Till Summer Do Us Part(54)

Her head tilts to the side as she studies me.

“What?” I ask after a few seconds.

“Nothing.” She shakes her head.

“Uh, no, you’re not going to get away with that. What were you just thinking?”

She drags her finger over the comforter beneath us, avoiding eye contact. “Just that, you know, you’re pretty mature.”

“Jesus, Scottie. I’m two years younger than you, which is not that big of a difference.”

“I know, I know. I’m just not used to such maturity in a man your age is all. I mean, even Mika isn’t as mature as you.”

I chuckle. “Mika’s on his own path.”

“That he is.” She pushes her foot against my leg. “Seriously though, you know how to say the right thing.”

“I’m not saying it just to say it.” I look her in the eyes. “I mean it.”

She nods. “I know.”

I turn toward her and ask, “So do you want to go home, or do you want to stay? I’m good either way.”

She looks toward the window, and I can see her wavering on what to do, so I decide to help her.

“Please tell me if I’m overstepping here, but it almost seems like after today’s session, you’re considering staying because you might think it could be helpful. I don’t know what happened in your divorce, and I won’t ask because I know that’s personal to you, but if it seems like being here could help weed out some of the negative feelings you’re experiencing or the animosity or anxiety, then maybe it might be good to stay. If anything, staying might break the patterns of behavior for you. I know I can get into them sometimes, and breaking a routine helps break through some of the baggage we hold on to.”

She stares up at the ceiling as she leans back on her hands. “Yeah. I was thinking that, but I don’t want to keep you. The option to leave is there, and I feel like you should be able to get back to your regular life.”

“But do you really think I want to do that?” I ask. “Why do you think I’m here in the first place? Because my regular life is boring me.”

Her eyes meet mine. “You’d really stay an extra seven days with me, knowing that we could leave tomorrow?”

“Gives me an extra seven days to shower with the fleshy poker. I call that a good fucking time.”

That makes her smile. “I’m being serious, Wilder.”

“So am I.”

And I realize that I honestly want to stay here. It’s not just about experiencing something fun to relieve my boredom now. It’s for Scottie. It could be because she’s such a good friend to Mika that makes her okay in my book. But I think it’s just her too. I like her. I’m enjoying spending time with her. And if this helps her unpack her marriage and heal? Then I’m in.

“I say we do it,” I continue. “Stay. Enjoy the ride. Have fun basking in the knowledge of throwing off Sanders, because he’s probably never met a couple like us before. Enjoy watching the other couples scramble while we win challenge after challenge while bickering the whole time. I say we stay, paint each other’s faces, canoe out in the lake, go on hikes, and just be adults at an adult summer camp.”

Her smile grows ever so slightly. “I mean, when you put it like that, it does sound kind of fun.”

“Exactly. And I say you just let loose. Shake off the insecurities, don’t worry about what your coworkers might think, and just do this for you. Experience everything for you. Because you and I both know you won’t be working with the Brads and Chad forever, so might as well give them a show.”

“It does sound entertaining, but I’ve never done that.”

“Done what?”

“Dropped the insecurities,” she says. “I’ve always tried to save face, put myself out there in a positive light. Make it seem like I’m living a good life.”

“Are you though?” I ask. “In all seriousness, looking back, are you living a good life?”

She pauses, giving her answer some thought. From what I can tell, I’d say she’s living life, but she’s not living it to its fullest. I think she believes she’s making the right moves, but she’s not really making the moves that help her find joy.

Finally, she says, “I don’t think I am.”

“Then maybe it’s time you stop trying to save face and start living without a care. Throw caution to the wind. Do things you may never have done before…like attend a marriage camp with someone you only met a few days ago.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right.” Her beautiful eyes, a soft shade of blue with a unique ring of brown around her pupil, meet mine again. “Will you help me?”

A smile tugs at my lips. “Pips, you’ve come to the right place.”





Chapter Fourteen





SCOTTIE

“Good morning,” I say to Ellison and Sanders, who are holding hands and standing by the dock.

The sun is barely peeking over the trees, and a mist is lifting off the lake, where blow-up obstacle courses are stationed. Brad and his wife, Jenna, are off to the right, having an intimate conversation. Chad and his wife, Danielle, are quietly arguing about some fantasy league he is in. Finky and Lindsey are passing a cup of coffee back and forth. And Duncan and his husband are doing jumping jacks off to the side, looking like they’re gearing up for a takedown.