“Stop!” I shouted, struggling to get free from Hunter’s grip.
I was thirty seconds away from peeing my pants.
He was sitting on top of my hips and his hands had my wrists pinned above my head while Coby was relentlessly tickling my ribs.
“Get her, Coby!” Hunter yelled over my laughing cries.
My son’s fingers dug in harder, then traveled up to my armpits.
“No!” I squealed and twisted, trying to escape, but my struggle was pointless. Hunter was too big and I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe. Tears were running down my temples and into my hair. The corners of my jaw were aching and every muscle in my core was flexed tight.
“Okay! Okay. Stop! Oh my god, stop.” My bladder was about to give way.
Coby took pity on me and stopped his tickling but Hunter didn’t let me up. “Who gets to eat the last two cookies?”
“You do,” I panted. “You guys get the last two cookies. I give up.”
Hunter was off me in a flash, standing up and raising his arms triumphantly in the air. “We won!” Then he bent down to give Coby a high five. “Good job, bud.”
Coby smacked his hand into Hunter’s, then started singing, “Mommy is the loser. Mommy is the loser,” and danced around me still lying on the floor.
“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, wiping my eyes dry. “You guys won. Again.”
It had been two weeks since Hunter and I had started sleeping together, and in that time, he and Coby had bonded even closer. Their new favorite thing was to gang up on me. Everything was a vote these days. Games. Movies. Even the dinner menu. I’d become a perpetual loser, outvoted two to one every single time. Whenever I’d try and put up a fight, I would get tickle-tortured until I’d cave.
“This is so not fair,” I told Hunter, faking a pout.
He shrugged and smiled down at me still on the floor. “Boys rule, girls drool.”
“Oh my god.” I rolled my eyes as Coby started singing that instead.
I smiled, not really minding that I was constantly outvoted if it brought Hunter and Coby closer together. Besides, I was having fun too. I’d laughed to tears more times in two weeks than I had in all my twenty-nine years combined.
With his victory smirk in place, Hunter stretched out a hand to help me off the living room floor.
“Thanks.” I smoothed out my hair, getting rid of the static from the carpet, and then straightened my chambray shirt. When Hunter wasn’t looking, I quickly tugged my panties and khaki shorts out of my butt crack.
“Okay,” I said. “That was fun and all but I’ve got to get going. Coby, you’re going to be a good boy for Hunter, right?”
“Yep!”
“He always is.” Hunter ruffled Coby’s hair. “We’ll be fine.”
“You’re sure you don’t mind bringing him to the rodeo? I can always bring him with me now. He can just hang out in Mom’s booth and—”
Hunter swooped down and cut me off, brushing his lips against mine for a chaste kiss. “Go. We’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
I sighed. “All right.”
Dashing to my room, I slipped on my light-blue tennis shoes and donned some silver hoop earrings. After clasping on my favorite necklace, a simple silver chain with Coby’s initials etched into a silver disk, I walked back toward the living room.
I stopped in the hallway at the sight on the couch.
Hunter was in the middle of the sectional, the TV remote in one hand as he scrolled through cartoon channels. His other arm was wrapped around Coby, keeping him tucked right into his side. My son was smiling and bouncing his bare feet as they rested on Hunter’s jean-covered thigh.
Where is my phone? That was a picture worth saving.
I smiled and pushed onward, rounding the couch to sit down next to Coby. “Hey, buddy.” I patted Coby’s leg so he’d take his eyes off the TV as Hunter hit mute. “We need to have a quick talk before I go. Do you remember a couple weeks ago when I told you Hunter was going to be my boyfriend?”
Coby nodded. “’Cause he gives you hugs and kisses and Eskimos.”
“That’s right.” I bent forward to rub our noses together. “I was thinking that it might be fun for Hunter to start having special sleepovers. That way he could eat breakfast with us. What do you think?”
My eyes darted up to Hunter’s surprised face as Coby started shouting.
“Yay! He can sleep in my room!” Coby bounced into Hunter’s lap. “You can sleep wif me!”
“Your bed is kind of small, bud,” Hunter said. “Maybe your mom would let me sleep in hers? It’s a lot bigger.”
