Lightning flashed, turning the canvas stark white for half a second before the dark folded back in. The rain kept coming.
It was probably for the best that Frankie had stayed with Joe tonight. Her little dachshund hated storms almost as much as their friend Madison did. Krista pictured Madison out at the farmhouse, jumpy at every thunderclap, and hoped Zach was doing what he did best, wrapping her up and making the world feel smaller, quieter, safer.
One by one, images of her friends flickered through her mind. Couples pairing off. Wedding aisles. Houses full of baby toys and shared calendars. People who were building futures,while she spent most of her days rushing around and congratulating people on their happily ever afters.
She shoved the thought away before it could settle.
She wasn’t going to lie in a tent and pine over futures she didn’t have. Not when she had a perfectly good, infuriatingly handsome man in her life right now—even if it was only for a week or two.
Her phone buzzed against her hip.
Elsie: Good evening, swappers. As promised, here is your nightly check-in. Let’s recap how the day went and go over tomorrow.
Elsie: I require:
“Joe luxuriating in Krista’s bed”
“Krista bravely roughing it in Joe’s bed”
Krista: Elsie, it’s 10:47p.m.
Elsie: It’s content o’clock.
Elsie: Joe, are you there, or are you asleep in the Lavendar Pillow Kingdom?
Joe: Here.
Joe: Also: “Lavender Pillow Kingdom” is accurate.
Elsie: GREAT. Photo. Now.
Krista snorted.
A moment later, her phone rang.
This time it was a call from Joe.
“Hey, camper,” Joe said, his voice warm and a little crackly. “Did you comply with our fearless leader yet?”
She smiled despite herself. “Not yet. Hang on.”
Krista took a quick selfie and sent it to Elsie.
Krista: My recap? My photography still needs work. Joe is going to help me in the morning. We’re going for a hike, and while he’s manning the Hideaway, I’ll attempt it solo again.
Elsie: Perfect! Tomorrow is sponsored by the Cocoa Corner. I’ll schedule the post now! Talk soon, guys.
Thunder cracked overhead, enough to make Krista flinch.
Joe heard it. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said quickly. “It’s just a storm.”
“Is the tent holding up?” he asked. “I double-checked the seams, but if any water’s coming in?—”
“I’m okay. Really. You did a good job. It’s dry. I promise.”
There was a pause, the kind that meant he was weighing whether to push. “If you change your mind,” he said lightly, “you can always come evict me from your bed. Elsie would probably call that premium content.”
