“Shut up,” I whispered just before I grabbed the collar of his flannel shirt, pulled him down to where I could reach, and pressed my mouth against his. I hadn’t realized how cold my lips were until they were touching his. How were men always so warm? The attractive pine and spice smell of his cologne immediately tried to weaken me, but I remained strong, like an immovable oak. As far as kisses went, it was what I imagined giving a grandparent a peck on the lips would feel like. Our lips were slightly puckered, but I refused to open my mouth any more, so we just stood there with our mouths pressed together for as long as I could stand. I pulled away and tucked the hair behind my ear, wondering why my heart was pounding. It couldn’t have been from that kiss.
I cleared my throat and turned to face my executioners. “There you go.”
“Wow,” was all Chloe could say.
“Huh,” Mom said.
We all stood there in a semi-awkward silence for a few moments before my mom put us out of our misery. “Well, Olive, you’re still in trouble for keeping him from us,”
I wrinkled my nose playfully. “I’m sorry. I wanted to be sure he wasn’t a dud before I told everyone.”
Miles chuckled appreciatively, his arm snaking around my waist once more.
Suddenly, Chloe bent over, resting her hands on her knees, and took a deep breath. Her face had grown even more pale since we’d been standing here.
“You okay, Chlo?” I asked.
Another breath. “Yeah. Just nausea.”
“We have a general store here with over-the-counter medicines. I can go grab you something if you need it,” Miles offered. I looked at him in surprise, but his eyes were on Chloe.
“We have some at the cabin.” She smiled at him gratefully. “But thank you.”
“So, is this the guy I’ve been hearing so much about the past…five minutes?” Russ’s booming voice broke into our group. We turned to see him and Ben walking toward us, each holding a twin in their arms.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as my shoulders sank in defeat. This freaking foyer was busier than a subway.
Miles leaned forward, shaking Russ’s hand. “Nice to meet you, sir. I’m Miles.”
“Russ Ellis. Has anybody ever told you that you look like a young Bradley Cooper?”
“Right? I thought the same thing,” Ben chirped from behind my mom.
A grin split across Miles’s entire face. “I have heard that a time or two.” The hand that was around my waist dug into my side, tickling me. I tried to casually get out from his grip, but he held me firmly.
“How’d you come to be here?” He eyed us curiously. He must have missed Chloe’s explanation.
Mom stepped in, looking at me. “Miles’s family owns the entire lodge. I still find it crazy that you were able to keep this secret that long.”
“He loves a good joke.” I looked up at him and patted his cheek, maybe a smidge too hard.
Mom squeezed my arm. “Well, we’re going to get Chloe home.” Looking at us, she said, “Good night, you two. I can’t wait to chat more with you, Miles.”
“Looking forward to it,” he replied. We said our goodbyes, and they all turned to go. To me, he whispered, “Should I call her Mom?”
I elbowed his stomach. “Why does it seem like you’re overly thrilled about this?”
Warm puffs of air hit my ear as his lips moved dangerously close to me. “Because now you owe me. Big time.”
Before I could protest or demand we cancel whatever this was, Miles claimed he had to help clean up the building and strode off without another word. My eyes narrowed, not sure if I believed him but not wanting to drag this out, so I let him go, hoping that, by tomorrow morning, we’d be on the same page with the whole breakup plan.
NINE
“If she do bid me pack, I’ll give her thanks as though she bid me stay by her a week.”
William Shakespeare - The Taming of the Shrew
Though I wasn’t far behind them, Chloe had gone straight to bed by the time I arrived at the cabin. I didn’t like to see her so sick, but I couldn’t help but feel relieved that I wouldn’t get the Spanish Inquisition from her tonight. The twins were eating at the table when I entered, apparently famished after having refused to touch their dinner at the lodge. I set up my pull-out bed and then helped Ben change the girls into their pajamas. We laid out blankets on the floor next to the fireplace along with their sleeping bags. Once the giggles and mischief died down, they drifted off to sleep. Ben said goodnight and snuck into the bedroom. I sighed as his door closed and I finally had the quiet I had been craving since my arrival.
Fluffing the pillows we’d found stuffed in the closet, I tried to get comfortable. Technology had definitely not advanced in the pull-out bed department. A long bar stretched out across the bed frame, protruding through the thin mattress pad. I contemplated changing the bed back to a couch but realized I didn’t have the energy. There were more important matters to address. I reached for my phone.
ME: Just letting you know…I will no longer be bringing you double Oreo milkshakes on the second day of your period. And when you have to pee so badly during your fourth hour, when I have my break, I will no longer be coming to relieve you. Ever.
MILLIE: What on earth did I do to deserve that?
ME: You backstabbing traitor. You sent me to Miles’s lodge on purpose!
MILLIE: Oh, dear me. Was that Miles’s lodge?
ME: MILLIE.
ME: *GIF of Darla from Little Rascals crunching a pop can*
ME: You told me you’d heard about this lodge from a FRIEND!
MILLIE: He is my friend. But I have so many friends sometimes it’s hard to remember who tells me what…
ME: You knew exactly what you were doing.
MILLIE: Well, as long as you’re there, try and make the best of it. I’m sure there are some janitor closets somewhere. You know what to do.
ME: Chloroform him?
MILLIE: Try less felony…more kissing.
ME: We will have words when I get back.
MILLIE: I take chocolate, milkshakes, and wedding invitations in lieu of apologies. Heading to bed! Keep me posted.
I put my phone down and pulled my Kindle out of my duffel bag. I had almost told her about the whole pretend-to-be-my-boyfriend debacle but didn’t want to get into it. It was over, and I’d never have cause to mention it again. Once I spoke to Miles tomorrow, I would apologize and swear him to secrecy. I flopped around on the bed for a few moments, trying to find a spot where the bar didn’t jab into me, when my phone lit up again. Expecting Millie, I was half tempted to wait a whole five minutes before responding, to really drive home how upset I was, when I noticed it wasn’t from her.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: This is Miles. I am hypothetically throwing rocks at your window.
ME: Why are you doing that?
ME: And how did you get this number?
UNKNOWN NUMBER: I have the numbers of all my fake girlfriends. Come outside.
ME: Is this how you kill your victims?
UNKNOWN NUMBER: I’m about to kill you with kindness. Like Taming of the Shrew.
ME: Wow. Shakespeare? I underestimated you.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: COME OUTSIDE.
Heart pounding for some unknown reason, I stood up from the uncomfortable bed and pulled on my white parka and gloves. I glanced at the door that led into Chloe’s room and suddenly felt like a naughty teenager sneaking out in the middle of the night. The girls were sleeping peacefully on the floor, and I glanced regretfully back at my Kindle. But I guess now was as good a time as ever to break up with my fake boyfriend. I stuffed my feet into my boots by the door and crept silently outside.