Coby stared at him for a second, considering his suggestion, and then looked back to me. “Can he stay in your bed, Mommy?”
“My bed? Hmm. I guess that would be okay. Good idea.” I tickled Coby’s side, causing him to fall into Hunter’s chest as he laughed.
“Are you sure?” Hunter mouthed over his head.
I nodded. “I’m sure.”
We’d spent almost every night together these past two weeks but I was sick of shuffling him out the door at dawn. He’d been patient, understanding I wasn’t ready to introduce sleepovers to Coby yet, but the time had come.
We’d have a sleepover tonight after we made our relationship public.
Hunter and I had been enjoying the intimacy and privacy of our new relationship. We’d been getting to know one another in the comfort of my home, avoiding the café and other restaurants in favor of home-cooked meals at my small table. Rather than seek entertainment downtown, we had been content to spend evenings inside, playing games with Coby and watching kids’ shows. And after Coby was fast asleep, Hunter and I would spend our nighttime hours making each other come until we’d both pass out, utterly exhausted.
No one knew I was seeing Hunter except Mom—who I’d begged to keep quiet—and these past two weeks, she’d proven that miracles do happen. Marissa Holt had kept a tight-lipped secret for the first time ever. As far as I knew, the only other family member who knew about Hunter was Dad.
The secrecy had worked for us, but now it was time to move forward.
Hunter and I were making our first “official” public outing as a couple at the annual June county rodeo.
I was nervous. Really nervous.
Knowing we’d get to come back for a sleepover would give me something to look forward to if the evening went to crap.
“Should we have pancakes in the morning?” I asked Coby.
“With chocolate chips?”
“Duh. And Mickey Mouse ears.” He smiled and I leaned in to kiss his cheek. Then I stood from the couch and glanced at the wall clock by the dining room table. “I’ve still got a few minutes before I need to leave. I’m going to take Pickle out for a potty break.”
“We can do it,” Hunter said.
“It’s fine. It won’t take me more than a few minutes. You guys can go back to your cartoons.”
He smiled at me before settling Coby back into his side and unmuting the TV.
I scooped up Pickle from his spot in the kitchen where he was gnawing on a rawhide bone. “Come on, puppy.”
Taking him downstairs, I plopped him in the grass without his leash. His training with Dad was going so well he was now obeying “sit,” “stay” and “come,” so I didn’t have to keep him leashed at all times to avoid him running away.
I followed him slowly as he let his nose lead him to the perfect pee spot. When he selected the place, he lifted his leg and did his business, then trotted up ahead to mark more grass. “Come, Pickle,” I called when he was done. He bounded over and I scooped him up again to go back inside.
“Hello!” a woman’s voice called out right as I started up my stairs.
I turned and saw one of my guests and her husband walking down the sidewalk, ready to cross the highway and head for Main Street.
“Hi!” I waved. “How are you? How is everything with your room?”
“We’re great and the room is just so lovely. We’re heading downtown to do some exploring.”
“Sweet! Enjoy the sunny afternoon. If you’re up for some fun later, you should check out the county rodeo. It’s out at the fairgrounds.” I pointed down the highway in the opposite direction from town and rattled off directions.
They both nodded eagerly, excited to check out something “Western” and then continued toward Main Street.
And I went back upstairs with a smile.
This time of year was hectic. Reservations were packed as closely together as I could fit them, and on any given day I had at least seven rooms to turn over. But the interactions with my happy guests made it all worth it. I loved being a part of family vacations, part of bucket-list trips. I loved helping people get acquainted with my hometown.
Settling Pickle back down with his bone, I collected my things from the kitchen. With my purse slung over my shoulder and an enormous box of triple-chocolate-chip brownies in hand, I came back to the living room. “All right. I’d better get going.”
Hunter tipped his head backward. “Bye, baby. I’ll text you when we get there.”
“Okay.” I brushed my lips to his. “My car keys are on the counter.”
“Got it.”
“Bye, buddy. Be good.” I touched Coby’s hair and got an absentminded, “Bye, Mommy.”
