Page 6 of Frenemies with a Player
“I never fought with Casey. Why are you laughing?” I ask him.
“You and Casey had a big age gap between you. Ten years is a lot for kids. These two are only two years apart. Kai is the older one and he’s the boy, so they are basically the same age, which is why they are fighting.”
Dad was a social worker for most of his life, so I get that he understands these dynamics, but I spent my morning outside in the freezing cold and I just want some peace and quiet.
“I’ll give you each five bucks if you sit down and shut up until we get there,” I say.
Both Taylor’s and Kai’s eyes turn round and wide. I watch them contemplate my offer. They also look to each other for approval and when Taylor shrugs her shoulders, Kai agrees too.
That’s how I buy myself peace and quiet for the drive.
The snow falls the closer we get to the cabin.
“Did I tell you the Lockharts sold their house in town and spend the whole year at their cabin next door?” Dad asks. It’s the first real conversation he is having with me since I got home that doesn’t involve hockey or chores.
“No, you didn’t,” I say, grating my jaw. This vacation keeps getting worse and worse. The Lockharts’ daughter was in my class at school. Willa was an annoying overachiever and drop-dead gorgeous. She also won the last spot on our school’s mock trial team. The very spot I was hoping to win for myself. Even though the Lockharts lived a couple doors down from us, I never saw Willa. She was too busy in her room studying. “What wasCasey saying about a hot tub?” I change the subject because I pretty much had a crush on Willa Lockhart for all four years of high school. Not only did she not look my way, she probably thought I was some dumb jock.
“It’s an amazing unit. Powerful and large. We got an amazing deal on it. It was installed between the two properties, so we only paid half. It’s a great deal because now your mom’s decided we should spend a lot more time up at the cabin and with my back problems it’s going to be the perfect fix.”
“Back up,” I say. “What do you mean it’s between the two properties?”
“We own the tub with the Lockharts,” he explains like it is obvious. “That way we only paid half and get to reap all the benefits.”
I’m really very confused. “So you and the Lockharts plan on spending your days in the hot tub together?”
Dad chuckles. “Don’t be ridiculous. Ned isn’t using that thing and neither is Sandy,” he says of Willa’s parents.
His argument doesn’t seem logical. Why would they pay for something they don’t plan to use?
“We got a good deal. That’s how we could afford it,” Dad explains with a wide smile.
Who am I to put a damper on his parade? It probably wasn’t a good deal but more that they paid for half of the tub.
“Are we there yet?” Taylor asks.
“You just broke your silence,” Kai chides. “Now I get your five bucks.”
They start to fight again and I slide down my seat ,but there isn’t much room to slide because I have long legs and they hit the glove compartment. I take my cap and put it over my eyes, and for the next twenty minutes I try to block out my niece and nephew bickering.
CHAPTER FOUR
Wyatt
I allow myself to sleep in and just chill. Part of the surprise my mom was referring to was Dad hired a local to fix all the problems in the cabin before we came up. I’m learning this now over brunch since my whole family is sitting at the table close to noon. Everyone slept in, except for my niece and nephew. I’m just thankful my parents gave me a room on the main floor off to the side that has its own bathroom.
“What are your plans today, Wyatt?” Dad asks as I shovel eggs and bacon in my mouth.
“I was thinking of going for a jog and doing my stretches to start. Then I don’t know, maybe I’ll take the old snowmobile for a spin.”
“Just be careful around bodies of water. I know it’s been cold, but I don’t know if they are fully frozen,” he warns.
I heed his warning. After breakfast I head out on a light jog. The air is cold and crisp, but it’s super clean and fresh and feels good. After I’ve done my stretches, I decide to take a long warm shower. I wonder if the Montgomerys’ son, Houston, is around.Maybe I’ll go by their place since snowmobiling on my own isn’t very interesting.
My sister is at the door with Dave and her kids when I head over to the kitchen for a drink. “We’re heading into town for some ice-skating and maybe a cocoa. Want to join?” she asks me.
“Thanks, but I think I’ll chill around here,” I say. “Where are Mom and Dad?”
“They’re over at the Lockharts’, they are trying to figure out a schedule for the hot tub,” Casey replies laughing. “Apparently, they weren’t expecting Mom and Dad to be using the cabin.”
