Page 10 of Literally For Keeps
Five
Pop quiz time. Pass or fail. No grading on the curve; it was all or nothing.
I glanced across the length of the cab. Final exam—with a partner.
Too bad I hated collaborative projects.
Gravel crunched under Landon’s truck tires as he eased into the long, shaded drive. I took a deep breath and forced my lips to bow into a pretty picture of a smile. Behind it, though, I made a mental list for Claire. She owed me. Big time.
Organize my bookshelves into a personal library using the Dewey decimal system complete with retro card catalog.
Go with me on a role-playing vacation including period costumes and character personas.
Get a tattoo with me. (Wouldn’t Ken Abrams love that! Ha!)
Do something nice for Landon.
Although, if he were like me, he was making his own list of things I’d need to do to pay off this favor.
The truck turned a corner, and a little wood-framed cabin nestled into a copse of pines came into view. I blinked twice, but nothing changed. Somehow this wasn’t what I’d pictured when Claire said the Abrams had a vacation place on the island. When I thought of vacation homes, especially those owned by people on TV, I thought of something grander and more resort-like. Not something I would have stayed in at summer camp.
The front door opened and Claire nearly sprinted out, Noah following close behind, their hands clasped between them. Claire’s cheeks looked flushed, her face tight with stress. Emerging from the entrance behind them was a middle-aged couple—Ken and Annie Abrams. Both smiled widely as they waved. Ken had his arm slung over his wife’s shoulders, pulling her to his side. Sun streaming through the canopy of trees reflected off Ken’s bald head.
They looked…friendly. Welcoming.
These were the people Claire and Noah were so afraid wouldn’t accept her simply because her sister was divorced? I squinted through the window but couldn’t see any judgement in their gazes.
Landon opened his door, jarring me out of my inspection. I followed suit, then immediately stared down at the ground, which was entirely too far away. I can do this. It’s just getting out of a truck.
Gripping the hand hold, I swung my legs over and wiggled a bit, hoping gravity would be a friend and help me down gently. I wasn’t counting on the backs of my legs clinging to the leather seat as I perched on the edge, suspended but not moving.
I wiggled some more. The cotton of my underwear must have caught some traction, because before I knew it, I was rocket-sliding off that seat and onto the ground. Problem was, the hem of my sundress didn’t get the memo that we were leaving the cab of the truck and stayed right where it was, draped across the seat, while my legs plummeted downward. Feet on the ground, I looked down, my ghost-white thighs like a neon beacon.
Kill me now.My cheeks heated as I pushed my hands over my hips and backside with jerky movements, trying to shove the skirt of my dress down and cover everything that should remain hidden. I glanced around, but no one stared at me in shock. Embarrassment averted. I hoped.
“You all right?” Landon asked as he opened the door to the back of the cab and pulled out our luggage. “You look a little flushed.”
I smoothed my palms over the floral print. “Fine.” Except I was changing into jeans as soon as we made it inside. All I needed was a strong gust of wind to blow my dress back up to my hips. No way would I escape the embarrassment of an I see London, I see France, I see Ashleigh’s underpants moment a second time.
Landon hiked a brow at me but didn’t comment further. He shut the door and hefted our bags off the ground. I followed him, head down, hands splayed at the sides of my thighs to combat any further mishap.
“Ashleigh, I’m so glad you’re here!” Claire threw her arms around my neck and squeezed. She hugged just like Mom did, but with Mom, I got it. We didn’t see each other all that often because of her international job, so when we were together, she liked to soak us up. Her words, not mine.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Claire breathed into my ear, her cheek practically glued to mine. She pulled back and glanced over at Landon, her eyes widening. She turned back to me and pressed her cheek to the other side of my face like some kind of French greeting. “Where’d you find the hottie on such short notice?”
I cleared my throat and moved away from her. “Landon, this is my sister Claire,” I said under my breath so Ken and Annie wouldn’t hear. After all, it would be weird to introduce my sister to the man I’d supposedly been married to for eight years.
Claire turned to him and hugged him with as much enthusiasm as she had me. “It’s so good to see you again,” she said a little too loudly—for her future in-laws’ sakes. When she disengaged, Noah took her place, going in for a full-frontal hug rather than one of those side thingies guys usually do.
Landon peered over Noah’s shoulder and gave me a help! look.
Guess being accosted by strangers was new to him.
I grinned but stepped up, placing my hand on Noah’s arm. He turned and swept me off my feet.
“You don’t know how much this means to us,” he whispered.
I patted his back. “Yeah, yeah. I get naming rights on your first child.”
