“Sometimes I want to strangle you,” Lucy mutters, but hops out of the seat and grabs her case from the trunk. I take it from her, leaving her to carry her over-sized purse. Man, I hope she stuck the snacks in that thing.
We ring the bell, and seconds later we’re greeted by a woman who looks thrilled to see us. Her cheeks are rosy, she’s got short brown hair, and she’s wearing an apron that saysF*ck the Cook. She Likes it Hard. Yep, this lady is my people.
“Hi, I’m Caleb, and this is Lucy. I called you from the Stop n’ Go and you said—”
“I said I’d squeeze you in!” she laughs, grabbing on to my cheek and pinching.
“Yeah, I think that’s exactly what you said. We’re super grateful. It’s a mess out there.”
“Come right through here, and we’ll get you all settled. “Dan!The lovebirds are here! Come grab their stuff, hon!” She turns her head and bellows, and soon enough, a guy with thick dark brows and hair to match comes shuffling down the hall.
“You put them in Room 7, Vicki?” he asks, grabbing our bags.
“Yep, that’s the only one left, babe. Thanks.”
Dan turns toward the stairs, and I can hear Lucy’s brain going a mile a minute. “The only one left?” she asks.
“The only one left,” Vicki repeats as I hand her my credit card. “But you’ll love it. It’s nice and cozy. I just put fresh flannel sheets on this morning. Flannel ok with you two? They have little penguins skiing on them!”
“Yes, flannel’s great, thanks,” I say, grabbing Lucy’s hand so we can follow Dan up the staircase.
I can’t do anything but trail behind as Vicki calls out that cocktail hour starts at four. Looking at my phone, I see I have plenty of time to take a nap and call Booker so I can check in with my boys.
And that’s how I spend my afternoon—sleeping on the comfy bed (Vicki was not exaggerating), shooting the shit with Book on the phone, and hanging out at happy hour. Lucy’s reading on the couch in the main room, but that doesn’t really surprise me. She’s always been more of a lone-wolf type, and cocktail hour isn’t her scene. It’s mine, though. I make friends with Patty and Jean, a lovely couple on their way to Cheboygan. And I also befriend an older gentleman named Roy. He’s heading back from spending Christmas with his kids in Columbus and is en route to Wisconsin as well.
I tell bits and pieces of our story, but I leave out the part about Lucy and me being stepsiblings. I like to think she’d appreciate that. I clear up the dishes and have just finished loading up the dishwasher when Vicki shoots me a sly look. “Shouldn’t you be cozying up to your girlfriend in bed instead of helping an old lady clean up?”
“Old lady?” I question. “Funny, but I don’t see any old ladies here,” I tell her, smiling.
“Very sweet, but I’m being serious. And it's not that I don’t appreciate the help. I’d bet good money Dan is camped out in front of the TV watching the Seahawks. Unless he’s fallen asleep, which is a distinct possibility.”
“No worries. I like being useful. I...uh, get bored easily, so I find that I go a little crazy unless I’m doing something with my hands.”
“In that case,” she returns, “roll out this pie dough. We’re making quiche!”
* * *
Two hours later,we’re sitting down to dinner. Well, everyone else is sitting while Vicki and I are serving. Like I told her, I’m happy to help. I hate feeling useless or bored. Those emotions only lead to trouble, and since I know I’m in deep trouble where Lucy is concerned, it’s best that I stay busy.
And speaking of Lucy, she’s sitting alone at a table for two by the window, taking bites of food while reading something on her tablet.
“Go get some dinner and sit with your girl. No excuses,” Vicki gives me a mom-look.
I glance back at the buffet, but it really looks like everyone’s been served, and there’s plenty of food for second helpings. So, before Vicki can smack me, I fill my plate and make my way over to Lucy.
“This seat taken?” God, we’re reduced to cliches now? Less than twenty-four hours ago, we were giving each other multiple mutual orgasms, and now we’re back at small talk.
Lucy looks up and smiles and that’s all it takes. One smile from Lucy sends my heart into overdrive.
“Everything’s amazing,” she tells me, pointing to her plate with her fork. “I’m guessing you helped?”
“Yeah, Vicki’s part-time help, Kathie, is stuck in the storm too. She was out West visiting her new grandbaby and she’s been stuck in an airport in Montana for two days. So I pitched in a little.”
“You’re still driving me to Wisconsin, though, right? How can I be sure that Vicki’s not going to steal you away?”
I shrug. “I am pretty irresistible. Worst case scenario, I’ll zip you up north and then come back to the VD to fulfill my life’s duties as part-time kitchen help. But honestly, I’d miss my boys too much, so unless they’re all willing to relocate to Indiana, I’m probably heading back to school after the storm clears and I get you home.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
