Sweet Obsession

I drop the sleeping bag and look around.

It’s a wide-open space, room enough for at least a handful of other tents, but we’re alone. There’s a fire pit contained by an ill-defined rock formation. It resembles somewhat of a circle. The wood in the center looks recently burned. A metal grill that seems to be a courtesy for campers to use is located next to a large rectangular picnic table.

Nice. At least we won’t have to eat with our asses in the dirt.

Stepping to the edge of the clearing, I stand on my toes and peer through a break in the trees.

“Hey. We’re right by the lake,” I tell Mason, looking over my shoulder. “Did you know that?”

Literally, right by it. It can’t be more than fifty feet away.

His smiling face appears from around the back of the tent. “Yeah. That’s one of the reasons why I picked this campsite. The other two are pretty secluded and nowhere near the toilets. Figured you’d do better out here if I kept us in walking distance of those.”

“Good thinking. I’d hate you for life if you told me I had to go pee in a bucket or something.”

His chuckle is broken up by the sound of my ringtone. I pull my phone out of my back pocket and look at the screen.

“Hey, Juls,” I answer, watching Mason disappear again behind the tent.

“Hey, stranger. I feel like I haven’t talked to you in forever. Where are you?”

“Camping.”

My nephew Jacob yells something in the background. I hear Ian’s voice, then the sound of a door closing. “Say that again? It sounded like you said camping.” She laughs. “Jesus. Can you imagine? You? Camping? I think there’s a better chance of Ian carrying our next child.”

I roll my eyes. “I did say camping. And Ian probably could carry a baby if he wanted to. He’s hormonal as shit.”

“What?”

“I said he’s hormonal . . .”

“Not that,” she brusquely cuts me off. “You’re camping right now? With who?”

Mason moves on to the next post, securing it down with a spike. I spin around and face the trees.

“Mason,” I murmur, playing with the hem of my shirt.

Juls inhales a sharp breath. “Oh, really? The hot Australian from the bar,” she states, her voice lifting with her obvious approval of this development. “Mm. He was really nice. Are you still seeing him? I figured that would be done by now.”

I move as far away from the tent as I can get without stepping into the woods. I lower my voice to a stern whisper. “I’m not seeing him like that. We’re just hanging out, okay? It’s not a big deal.”

“Just hanging out doing what, Brooke? Dating? Being in a relationship?”

“Shut up,” I snap. “And stop grinning like an idiot. I can totally hear it in your voice.”

“Look at you,” she laughs. “First sign of being in love is denial. Welcome to the club, sis.”

“Oh, my God,” I groan, rubbing my forehead. “I’m hanging up.”

“Wait! Are we still on for dinner next week?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, good. Jake and Izzy miss their favorite aunt. You need to come over more.”

“Fine. I gotta go.”

My shoulders ache with tension. Why did I even answer this call? Juls is always giving me grief.

“All right. But Brooke? Just remember . . .”

There is a long pause. I drum my fingers on my jeans and sigh exhaustively. Her breathy laugh pushes through the line.

“You’re my sister. I love you, and I will totally give you a discount when it’s time to plan the wedding. Don’t think . . .”

I disconnect the call and power off my phone.

God, she is completely insane. How are we even related?

Stepping over a log, I drop the phone onto my bag. I begin to pace in front of our gear, kicking up dirt and cracking my knuckles. I try and sit down on the cooler, but my ass barely touches it before I’m springing to my feet again.

I should’ve let that call go to voicemail. Now I’m restless and ready to chew my nails off.

I risk a glance at Mason. He’s staring at me like I’m in the middle of a psychotic break.

Talking. Talking might settle me. I can talk. I’m fucking awesome at talking.

“So, possible showers tomorrow night. Did you see? Like a ten percent chance. Not much, but still.”

He positions a stake in the ground. “I think it’ll hold off.”

“It was fifteen percent earlier, then they dropped it to ten.”

“Yeah.”

“If I got naked right now and jumped into the lake, what would you do?”

I look over to where Mason is crouched down beside the tent. His hammer is suspended in the air.

He looks startled. Confused maybe? I can elaborate.

“I mean, obviously, you’d look. Who wouldn’t? But would you take off your clothes and follow after me? Or would you continue pitching that tent and the one in your shorts?”

“Are you planning on getting naked and jumping into the lake?” he asks, lowering the hammer and resting his elbow on his knee.

I shrug, kicking a rock out of the way. “Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve never been skinny dipping before. Shocking, right? You would think I’ve done that, but no.” A nervous laugh bubbles in my throat. “I’m just wondering what you would do if I did it.”

“Probably follow you.”