“Afton,” I say, “we like him. I know I do. And that takes a lot for me to admit.”
“Thank you.” He squeezes my pinky.
“Ben is here,” Snow whispers frantically. She freezes, back rigid, and clearly on the verge of a panic attack.
I’ll kill that fucker if he’s here. “What?” I ask.
“Ben. He’s here.”
“Where?” I scan the property, searching for anyone who doesn’t belong.
She points to the other side of the yard where the crew sleeps.
“He was just there,” she says, her voice trembling with fear.
“Silas,” I call out, “can you go check on something for me?”
“Anything,” he says softly. He can plainly see Snow is worked up.
“She thinks she saw Ben,” I tell him quietly.
“I’ll go check it out.” He nods as he gestures to Oscar.
“I’ll do two people,” I say. “I’ll ask Anne to do two, and Ever can do one if they need help. She needs to go sit down inside or at least on the porch.”
“Afton?” London waves at his friend.
“Yeah. Snow, you okay?” His concern is clearly written on his face.
“Can you go sit with her on the porch?” I ask him. “I can’t leave, and neither can London.”
“Sure, let’s go, sweetheart. I can tell you all the embarrassing stories of London growing up.” He chuckles to lighten the mood.
“You won’t do that,” London calls after him.
“I might,” he says in a singsong voice.
“Shane.” London shifts to face me, watching them walk away.
“London, I like him, and I don’t know why. I can’t explain it.”
“We can go slow,” he tells me, and that makes me feel better.
“We already are. I might still be coming to terms with my feelings for you. I didn’t see him coming.”
“That’s how it started with me and Afton. With you, it was on sight.”
“Like love at first sight?” I ask with surprise.
“Yeah, Shane. Just like that. But I knew you didn’t swing that way, so I let you come around.”
“I don’t know what happened. But I do know that I like you and need you. And I’d like to try. I sound like a teenager talking to their first crush.” I rake my hand across my face and shake my head. “So immature.”
“It’s new to you. But I’m worth it.” He smirks.
“Cocky much,” I say, raising an eyebrow, just as a contestant calls my name.
“You know I am,” he teases just as I take off toward the cooking stations.
I do know he has a big cock.