Page 80 of Kiss and Tell

Joey would always be jealous of his best friend’s ability to fall asleep so quickly. Especially as he lay there, wishing he could find the same peace.

Because he had finally found everything he’d ever wanted.

Now he just had to find a way to keep it.

ChapterTwelve

Miles leaned back in his chair, watching Lucy and Joey attempt to do a Texas two-step to Kenny Chesney’s “American Kids” on the dance floor. What they lacked in ability, they were making up for in enthusiasm, the two of them laughing as Joey stomped his feet and spun Lucy around like a rag doll while she hung on for dear life. Joey had gotten a cowboy hat from somewhere—probably borrowed from Hank—so he looked the part of…well, an Italian trying to pass for a redneck, Miles thought with a chuckle. He made a mental note to give him shit for it later.

Their camera crew was set up in the corner, capturing footage that would serve as B-roll and make a nice ending to the episode. The past four days had passed by in a blur as he and Joey spent all day, every day, filming forManPower, their time on the ranch starting at an ungodly hour each morning.

Meanwhile, Lucy had traveled from one Sparks house to another, interviewing several of Macie’s relatives for her YouTube show. In addition to recording Hank and Macie on their couch, she’d also filmed a cousin, Sydney, and her former soldier husband, Chas, as well as another cousin, Gia, and her husband, Logan—who built beautiful custom-made furniture, and had been booked by Sherri for a show next season.

Logan was currently pounding out a beat on his bass with the band Ty’s Collective, onstage. The other three members of the band—Caleb, Tyson, and Harley—had been the last of Lucy’sKiss and Tellinterviews. Miles had been shocked to learn they were a committed throuple. Apparently, the Morettis didn’t own the market on threesome relationships, the Sparks family giving them a run for their money.

Miles noticed Lucy had been decidedly quiet after returning from that interview, only offering the barest of responses to his and Joey’s questions about how it had gone. He hadn’t seen any of the footage, so Miles wasn’t sure what to make of her reaction, trying to decide if she’d been concerned about their relationship, bothered by something they’d said, or perhaps…jealous?

Miles had never coveted what Joey’s brothers had, never wanted to be a third of a menage a trois. Not until this week, with Joey and Lucy.

Now, he couldn’t shake the green-eyed monster sitting on his chest.

Every night for the last four, they’d returned to the RV at the end of each workday, where they ate dinner together then climbed into bed, he and Joey taking turns with their beautiful girl. Nowadays, Miles struggled to remember why he’d been so against participating in the threesome to begin with.

Actually, he remembered exactly why. But it turns out, having Joey in bed—naked and erect—hadn’t bothered him as much as he’d expected. Hell, it hadn’t bothered him at all, really. Miles didn’t think that would be the case with another man. But with Joey, it felt natural, and even easy. Probably because he was closer to Joey than anyone else in his life. There still wasn’t any sexual attraction—at least on his part. Though he wasn’t sure if Joey felt the same.

That was just one of about a million things the three of them weren’t talking about when it came to this…this…

Miles sighed.

Affair.

He hated that word, but self-preservation wouldn’t let him use another, not even in his own head.

Every night, they fell into bed, never speaking a word about feelings or the future. As soon as the two F words popped into his head, he shut them down.

No feelings. No future.

Just fucking.

Guess it was obvious why none of them had broached the subject.

They’d wrapped up filming at the Cooper ranch that afternoon. It was a long day that started before dawn as countless people—family, friends, and ranch hands alike—gathered to begin the process of making the apple butter. They’d spent hours the day before peeling bushel after bushel of apples. There’d been a bit of a chill in the air today, everyone bundled up in fall jackets, hats, and scarves. They took turns stirring the apples, butter, cinnamon, and sugar in the huge copper kettles using long wooden paddles, while a bunch of kids ran around playing tag and hide-and-seek.

Growing up in the city, Miles had never experienced anything like today. It was as if he’d stepped back in time, and he’d enjoyed the peacefulness. The whole thing had felt like an episode ripped out ofThe Andy Griffith Show, and he’d joked with Mack, the cameraman, that he’d be shocked if the footage didn’t show up in black and white.

By the end of the day, they had made an ungodly amount of apple butter, probably enough for every resident in Maris, Texas. He, Joey, and Lucy had all been gifted with a couple quarts each of the sweet spread. Miles intended to give his to his mom and sister for Christmas because he knew they’d never had it and was certain they would love it.

According to Macie, it was tradition that Maris’s apple butter making was always followed by a barn dance. Miles wasn’t sure where everyone found the energy after such a busy day, but the place was hopping. Ty’s Collective was a bluegrass band, and while it wasn’t Miles’s kind of music, he had to admit they were really good.

All in all, it had been a great day, so Miles hated that he was now in this funk. Even though he knew the cause.

Their time in Texas was over. The sand in the hourglass was almost gone. Tomorrow, they’d start the three-day journey back to Virginia, where they would drop Lucy off at Stormy Weather Farm before he and Joey traveled on to Baltimore to film their next episode.

Joey had suggested interviewing Killian Collins, Layla’s uncle by marriage, and his partner Justin, who ran their own construction company. He and Joey had been thrilled when the producers agreed not only to that interview but to allowing the two of them more input on who they featured on the show.

Before this week, the two of them had been looking forward to the trip to Baltimore and the chance to hang out with friends and Joey’s sister.

Now?

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