Page 87 of Camping with the Boss

But I understand Wade’s concern. This retreat isn’t like the others.

Taffy hisses and then rubs against my leg. She already had breakfast. I pick her up and settle her in my lap. She pokes me a few times to get comfortable, but there’s no purring. I kiss the top of her head. “You’re fine.”

Her meow doesn’t sound convinced. But then her ears perk up and she jumps off my lap, racing for the hallway.

“Good morning, Taffy.” A minute later, Wade walks in with my cat purring her lovesick heart out. “Who’s a good girl?”

I cough, trying not to react to his words or the praise in his voice. “She loves you more than me.”

“Of course she does.” He kisses her and sets her down, ignoring my squawk of protest. “Heard from River?”

“N—” My phone rings and my brother’s picture appears on the screen. “Here he is.”

He stops and the tension from earlier is back. River never calls when a text will do.

“Hey, bro. What’s up?” I somehow manage to keep my voice light. Wade sits next to me with his coffee, his brow furrowed as I put River on speakerphone.

“Hey, tell Wade I’m not bailing.”

“Then why are you calling?”

“Just wanted to make sure everything’s okay.”

“It’s just another retreat,” I say to River and then glance at Wade and reiterate my statement. “Just another retreat.”

Wade scowls and takes a drink of his coffee.

“You don’t have to tell me,” River says, sounding like an excited puppy. “I’m stoked. Jet said everyone at work has been looking forward to this. Oh, and he said this year, we have to playTruth or Dare.”

Wade’s shoulders relax and he smiles. “Not sure Jared will agree to that.”

“Ander added it to the list so he can take it up with his boyfriend, the CEO. I’m sure his objections will get overruled.”

“Word at the office is Jared now likes that game. A lot.”

I snort. “Did Jet tell you that?”

“No.” Swirling sounds and clinking in the background grab my attention. But before I can ask about it, he says, “Carol told me. She heard it from Vivian, who heard it from?—”

Wade chuckles. And this time, his smile reaches his eyes.

“Never mind, River.” I shake my head. Some things never change. And then it clicks. “Are you at the diner in Plevna?”

“My breakfast is here. Gotta go, bro.”

After the call with River, we finish getting ready.

Monday, June 8th, 7:45 a.m.

Wade is quiet on the drive to the campsite, except when he’s yelling at the other cars. But we arrive before everyone else and he seems to relax once we’re there.

Nothing much has changed in the last year. Wade and I walk around the campsite, making sure everything’s in place. The kitchen is stocked. The beds have sheets. The bathrooms have toilet paper.

We arrive at our old cabin and stow our bags. Wade squeezes my arm. “I can’t believe it’s been a year. Happy anniversary, babe.”

“Tomorrow is the anniversary of when we first met and you whisked me away from my dull life.” I place the back of my hand on my forehead in a dramatic fashion. Wade rolls his eyes. “And the day after that is the anniversary of our first kiss. And three days after that is the anniversary of when we first said I love you and made it official. Wow. I just realized—when you want something, Mr. Darian, you move quickly.”

“I do.” He pulls me into his arms and kisses me. “But…not too quickly, right?”

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