Page 92 of The Write Track
“Water parasites are way more deadly than your lame serial killers,” Bree agreed. “Also, stop arguing with me. You’re both going on separate excursions. That’s separate, as in Bella is coming with Hayley and me and you guys are going to play with some sticks and balls.”
Nathan opened his mouth, a very obvious snark attack on the tip of his tongue, but I quieted him with my hand over his mouth.
“We were just going to spend some quiet time here before we have to go downtown for the event,” I said in my best “I’m little and sweet and you can’t possibly want to argue with me” voice. “It was going to be a quiet day.”
Nathan’s eyes lit with wicked intent and I knew exactly what he was thinking. There was going to be nothing quiet about ourday. I tore my eyes away from him so the others wouldn’t see the naughtiness on my face.
“Um, what was I saying?” I asked, stumbling over my words.
“You guys are morons,” Bree muttered. “Also, your original plan isn’t happening. My plan is happening.”
“But—”
“No.” Bree was firm when she shook her head. “It’s happening. It’s time for some girl chat. It’s also time for Brody to remember that living in a remote cabin for the summer months will deprive him of Nathan’s company, something he will be bereft about.”
“I think you’re exaggerating,” Brody said.
“I’m not. You’ll figure it out, though.” Bree gave him a hard kiss then grabbed my hand. She was ruthless when dragging me off the couch, leaving Nathan’s head to flop against the cushions.
“Hey,” he complained. “That’s my Bellarino. You can’t just take her.”
“Watch me,” Bree replied. “I’ll text you about where to meet for dinner,” she said to Brody. “Otherwise, I don’t want to hear from you guys all day unless it’s an emergency. Do you understand?”
Brody didn’t dare argue. “I love you,” was all he said in response.
That softened Bree’s expression. “I love you too.”
THE BEST SHOPPING IN SAVANNAHHAPPENEDto be several blocks away from the river. Bree knew exactly where she was going when she parked.
“Come on.” She jerked her head toward the sidewalk for Hayley and me to follow. The ride from the campground had been surprisingly quiet. I’d been expecting a tirade. Bree had chosen to sing along to the radio instead.
“You don’t strike me as a Taylor Swift girl,” I complained as I followed her grumpily. I was still lamenting the loss of my sexy afternoon.
“I don’t like everything of hers,” Bree confirmed. “I like some of it, though.” She gave me a look up and down. “Chappell Roan?” she assumed.
I shrugged. “I actually prefer older artists.”
“Like Cher?”
“Cher is a queen.”
Bree didn’t consider it long. “Cherisa queen. I don’t know why I would ever use her as an insult. It proves I’m off my game.”
She really was the one chafing the most at the retreat. “It’s not that much longer,” I said. “Not even a week.” My stomach threatened a revolt as that sank in. In a week, Nathan and I were going to have to figure out what our relationship looked like when we weren’t at the campground.
Bree slid her eyes to me. “It’s going to be okay,” she offered, as if reading my mind. “Nathan is already gone for you. It’s done. You guys are going to be fine.”
She sounded so sure of herself that I wanted to believe her. “What if it’s just the setting and what we were doing?” I challenged as Bree led us inside Red Clover Boutique. She waved at the woman behind the counter as if they were old friends—for all I knew, they were—and led me to a rack of shirts.
“That’s not it,” Bree said. “He’s totally head over heels in love with you.”
I balked. “We haven’t been together long enough for that.”
“It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been together. It matters what you’re feeling for each other, and what’s brewing between the two of you is real. Trust me. I know.”
“Shedoesknow,” Hayley confirmed, holding a white ruffled shirt up in front of her chest as she studied her reflection in a mirror. The shirt had a pirate vibe and she seemed interesteddespite her vanilla wardrobe. “She just doesn’t realize why you’re being so careful about this.”
I didn’t say anything, opting to focus on the rack. There had to be something here I wanted to buy.
