Page 101 of 6 Clues Your Nemesis Loves You

She gives me the finger. I retaliate with an air kiss.

An hour later, we’re outside the cabin Maggie and I painted Island Getaway green, enjoying a potluck barbeque, complete with Delilah’s famous baked goods. Her and E’s dogs chase sticks and make everyone smile. Mom spends time with Brayden and Luke, then she sits with Max while he shows off his latest drawings. That kid never leaves the house without a sketchbook.

Everyone’s relaxed and happy, except Cal, who seems more subdued than usual. He’s standing with Jake, staring off at the forest while Jake talks about something.

Before I can head over and see what’s up, Ricky and Aaron arrive to join the festivities, along with Mizhir.

I meet them and pull Mizhir into a one-armed back-pound. “Glad you made it.”

He holds up a foil-covered bowl. “Wouldn’t have been the same without my chickpea salad.”

“Or your bad jokes. Let’s get you fed.”

We grab plates of food and shoot the shit, reminiscing about the time I egged him on to hide a dead rat in Mrs. Klassen’s desk.

“You were such a dick back then,” he says around a mouthful of potato salad. “You totally knew I couldn’t say no to your harebrained schemes.”

“They were great harebrained schemes.”

“Because you weren’t the one touching the dead rat.”

I really was an evil genius. We eat and laugh as my friends and family enjoy the afternoon, while Maggie and I steal tender glances at each other.

“Can’t believe it’s ready,” Des says, coming to my side as Mizhir goes for another helping of food. Des surveys the low ropes course for the younger kids. “I tested the swinging tire again with Cal. The thicker rope works great.”

“We should’ve let E on it before he fixed it.”

Des smirks. “Not sure how I dropped the ball on that one.”

“Thanks,” I say, no longer joking. “For pushing me to come to Windfall and for joining my business. I wouldn’t have any of this without you.”

A growing brand. Greater success on the horizon. Maggie, most of all.

He shrugs a shoulder. “I owed you. You’re the one who pushed me to face Sadie.”

“I was, wasn’t I?” I tap my chin. “Come to think of it, you’re the one who should be thanking me. Or at least offering to clean the cabin bathroom for a month.”

He flattens his lips. “Sure, I’ll offer that. Right after I blow up a picture of you with your braces and plaster it on the wall.”

Sweat slicks my brow. I step closer, getting up in his face. “You better fucking not.”

He smirks. “You better fucking not piss me off.”

The crunch of churning gravel interrupts our stare-off, drawing our attention to the parking lot.

“Sorry I’m late!” Jolene calls as she gets out of her car—a newcomer I wasn’t expecting.

I’m not sure who invited her. Maybe Delilah or Sadie…or possibly Jake. They may be exes, but they’ve hung out a few times since he’s moved back to town. Or maybe she and Cal have finally patched up whatever fight they had over a decade ago, and she’s here to see her former best friend.

Des leaves me to join Sadie and Max. I glance at my other brothers. Jake brightens and waves to Jo, striding to her with purpose, but Cal does the least Cal thing I’ve ever seen and actually curses under his breath. Abruptly, he marches away, disappearing behind the cabin.

The move reminds me of my early days hiding from Maggie.

Speaking of the love of my life, my favorite woman swish-sway-saunters toward me. “Why aren’t you smiling?” She pushes to her toes and kisses my ear. “Is it the loss of the Netflix?”

I groan and run my hand down her side. “A bet’s a bet. I’ll happily watch whatever horrible show you want, although there might be some heckling.”

“I’m counting on it.”