Page 32 of A Cowboy Home for Christmas
“We get to do everything now. See.” Lark flips over the pass to show me a list of activities on the back.”
“That looks like great fun.” I glance at Lauren. Her eyes skitter away from me.
Clara tugs my hand. “Plus, we got fox ears.” She wiggles her head showing off the fox ear headbands they’re wearing.
“Adorable.” I flick an ear. “What’s on the agenda today?”
“Swimming!” The twins jump up and down.
Perfect. I get to watch Lauren swim in the water like a stone-cold reminder she stood me up. But I’m sure at some point I can get five minutes alone with her.
I’m wrong.
The water park is chalked full of families. There are lineups for the slides and the swimming pools are full. My parents take permanent residency in the private cabana. Only stepping out to soak in the hot tub. Savi and Alison both skipped out. That leaves me in charge of Clara, and Lauren in charge of Lark. And absolutely no free time.
“On your mark, get set ... go!” I shove the inflatable floater, and we shoot down a waterslide. Lark and Lauren push off the slide beside us.
Both girls scream as we splash, twist and turn down the colorful tube slide. We hit the bottom with a little splash and glide to the end where an attendant waits.
“Beat you!” Lark points at us, but my gaze lands on Lauren again.
It’s sweet torture. Her black lattice swimsuit. The water droplets I want to lick off her silky skin.
Torture.
“I wanna go on the lazy lake again,” Clara drags me to the lazy lake. I catch an inflatable and float it to Lauren.
“Thank you.” She turns away from me quickly. “Come on Lark.”
“Lark! Clara!” My parents weave through the crowds. “Come quick, Flash Fox is telling a story in the wading pool.”
The girls abandon us like lightning to catch sight of the lodge’s mascot.
I grasp Lauren’s wrist. “We’ll catch up.”
“I want to see Flash Fox.” Lauren takes a step backward up the stairs.
“Next time.” I catch her legs with my arms and scoop her up.
“Hey!”
I set her rear end in the far seat. She props herself up and grips the side handles. Her feet dangle over the end. I sit in the second seat and push us down the lazy lake.
She looks in the opposite direction.
“You’re avoiding me.”
She says nothing.
“Lauren?”
She looks at me with a fight in her eyes. “I don’t want to have this conversation here.”
“What conversation?”
“The one we should’ve had before last night.”
“I was under the impression we had a conversation last night.”
