Love Fool (One Night Only Season 2: Hunter's Story)

Chapter Three

There are times when I appreciate the heck out of Paisley. This usually happens when we work as a team to keep each other out of hot water with our parents. Other times, she'll throw me under the bus the instant she spots an opportunity to. Like today, for example. It takes no more than thirty seconds after returning from the store for my sister to expose me.

"Brooke and I are going to her camp for a while," Paisley announces to Mom, who hasn't yet left her pie-baking command post in the kitchen. Then she turns to me. "You should go next door and keep flirting with your new friend."

I actually see Mom's ears prick up. Paisley gives me a wicked grin and bounds out the door with Brooke before I have a chance to reply.

"New friend?" Mom asks.

Here we go. Mom has been waiting for me to revive my social life since February. Paisley alluding to me flirting is icing on the cake. My sister knew exactly what she was doing when she spilled that and ran.

"I met one of the people staying at the Wilson's camp while I was out earlier." I set the car keys on the kitchen counter and walk over to the sink to wash my hands. "Paisley saw me talking to her on the road. I wasn't flirting."

I was, kind of, but Mom doesn't need to know this.

"I'm sure you were just being friendly and welcoming her to the lake. What's her name?"

Mom hides a smile, which means she sees through my denial and is humoring me. Great. Paisley had better brace herself for payback the next time I suspect she has a crush on someone.

"Deni. She's here with her mom for the summer." I'm more than ready to change the subject, and so I point at the two blueberry pies that are cooling on a wire rack. "Are those ready to eat?"

Mom swats at my finger. "Do not touch the pies. Those are for after dinner."

"We're roasting marshmallows and having s'mores after dinner," I protest.

"We're also serving pie to anyone who wants it. Those had better stay intact until the bonfire."

"Fine. No pie."

I won't persuade her by playing the guilt card of how many hours I spent picking blueberries for the pies, so I don't try. The topic of tonight's plans has shifted my mind to other things, anyway. An idea is percolating, and it should be an easy sell.

"We should invite our new neighbors over for the bonfire," I suggest.

"I was just thinking that," Mom agrees. "Actually, why don't you take one of these pies over to Deni and her mom and let them know about tonight? I'd love to meet them."

There's that suppressed smile again. She knows what she's doing, and I'm on to her. Still, I can't say no to this when she is supplying a valid reason for me to show up at Deni's door later today without looking like a stalker.

Except later appears to be the present moment. Mom has already unearthed a roll of tinfoil and is wrapping up one of the pies. She hands it to me when she's done.

"You want me to bring this over now?" I was hoping to have until after lunch to figure out something winsome and witty to say. Second impressions are important.

"Did you have other plans?"

We both know the answer to this question. Mom isn't down with my stalling tactic.

"All right. Now it is."

Mom steps past me to open the door since my hands are full with the pie. "Tell them the bonfire is at eight if they can make it," she instructs me. "And come right back, because I need help with the dishes and getting things ready for tonight."