Page 96 of Forever To Me

Cami groans and slaps her forehead. “We tried spray tans. Mack assured us it would be fine.”

"That's what you get for listening to a teenager," Ollie smirks.

Mack picks up the hose and aims it at Ollie, "Say that again, Ollie."

Jack chokes on his beer. “Y’all know no one here tans. We just burn and go back to flannel.”

Walker, still laughing, tips his chin at me. “Nice knees, Red.”

I point at him. “Laugh it up, Walker. One day, you’re gonna need my help, and when you do, I’m bringing this moment up.”

He grins even wider. “Oh, I hope you do.”

Cami lunges for the hose nozzle in Mack's hands. “I will spray you all!” she practically bellows.

Walker backs away, hands up in surrender. Ollie and Jack bolt. Poppy’s still on the ground, gasping through laughter. And me?

I’m standing in a puddle of muddy self-tanner, my pride long gone, my abs sore from laughing, wondering how the hell this is my life.

Maggie texts me later, saying, “Saw the video of y’all. Why didn't y'all invite me to the spray tan party?"

Chapter 23

Walker

Iknow Mack and Maggie are up to something before I even step foot in the damn kitchen.

Their whispers travel down the hall, their voices full of poorly disguised mischief.

I pause in the doorway, crossing my arms. “Alright,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “What the hell are you two scheming now?”

Mack and Maggie both freeze, eyes wide like I just caught them burying a body. Then, simultaneously, they scramble to look innocent—Mack shoving something behind her back, Maggie suddenly very focused on stirring her coffee.

I glance between them, already losing patience.

Maggie clears her throat as she glances at the barn. “We were just discussing…” She hesitates. “Hay.”

I blink. “Hay.”

Mack nods vigorously. Way too vigorously. “Yeah. A big hay conspiracy is happening. We'd better stock up for the horses, Dad.”

I stare at them. “You two are ridiculous.”

Maggie nods, completely straight-faced. “Oh, we know.”

I run a hand down my face. “Do I even want to know?”

“Nope,” Mack says quickly.

“Definitely not,” Maggie agrees, sipping her coffee like she’s innocent.

They’re up to something. And I don’t like it. I move toward the coffee pot, fully aware that they’re still watching me. They’re not even being subtle about it.

Mack leans in, whispering something to Maggie, and Maggie smirks. That damn smirk. The same one she always had when she used to try and set me up with every single person she came across in town.

It finally clicks.

I turn around, arms crossed. “This about Violet?”

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