Page 33 of Payoff Pitch
I see Bailey in her sleeping bag reading on her Kindle. I whisper, “What are you reading?”
She whispers back, “I’m reading Gemma’s first book. Have you read it?”
I shake my head. “No. Is it any good?”
She clutches her heart. “It’s amazing. She’s so talented. Cheetah made it seem so lascivious, but—”
“It’s not?” That surprises me. I thought they were sex books.
“It has those parts too, but it’s actually a love story. Funny too, but ultimately a beautiful, complicated love story. She’s such a romantic.”
“I guess she married the right guy then. Trey lives for her. The story of how they got together would probably make a great romance novel.”
“What did he do?”
I smile at the four-year-old memory of how crazily Trey behaved when he was trying to get Gemma’s attention. “Let’s just say that it was love at first sight for him and he was more than determined to do whatever it took to win her heart. They had a few bumps in the road, but their love is the real deal. I’ve never known a couple like them who click so perfectly and are always in sync. It’s enviable.”
Harper stirs, and I glance down at her. She’s still asleep but I don’t want to wake her. I look back at Bailey. “Do you want to walk down to the lake? There’s a full moon tonight. It should be beautiful. And I brought whiskey. I thought I’d drink with Beckett, but he’s fawning all over Amanda, afraid to leave her for a second. Trevor and Cassandra areprobably off having sex somewhere in the woods. They’re known for that.”
She silently laughs. “They’re an…interesting couple.”
“They sure are. What did she say to you earlier?”
Bailey gives a shy smile. “Let’s just say that she has no problem asking probing questions.”
I chuckle. “That’s for sure.”
She scrunches her face. “Are we okay to leave Harper alone? What if she wakes up and we’re gone?”
“There are thirty families around, and we’ll only be up the road.”
She bites her lip. “Okay. Let’s leave her a note just in case she wakes up. I don’t want her to be scared.”
I smile at her thoughtfulness. “That’s a good idea.”
We leave her my cell phone along with a note letting her know to call Bailey’s phone if she needs us.
As we exit the tent, I notice that the campsite is unusually quiet. I guess the parents are as exhausted as the kids.
With a blanket, two plastic cups, and a bottle of whiskey in tow, we silently walk through the trees until we reach the lake. Her eyes widen as we approach the glass-like still water sparkling in the bright light of the moon. “Wow. It’s beautiful out here. Is it safe?”
“Why wouldn’t it be safe?” I ask as I lay down the blanket right next to the shoreline.
“We could never do this on a lake in Florida at night. Too many gators.”
I let out a laugh. “No gators up here. You’re safe. I promise.”
I sit on the blanket, but she remains standing and picks up a few stones, expertly throwing them. They skip across the lake dozens of times, leaving a trail of ripples in their wake.
“Wow. You’re pretty good at that.”
She smiles. “It’s basically throwing from the slot, right?”
I nod. “I suppose it is.”
“It’s how our dad taught us to throw from the slot. I was thinking about it when I was teaching Harper and Andie this week. He used to take Kam and me to a nearby lake. Only during the day though, and never too close to the water where a gator could pop out and surprise us.”
“It sounds like you’re close with your father.” Her affection for him is clear.