I walked to the door and swiped Hunter’s truck keys from the dining room table. The moment my hand touched the metal cluster, his phone, also in the jumble, lit up with a text notification. A text my eyes read without permission.
Nell: What happens next is your fault.
I blinked, unsure what I was reading. Then the screen went black.
Nell? Who was Nell? And why was she threatening Hunter?
I turned around to the couch to ask, but I closed my mouth before the words came out. I’d just invaded Hunter’s privacy by looking at his phone, and as much as I wanted to know about Nell, I couldn’t bring myself to ask.
Hunter was as private as ever about his past. During this last month, I’d been patient, waiting for him to open up about his family and life in Chicago, but I hadn’t learned much because we spent so little time talking.
We spent our nights entertaining Coby and my son didn’t care about Hunter’s upbringing, career or family tree. And after Coby would fall asleep, I hadn’t cared either. I’d been much more concerned about getting Hunter naked than deep, heartfelt conversations about his job or childhood upbringing.
Who was Nell and why was she threatening Hunter?
I was his girlfriend but I hadn’t the first clue.
“Maisy, you’re going to be late.”
“Huh?” I jerked out of my stupor and focused on Hunter. “Oh, right. Bye.”
I walked out the door and around the office to the parking lot in a daze. Climbing into Hunter’s truck and adjusting the seat, I pulled onto the highway and headed toward the fairgrounds, still in a fog.
My mind was stuck on that text.
Was Nell an old girlfriend? Maybe a coworker from Chicago? God, could Nell be an ex-wife? The idea of another woman saying vows to Hunter made my stomach roll.
The text and the mysterious Nell were bothersome, but not as much as the fact that I’d put myself in this odd position. I was going to introduce Hunter to my friends and family tonight, I was going to bring him fully into my life, and I barely knew him.
Shit. I didn’t even know what he did for a living.
I’d ask, “How was your day?”
He’d say, “Good. How was yours?”
I’d ask, “Did anything exciting happen at work today?”
He’d say, “Nope. It was slow. What happened here?”
And that was it.
We talked about me, the motel and Coby. He’d always put a priority on my life and my activities.
Was that weird? That I didn’t know what he did for work? Yes. But it hadn’t bothered me until today. I’d been learning other things about Hunter that had just seemed . . . more important. I’d learned that he did the voices when he read stories to Coby. I’d learned that he was allergic to shellfish. I’d learned that he never went a day without telling me I was special.
But tonight, things were changing.
Hunter had promised he was all in. He’d promised we were serious. So it was seriously time for him to start sharing more.
My time limit on the nosy questions had just run out.
I was so distracted thinking of all the things I wanted to ask that when my phone rang I didn’t even acknowledge the name before hitting accept and pressing it to my ear. “Thank you for calling The Bitterroot Inn. This is Maisy, how can I help you today?”
“You can start by telling me how you murdered Everett Carlson.”
My hand fisted the steering wheel with white knuckles.
The reporter.
“No comment,” I said through gritted teeth, then pressed end.
Anger replaced anxiety and I shoved my phone back in my purse before ramming my foot down on the accelerator. Breaking the speed limit didn’t help and I was still upset by the time I parked in the lot at the fairgrounds.
I stomped across the gravel parking lot to the arena. It was still early, the rodeo wouldn’t start for another two hours, but all of the contestants were here tending to their horses and milling around. Passing the participant lot filled with trailers and large trucks, I crossed through the arched entrance of the fairgrounds.
Metal stands rose high above me and I could see snippets of the wide dirt arena on the other side. Underneath the stands were rows of boxed concession stands and one beer garden at the end of the row.
I wasted no time going right to my mother.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as I tossed down my purse and brownies on the counter of her concession stand. Today, her quilting club was selling baked goods to raise money for the senior center and she’d asked me to help her get set up before the rodeo started.
I looked past her at the cash register to see a whole slew of her club members stacking baked goods on trays. “Nothing. I’m fine,” I lied.
“Maisy Ann,” she warned.
I sighed and opened my box of brownies. Taking out the biggest one I could find, I peeled back the cellophane and shoved a corner in my mouth. I needed chocolate before telling Mom about that reporter’s phone call.
