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She shrugged. "I'm done. I'm so done, Marley. It'll be my birthday and it just felt like the day to do it. And no, I don't want you there."

That was the original plan. Do my summer thing and then go back to watch her last couple of games and celebrate her retirement.

That was the plan.

But now she'd be done before I left Lost Creek and I'd miss it.

"Look, Cristobal knew you'd be at those games and he's probably hoping you'll be at my last one. He can see that you're not there while I knock around for a week or two, then when I disappear it will seem natural. Seth's team is arranging everything. I'll just appear in Lost Creek like a ghost. Or an invading alien with my flying saucer."

"But Charley..." My heart ached for her. She used to love this game. Live and breathe the sport. The decision to retire after this season had been a battle for her. At first. Once she really started to think about life after soccer, it was like she gave up. She showed up, laced up her shoes, and ran the drills on pure muscle memory. She was there but she wasn't. Hell, even with her head somewhere else she was still one of the best.

But without her heart, what was the point? It was like me trying to write this damn book.

"Don't cry for me, love muffin. I'm good with this. I'm...content. It feels right. And I like that when I get my ass up to you, I won't have a deadline hanging over my head. I can stay and harass you for the rest of your time up there if I want to. We can snuggle up and have pajama parties and annoy your sexy cowboy until he tosses me out."

"Jackson will love that." I infused that statement with an appropriate amount of sarcasm.

"If he can't handle me, he's not good enough for you, babes. I'm the secret weapon. The true test of his love and devotion."

"You're ridiculous." Which was why I adored her.

"If he doesn't murder me and still loves you after I've annoyed the shit out of him for a week or two, you're golden, babes. No doubts. You'll never have to go through what I went through. And no, that was not an opening to bring that shit up. The blackout is still in place until I say it isn't."

I wanted to rip her ex-husband's balls off and feed them to him. Mostly because it would horrify him, and he needed to be horrified.

"I ain't letting that shit happen to you, Marley. I'm not."

I loved her so much. "I think Jackson will pass the test with flying colors."

"What test am I passing?" The man himself sauntered across my deck all sweaty and grinning. He dropped his pack by the door before leaning over me to see the screen. "Hello Charley."

"Hey Cowboy. How was Mother Nature?"

"Warm but amazing, as always. How is Tampa?"

"Fucking balls hot as always. I could cut the air it's so thick. Don't you wish you were here, babes? Miss Tampa yet?"

"Nope." The summer here was glorious. Warm, mild by comparison, and even a little chilly when the sun went down. "I'm good here."

"Yeah, you are," Jackson growled before dropping to press kisses to my neck. "I'm jumping in the shower. Will Charley be joining us for dinner again?"

Twice in the last week she called right as we were sitting down to eat and ended up being our entertainment.

"Sorry, can't tonight. I know I'm turning into a crazy cat lady, but I do still have friends. We're having a dinner party at Seth's. Super fancy. It's catered."

"Until next time then." He waved to Charley and we both watched my cowboy walk away.

"Damn, Marley. That ass." She bit the heel of her hand. "Even if he doesn't pass the test, he's worth keeping around for eye candy until you get bored."

"Wait till you see the rest of him."

"Washboard abs?Unf."

"Better. He's not an athlete. His body isn't anything like you're used to. It's real." Really fucking hot.

She whistled. "I might have to find my own mountain man to entertain me while I'm there. Make him chop wood for me. Shirtless. Then he can lumberjack me all night long. I don't need my back anymore. He can blow it all the way out."

"Charley!" I wiped tears from my cheeks. She had me laughing so hard I was crying.