Page 85 of Muscle Cub

“Trust me. You’ve got a shit ton more cargo coming.”

I narrowed my eyes. “It’s not your doing, is it?”

Austin made a dismissive sound. “It’s all you, Prof. These men have eyes.” He leaned in for a quick kiss. “Listen, as soon as we finish up here, I’ve gotta head up to the Hole to help with some last-minute decorations.”

“Do you want me to wait around for a bit?”

“Nah, I’ll be a while. But I promise, tonight I’m all yours. Oh! Did you like the trailer?”

“Yeah. It’s really nice. I’m impressed.”

“Cool. Meet me at the bunkhouse around nine-ish. If I’m not back yet, hang with the boys. Gunner’s got your costume. You gonna be okay on your own?”

“Yeah. Don’t worry about me.”

“Go walk around a bit. Meet the neighbors.”

I shrugged. “I might do some reading.”

Austin rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Whatever makes you happy.”

Before I left the lodge, I palmed Hollywood Pool Boy and slipped it into my new fanny pack.

Back at the trailer, I showered, made myself a bourbon and Coke, and lay on the sofa staring out the picture window. It would’ve been the perfect spot for a sliding door onto a deck overlooking the creek. The lights of Trailer Park Avenue across the water made me feel lonely. Removed. Knowing Austin was somewhere nearby, I almost missed him more than I had at home in Edgewood. I picked up my phone to text Eric, but I didn’t have any bars.

I propped Hollywood Pool Boy on a pillow on my lap and dove in. The opening chapter hooked me immediately. Jody Summers’s writing was crisp, cheeky, and clever. Honestly, it was better than I expected and unlike anything I’d read before. The sex scenes were lyrical as well as shockingly graphic.

Damn. I’ve been missing out.

A few weeks ago, I might’ve beat off, but I was saving every bit of myself for later tonight with Austin.

29

I waited until nine fifteen to walk up the road to the employee bunkhouse. A passing golf-cart driver slowed to offer me a ride, but I declined, claiming I wanted to stretch my legs. I was afraid if I arrived before Austin, I wouldn’t know how to make small talk with his friends. The last time I’d been alone with a group of twentysomethings, I’d been teaching a class on Mrs. Dalloway, and I doubted that experience would serve me in this situation.

Hank answered the door wearing a bright-green leotard and waved me inside. As I’d feared, there was no sign of Austin. The bunkhouse reminded me of a messy army barracks with rows of bunkbeds strewn with clothes. Bailey, the slim boyish guy I’d seen working the buffet line in the dining hall, sat on an upper bunk with a hand mirror painting his face like a clown’s. He smiled shyly.

“Come in, come in!” Gunner called out. He wore only a cheetah print thong and a wig fit for a madam in an old Western film. “Austin’s still up at the Hole, but he’ll be back in time to change into his costume.”

I exchanged hellos with Albie and Kevin, who were filling drink cups with ice and setting them on top of a mini fridge. They also wore leotards.

“We’re going as trapeze artists,” Hank explained. “We didn’t want to wear a bunch of clothes and wigs and shit.” He shrugged. “Probably not the most exciting costumes in the world, but…”

Given their lumberjack bodies, I doubted anyone would mind.

“Want a drink?” Kevin asked.

“Yeah. That’d be great.” I doubted I could charm these guys the way Austin had my family, but I was determined to make an effort. A drink definitely wouldn’t hurt.

Gunner gestured toward two long garments hanging from pegs on the wall. “Check these out. They’re from my steampunk collection. The blue gown is for my bearded lady. And the red one is for you.” He took it down and turned it so I could see the black satin lapels. “It’s a tailcoat. Perfect for a ringmaster, right?”

“Yeah.” Most of the enthusiasm in my voice came from relief that it wasn’t a dress. “Very cool.”

Gunner held it against my chest and shoulders, eyeballing the size. “We have a top hat in that box right there, and as for boots—Austin said you wear the same size shoe, right? I’ve got some riding boots that are a little big on me, so they should fit you perfectly. We just need to find you the right bottoms.”

Kevin snorted. “Pretty sure he’s found the right bottom.”

Albie snickered behind his cup.