Page 17

As if my body was under his control, it happened again. I swore I’d melt into a puddle on the floor. He turned me toward him and kissed me so tenderly that dizziness kicked in.

My soul cried when he pulled away before opening a drawer, grabbing a box of bandages along with a tube of antibacterial ointment. I think I was half-conscious as he applied the ointment and wrapped the bandage around my finger.

“There.” He kissed the tip of my nose before pulling the door open and looking at his watch. “Look at that…seven minutes on the nose.” He winked. “I’ll head back and tell them you got a phone call and will be out in a few.”

With that, he disappeared from sight while I sat on the edge of the tub, trying to pull myself together. Holy macaroni.

The bitter air slammed against my face as I made my way back to the ice shack. I straightened my hair in hopes of not having I just made out with Fern written on me.

I couldn’t wrap my mind around whatever the hell she was doing to me, and the panic that clouded half my brain at the thought of next week, and every week, without being close to her. The other half had a tantrum and refused to deal.

I don’t do feelings, and I sure as shit know I can’t deal with loss. Maybe it was losing my mom and then Amy so close to each other, but I couldn’t risk it. I had to pull my act together and push the feeling stuff out of my head. I couldn’t go down that track again.

Perspective…all I needed was perspective. Right? Mental reminder: we’re on a weekend pass. I’ve had a shameful amount of hook ups, and that’s what this was. We’re both in, and come Sunday, we’re both out with zero hang-ups.

I entered the shack that was cozy with so many bodies and a crackling fire in the corner stove.

Rachel handed me a beer. “So Fern’s okay?”

“Yes, she got a call, should be in soon, I guess.” There, I was calm and collected.

Until she walked in and sucked all the H2O out of the room.

Clearly, my self-control had taken a hike as I couldn’t stop staring at her pink lips and the cheeks that were still a little rosy from our bathroom session.

“Gabe.”

I jumped, realizing that Ed was having a conversation with me. “Yes, brother, what do you need?”

“Do you have a knife? My line is all jacked up.”

“Sure.” I reached in my coat pocket and pulled out my knife at the same time ten tampons dropped onto the floor from the bar. Well, shit.

Ed narrowed his eyes. “Dude.”

That was when Katie burst into laughter and pointed, ensuring all eyeballs shot to me while Fern covered her mouth.

Here goes nothing. “Yeah, I, uh. These were on sale.” I bent down and scooped up the tampons.

“Yes, they were on sale, and I wanted to make sure you gals were covered. Ya know, just in case.” Gulp.

“I wanted to be a good host.” I started this shit show, and I was sticking to it.

Pam gave me a side-eye as I put some tampons in her hand.

The room remained still so I grabbed a few more from my pocket and placed some in the hands of Liv and Katie before shooting them a thumbs-up sign. “You are welcome.”

Katie stood and nodded. “Well, thank you, Gabe, for the um, feminine ammo. Points for an unexpected party gift.”

“How about we all meet in the hot tub in twenty minutes?” Pam stood and pulled her gloves on.

The images of my last spin around the hot tub and where that led swirled through my mind.

Then she spoke, and I was unable to take my eyes off the mouth that I knew tasted like cherries. “Does anyone have a swimsuit I can borrow?”

Liv stood and grabbed her hand. “I do. Come on.”

I sat with the fellas in the steam as the ladies entered the four-season porch.

Fern had her long hair twisted in a bun on the top of her head.

When she slipped out of her cardigan, my eyes landed on a purple bikini top that fit her like a glove.

She wore boy shorts on the bottom that highlighted her sexy legs.

The curve of her shoulder, the delicate tattoo, and that perfect chest were almost too much. All I wanted to do was touch her.

Ed splashed water at me as his head pointed to Dave who was chatting with Dan. “Dude.”

I spoke quietly. “What? I just like purple. I’m a diehard Viking fan.” Ugh.

His nod warned me. “Watch it, bro.”

I knew I needed to check myself, but every minute I was close to her, thoughts and craziness were boiling up.

Yeah, it’s one of those times I’m grateful my thoughts don’t appear in bubbles over my head.

Can you even imagine? Dave drowning me in the hot tub as he cursed my name in Italian would be a sucky way to go.

Katie, Pam, and Liv found their way into the hot tub as Fern grabbed the tray next to the corner and loaded it up with bottles of beer from the refrigerator.

A beautiful woman delivering beer to a hot tub while wearing a purple bikini top?

