Page 53 of Just Act Natural

“Look at you, roughing it in the woods.”

“I never said I’m immune to modern conveniences.”

“Is this what your place back in Texas is like? Rustic-fancy?” I can picture him in a setup just like this somewhere.

He winces, but I can’t sort out why. “It’s secluded like this. I don’t spend much time there.”

“Why not?”

“My younger brother’s townhouse is closer to work, and I stay there a lot. He needs someone looking after him half the time.” He unzips his duffel bag. “Do you mind if I take a quick shower?”

“Go for it. We have bathed together before.” My laugh gets strangled in my throat. I should just not talk with Grant. We can work out a system of blinks and nods.

I’d probably still find ways to embarrass myself.

He pauses halfway between me and the bathroom door, smiling over my ridiculousness. “Would you like to take one first?”

I duck my head to try to smell my armpit. “I do stink, don’t I?”

“I promise you, you don’t. It seemed like the gentlemanly thing to offer.”

“I can wait until I get home.” I’ve been dreaming about my assortment of shampoos and body washes for days now. Plus, I can’t get naked in his cabin immediately after cornering him into being my pretend boyfriend. I have a tiny smidgen of pride. “While you do that, I’m going to indulge in sitting on something other than the ground.”

I flop onto the couch. My poor butt is immediately grateful. I bet it’s bruised from sitting on so many rocks and logs.

“Fancy. I’ll be right out.”

He disappears into the bathroom, which, if it’s anything like the cabins I’ve seen, has a generously sized and gorgeously tiled shower. I almost wish I hadn’t turned down his offer, but my fiberglass tub and shower combo will get me just as clean.It just won’t be quite as relaxing as the rain shower version his probably has.

It takes about three minutes of mindless sitting before the real world catches up with me. The Fourth Fest is in two weeks, and even though I’ve got everything lined up and double-checked, there’s always room for something to go sideways. I grab my phone and take it out of airplane mode.

As careful as I was with it in the woods, it’s covered in a fine dust. My poor baby. Can you take a phone in for detailing?

The second my service is restored, my phone starts buzzing with notifications. Emails and voicemails about the festival, comments on my socials both personal and professional, but worst of all—texts.

Mom: I can’t wait to hear more about Grant

Mom: Invite him to dinner any time!

Mom: You’re going to throw out that rodent-bitten shirt, right?

Hope: Mom says you came back from the hike with a boyfriend?

Hope: ?????

Hope: I need to know what happened in the woods

Hope: Call me immediately

I knew Mom would work fast, but I still thought she might give me a few hours’ head start.

Oh, who am I kidding? She probably shimmied right over to my sister’s store the minute Grant and I left town.

“Everything okay?”

I startle and almost drop my phone. “That was quick.”

“I’m efficient.” He walks into my line of sight in front of the couch.

---