She stopped and turned around, causing me to nearly run her down. “Well, it looks like you’ll be my beer wench while I hula hoop the hell out of this place.”
For the next three minutes and twelve seconds, Fern’s hips had me spinning as she whipped the hoop around while finishing a beer before I handed her a second. By the time she downed it, she was the last one standing. Who in the hell was this woman in front of me giving high-fives and fist bumps to the people on the dance floor?
Twenty minutes later, we stood at the bar while the bartender slid over a crisp fifty-dollar bill that was instantly snatched by Fern and tucked into her bra. Now that was cash I wanted to check on later. No! Do not go after any cash!
“Thank you, fine sir.” She shot him a big grin.
He slid a box over toward the champion at my side. “Hey, somebody ordered too many tampons for the bathroom machine. You want ‘em?”
Fern let out a hoot. “Damn straight I do.” She gave me a nod as she started scooping tampons into her coat pockets, and I jumped when she then filled mine. “Winner, winner, chicken dinner.”
Chapter 3
Trouble
Was I a little buzzed with a side cramp from my work to earn the epic title of hula hoop/beer drinking champion? Yup. Was my stomach a sloshy mess from the beer and what felt like a side of beef? Seemed so. Was Fern Ethel Novotny, the chick who was not the smoothest when it came to the men, flirting with Gabe who was best friends with my brother? A concerned yes.
The February air was freezing, but with a little beer in my veins, I didn’t feel a thing. Not a lick.
“Watch your step. It’s slick out here,” Gabe ordered.
I heard his words, but a second later, I found myself lying on my back, looking at the blurry stars above me. My loud laughter bounced off the cars around me.
“Are you okay?”
The next thing I knew he scooped me up, and I was on my feet again. “Why thank you. I’m fine and dandy.”
His chuckle was deep. “We’d better get you to the cabin before you end up in the hospital or find another contest to win.”
He led me to his truck by my elbow. Once in the passenger seat, he leaned across me and buckled my seatbelt. Once done, his eyes found mine staring at him. I rarely drink, and after a few beers, I was a bolder version of myself. I didn’t know if I liked that or not. Instead of quickly looking away like I normally would have, I held his gaze at the same time a spiral of heat waved up the back of my neck.
The corner of his mouth turned up. “There, you’re safe.”
But I didn’t want to be safe, nope, I wanted to be felt up by the fella in front of me. I thought about grabbing his coat and just laying one on him, but my bravery wavered so I just nodded.
In the truck, we sang to Noah Kahan’s Stick Season, and Tiny Dancer. I was shocked that the hockey gentleman beside me could really belt out a tune.
As the sexy truck containing the sexy man next to me rolled down the highway, I wished there was something that could take the dopy smile off my face. Be cool, dammit.
The universe responded to that request quickly. A split second later, a man bolted out of the forest beside the road, causing Gabe to slam on the brakes and, by a miracle from above, did not run over or kill the guy before us.
He was in his twenties, blond hair, and wearing a Marco’s Pizza Jacket. His hands flew in the air as he yelled while his cheeks were as red as Santa’s. His hair shot out in every direction. His eyes were filled with fear that suddenly made me uneasy. He jumped over to Gabe’s door as he rolled down the window.
“Let me in! I’m under attack! Open the door!”
Gabe leaned out his window a little, “Buddy?—”
I looked into the forest he ran out of and wondered what beast might be heading our way. “Gabe, there might be a bear or something.”
There was a click as the doors unlocked, and the stranger flew into the back seat. “Drive! We gotta get out of here.”
Gabe looked back at the stranger who was breathing heavy enough to instantly fog his window. “What are you doing out here on the highway so late?”
“Mister, please drive.” He looked over his shoulder at a car in the distance behind us. “They see us. We gotta go.”
“We’re not going until I know what’s happening.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I delivered pizza to the wrong house, and they’re going to kill me!”
