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“Eddie, you’re a lifesaver.”

“Coming from a real lifesaver, that means something,” Eddie replied.“Have a seat.I’m making leg of lamb, too.”

“How on Earth are you not married?”Faith asked.

“Still waiting for the right man, I guess,” Eddie replied.“In the meantime, I get to spoil my baby cousin.”

“And your baby cousin very much appreciates it,” Faith said.

Turk trotted up to Eddie and laid his head affectionately against his leg.Eddie reached down with a meaty hand and scratched the lucky pup underneath his chin.

Eddie was a tall, burly mountain of a mountain man with a thick, luxurious beard, hands the size of watermelons and enough muscle mass to win him the amateur powerlifting competition for the Lake of the Ozarks five years running.He flashed Faith a boyish smile that belied his intimidating presence.“I got a call from Pearl.She says she saw you and Turk terrorizing some turkeys off of Highway F.”

“Was that the word she used?Terrorizing?”

“That was the word.I reminded her—as I am now reminding you—that the turkeys are far more dangerous to you than you are to them.She seemed somewhat appeased, but in the interest of full disclosure, I think she’d be a lot happier if the two of you disappeared in a puff of smoke.”

Faith chuckled."I don't blame her.We are tourists, after all, and we're here after NFT day."

No Fucking Tourists day was a celebratory occasion when locals gathered to drink and make merry in celebration of the fact that there were—as the name suggested—no more fucking tourists.The restaurant Eddie managed threw one of the more memorable parties for NFT day, attracting nearly everyone from Sunrise Beach.The town only had a population of around five hundred, but that was a lot to cram into one lake house restaurant.

“Speaking of something tangentially related,” Eddie said, “Junior’s birthday party is tonight, so when we’re done pregaming here, we should go to the restaurant and get drunk.”

“One of us should get drunk,” Faith corrected.“One of us should remain sober to drive home.”

“Sure,” Eddie replied cheerily.“Of course.”

Before Faith could retort, her phone buzzed.Michael.“One second,” she told Eddie.“I’ve gotta take this.”

“Boyfriend?”

“Boy space friend.”

"So you're just banging him, but there's no romance."

“No, he’s my partner.”

“See, that still sounds like you’re banging him.”

She rolled her eyes.“Business partner.Maybe you should go to the party by yourself and get laid so you can stop making everything about sex.”

“From your mouth to God’s ears,” Eddie agreed.

Faith laughed and answered the phone.“Hey, Michael.What’s up?”

“Are you alone?”

Faith’s smile faded.“I can be.Is this serious?”

“Yes.”

Her smile vanished entirely.She got to her feet and stepped onto the deck.Eddie raised a questioning eyebrow, and she shook her head.

When she was outside, she asked, “What’s going on, Michael?”

“Before I tell you, you need to promise to let me finish before you get angry with me.”

“Michael, I swear to God, if you don’t tell me what’s—”