Your Love // The Outfield

Jeff

Sitting around the pool with my buddies on the first day of summer is a tradition. At least it is now. I'm reclined on a lounge chair, sunglasses on and tunes playing. My eyes are closed but my ears take in everything.

Water splashing gently in the spa as someone moves around.

Sizzling meat on the grill.

Alison's laughter. That one brings a smile to my face. I love hearing her joy. But I'd even take her tears because that would mean she's with me.

"Dude, wake up. This is no time for a nap." Pete taps my leg with his foot. He's been brooding over something while sitting at the table next to me for the entire party.

"At least I'm not killing the vibe. I think you're the one who needs a nap." I sit up, pushing my shades to the top of my head. Matt walks over to us with his drink, eyes never leaving Hannah who's sitting on the edge of the spa dangling her feet in the water.

I couldn't have picked a better guy for my cousin. Although they went through hell to get to this point, I'm happy that they've worked through it all.

"Can you fix his mood?" I ask Matt as he takes a seat next to Pete. "He's harshing my mellow."

Matt laughs. "As if you'd ever mellow. You and pot don't mix." Matt shoves Pete's shoulder just enough to get a reaction, which he does. Pete twists his entire body away from Matt, scowling.

"Anyway," Matt rolls his eyes then looks at me. "When are you telling everyone?"

"After we eat."

"No, that'll take too long. Tell 'em now so I can start making plans with Hannah. She's got appointments to work around."

"Tell them what?" Pete asks.

"You, too."

Pete looks at Matt. "What?"

"He's telling you, too. You're included. Although with your grouchy attitude today I'm thinking we might need to vote you off the island."

Pete turns his head away in answer. Something is eating at him, has been for months. He was like this senior year, too. Although that had something to do with Matt swooping in on a girl he'd been crushing on.

Could this be about a girl?

I make a mental note to ask him about it sometime. But right now I have bigger things to think about. Namely this surprise that Matt and I have cooked up for the entire group.

"Might as well tell everyone now." I stand up and walk over to the spa. The girls stop their conversation to look up at me, flanked by Matt with Pete lurking in the distance. I hop into the spa and put my arm around Alison, but Matt sits on the edge next to Hannah.

"Mark your calendars for two weeks from now. We're all going up to Salt Creek for the Music by Moonlight Fest."

"You got them?" Alison wraps her arms around my waist, wide eyed.

I nod. "And Tye reserved the cabin for us. We can all stay there together."

Matt interjects. "Micah's working up there, but he'll hang out after his shifts. Probably his friend, Charlie, too."

"She's so cool." Misty claps, bouncing in the spa and causing water to slosh over the edge.

"Dang, you get to have all the fun." Matt's little brother, Mark, climbs out of the pool where he'd been dunking pool weights and diving to get them. The kid just turned fifteen and has almost as much angst as Pete.

"Hey, drop the 'tude or I'm not taking you." Matt ruffles his hair.

"Wait. You're taking me?"

"Of course!"

Mark gets a huge grin. He and Matt have grown closer over the last year. It's been good to watch. They need each other right now.

"So," I clap my hands, "Plan for some water activities, hiking, and music."

"He's simping 'cause Brianna Royce is headlining." Matt nudges my shoulder with his leg.

"It's a redo, okay. I had to suffer that Clown nightmare last summer instead of her Rescue Me medley."

"That clown nightmare is what brought us together." Alison kisses my cheek.

"What do you mean, nightmare?" Misty sounds incensed. "Those guys are heroes without capes."

"I wouldn't go that far." Alison shakes her head.

I watch the banter between these two like a tennis match.

"I would." Misty starts counting off their accomplishments on her fingers. "They started a nonprofit for homeless kids. The lead singer travels to third world countries to help bring relief. They give half of their profit to organizations seeking to feed the hungry. I mean, come on!"

"But their music is scary as fuck," I say.

"I still have nightmares from that night." Alison adds.

Misty stares at us open mouthed. "I...I..."

Alison turns to get out of the spa. "Come on, Misty. Let's change so we can start the dessert we brought."

"But-"

"No buts. We like different music. So what? Come on."

"But it's what brought you two together!" she shouts.

Alison looks back at me with a smile. I wink at my girl.

"Very true. If he wasn't the only guy who wasn't dressed like a clown that wanted to eat me, we wouldn't all be sitting in his spa talking about going back up there for another music festival."

"And if she wasn't the literal cutest thing I'd ever seen in boots and a plaid shirt, tripping over herself to get in my arms, I don't know who I'd be as a man."

