“I can’t control what’s between you two. But between you and me? You lied to me.” Mitch shook his head, staring down at the can in his hand. “I always trusted you to have my back.”
“And I still have your back. You can call me every name but nice and throw me out of here, but if you call me next week and have a problem, I’ll still be there. Always. I did you wrong, but for just one second try to put yourself in my shoes. I don’t remember a time we weren’t friends and that matters to me. But on the other hand there’s this amazing, vibrant, sexy-as-hell woman I can’t stop thinking about. And she’s your sister. If you think this has been easy for me or just some stupid lark, you are dead wrong.”
Mitch stared into his eyes for a long time, looking for who knew what, and then he nodded. “I promised my sister I’d try to be okay with you guys...dating or whatever.”
When he stood and set his can down on the cooler, Drew stood, too. The conversation felt unfinished and he didn’t want Mitch to walk out without feeling as if they’d resolved anything. He wanted to work toward them being okay.
Then Mitch put out his hand. Drew recognized the gesture for the huge step it was in the right direction and clasped hands with his friend.
Mitch squeezed, looking Drew dead in the eye. “I don’t care how long we’ve been friends. If you break my sister’s heart, they’ll never find your body.”
“If that happens, and I pray it doesn’t, act fast or you’ll have to wait your turn in line. Probably behind Mary and that damn spoon.”
Mitch actually barked out a laugh as he released Drew’s hand. “Liz said she’s buying her own as soon as she gets home. Good luck with that.”
After Mitch left the tent, Drew inhaled the first easy breath he’d had since the bathhouse incident. Everything might be okay, after all.
*
“She looks cute. Like a little blue-eyed hedgehog in a pink sundress.”
Keri looked up from her daughter to glare at Liz. “Yes. So cute.”
The toddler had inhaled her pancakes, managing to smear maple syrup all over her face, hair and arms while she ate. Then, in the process of going to throw her plate away, she’d tripped over her uncle Mike’s foot and went sliding through the fallen pine needles like a runner stealing third base. She came up screeching and looking like a porcupine, though Liz said hedgehog because it sounded nicer.
Of course, in her full-blown state of drama, the sticky hedgehog wrapped herself around her mother. Then Liz tried to help and now all three of them were sticky.
“Joe, come help me with Brianna,” Keri called to her husband, who was deep in conversation with Joey.
“Hold on. Joey’s helping me with a plot problem.”
“If you don’t come get your daughter, you won’t have to plot your next horror novel because it will be your autobiography.”
“We need hot water,” Liz said when Joe had taken one of Brianna’s hands to detach her from Keri.
“We’ll go to the bathhouse. Less fabric and more easily washable surfaces than the camper.”
Since Joe had Brianna’s hand, Keri and Liz followed along behind on the trek to the hot water. Liz didn’t have a lot on her, but when it came to maple syrup and pine needles, it didn’t take a lot.
“So,” Keri said when they’d left the breakfast circle. “You and Drew are a thing, huh? I can’t believe I didn’t see it. That nobody did.”
“We were trying not to be a thing.”
“It’s a little weird,” Joe said over his shoulder. “He’s been a friend of the family for, like, ever.”
“Oh please.” Weird seemed to be the word of the week. “Nobody has a problem with Josh and Katie being together and she’s Rose’s daughter. She practically grew up in our house with us.”
“That’s different. Katie always loved Josh and everybody knew he’d catch up eventually.”
“I think it’s great,” Keri said. “I like Drew and he fits right in with the family.”
“Because he’s practically one of us,” Joe muttered.
“Heard that.” Liz rolled her eyes at Keri. “Somehow I suspect the divide on the me and Drew issue will run pretty evenly down gender lines.”
She wasn’t far off. As the day went on, it was obvious that the men who were willing to pick a side were siding with Mitch—cautiously accepting—while the women were probably planning her bridal shower already.
Leo decided they all needed another family ride after lunch, and this time Liz didn’t feel awkward about riding double with Drew. She climbed behind him and let her legs surround him without worrying about bracing herself. He rubbed her knee, then pulled into line with the others.
Talking wasn’t easy with the helmets and engine noise, but at least there was a little privacy. “How’s today going?”
He shrugged. “A little awkward and I’m getting a lot of the side-eye from your brothers, but better than I thought it would be.”
She rubbed her hands over his shoulders before grabbing for the handholds so he didn’t buck her off on a waterbar. “Well, the women are all rooting for you, if that helps.”