Page 44 of The Fix-Up

“Okay, yes. Love you, too. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.”

The tent went silent. I waited a couple of beats before clearing my throat. “Gil?”

The tent flap unzipped, and Gil peeked his head out. He was wearing a hat with triangle ears and curly, white fur.

“What is that on your head?”

With a grunt, Gil snatched the hat from his head and climbed out of the tent. He had a lantern in one hand and the balled-up hat clenched in the other. “It’s nothing.”

“No, that was definitely something.” I pointed at his hand. “I want to see.”

“No.”

“Please?”

“No.”

I batted my eyelashes. “How can you say no to a princess?”

His eyes narrowed. “Were you eavesdropping?”

“I wouldn’t call it that.”

After setting the lantern next to the camping chair, he crossed his arms. The red and yellow flannel shirt he wore tightened across his shoulders. “I would.”

Hadn’t Sunny said I should get to know him better? Maybe this was my chance. I crept closer. “Who were you talking to?”

“None of your business.”

“You realize you know way more about me than I know about you? You practically live with me.”

He snorted. “Actually no, I don’t. I live in a tent in the backyard.”

“Come on.”

With a shake of his head, he walked around me and headed for the carport and his car. I followed.

“Please?”

“You aren’t going to stop asking, are you?”

I pretended to think about it. “Chances are slim.”

“I was talking to my brother.”

“Your brother?” I asked in surprise. A much younger brother from how Gil was talking to him.

“Yes, my brother.” Abruptly, he stopped; I didn’t.

With a surprised yelp, I smacked into his back and sort of bounced, my feet coming out from under me. I squeezed my eyes shut and braced for the fall, but it never came. The next second I slammed into yet another immovable object. When I opened my eyes, it wasn’t the ground, it was Gil. Somehow, he’d spun around fast enough to grab my waist with his arm and prevent a fall.

Both of us froze.

We were chest to chest. I could now confirm he was as big and solid as he looked. The air around us seemed to crackle. I wondered if he felt that.

I lifted my eyes to his face. It was much too dark, but somehow, I knew he was looking right at me. My breaths came out in rapid puffs visible in the chilly air. I heard him swallow and he loosened his grip on my waist. Getting my feet under me, I pushed my hands against his chest to stand.

“Sorry about that,” I said quickly, shuffling back a few feet. “Wasn’t paying attention.”

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