Chase
Cubby walksover right when dark starts to fall, while I’m hauling wood to the firepit. There’s just enough light that I can see him coming, emerging from the path that runs by the lake. He steps out into the open yard and comes into full view, and something stirs deep inside me.
He’s wearing a pair of hiking shorts ending halfway down his thighs and a Henley that stretches across his chest and hangs just to the top of his bouncing hips. It’s flattering and revealing, his shape right there for me to appreciate. As he gets closer, I see that he’s added plenty of his style too, like the socks with bears printed on them, yanked up his calves, and a necklace with a bunch of flower-petal charms hanging from it.
“Chase!” he calls out with a wave and a broad smile as he hurries over to me.
Fuck. It feels good to have him rush to me.
Cubby takes me in a big hug, which pulls a deep, surprised laugh out of me. I squeeze back, and the pleasure of it is so satisfying, I almost forget to greet him.
“Uh, hi,” I finally manage, stepping back. “Glad you made it.”
Cubby smiles, which makes his cheeks curve. He’s trimmed his beard, keeping it neat, and the softness of his features is even more striking than usual.
He slides a pink backpack off his shoulder. “I brought stuff for s’mores, and I made us a cocktail.” He pulls out two travel mugs, offering me one. “Do you like ginger beer?”
I take the mug. “Sure, I guess.”
“It’s a Moscow Mule. Well, not really, since it’s not in a copper cup.” He shrugs, then bats his eyelashes at me. “Anyway, hi!”
“Hi,” I repeat.
Cubby grins. “Can I help you start the fire?”
“Oh, sure.” I set the mug down on one of the wooden benches. “I just need to chop up a couple of these logs.”
“Can I help?” Cubby asks brightly.
“Don’t worry about it,” I say, turning to the piles of logs I dragged over. The firepit is in an open stretch of lawn, up a bit and overlooking the lake, offering us a nice view. “You’re my guest. Just sit back and relax. Let me know if you need anything.”
Cubby clears his throat. “I need someone to teach me how to chop wood, actually.” He smiles at me and adds a pout to his voice. “You did say you would help me make my videos.”
He doesn’t give me even a minute to stand on solid ground. The second I’m with Cubby, he’s flirting and making me all confused.
And I like it.
Ever since I called him yesterday afternoon, it’s taken my full concentration not to obsess over what we might do tonight. I don’t know what it’s like to be with a man, and I’ve been torturing myself with doubts and second-guessing, wondering if I want what I want, if I know what I’m doing.
But then Cubby gives me one of his smiles, and there’s no doubt about it. I want him.
I lift up the maul, the heavy, ax-like tool I use to split logs. “All right. I’ll teach you how to chop wood, if that’s really what you want.”
“Hell yeah.” He rubs his hands together. “Gonna earn those s’mores.” He turns and points straight at me. “Not that we need to earn treats! S’mores for no reason are also great.”
“Agreed,” I say with a smile, and then with my free hand, I grab a log and put it on the chopping block. “It isn’t too complicated.” I lift the maul, bringing it up behind me. “You raise it, then let gravity and weight do the work.” I swing my shoulders to bring the heavy axe down on the log, which splits into pieces with a rewardingthunk.
“Easy,” Cubby says, walking over with a hand extended. “I could do that all day.”
I grab a long stick from the ground. “Practice with this first. Get the form down so you don’t hurt your back.”
Cubby rolls his eyes. “Really?”
He thinks I’m condescending, but I know I’m right, and I can’t always cave in to his sass. Thrusting the stick toward him again, I grunt. “It’s easy to hurt yourself. Just try it.”
Cubby sighs and takes it. “Model the motion for me again, please.”
Glad he asked, I pick up the maul. “Hips spread. Knees bent. You pull the maul back as you lift, tight core, reach the height of your arm extension, and let it fall.”
