Fred hesitated, then jumped in behind the console bench. Cassidy followed, moving to the controls.
“Hey,” Mac said, more to himself. It wasn’t something he’d seen before, her taking the dog in the boat. Fred had always stayed behind.
Cassidy powered up the boat and backed it up to clear the dock, her eyes singling out Mac, her look defiant, daring him to come and stop her.
He stood up, noting the challenge and pointing at her, shouting this time. “Hey!”
She raised her middle finger before she shifted and shot forward at a sharp angle, turning toward the middle of the lake. Fred scrambled to find purchase, sliding into the bench where he hunkered down.
“Fuck, you can’t drive with Fred like that!” Mac paced the edge of the porch; frantic, pissed and disbelieving.
Jason howled with laughter.
“Did you put her up to that?” Mac demanded.
“No,” Jason answered.
“He could have gone overboard.”
“It’s a good thing he can doggy paddle,” Jason said.
“That’s not funny. That shit’s not funny.” It wasn’t funny.
“He’s her dog.” Grady’s voice was quiet; gentle. And it said too much.
Mac rolled his shoulders. “Forget it. What the fuck do I care about her dog?” He turned, bringing the coffee cup to his lips as he pushed past Grady with a warning look, going inside. He really wanted that beer.
The remainder of the day was tense. For him.
Grady and Jason hung out, laughing, the morning’s drama past. Mac heard them daring each other to go swimming in the freezing water. He saw them wrestling one another toward it, but neither one ended up in it. He heard them shout their greetings to his neighbor when she eventually returned, but he didn’t bother to peek outside.
They built a bonfire toward dusk; Grady found a piece of wood and before too long, the pile of shavings at his feet indicated another tiny masterpiece was being created.
Mac joined them, sipping his beer. He’d made use of the day, prepping food. Brats, the last of their steaks; they’d be leaving in the morning.
Out of nowhere, Jason announced, “I didn’t fuck her.”
Mac stared, waiting, ignoring the surge of… relief?
“Part of me wants you to think I did so you won’t go near her, but I don’t want you thinking she’s that kind of girl, either.” Jason stared back and begged, “Don’t go near her anyway.”
“What the fuck’s got into you?”
“You aren’t in the space to hear it, Mac,” Jason said.
“Tell me the truth, Jase. Did you fall in love with that girl in one night?” he asked. Because if he had…
Jason dropped his head. “It’s nothing like that.”
Mac scrutinized one, then the other. “Am I in the Twilight Zone?”
Jason explained, “She’s coming back from her own rock bottom. All you’ll do is drag her back down, so don’t do it. Let her come back to life.”
Mac he let out a whistle. “Damn, I’m changing your name to Oprah.”
“Mac!”
Mac held up his hands in a sign of surrender. “You have my word! I will not seek her out.” It was an easy enough promise to make. He didn’t chase after women. Besides, he’d made it clear from the beginning he’d wait for her to findhim. “I don’t know why you think I’m interested.”