Be still my beating heart. Wipe that dopy grin off your face!

Pam stretched out. “Now this is the way to do a bridal party weekend.”

Fern stopped by every person and handed out bottles before she looked over and gave me a small grin that grabbed me by the throat. She walked away and put the tray down with her back to the group.

“Oh, Fern,” Katie let out a little gasp. “I’m sorry, I knew you had cancer, but didn’t realize?—”

“It’s okay.” Fern’s eyes dropped.

Dave’s voice followed. “Yup, that scar’s a reminder that my little sis kicked cancer’s ass and that she can kick anyone else’s.” He splashed me and laughed. “Wolkowski would agree.”

I let out a groan again. “Novots, you’re just not funny.”

“I don’t have to be. Your shiner from Fern says it all.”

For the next hour, conversation and laughter filled the air, but I couldn’t tell you much of what was said as my eyes were glued to the beautiful girl with deep sapphire orbs across from me.

The way she giggled when she spoke, talked trash with Dave, and fought her grin each time she caught me staring at her like we were teenagers sitting across from each other at a party.

Locking eyes was a reminder that she was already under my skin.

Katie waved her hand in the air. “I’m going to melt if I stay in here much longer. Gabe, what’s the plan?”

I clapped my hands together. “Okay, agenda for tonight is as follows. Meet down in the living room in one hour for a night on the town. I have a car picking us up, so put on your party pants.”

I hopped out and passed towels around before we made our way toward the stairs.

Andrew grabbed his suitcase by the front door and started flinging little bags to everyone. “I have eliminated your need for wardrobe choices this evening. Wear these.”

With that, everyone scattered, and I saw Fern go toward her room.

Over my shoulder, my eyeballs caught Dave heading back into the kitchen so I sprinted upstairs.

Katie had just entered her room and shut the door so I bolted down the hall to Fern’s room, snuck inside, and locked the door behind me.

But she wasn’t there. WTH? I saw her go in.

I peeked under the bed, but that was stupid. “Fern,” I whispered. My eyes found the window as I scratched my head. Had this become too much, and she jumped to her freedom?

The closet door suddenly burst open, and her arms flew in the air. “Surprise!” she whisper-yelled, standing there in her bikini top, tempting me to nail the door shut and hold her captive forever.

I couldn’t grab her fast enough as she wrapped her arms around my waist, and her lips eagerly met mine.

My hands involuntarily slid to the small of her back and pulled her closer while a soft moan echoed in my mouth, sending sharp images of last night ripping through me. I could not get enough of her.

I knew her scent. It was burned into me now, and the pull to have it again caused a battle against myself that I didn’t think I’d win.

I was taken aback when she pushed with all her might, and my back hit the wall. Quiet laughter filled my ears as she pushed my arms up and held them against the wall. “I’m taking control, Gabe. I’m the boss of you.”

“You’re so cute.” I broke free as if being held by licorice. I grabbed her by the waist and tossed her on the bed as a scream escaped, and I climbed on top of her. “Do you know how cool you are, Fern Ethel?”

Her arms went around my neck as her smile lit up the room. “Yes, I’m am kind of badassy, huh?”

Fern jumped when someone started beating on the door.

Dave’s muffled voice came through the door. “Fern! Are you okay? Did you fall?”

Fuck, fuck, fuck. She pushed me.

“Oh, I’m fine. I just fell off the bed.”

“Fell off the bed. Aren’t you getting ready to go out? Why are you in bed?”

A tense laugh from the beauty beside me. “I’m not sleeping, nope. I was, ummm, jumping on the bed.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Yes, I was jumping on the bed and fell off, no biggie.”

“What the hell, Fern?” floated through the door.

“Don’t judge, Dave. It brings out the child in me.” She dramatically winked as she sat up and pushed me again, but this time, I fell onto the floor with a thud as she covered her mouth.

“Fern?” came through the door.

“Yeah, just had to do it once more.” She hopped up and grabbed my hand. “I’m done now.”

“You’re a head scratcher, girl.” Relief at the sound of his footsteps leaving.

“Love you, too, Bro!” She turned as her breath hit my face. “I’ll go down the hall and ask Dave if he has a charger so you get out of here unseen.”

I nodded as she pulled on a sweatshirt from the floor before shaking her ass at me as she made her way out the door.

Somehow, I ended up being the last one into the living room and could not have been more amused. Andy’s gifts were the bomb.

