Page 65 of Cloudy With a Chance of Bad Decisions

Alex saw right through me. He gave my hand a tight squeeze, heat back in his skin and bleeding into mine. “I won’t scare you again.”

I wanted to believe him.

And I resolved myself to try.

As much as I complained, I actually kind of liked the way he messed with me. It made me feel alive. Like I was desirable. Not a broken husk of a person who didn’t know who he was anymore.

Alex released my hand so I could finish my food. I missed the contact immediately. The waitress came over with the bill shortly after, and I quickly procured my wallet so that I could slip her my card before Alex gave her his.

He paused, card in hand, hovering.

“Split or together?” the waitress asked, tucking my card into her clipboard, waiting for Alex’s as well.

“Together.” I hurried to reply. Alex’s gaze bore a hole into the side of my head. He studied me with an unreadable look on his face.

“Treating me on our second date? How traditional of you,” Alex teased, lips tipping upward. Second date? When had our date first been? Brunch? The last of the lingering tension I’d been carrying since I fucked up slipped away.

“You wish.”

We were the last of the main group to arrive at the cabins. There were four buildings, all knit together in a clearing surrounded by trees covered in leaves as pale as Granny Smith apples. The buildings were fairly large; though, despite that, it was clear the housing situation was going to be morecomplicated than I’d realized.

Especially as we pulled into the parking lot, and I was shocked to note that Roderick’s family had begun to set up tents along the border of the meadow at the front of the central area.

“Tents?” I asked.

My tone had apparently betrayed my alarm because Alex took pity on me and answered without his usual teasing. “There were supposed to be six cabins, but the listing got double-booked. I had to switch locations last-minute, and this was the biggest place I could find.”

“So, who exactly is going to stay indoors…?” I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer to my question, but I asked it anyway.

“The wedding party. Bridesmaids, groomsmen, the older guests, including your parents—and Roderick’s—as well as all the kids.”

“And the rest of us?”

Oh fuck.

I did not like where this was headed.

“We’re in the tents.” Alex did not look disturbed by this at all. Though he did narrow his eyes at me, taking in my rapidly paling skin with curiosity—and dare I say it, concern?

Mortified to be so caught out, I gaped in horror at the nylon—tents were made of nylon, weren’t they?—sweat-box monstrosities at the bottom of the meadow.

“I want to go home.” I decided immediately, turning my attention back to him. “Take me back, Alex. I’ll pay for gas. Hell, I’ll pay for your time too. Think of it like being a Ryde driver.”

“ARyde driver?” Alex blinked. Then he laughed, that same lovely sound that had charmed before. “That’s a new one.”

His eyes said,you’re delightful.

They said,don’t worry.

They said,I promise you’ll be okay.

His eyes were liars.

“It’s really not that bad.” His mouth was a liar, too. “Didn’t you ever go camping as a kid?”

“Yes.” I glared at him. “That is exactly why I know I’ll hate it.” I didn’t actually want to leave and go back home to New York. It felt like admitting defeat, plus facing Brendon right after I’d posted that picture was a recipe for disaster. But the idea of staying here was just as unpalatable.

“It’ll be fine.” Alex’s voice was a soothing rumble. He reached over to squeeze my shoulder, this time without asking permission. I was glad. It was unfair how the heat of his grip made me melt.

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