“Yeah, but we don’t know when, yet. I…” Lake sighed and squeezed me a little. “The thing is, River’s been really quiet about all this. We still don’t know if Ben even likes guys. Or hell, anyone.”
I frowned. “River hasn’t asked him?”
“Maybe he has. All I know River hasn’t talked to me about it lately, which means he’s in deep and wants to figure it all out on his own.”
“Fair enough.”
“I just wish he found a way to figure things out. Ben is really smart and witty in a dry way. He’s such a good guy and I hate that they dance around each other.”
“Is it really a dance if one of them doesn’t hear the music?” I asked dryly.
Lake poked my belly. “Meanie. It’s not like River can help that his number one crush is suddenly back in his life.”
“And I doubt Ben can help whatever he’s feeling about it, either.”
Sighing, Lake nodded, his hair tickling my chest. “I guess.”
* * * *
We fell asleep like we did these days, wrapped around each other. The AC in my cabin was better than the one in Lake’s bedroom, and I kept telling him he was taking advantage of me. To which he always winked and said, “In many ways, baby.” He wasn’t wrong and I wasn’t complaining.
A weird sound startled me awake. Lake woke up, too.
“Wazzit?”
“I don’t know,” I replied, at the same time we both heard a low, ominous growl from downstairs.
“Bucky?” Lake asked, immediately more awake.
The dog flap rattled when Bucky rushed through it. Soon enough, there were barking sounds, the GGs had clearly joined in on whatever was going on.
We didn’t have time to think, just got dressed, went downstairs, and pulled on whatever footwear was handy.
It was still dark outside, so I grabbed a flashlight and Lake turned his phone’s flashlight on.
The dogs had quieted.
“What the hell is going on?” I murmured as we stepped out into the yard, sweeping the darkness with our lights.
There were lights, of course, but not near the cabins or close to the entry to the yard where I could hear the dogs.
Everything else was silent, almost eerie.
“I need to go check. They’re not growling anymore.”
There was a quiet sound from the house, and as soon as we got to the driveway, Cook joined us, poised for action. I could imagine a weapon in his hand, and felt lucky we didn’t have any in the house.
“What’s going on?” he asked quietly, and I pointed toward the gate to the property.
Cook and I took the lead with Lake trailing behind.
Bucky loped to us from the darkness, looking…worried?
“What is it, boy?” I asked, and he whined, then turned and started back toward the others.
Cook held his hand out for my flashlight, and I gave it to him without question. He started to sweep the surroundings immediately, then pointed at something.
“There!” He took off toward whatever he’d seen.
