“Don’t call me dude,” Axel said.
I couldn’t help but be reminded of my relationship with Marie. I called her dude on accident a few times too.
“Let me show you to your room,” Yaya said. “It has a nice view of the trees.”
“I’m sure it does.” Hawke stared at me as he spoke.
We watched each other for a long time before he turned away and headed up the stairs with Yaya.
I stayed put and was vaguely aware of Axel standing next to me.
“Nice guy, huh?”
“Sorry?” I didn’t catch what he said.
“I said Hawke is a nice guy. I’m sure you guys will like him.”
I already liked him—and a little too much. “Yeah…”
***
Hawke and I didn’t have a chance to talk for the rest of the evening. We were always in the company of Yaya or Axel. When we sat across the table from each other at dinner, he was constantly staring at me when no one was looking. And when my brother spoke to him, he seemed to be only half-listening.
Yaya loved him, which didn’t surprise me. She loved everyone. It didn’t matter who you were. You were always welcome in her home. When Hawke complimented her cooking, she loved him even more.
“Want to go fishing tomorrow?” Axel asked.
“You have a lake up here?” Hawke asked.
“It’s a mile hike.”
Hawke nodded. “Yeah, count me in.”
“You coming, brat?” Axel looked at me.
I shot him a glare. “I have a name.”
“Whatever,” Axel said. “You want to come?”
“She has a beautiful name,” Yaya said. “Call her by it.”
Axel wouldn’t dare defy her. “Francesca, would you like to go?”
I didn’t want to be any closer to Hawke than I had to, but it didn’t seem like I had a choice. Besides, I loved fishing. It brought back good childhood memories. “Sure.”
“You coming, Yaya?” Axel asked.
“No, I’ll pass,” Yaya said. “I’m not a fan of the smell.”
“Okay,” Axel said. “We’ll go in the morning and be back by lunchtime.” Then he turned to me. “If you aren’t ready by six, we’re leaving without you.”
“I’ll probably be awake before you.” My brother teased me a lot, but I knew it came from a good place.
“You’re like a sloth,” Axel argued. “If I don’t poke you, you won’t move.”
“And you’re like a snail. If I don’t pick you up and carry you, you’ll never go anywhere.”
Yaya leaned toward Hawke. “They’ve been this way since they were kids.”
Hawke chuckled. “It’s entertaining.”
“Do you have siblings?” Yaya asked.
“No, unfortunately.” He immediately took a sip of his water.
“Consider yourself lucky,” Axel said.
I never took his insults lying down. “And consider yourself lucky you don’t have a brother that sings like Carrie Underwood.”
Hawke laughed but tried to stop himself.
“Whatever.” Axel gathered the plates and took them to the sink. “I’m going to wash these just so I don’t have to look at your ugly face.”
***
I sat in front of the fire while I read a book. The windows outside showed the forest and endless trees. It was a dark place, and sometimes my eyes played tricks on me when I looked into its depths.
The TV was on, and Yaya sat in her usual recliner. Axel and Hawke were on the other couch. Even though I was reading, I could feel Hawke’s stare penetrate deep into my skin. I knew exactly when he was looking at me and when he wasn’t just from the heat of his gaze.
Toward the late evening, Yaya yawned then left her recliner. “I’m going to bed. You guys have fun fishing tomorrow.”
“We will,” Axel said.
“Good night, Yaya,” Hawke said.
I waved to Yaya as she walked up the stairs. “See you in the morning.”
She stared at all of us with affection in her eyes. It looked like she was about to cry. “So nice having you here…” Then she walked up the stairs. When her footsteps receded and her bedroom door closed, we knew she was gone.
“She’s a really sweet lady,” Hawke said.
“Yeah, she’s pretty cool,” Axel said.
They continued to watch TV.
I went back to reading my book and knew Hawke was staring at me again. I couldn’t believe I had to spend the entire weekend with him. It was supposed to be a relaxing vacation but now I had to be on my guard the entire time. My goal was to stop thinking about Hawke but that was backfiring.
“I’m tired,” Axel said an hour later. “We should get to bed since we have to get up early.”
“Yeah.”
Axel got up and headed for the stairs. “You coming?”
“In a little bit,” Hawke said.
Axel shot him a suspicious look before he glanced at me. Then he turned back to Hawke. It looked like he wanted to say something but he decided not to. He walked upstairs and moved down the hardwood hallway. Then his bedroom door opened and closed.
I knew exactly why Hawke stayed down there.
“I didn’t know.” That was all he said, and he said it like it explained everything.
I put down my book and turned to him. “Yaya didn’t give it away?”