Page 54 of Feels Like Home

“Decent,” Tess says, trying not tolaugh.

Shefails.

Though, to her credit, it does come out low and husky, so we roll withit.

“Right. Wouldn’t want you to see something you, uh, shouldn’t,” Laurensays.

“Umm, okay? Well, umm, can I? What I mean is… what is it you're… okay maybe I'll just…wait?”

“Maybe that would be best. It will only take us tenminutes.”

“No!” Carly shouts. “We need more… time. Sometimes it takes me a…while.”

Lauren shoves her face into a towel, and I bite my fist to keep from laughing. How she said it all with a straight face, I’ll neverknow.

“Oh. Okay. Yeah. I'm just… I'm gonna get a beer, yeah? Yeah. That's where I'll be. In the kitchen. While you guys are in here. Getting Carly… wet,” he says, his voicefaltering.

“Sounds good!” Ishout.

The second we hear his footsteps bound away, bumping into some piece of furniture in the bedroom, curses exploding from his lips, we all fall to the ground in a fit oflaughter.

“Oh damn. That was sogood!”

“If that were Barrett, the guys would have already beentold.”

“Right? Oh, my gosh. That's the best thingever.”

“That's what he's thinking right now,” Laurensnickers.

When we finally regain composure, I straighten up. “Okay, Carly, here's the BioréStrip.”

17

Andy

“We’re on our way.You ready forus?”

“Born ready,” she jokes over the phoneline.

When we first asked Christine to join us at the cabin for our trip, I could tell she had her reservations about it. I don’t blameher.

For me? I guess having a cheat for a wife allows you to move on muchquicker.

But after her night in with the girls, in which I was both horrified and turned on by what I overheard, things shifted with her. Whatever her squad, as the boys always say now, said to her seemed towork.

She called the next morning to let me know she was bringing the food, since I was supplying the place to stay. We argued over whether or not it was necessary, and she eventually won. I never stood achance.

I don’t think I’lleverstand a chance against her, if I’m being honest withmyself.

“See you soon,” I tell her and look to the boys who both have smiles on theirfaces.

“Can’t wait,” she says, excitement in hervoice.

And that’s all it takes for me to realize that bringing her along is probably the best decision I’ve evermade.

And after talking with the boys last night and settling on something, I’m even more anxious to get upthere.

We’ve gotplans.

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