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“We don’t harm animals,” LeeAnn says.
“Seriously? It’s about to peck at me.” Cam picks up his knees and goes into a full sprint.
“Oh, he’s fast. Hopefully not in the bedroom though.” Rita elbows me in the side, and I hold my hand there to stop her from doing it again.
I smile at her, biting down my laughter as Cam runs away from a duck who’s half flying, half running to catch him.
“What did I do to it?” Cam asks. “I’m sorry, duck, please leave me the hell alone.”
“All those muscles and underneath lies a pussy.” Wilbur shakes his head.
“I’d like to see you get a hold of that duck.” I challenge him.
He puffs out his chest and stomps toward the area with the other duck families.
“No!” LeeAnn holds out both of her hands.
Cam runs by where the duck’s family is, and the other older duck squawks, making the one chasing Cam stop and head back toward his family.
“She must be the wife. Always having to tell her husband to stop being an asshole.” Rita shakes her head.
I smile at Cam as he’s bent over, trying to regain his breath. He catches my eyes and smiles at me, shaking his head. As though we’re having our own nonverbal conversation.
Grandma comes by and pats my hand. “Great job, sweetie.”
“Thank you.” I kiss her on the cheek.
“He’s a good one. Someone you can trust.” She wraps her arm around my waist and lays her head on my arm.
I look at Cam. “I know, Grandma. I know.”
And I do, but taking that step feels like the first step on a tightrope over the Grand Canyon. One misstep and I might never recover.
18
“TWENTY SAYS SHE SAYS NO.”
Cam
I lost the bet and Rowdy was way too happy to hand over the fish costume I’ll have to wear for two hours today. Charters are slow for everyone as the season dwindles down, so we’re all hoping some late-season tourists will want to schedule an impromptu fishing trip after seeing me in this ridiculous thing.
As I’m putting it on, my phone dings.
Fisher: Cam wants to meet us, and I want my basement done. Meet at my house tomorrow at nine am. Everyone is helping. We have shit to do.
We’ve been trying to figure out a day and time that works for everyone for a week. It’s so like Fisher to get annoyed and take control, demanding everyone’s participation. And I’m grateful. I want to get this over with. Still, my anxiety picks up from thinking about having to have “the talk” with all of Chevelle’s brothers. It’s bad enough that I’ve already slept with her once without asking their permission to date her. She still thinks I’m crazy, but the other night when I brought home dinner for us, I didn’t hear her complaining about boundaries. We even shared a blanket while watching a movie.
“Sorry.” Chevelle comes over and helps me with the costume. “I suddenly feel guilty about hiding that fish and getting your charter drunk.”
“Don’t forget the laxative.” I raise an eyebrow.
“Eh… that I don’t feel bad about. That girl was all over you.”
She can’t see the smile on my face since my head is in the fish costume already. And I’m not going to call her out on why it bothered her. We weren’t a couple—strike that, aren’t a couple. But Chevelle likes me and it’s not just a little girl crush like when we were younger. She’s softening to me.
“I think I’m going to throw up.” I cough.
“I know. It’s like someone soaked it in fish guts or something.”
