Page 54 of The Interns

“Spending time with you? Preferably somewhere warm?”

She seemed to like his response because she answered him with a kiss. Working with Maya was fun, being her friend was even better, but dating her felt like the most natural thing in the world.

24

Maya

“Should we be concerned?” Maya asked of the fire safety professional standing beside her.

“Um…” Sara tilted her head, reserving judgment for a little while longer as she, Willa, and Maya stood on the back porch of the Reddy residence watching Dustin, Dev, and Reed try to build a bonfire in the backyard.

Just when it seemed that Sara may need to intervene, flames erupted from the pit of scrap wood, followed by cheers and much back-patting among the guys. Once the self-congratulatory celebration was over, they turned to their women, looking so proud you’d have thought they invented fire, not merely built one.

“Sometimes I wonder about these three.” Willa sighed, though she watched her husband with complete adoration. “I’m already locked in, and Sara practically is, but you can still get out,” she teased as she looked at Maya, oblivious to the fact that the new couple was on borrowed time.

Maya laughed politely despite the comment hitting a raw nerve, then tried to push the thought out of her head as she forced a smile for Reed who was gazing up at her while she followed Willa and Sara down the stairs.

“We’ve got hot chocolate,” Willa announced, holding up the Thermos she’d prepared for herself and her husband.

Dustin made a face as he watched his girlfriend walk toward him with a similar Thermos, looking disappointed that hot chocolate was the reward for all of that work. But Sara came through, flashing the bottle of whiskey that was obscured by the blanket in her other hand.

“My girl.” He patted her backside as she walked past to set up their spot by the fire then looked up at Maya who was right behind her with only a Thermos and blanket in hand. “Drinkin’ the hard stuff again, I see.”

She stopped in front of him, glaring for a moment. Her eyes traveled down the brawny man’s chest to the flannel covered beer belly protruding from his open jacket and she couldn’t help herself.

“When’s your baby due?” she asked, letting her eyes pointedly linger on his belly for a moment. He began to chuckle at the shit she’d given right back to him.

“I’d like to remind you that it is the holiday season,” he explained, defending his not so svelte figure.

“Right.” She laughed dryly, feeling that she’d sufficiently put him in his place and gotten him off her back for a while, then began walking toward the very svelte man awaiting her on a bench on the opposite side of the fire.

She handed the hot chocolate sans alcohol to Reed so that she could unfold the nubby, plaid blanket she had for them. Quite frankly, they didn’t need anything to fuel the heat that had been steadily building between them for the past week. She draped the blanket over his shoulders, and he held out his arm, inviting her to join him. She was more than happy to cozy up to him. Once she settled in, he wrapped the blanket around them and it was like they were in their own little bubble.

It was cliché as could be, but she understood the allure of a winter bonfire now. Especially as she leaned her head on Reed’s shoulder, enjoying the warmth of his embrace, the way the scruff on his chin lightly scratched and tickled her forehead, and the softness of his sweater on her cheek.

“Thank y’all for coming over. I’ve always wanted to do this, but we don’t get too many nights like this down here,” Willa said, all smiles as she enjoyed her perfect winter vision.

“Yeah, it’s nice to not be out sweatin’ our balls off for a change,” Dustin shared.

Sara rolled her eyes at him then turned to Maya. “You can still get out,” she whispered.

Maya grew uncomfortable again. She knew it was just a joke, the kind that couples who had the luxury of taking each other for granted could make, but the thing was, there wasn’t anything about Reed that she wanted to run away from. In fact, it was just the opposite and that’s what made this all the more difficult. But she pushed it aside again because they were here to have a good time.

Willa took a gulp from her mug and passed it back to Dev. “This weather has had me craving hot chocolate and soup. It’s all I’ve wanted to eat.”

“You just want the grilled cheese that goes with the soup,” he teased as he rubbed his hand over her belly.

“Mmm. Soup does sound good,” Maya said just loudly enough for Reed to hear.

“I actually make a mean chicken and dumplings,” he said. He noticed the surprise on her face. “Family recipe,” he explained.

“Okay, but I should warn you that my granny makes the best chicken and dumplings.”

“Let me amend that. I make a passable chicken and dumplings, but I think I make pretty good company.”

He was wrong again. He made very good company in her opinion. “And? You can’t just throw that out there.”

“Come on over tomorrow night.” He grinned as he dipped his head closer to hers. “Let me cook for you.”

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