Everybody wore black sweatshirts with white writing across the front. I was originally feeling questionable about my Bat Shit Crazy shirt but no more.

Ed’s was Inappropriate Groom . Dave’s read I’m not gay, but $20 bucks is $20 bucks . Across Dan’s chest was I Look Better Bent Over , and Andrew’s had This Guy Rubs His Own Meat on the front.

And the ladies: Tawnee’s was Dysfunctional Bride , Katie’s read Pizza Slut , Liv’s had Moist written in a pretty font, and Fern’s was Part-Time hooker.

Katie clapped her hands together. “Now, I’ve chosen a pre-game event to entertain us until the car arrives. And yes, prizes are involved because I know this crew.”

You would’ve thought Fern hit the lottery by the way she was jumping around and high-fiving everyone.

Liv reached for a coffee cup on the end table next to the couch. “But first, I need everyone to draw a strip of paper and read it aloud. Then I’ll fill you in.”

One by one we drew.

Pam held hers up. “Tap dance like your toes are on fire.”

Katie grabbed one. “Bark like a police dog catching a driver with twenty pounds of cocaine.”

Fern shook her head. “Twirk like a stripper desperate to not lose her gig.”

Andrew shrugged his shoulders. “Cluck like a chicken.”

The cup went around to Dave. “An enthusiastic YMCA dance, huh.”

I held it in the air. “Magic Mike moves”.”

The room got a kick out of that one as Ed pulled. “Meow like a cat in heat.”

“Alright folks, whenever I say as you are tonight, wherever you are, you do what is on your paper. Shall we practice?”

Some nods and a few shoulder shrugs.

“As you are!”

I glanced around the room and nearly lost it. Between the horrific cat in heat meowing, Dave and with his cheerleader style YMCA, to Fern’s twirking, which I planned on checking out up close and personal later, I realized I was surrounded by the best group a man could hope for.

Pam threw her hand in the air. “Nice! Now everyone, please follow me into the kitchen.”

We all headed that way when Fern suddenly pushed her way through the group and sprinted ahead with that fine ass giving me a little show. Once there she threw her hands in the air. “I won!”

Pam shook her head. “Honey, that’s not the contest.”

Fern’s little nose wrinkled. “Are you sure? Because clearly, I won the race to the kitchen.”

Katie reached her and grabbed her hand. “Yeah, there wasn’t a race.”

She started jumping around like a boxer. “Well, you mother truckers are lucky because I smoked all your asses!”

Ed walked past her. “Again, not a race.”

Fern’s eyes rolled. “Whatever, but I think we all know what happened here.”

“Okay, but a race did not happen here.” Novots slapped her on the back.

Her laughter grabbed me, and I wanted to grab her and show her exactly what I thought her prize should be. You sound like a slime. Truth.

Pam clapped her hands. “Alright, on this table are shot glasses containing liquid.”

Ooohs and ahhhs filled the room.

Liv waved her arms. “This is called Shit-Shot-Roulette.” Spontaneous applause as Liv took a bow.

“Thank you, I just made that up. Can you even believe it? Anyway, this is how it goes. Half of the shot glasses contain vodka, the others half water. You choose a shot, and if you get the vodka, you play your best poker face with the goal of us not being able to tell if you drank the water or liquor. Winner is the one voted best poker face.”

“Nice. I got this.” Andrew threw his arms over his head.

Liv pulled a card out of her pocket. “And the winner gets this delightful gift card to White Castle with a value of thirty dollars!”

Cheers erupted as Dave and Fern both cracked their necks at the same time in preparation for the kitchen contest.

Novots was, up until this weekend, the most driven, I will fuck you up to win person I’d ever met, and I’d always appreciated that trait. But I never, in my entire life, imagined I’d be so entrenched in a woman with the same attitude.

As my eyes soaked in the beauty with that long, sleek black hair, crystal blue eyes, and the most perfect body I’d ever touched, who apparently thought stretching her arms and legs would assist her in winning Shit-Shot-Roulette, I realized I adored her.

I freaking adored this crazy, hot, tomboy of a woman who was unlike anyone. I had no idea how to process any of it.

Twenty minutes later, can you guess the winner? The guy who had way too much experience downing liquor without a flinch. Me.

This weekend was all about the wedding party and having some shots, a few beers for fun, but the days of drinking to numb myself were over. I was light. I saw happiness on the horizon. I saw Fern.