Feels like Rain (Lake Fisher 3)

“I think we can manage it. Let me text you in a little while and I’ll let you know for sure.”

“Sounds good.”

“Abigail,” she says quietly, “I am really happy for you.” I hear sniffles.

“I swear, Camille, if you make me cry…”

“Okay, okay!” I imagine her waving her hand in front of her face. “I’ll stop. I’m going to talk to Rachel and try to make some plans, but as of right now, I’m pretty sure it’s a tentative yes, we can come. If you’re sure you want company. Do I get to meet that man of yours? Please tell me I can meet that man of yours!”

I lower the phone to talk to Ethan. “If two of my friends come up this weekend, would you have time to meet them?”

“I don’t see why not. I’ll have Mitchell, though. Is that okay?”

“It’s perfect,” I reply. I lift the phone back up. “He says he’ll be around. He’ll have his seven-year-old son with him.”

“Okay, text you later, chick,” she says. Then more quietly, “I’m so fucking happy for you!”

“Thanks,” I say, as heat creeps up my cheeks.

“Why are you blushing?” Ethan asks.

“You’re going to meet my friends,” I say quietly.

“Are you sure you want me to meet them? Like, really sure?” He stares at me hard, his brow furrowed.

I nod. “You’ll love Camille. And her wife Rachel is the best. You’ll love her too.”

“Abigail,” he says quietly and slowly. “Are you sure you want to introduce someone like me to your friends?”

Now I’m sure it’s my brow that furrows. “What do you mean, someone like you?”

His eyebrows arch now, in surprise. “You know exactly what I mean.”

“I’m actually dying to show them your abs,” I whisper-yell at him.

“I’m being serious, Abigail. I don’t want to embarrass you.”

“You don’t embarrass me. You couldn’t embarrass me. Not now. Not ever. Not about your past. That will never, ever embarrass me. And it shouldn’t embarrass you.”

“I’m working on that.” He walks over and kisses my cheek. “Then yes, I’d love to meet your friends. And Mitchell is looking forward to the weekend. My mom just called and said he’s packing up some of his toys to bring here so he can leave them in the cabin.” He sucks in a deep breath. “My son is coming to live with me.”

“That’s great! I’m so happy for you.”

“I have to get out of here,” he suddenly blurts out. He leans down to kiss me again, but I avoid his mouth.

“Why?” I tilt my head and stare at him.

“Because all I can think about is the fact that you’re naked under that robe,” he whispers. Then he kisses me for real. When he pulls back, I nearly fall over chasing his lips.

“I wasn’t finished,” I complain.

He chuckles. “Put some damn clothes on.”

“What’s on your schedule today?” I ask, as I retrieve t-shirt and shorts from a drawer.

“I have to run to the tackle shop. Jake asked me to pick up some supplies he ordered, and Shy ordered a tracking device I can put on Wilbur. If he suddenly decides to fly south, I’d love to know about it.”

“That’s smart.” I worry that he’ll be devastated if Wilbur ever does leave.