Page 75 of Teach Me How

I shake my head, reaching up to curve my hand around the back of his neck. “Not necessarily. We just needed the party to come back inside.”

He squeezes me tighter. “I’m the party, huh?”

I giggle when he tickles my ribs.

Mitch shakes his head. “You two make me want to barf.”

But he’s grinning as he slips off his stool. He circles around the counter, acting as sous chef while Cliff passes him a bushel load of vegetables to chop.

Skyler moves my hair, sliding it over one shoulder so that he can kiss my neck. “Did I mention I like your hair this morning?”

“You did. Lies, upon lies.”

“It’s so soft. Like a cloud.”

I grin. “A frizz ball.”

Cliff shakes a carrot at me. “He had it right the first time. It’s like a gorgeous cloud.”

I blush, realizing that everyone was watching us.

But I can feel Skyler’s soft laughter rumbling against my spine and that makes it all worthwhile.

50.

Skyler

There wasn’t a plan when we headed up the mountain to visit Uncle Don.

But lunch blends into afternoon drinks and then happy hour and a leisurely dinner on the patio. Cliff lit a couple of skinny, pyramid shaped heaters, and long tongues of flame lick up their sides, radiating cozy warmth.

You can just see the glow from Denver, a turquoise haze over the distant mountains. But we’re surrounded by mountains on all sides. A full moon paints the range with a subtle brush.

I pushed my chair up next to Reese’s, and she’s tolerating me while I alternate between playing with her fingers and running my hand over the small of her back.

Mitch has made his way over to the hot tub and is testing the water.

“You want to get in?” Uncle Don asks, standing to clear our plates.

Mitch climbs to his feet, drying his hand off on his jeans. “We didn’t pack swim trunks.”

“Skyler and Don are practically clones of each other.” Cliff says.

“Before and after photos.” Don corrects as he passes back into the house. “I’m the after. The much, much, much after.”

“He can borrow a pair from Don and I bet you’d fit into one of mine. We don’t have any ladies swimsuits, I’m afraid.”

Reese stands to help clear dinner away. “I’m wearing a sports bra.”

Everyone looks at me for the final approval. I shrug. “I’m down for whatever.”

Cliff deposits Mitch and I in the spare bedroom with a pile of potential swim trunks. We both choose ones from the top of the pile and change into them.

Mitch stands upright, adjusting the Hawaiian print trunks around his hips. “I was kind of hoping I wouldn’t like him.”

I tighten the trunks I’m wearing, tying the strings to keep them from falling down. “Uncle Don?”

“Yeah. He’s funny and likable.”

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