Page 4 of Frenemies with a Player
We end the call and I park in front of the garage. I haul my suitcase out of the back seat and head inside.
Mom and Dad are waiting for me with smiles on their faces.
“We were getting worried,” Mom says as she embraces me.
“Glad you made it in one piece, kiddo,” Dad says, ruffling my hair like I am a child.
They usher me into the house. Mom made a French onion soup and it’s delicious, exactly what I need with the baked cheese and crusty bread. It warms me right up as I update my parents on my flight, the drive, and eventually school.
“I told Mrs. Montgomery you would help set up the Christmas party again this year,” Mom says.Thanks for volunteering me once again, Mom.
“Sure.” I plaster a fake smile. This is the vacation of my dreams.
“Don’t be so enthusiastic,” Mom replies sarcastically. “We also have the hot tub. That’s exciting.”
“Where is it located exactly?” I ask Mom. I remember her saying something about the edge of our property.
“Actually, it’s between the property we own with the James family,” she replies.
My brows furrow, my head tilts to the side.
“Why would it be between the two properties?” I ask.
“We split the hot tub expense with them. Your dad had the idea, and it was brilliant. They’re never up here. Their cabin was owned by the grandma and since she passed, they haven’t made an appearance. Basically, we have the hot tub all to ourselves and we only had to pay for half.”
The idea sounds a little cuckoo to me, but I don’t share my thoughts with Mom. I went to high school with one of the James kids. Wyatt and I were in the same grade. He was tall and gorgeous, an athlete but he had brains too. Wanted to be a lawyer in case his hockey career didn’t pull through. We weren’t friends though. I only know about him because every girl in school made it their business to know his business. Well, at least I don’t have to run into Wyatt. Our last encounter wasn’t so pleasant, I remind myself. It was senior year of high school and a lot of time has passed.
“I’ll probably take a dip tomorrow. I’m exhausted. I just want to sleep,” I tell Mom once I’ve finished eating. “Thanks for the soup, it was delicious.”
“Good night, sweetie. Sweet dreams.”
“Thanks, you too,” I say to Mom.
I pass the family room where Dad is sitting in his recliner, watching the news, and say good night. I take my suitcase upstairs with me and hop into the shower to rinse this day off me.
By the time I hit the sack, I can barely feel my body I am so tired. When I close my eyes I see searing blue eyes, and when I dream it’s of a teenage Wyatt James. Damn, he was hot.
CHAPTER THREE
Wyatt
I’ve finished my chores and head inside. I woke up at 6:00 a.m. out of habit, which sucks, but my mom and sister are excited about leaving today so I figured I’d get an early start. The fence was a pain in the ass to fix because the boards were frozen and hard to hammer. The eaves were also frozen with leaves stuck inside them. Even though I wore gloves, I cut up my hands repeatedly, and now I have tiny cuts that sting like a bitch. Overall, my winter vacation has gotten off to a splendid start.
I enter the house, and my cheeks feel numb. “Look at you, Wyatt.” Mom smiles. “Your cheeks are just as rosy as Santa’s.”
“Mom, I’m not a kid anymore. I know Santa doesn’t exist,” I say, just as Casey walks by. She smacks me in the chest.
“Would you shut up, my kids don’t know that, and I will not have you ruining Christmas,” she warns, giving me the stink eye. Then she places a hand on each side of her mouth. “Kids and David, Wyatt is done working, we can leave.”
Cheers break out.
“Come to the kitchen and clean up,” Mom urges me. “I made you a bologna and cheese sandwich.”
I hate those but I keep my mouth shut.
While I am washing my hands in the kitchen sink, Mom places the sandwich on a plate and puts it on the kitchen island in front of a chair.
“Enjoy,” she says, and she turns out of the kitchen.
