Page 87

“WHAT?” he yelled, hauling himself inside. “Why aren’t you over the fucking moon?”

I began spreading the sheet over the queen bed up front. “Probably because her dad came over the next morning.” I’d been planning to tell Cooper at work, but after all the drama, I wasn’t feeling quite as chipper.

“Shit. Why?” Coop asked.

“He wanted me to do some mechanical work on his semi, but he wasn’t so happy about seeing Mags in my shirt and her underwear so early in the morning.”

Cooper said. “Think he’d be better with it after a little breakfast and some coffee?”

I shot him a glare and then straightened, bringing the sheets back to the bunks at the back of the trailer. “Seems he holds a grudge the same way Maggie does.” I handed him one, and he climbed to the top bunk.

“What happened after?” he asked from above me. “She still coming today?”

I nodded, crawling into the bottom bunk to get the back corners of the mattress. “But she said she couldn’t choose me over her dad.”

“Shit,” Cooper muttered. “Isn’t that what marriage is though? You leave your parents and cleave to each other?”

“Don’t start quoting Bible shit at me,” I said, working the sheet over the back of the mattress. “It’s too early to be talking marriage.”

“In the day or in the relationship?” he asked.

I climbed out of the bunk and looked up at him, still struggling with the sheet. “Both.” I took the extra corner, helping him out. “You got marriage on the mind?”

His smile got all dopey.

“Well I’ll be damned,” I said, shaking my head. “Come help me with the food.”

We went into my house, each taking a couple grocery bags sitting on my table. When we got back to the camper, Coop said, “I’ll put the fridge stuff away.”

I nodded, taking the produce. “I get to open the slutty oranges.”

He gave me a look. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

I smirked, holding up the bag. “Gotta rip that fish net apart to get to the goods.” I winked.

He threw a small bag of shredded cheese at me. “Weirdo.”

I held up the oranges, ripping the netting, and made a lewd sound.

A bag of lettuce sailed my way, but I dodged this time, laughing.

We finished unloading the groceries, and then I said, “Are you ready for this?”

He wrung his hands. “It’s my first long trip with Cam. I don’t want to ruin it.”

I patted his shoulder. “If your toilet didn’t do it, I don’t think anything can.”

We got out of the camper, and he chased after me. He shoved me, and I used the momentum to jog to my side of the truck. When we got to the girls’ house, I smiled at the metal art wind chime hanging on the front porch. I hoped it was a good omen, that last night was just what Maggie said it was—time for her to pack and not time for her to decide against being with me.

“You’ve got it bad,” Cooper muttered.

“Okay, pot.” I got out of the truck and walked up the front steps, Cooper just a few feet behind me. When I knocked on the front door, Mags pulled it back, a single duffel bag over her shoulder visible through the screen door.

“You pack light,” I commented, holding the door open for her.

From behind Maggie, Cam said, “That’s because she gets all her extra shit from me.” She came into view with two large rolling suitcases, each strapped with a smaller bag.

“Holy hell, woman,” Cooper muttered behind me. “You know we’re just leaving for a weekend, right? And it’s already Saturday!”