Page 15 of Love Puck

He was telling the truth. I could hardly keep my eyes open. We put out the fire and got ready for bed.

I climbed into my sleeping bag and shut my eyes.

And then I felt something—or someone behind me. “What the fuck are you doing?” I asked my tentmate.

“I’m cold,” Trey said, “If we squeeze together, we’ll conserve body heat.” He moved in closer.

“When you said you had my back,” I elbowed him and he grunted, “I didn’t think you meant literally.”

He squished in even closer. And quite honestly—I did feel warmer. My good sleeping bags were back home in Alberta. This one wasn’t near as good.

“I’ve always got your back, Cash. Now let me steal your heat.”

Beau cut in. “Would you guys cut it out? I’m try-trying to sleep.” Beau’s teeth chattered slightly.

I felt sorry for him and decided to give in. “He’s not wrong. It is a lot warmer.”

Trey flopped around and the whole tent moved as he pulled Beau’s sleeping bag.

“What the fuck?” Beau yelled, and I chuckled to myself. Trey had now successfully sandwiched himself between us.

A short time later, Beau whispered, “If any of you assholes tell a soul about this—”

We all laughed—warmly.

It had been a long day, and sleep was slipping over me. So, when Trey’s voice pulled me back, I was a little ticked.

“You still love her, right?” he asked, and I immediately knew who he was talking about.

“If I answer, will you shut up and go to sleep?” I muttered with a loud yawn.

“Yeah.”

I sighed and decided to tell him the truth. There weren’t any cameras in here. “Then, yes. I still love her.”

A large hand reached around my body—and hugged me. “I’m sorry, man.” There was so much emotion in his voice, that I honestly got choked up.

“Me too, Cash,” Beau said, and then another hand grabbed onto my sleeping bag and pulled and pulled. A few tears escaped, and I was grateful for the darkness.

And I was grateful for the two men in this tent with me—who had my back.

Literally.

4

Jillian

“It’s an old recipe. I can give it to you if you want,” I said to Gianna who was currently very busy scooping up generous portions of my spinach dip. My mom used to make it whenever people came over.

And sometimes, she’d make it for supper. We’d hunker down for the night and watch all of her favorite eighties movies.

I took in a deep breath and tucked that memory back into a deep pocket in my brain. I had other things to deal with now.

Like what the heck would be on this week’s episode.

The show had followed me around last weekend. They wanted footage of me going into different stores. One where I picked out a China pattern.

Another one where I set up a wedding registry.