Mom frowned as I chewed, then turned around and walked to an ice chest. She took out a Coke and brought it back to me at the counter as I chomped bite number two.
I swallowed that bite, then popped the top on my soda, chasing my brownie with a fizzing gulp. “Thanks.”
“Sure.” She glanced over her shoulder to confirm we were alone. “Now, what’s wrong? Did something happen with Hunter?”
I shrugged but didn’t answer. Before I complained to her about my issues with Hunter’s secrecy, I wanted to address them with him first. So she’d just get my rant about that snooping reporter. “This reporter has been calling me.”
Mom gasped. “No. Not again.”
“Yep.” I nodded. “She’s persistent. It’s been over a month and she hasn’t stopped.”
“Who is she?”
“Heck if I know. I keep hanging up on her.”
“Good for you,” she said. “Just give it a bit more time. I’m sure she’ll get bored and stop soon. And if it doesn’t, you might have to stop by the sheriff’s office.”
“Yeah. I hope you’re right and it doesn’t come to that, but if it keeps up, I’ll tell Milo or Jess.”
“Good.” She patted my hand. “Is Hunter still bringing Coby tonight?”
I nodded and went back to my brownie, this time taking a normal-sized bite. Then I walked around the side of the stand and through the narrow door, smiling and greeting all of the ladies who were unloading cookies, pies and more brownies.
Without delay, I got to work. Because work was good. Work meant I couldn’t dwell on Hunter’s text, his secret career or why this stupid reporter was so set on how I’d killed Everett.
An hour and a half later, I felt better. Every inch of the counter was covered in sweets and Mom’s club had descended into full-fledged gossip mode.
“Did you hear they’re getting a divorce?” one of the women whispered.
“After thirty-four years?” another gasped.
“I heard she’s been cheating.”
“Nooooo.” That shocked the whole club.
I just shook my head and kept loading the register with cash. They were gossiping about my retired high-school math teacher whose wife had been having a secret affair with my retired high-school science teacher for the past six months. This I knew because they’d rented a room at the motel for one of their torrid rendezvous. Personally, I was glad Mr. Palermo was kicking his wife to the curb. He was a nice guy and deserved better.
I sighed as I loaded the cash register with bills.
The Palermo divorce wouldn’t be the only topic of gossip tonight. The annual rodeo ranked second behind high-school football games for local attendance. Nearly the entire county would be here. Everyone would come to enjoy the event and talk about their neighbors.
The brownie I’d scarfed earlier wasn’t sitting so well in my anxious stomach. What were they going to say about me and Hunter? How were my friends going to react to my secret boyfriend?
I’d find out soon enough.
Taking my phone from my purse, I checked the time. With less than thirty minutes to go, the arena was starting to fill with people. Hunter hadn’t texted yet but I was expecting him and Coby any minute.
“Mom?” I patted her shoulder, stealing her attention from the huddle. “The register is loaded. I’m going to head out.”
“Okay, sweetie. Thanks for your help and the brownies. Are you going to bring Hunter and Coby by later?”
“Sure.” I smiled when she turned away and told her club mates that I was dating a “dreamboat.” The women erupted into questions and excited clapping, but I ignored them all, waving good-bye and ducking out of the booth.
I made my way to the stands, smiling and chatting with people as I shuffled in line and up the ramp to the bleachers. Turning the corner, I stood at the base of the steps and looked for an open space.
Gigi spotted me at the same time I saw her above an empty metal row.
I waved and climbed the stairs. “Hello, Cleary family!” I gave my best friend a hug before doing the same with her kids.
“Maze,” Jess said as he hugged me too. “Where’s Coby?”
“He’s coming. He’s, um . . .” I looked to Gigi as I trailed off.
Gigi’s beautiful face smiled down at me from the row above. “He’s what?”
“Uh . . .”
Where did I start? I totally should have told Gigi earlier about Hunter. My announcement was going to come out of the blue and hurt her feelings, especially because it wasn’t like I hadn’t had the opportunity to share. Gigi visited me for lunch breaks all the time and we talked at least twice a week on the phone. But I’d stayed quiet this whole time. I’d even backed out of our girls-only pedicure night because I hadn’t had the energy to deflect love-life questions.
