Chapter 63

Jake If murder were legal, Cindi’s brother, Raegan, would be a dead man. He is nice to Winnie, but I can see his scheme from a mile away. It will start with him asking her if she wants a S’more and then end with him asking if she likes to see his hotdog…

“I’m a professional when it comes to grilling S’more kebabs on a stick. I’ve been doing this for ages.

Trust me. The cracker won’t fall apart if you put it on the stick like this…”

My hackles rise when Winnie smiles at Raegan. I’m like a rottweiler sensing another dog on its territory.

One could argue Raegan is just being friendly, but I can see through him.

He is interested.

And I’m burning in the pit of jealousy. If I could marry Winnie, put a ringer on her finger, then everyone-… no, don’t be stupid, Jake. You have just begun dating her. What I need to do is relax.

“Oh my, you’re so talented, Raegan!” Winnie exclaims and spins around the S’more stick. “It’s not falling apart at all!

I glare at the S’more kebab and then look down at my stick. Why didn’t I think of making a S’more stick for Winnie? I’m an idiot for not giving it to her, but I can’t go back in time so… she can have mine.

I rise to my feet and wander over to Winnie. She lifts her chin in response and confusion flashes over her attractive features. There is uncertainty in her gaze and confusion about what I’m doing when I take her hand. But it won’t be that way for long.

“Here,” I mutter in a voice grumpier than intended. “Take my S’more kebab. It’s already made.”

I trade our sticks, satisfied when Winnie’s face lights up. Raegan appears puzzled, which gives me more delight. He should never have flirted with my girl. Fucking bastard.

“Oh, Jake! You’ve grilled it to perfection! I love how it’s all orange and crispy,”

Winnie takes a smite from the first S’more on the stick, and a long “Mmm” leaves her lips. “So tasty! This is a piece of childhood right here!”

She keeps licking away at the S’mores and the marshmallows, and I swear I feel it in my groin.

“I can make you more,” I tell her, and walk over to the fire with Raegan’s stick.

But as I make it there, I “accidentally” drop it. I feign surprise with a little gasp. Shit… I’m so clumsy,”

the girls giggle at me around the fire while Winnie blinks at I flash a smile at her. “Looks like I have to make a new S’more kebab with my own hands.”

Winnie looks puzzled. “Did you just drop that thing on purpose?”

“Of course not,” yes, I fucking did because Raegan made it, and I’m the sole food provider in Winnie’s life. She doesn’t need his dirty S’more kebabs.

Mine are better. “Why would you think that?”

Winnie gives me a strange look. I think she is onto me, but she says nothing and sits down by the fire on our blanket. I plop down beside her immediately, glaring at Raegan when he seems disappointed he couldn’t steal my spot.

As I said, the man is a bastard and a total player.

Simply thinking about Raegan makes me want to growl, but I miraculously push my irritation aside. I focus on making Winnie happy and reach into my backpack, smiling once I find the chocolate.

“You want this S’more kebab to be covered in chocolate?” I hold up the chocolate and wag my eyebrows. “I could melt chocolate inside the marshmallows.

Would you like that?”

Winnie snorts. “Are you trying to make me fat? Stop grilling me delicious food, damn it!”

“I like curves, and the marshmallows will go straight to your butt.” I tease and wink at her. “It will keep it round and firm.”

She playfully swats at my arm. “Not in front of the children, Jake!”

I bark a laugh at that.

Everyone is a grownup here, but Cindi and her friends are staring at us now. I don’t care, though. The flirting will make one thing perfectly clear: Winnie belongs to me.

I lean over and nuzzle my nose into her hair. She laughs and pushes at me, but I don’t budge. Cuddling with her feels right. Like something has slid into place. in my life.

That thing is Winnie. Gosh, I’m so in love with her. My teammates would probably laugh at me if they saw me now. When Nathan got married, they said he did it way too early and that he would change his mind. But I’m beginning to understand why he married Alice—a ring on Winnie’s finger would keep other men away.

I glance down at her, and she smiles at me. She is so pretty.

Something about Winnie lights me up from within like a living, breathing Christmas tree. I think it’s because her playful soul and nice heart can be seen in her smile. And whenever she directs that smile at me, I feel rewarded, or if I’m the reason behind it, I feel accomplished.

… I’ve really fallen for her.

“Jake?” Winnie arches a perfect eyebrow.

My lips twitch. “Yeah?”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

I don’t have a good answer to her question. For once, I’m tongue-tied and want to hit myself for lacking clever words. My head stands still, and I shrug before removing the S’more kebab from the fire.

“No reason,” I say and hand over the new stick. “Here, eat some more S’mores.

These will be better.”

Winnie giggles but takes the stick. “You are definitely trying to fatten me up, but how can I say no to S’mores?”

Her words breathe air into Cindi, who giggles. “You’re going to be sick from eating that much sugar. Do you want a hotdog instead? Something salty will do you good.”

Winnie, who isn’t a big fan of Cindi, smiles but says, “Nah, I can handle some sugar. Don’t worry about it.”

Cindi doesn’t give up, though. “How about some chips then? We plan to play drinking games later, and you might want to eat something salty before that happens.”

“Oh, we are drinking?” Winnie sounds excited, probably feeling nostalgic from when we used to drink in college. “Then sure, pass me a hotdog and a bun. I will fill my salt reserves.”

Cindi smiles, and another girl gives Winnie a hotdog package while another hands her a bun. They are being friendly toward her, but I almost wish they had remained bitches.

Why?

Because then I would have a reason to steal Winnie away from here. We were supposed to head to a restaurant, but I guess that plan is canceled. Now, we are stuck here with the others.

I sigh and grab a hotdog bun myself. “It’s going to be a long night…”

Winnie peers up at me. “Aren’t you having fun?”

“I am,” I’m not unhappy, and I like being with my girl, but truthfully, I would like some time alone. But I don’t tell her that in front of everyone and plaster a smile onto my lips. “Let’s grill some hotdogs.”