“Hudson Walker?” Barbie said and then her eyes lit up. “Hudson Walker, the famous billionaire who dates all those actresses and models?”
“Yes,” I said with a smile. “The very same one. He might even have dated Mila Kunis.”
“Mila.” TJ gave me a look that indicated how annoyed he was, but I didn’t care. Let him deal with gold-digging Barbie. She would try to get her clutches into him even deeper now that she knew how well-connected he was.
“Yes, TJ?” I said softly and then squealed as we pulled off Old Harris Road and drove through the woods towards the lake. “Ooh, we’re nearly there.” I lowered my car window and stuck my head outside and closed my eyes as the cool breeze caressed my face. I took a deep breath and breathed in the air. “Can you guys feel and taste the nature right now?” I sighed in contentment.
“I can’t taste anything,” Barbie said. I didn’t respond.
“You really love the lake house, don’t you?” TJ said softly as he pulled off and stopped in front of my family cabin. I turned to look at him and I could see an affectionate look on his face. It was a rare sight; normally, TJ and I spent so much time sparring that we didn’t really express any other sort of positive emotion towards each other. I smiled at him, happy in my environment and at my plans for the weekend.
“I do, I feel like it’s this magical place. My own private Narnia.” I grinned at him and then hopped out of the car. I ran up to the front door and lifted up the big red plant pot and grabbed the front-door key. I opened the door and ran inside, happy to be here, finally. I really did love the lake house. It was the only place that made me feel like I was one with the earth. It was also the only place where TJ and I had once had a moment that had made me feel like maybe, just maybe, there could be something between us. It had only happened once and it had happened so fast that I wasn’t sure if I’d imagined it, but the fact that it was even a possibility in my mind was enough, for now.
“Hey, you going to get your own bags or do you expect me to be your man-slave?” TJ shouted into the house as he walked in and looked around the large living room with the massive wood-burning fireplace right in the center.
“I expect you to be my man-slave,” I said and walked up to him, my eyes laughing at him. “Just because you’re the son of a billionaire doesn’t exempt you from your duties.”
“Hmm, my duties?” He cocked his head to the side. “What do I get from you in return for fulfilling my duties?”
“You’ll see,” I said softly and stared into his eyes. “Maybe something wonderful.”
“Wonderful?” he said with a small smile and we gazed at each other for a few moments, saying nothing. I moved closer to him and was about to lean in for a kiss when he frowned. “There’s nothing you can give me that is good enough for me to become your man-servant.”
“Whatever,” I said, my heart dropping as I stepped back and walked out of the front door, thanking God I hadn’t embarrassed myself by going for a kiss. “I’ll get my own bags, lazy-ass.”
“I’m not lazy.” He grabbed my arm as I walked out and pulled me back to him. His fingers gripped my wrist and I looked at him with an angry, hurt expression. He stared at me for a few seconds and then let go. I turned back around and walked to the Range Rover, my heart thudding. What had just happened there? That had been an awkward moment and I didn’t know what it meant.
“Is this where we’re staying?” Barbie looked at me with another surly look. I swear, I wished the wind would hit her as she was pulling one of those expressions so that her face would stay that way.
“What do you think?” I snapped and looked at Sally, who was trying not to laugh. “We just parked in front of the cabin. I went and got the key and opened the front door. Did you think I was doing it for shits and giggles?”
“I was just asking a question,” she said, looking irritated.
“Uh huh, dumbass,” I said quietly, but obviously my voice wasn’t low enough because she gave me a deadly look.