Carter spit-coughed a sip of coffee. “You’re married?” he exclaimed.
“Iwasmarried,” Tess clarified. “For a hot minute. Divorced.” She didn’t elaborate, and the bitter look on her face said she wasn’t going to.
Logan found himself inexplicably bummed out that Tess seemed so opposed to marriage. Not that he wanted to marry her—obviously. Just that there was something very compelling about her. A calm, cool, tough-as-nails demeanor wrapped in a pretty, soft, long-legged package. Intriguing indeed.
When Grayson came around to Logan, he thought for a minute. Staring into the flames, listening to the frogs, and feeling the slight breeze in his hair, he felt compelled to be honest.
“I guess my greatest regret is that I haven’t gotten married yet.” He was a little surprised at his own admission. Sure, the topic crossed his mind every now and again, but here, now,saying it out loud solidified it. He wanted what Cooper had—a woman he could trust and a couple of kids.
“You’re a good lookin’ guy,” Grayson said. “What’s keeping you from finding one? You too picky?”
“Trust issues.” Logan stared at the fire. “Money. Time. The usual.”
“How old are you?” Carter asked.
“Thirty-five,” Logan said.
“Ah, ya got plenty of time,” Grayson said. “What about your greatest accomplishment?”
“Guess I’m still waiting to peak,” Logan said. “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”
They all laughed.
“Looks like we might get rain tonight,” Tess warned as clouds moved in to snuff out the moonlight.
“The clouds sure make it dark,” Ashton said, glancing around. “Makes you realize how bright the moon’s been the last couple of nights.”
“When we put out the fire, it’s going to be pitch black up here,” Carter agreed.
“Huh,” Grayson said. “Turns out I grossly exaggerated when I claimed I was only afraid of one thing.”
“Keep a flashlight with you, and put the rain cover over your tent.” Tess looked at the sky. “Actually, throw a tarp on too. Just in case. Be sure to tie it off securely. Buddy up and hold flashlights for each other. Carter, after you do your tent, cover the fire pit. Make sure the coals are cooled first and use the rocks to hold down the tarp.”
They all grumbled, but said they would. Logan got his tent covered, helped Grayson and Tess with theirs, and crawled in just as the drops began to fall.
Tess’s prediction of rain turned out to be a wild understatement. It poured—all night.
CHAPTER NINE
Tess
Camping in the rain was one of Tess’s least favorite things. If they had to endure bad weather, she preferred cold, wind, or even snow. But it was what it was.
The hammering raindrops were loud, but not enough to keep Tess from falling into a deep sleep.
Dreams of a large pepperoni pizza were interrupted by a noise outside her tent.
“Tess.” It was Carter. “Tess?”
She turned on her flashlight and unzipped the tent flap. Carter squatted outside, hunched under her tarp, holding a wadded-up sleeping bag. “Somebody better be on fire,” she grumbled.
“I’m sorry to wake you,” he said. “But my tent collapsed. Can I sleep in here?”
Tess swung the flashlight over to where Carter’s tent had been. Sure enough, it was flat. Helping him reset it in the pouring rain sounded a lot less appealing than having a sopping wet roommate.
“Fine,” she huffed.
He wiggled in and plopped down beside her. “You’re soaked,” she complained. “Don’t touch anything.”