But there’d be no more avoidance. Surrounded by a sea of people, I had chosen the worst possible time to spill the beans on my relationship.
How could I have thought this was a good idea a few hours ago? Stupid, Maisy Ann. Stu-pid.
It was too late to back out now, so with one deep breath, I blurted, “He’s coming with a guy I’ve been seeing.”
Gigi’s smile fell at the same time Felicity and Silas shuffled into my row.
“Hi!” Felicity said, interrupting my explanation with a hug. “I was hoping you’d be here. It seems like it’s been forever. We missed you at pedicure night.”
“More like wine night,” Silas muttered. “Hi, Maze.” Felicity stepped past me so Silas could give me a hug, then handed over Victoria so I could give her a fast kiss before she squirmed for her mama. Handing her over to Felicity, I reluctantly turned my eyes back to Gigi.
Her arms were crossed on her chest and her eyes were locked on me.
“What’s wrong with you?” Felicity asked Gigi, standing by my side.
“Oh, nothing.” Gigi flicked out her wrist. “I’m just waiting to hear about this guy that Maisy’s been dating. The same guy who she trusts enough to bring Coby to the rodeo.”
“What!” Felicity spun on me and I cringed. “Who?”
“I—”
“Hey, guys!” I looked past Silas to see Beau and Sabrina join our group.
Gah!
We all shuffled, taking the time to exchange greetings and scoot down the row so our whole crew could fit together. The entire time Gigi stood stoically staring at me, making everyone else move around her.
While the kids crawled around parents’ legs, the adults converged. Jess was glued to Gigi’s hip, also waiting for my explanation. Felicity refused to budge from the seat next to mine as Silas peered on from over her shoulder. That left Beau and Sabrina unsure why Gigi was wearing her unhappy face.
“Okay, what’s going on?” Sabrina asked.
“Spill,” Gigi demanded.
I took another deep breath. “I’ve been seeing a guy for a couple of weeks.”
“What?” Beau roared.
I flinched.
“Take it easy, Goliath,” Sabrina said, patting her husband’s puffing chest. “Let’s get the story first. Who is he?”
“He’s, um, new to town. He’s been staying at the motel while his house is being built. We hit it off and have been getting to know each other.”
“And why are we just hearing about this?” Beau clipped.
I ignored him and looked up at Gigi. “I just wanted to be sure. Before I brought him around, I wanted to be sure.”
I wasn’t ashamed of Hunter, not at all, and we really had been having fun just the two of us. But part of my reluctance to bring him around was because of more Everett baggage.
Everett had started getting weird right after I’d introduced him to Jess and Gigi. I knew now that his behavior had been because of Jess’s job as sheriff and Everett’s job as drug dealer, but old fears still lingered. I was scared that once I told my friends about Hunter, things between him and me would change.
Pain flashed on Gigi’s face but she didn’t speak.
“He’s great,” I said. “Really sweet and kind. He adores Coby.”
“You’ve never kept a secret from me.” Gigi’s whisper broke my heart.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
My phone dinged in my shorts pocket but I didn’t answer. It was probably a text from Hunter, saying they had arrived.
That ding meant I had minutes to apologize again and work things out with Gigi. All of our friends would give him the third degree tonight, especially my big brother, and before Hunter was fed to the sharks, I needed Gigi’s forgiveness.
I needed her on my side.
“I’m sorry,” I told her. “I know this is an awful time to tell you and I should have done it sooner. I’m stupid for waiting. Forgive me? Please?”
The group stayed quiet as my pleading eyes looked up to Gigi in silent apology. When her arms fell from her chest, I let go of the breath I’d been holding.
“What’s his name?” she asked.
I opened my mouth but Milo and Sara interrupted. “Hey, guys!”
The seat shuffle started again, and when we were settled in our new arrangement—sitting this time—Sara leaned down from her seat.
“Maisy, why is Coby with Dr. Faraday?”