Chapter 25: Man to Man

Grant’s perspective:

I can sense that Emily and Gabby are far enough away for me to speak plainly with Austin. There was a fearful look in Emily’s eyes that has me unsettled. Even after finally making love for the first time, I’m not sure she is as firmly settled here as she seemed to be in the throes of passion.

“Sit down,” I say to Austin, pointing to the log bench. I walk over to one of the secret coolers I had built into the felled evergreens we converted into the seating around the fire pit and crack it open. “I see you’ve left a few.”

“We didn’t drink any. Emily asked us not to drink.”

“Hm. Good. At least you listened that much.”

Austin’s head drops.

I grab two beers from the cooler and pop the top off. “Here,” I say, putting an open draft under his nose. Austin grabs it and looks up to me.

“You’re not upset?” he asks.

“I didn’t say that. I told you to keep your hands to yourself.”

Taking a defensive position, Austin tries to assure me of his obedience. “It wasn’t me.”