifteen minutes, he’s coming over here to redo the countertop, right?Jack the heat up, and then a couple of you take your shirts off, and he’ll follow suit.”

I narrow my eyes at her.“Are you sure you’re just not trying to get us to each have our own thirst trap accounts?”

She rolls her eyes.“Managing one is enough, thank you very much.I don’t need more than that.”

Mark crosses his arms and glowers at her.“How do we know you won’t put us on his channel?”

She shrugs, but I don’t miss the smirk.

“And how do we explain your presence here?It’s supposed to be us four working on the kitchen today.”

“I’m getting footage of the renovations for our normal channels.I’ll be back in an hour.He should be good and sweaty by then.Go turn up the heat and hide his water bottle when he gets here.I’ll bring the water when I get back.”

She disappears out the door.Mark, Ethan, and I stare at each other.“That’s never gonna work,” Ethan says.

“You’d be surprised.Abi has managed to get him to do all sorts of things that he has no idea about.The other day, she asked him if he could break a watermelon open with his hands, and when he asked her why, she told him it was because she heard it’s impossible, and she dared him to try.Apparently that video got like a million views in a couple of days.”

I don’t really use TikTok, so I don’t get it, but if it’s working, I’m not one to tell her to quit.

“A watermelon?Is that supposed to be some sort of euphemism or something?”Ethan asks, grabbing a hammer.

“Beats me.I’m getting too old to understand all this, but Abi’s great at it.”I pick at the caulking that was left over from the last countertop.

“How does he not realize she’s filming?”Ethan hammers in a few stray nails so that when Levi shows up, he can install the countertop.

“Because Abi’s always got her phone out.I think he assumes she’s getting other stuff.”

I glance out the window.“He’s on his way.I’m turning on the heat.It’s already warm outside, so I hope this works.”

“And that we don’t die of heatstroke before she gets back.”Mark gets a little cranky when he’s hot.

Levi’s truck pulls up, and we all go help him unload.This is the last cabin that needs to be fixed up before the guests arrive for our influencer Hideaway.We’ve had to move guests around all summer to make it work.No one complained too much.Especially because most of them got moved into the cabins already fixed up.Levi is planning on finishing up the kitchen and the bathroom today.We agreed to help since he’s getting behind on his normal work around the farm.Like the stupid kayaks.

I pick up the box containing the bidet.“A/C is busted.Just FYI.”

Levi grunts but doesn’t say anything.He carries in the new countertop while the other guys grab the tools.Deka, Bisbee, and Gilbert come into the house and immediately go back out again.It’s too warm for them as well.

Sweat starts to form when I enter the kitchen.Not only will this be difficult, but the room will smell rank once all four of us start working.Abi better hope she gets her shot because I’m not working all day like this.

Levi gives us all jobs.Mine is sanding down the table.Once we start, I drop my own bomb.Mostly to take our minds off the heat but also because I need advice.

“I kissed Mae last night.”

Everyone stops what they’re doing, and the bandsaw winds down.

“About time,” Mark mutters.

Levi glares at me.“Are you crazy?You know what Keith is threatening.How could you do that?”

Mark punches Levi in the arm.“Because love is more important than some stupid land.”

“This land employs all of us.It’s our home, so forgive me if I’m not jumping for joy that Seth is screwing with that.”Levi glowers at me one more time before he goes back to the counter.

I wipe my damp forehead.“The problem is, she put the brakes on things again, but I’m tired of being beholden to that old fool.I was kind of hoping you all might have some advice or ideas.”

“Listen to Mae,” Levi says.“She’s got her priorities right.”

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