Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 73794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
And we’d almost been caught, something which should have iced my balls, not given urgency to every fantasy I’d had since. At least I’d managed the past few days without having to discuss the kiss with Caleb. But thinking? That I couldn’t escape any more than I could stop watching the flex of Caleb’s back muscles under his fire department T-shirt.
“Damn, it’s hot today,” he said as he pressed a cold water bottle to his forehead. A droplet of water rolled down his face, and the urge to lick his skin was a near-palpable need.
“Ha. Hot for Oregon.” I forced a light tone. “You should try a summer in the south.”
“No, thank you.” Stepping away, Caleb pulled out his phone but quickly pocketed it again when he noticed me watching.
“Everything okay?” Not wanting Caleb to get in trouble, I glanced at the other side of the booth, but Sean was deep in conversation with Suzy and another firefighter.
“Yeah. Sorry.” Caleb followed my gaze. “I know better than to check my phone on shift, but I’m worried about Scotty.”
“I can see why.” I gestured out at the rest of the festival. In addition to families, clumps of teens had invaded like weeds. Teen boys stunted on skateboards in violation of park rules while mixed groups ate piles of junk food from the food court and sundress-wearing older teen girls danced to the live music. And I wasn’t so old that I couldn’t remember all the fun of fireworks and friends. “It’s certainly a weekend for teen trouble.”
“Exactly.” Caleb let out a heavy sigh. “And Scotty’s at home, probably dreaming up God knows what prank with fireworks later. Too much time on his hands. He still hasn’t taken my advice to find a part-time job.”
Closing his eyes, he moved his water bottle to the bridge of his nose. In his weariness, I saw my younger self, the ever-present worry about what my sisters were getting up to and with whom.
“Here.” Acting fast, I pulled out my phone and typed a brief message. “Cosmo and John were talking about walking around the festival. I just texted them and reminded them the new kid would likely appreciate an invite to hang with them.”
“You didn’t have to do that. But thanks.” Caleb offered me a crooked smile as his eyes stayed cautious. We might not be discussing it, but that kiss was as present as the July sun.
“No problem.” I didn’t have a chance to check my phone for a reply from Cosmo because a trio of giggly nineteen- or twenty-year-olds approached the booth for help with blisters from their strappy sandals. They were only too happy to let Caleb apply bandages to their heels. I had to hide a laugh when Caleb smartly declined their request for a group selfie.
After the young ladies, we handed out more water bottles to a group of stroller-pushing moms and lectured a frisbee golf team attempting to play around the crowd of festival attendees. I avoided speaking to Caleb for a good hour, but then I spied Cosmo, John, and Elliot with Scotty in tow.
“Hey, it worked.” Gesturing, I pointed out the kids. Caleb grinned widely, all farm-fresh sunshine and dimples, and oh, how I wished I didn’t feel that grin all the way to my toes.
“Wow.” Caleb beamed as the boys approached our booth. “They got Scotty out of the house. Looks like he might have even showered.”
Scotty did indeed have damp hair and his usual scowl had been replaced by a bland expression and deliberate slump, the sort of teen posture universally adopted to play it cool.
“Need a water?” Caleb reached for the cooler as the quartet reached our table.
“Sure.” Scotty accepted a cold bottle from his brother. “Got any cash? The guys are gonna light fireworks over in the school parking lot with some other kids from the team after the town show.”
“That’s not—” Caleb started to protest but abruptly shut his mouth and swallowed before fishing a twenty out of his wallet and handing it over. “Just be safe. Please. And text me when you’re home by midnight.”
“What’s the fun in playing it safe?” Scotty made a sour face that got laughs from the other boys.
“The fun in being alive,” Caleb snapped back, apparently out of whatever patience he’d summoned earlier.
“Bye, Grandpa.” The teens wandered away, chortling and shoving each other.
“They’ll be okay,” I said to Caleb in a low voice, hoping I was right. “And I’ll ask my brother-in-law to low-key drive by the school parking lot a time or three, make sure things don’t get out of hand.”
“Good idea.” Caleb nodded right as some kids started throwing little snapping fireworks on the sidewalk across from our booth. I had to work not to wince or jump. However, my efforts must have failed because Caleb narrowed his eyes. “How about you? Doing okay?”