Page 112 of Pinch of Love

“Take a seat,” my dad said, gesturing at the bench.

“Sure. Okay. What’s up?”

“Two things.”

“Okay.” I nodded.

“How’d the camping trip go?” my dad asked.

I laughed and kicked out my legs. “Before or after Hunter and Brielle left?”

My mom squirmed in her chair and took a sip of her drink. “That’s what we thought.”

“How did you know about her?”

My mom chuckled. “The horror couple stopped by on the way home from your camping trip and spent the night. Turned out she got poison ivy up her hoo-hah, and she refused to go to a doctor.”

“I guess the buckthorn wasn’t enough for her,” I muttered.

“Thank goodness I had some Benadryl and anti-itch cream. It says not to use down there, but what was I to do? Watch her writhe in pain all night? I may not care for her, but I don’t want to see her hurt.”

I steepled my fingers together and leaned over. “Okay...”

I really didn’t understand what this had to do with me or how my mom had met Brielle long enough to know she didn’t like her.

My mom shuddered. “I don’t know what Hunter sees in her.”

“I think I do,” my dad muttered.

“We kept her in a cool bath until she went to bed,” my mom continued.

Millie nodded. “It’s about all you can do.”

“While this story has provided more than enough imagery, I’m dying to know what it has to do with me.”

Millie took a sip of her drink and eyed my mom. A sudden quietness came over the patio as my father shook his head.

“Son, I don’t condone your mother and Millie’s actions.”

“Harold, you’re always an accomplice. Look how quickly you ponied up with your son to hunt down that wretched ex of Maya’s.” My mom laughed. “You know you love every minute of this stuff.”

I eyed my mom. She hadn’t even met Maya yet, and she was already Team Maya.

But that was how it was with Maya. She was incredible. The moment you met her, you wanted to know everything about her. My dad must have filled my mom in on the two-minute encounter he’d had. Plus, I’d spent the night talking about her.

I glanced at Millie. Who knew how much she’d been talking about her granddaughter?

“Okay. What stuff? What did you rope Dad into?” I asked my mom.

“Daisy.” Millie sang her name instead.

I shook my head slowly. “What about Daisy? We aren’t compatible.”

My mom smiled. “No, you’re not. But I believe that Hunter and Daisy are the next power couple.”

“Power couple? Why does Buttercup Lake need a power couple?” I asked.

Giddiness rolled off Millie. “Think about it. She’s a bartender. He owns a bar.”