"Don't forget that I helped y'all solve that crime and clear your good name so the town didn't lynch you for murder." Misty leans back, satisfied.

The rest of the group is silent. Dumbfounded.

"What?"

Alison leans down to speak right to her. "Lynch him? Where do you think he lives? The wild west?"

"It's a figure of speech."

"I think you have to cut her off from those true crime podcasts she listens to." I kiss Ali's hand as she and Misty exit the spa.

"The bigger issue is the massive crush she has on a certain detective." Alison leans into Misty and whispers the next thing, loudly. "He's not Moulder and you're not Scully."

"Duh. Who's searching for aliens? X-files isn't even a good comparison."

"Fine. I give up. Let's start scooping ice cream."

The girls wander off into the kitchen. Hannah follows along saying she needs something more comfortable than the pool edging to sit on. Kyra mumbles something about boys as she goes with them.

"Well, guys. Prepare yourselves for an epic week in the mountains. Fresh air and good times await." I relax back into the spa while Pete, Matt and Mark all join me.

"Should be a great time," Pete says, sounding like he doubts it will be.

"What's your deal. Who hurt you?"

"No one. I'm naturally prickly or have you both forgotten. The two of you are practically wifed up, anyway. Don't worry about me."

He slides his shades over his eyes, effectively cutting himself off from the rest of us.

"Wifed up sounds about right," Matt says, a wistful look in his eyes as he glances toward the kitchen.

Yeah, I know what he means. I can see that with Alison. I let my mind wander to a day in the future where I get on one knee and ask her to be mine. It's a good picture. One I plan to make happen someday.

***

Alison

"This looks so good," Misty says while she licks the bowl. "Ice cream cake is my favorite."

"I've never made ice cream cake. I can make a killer apple pie, though." Jeff's sister, Kyra, says.

"A total killer." Hannah agrees. "I'm craving some now."

"But it's summer. Too hot for pie, perfect for ice cream cake." Misty practically drools.

"It's so cute how it looks like a watermelon." Hannah adds.

I nod. "Martha Stewart. Post prison stint, so we can call this ex-con cake."

Misty laughs. "Your boyfriend was almost an ex-con."

"Don't laugh," Kyra says. "My Aunt's husband knows a guy who knows a guy. Practically an ex-con, and he saved Jeff's ass. He was in a biker gang. Kind of like an ex-con convention." Kyra mimes locking her lips and tossing the key

"You mean Brax and Rob? They seem really nice."

"Oh, they are. But you know Rob was the leader of the gang, and his nickname is Grinder."

"What does that even mean? Grinder?" Misty asks.

"Ya know, he puts the screws to you." Kyra now mimes stabbing someone, apparently with a screwdriver because then she turns the imaginary handle several rotations.

"Ick. Graphic," Hannah says covering her mouth.

"Oh, oops." Kyra shrugs.

"Anyway," Misty drags out the word, "I'm all about this music festival, even if a bougie pop star is the headliner. This should be epic."

"Epic, yup." Kyra mumbles

"She's not bougie," I say. Then I mentally facepalm. I'm feeling the need to defend a pop singer because my boyfriend likes her music. I need to shut up.

Hannah whispers something in Kyra's ear while Misty moves to wash the ice cream bowl after licking it clean.

"This cake is ready to pop back in the freezer. It needs to harden up some more before we cut into it." I carry the platter with the cake to the large freezer while Kyra opens it for me. We haven't had much of a chance to hang out and get to know each other. I hope our time in the mountains gives us the opportunity.

"Thanks. I'm guessing the food is ready by now." I peek out the side door to check. Sure enough, Jeff's parents have everything set. The guys are already serving themselves.

We leave the kitchen after cleaning up and join the rest. It's been just my dad and I for so long that I forgot what it felt like to be surrounded with family. And true, this isn't just a family gathering considering many of us are college friends, but friends can be just as important as family.

I slide into a seat next to Jeff. He automatically wraps his arm around my shoulders and kisses the side of my head. He hasn't paused his conversation, but his physical acknowledgement of my presence feels deeper than words.

Maybe having gone through something so serious at the beginning of our relationship has pushed us closer together. And maybe we would have gotten this close anyway. I can't question what would have happened if things were different, if my dad hadn't suggested we keep things private, or if Reign hadn't been a massive jerk with a steroid problem. Either way, we're here, exactly where I want to be. Completely and totally in love with Jeff.

I turn and give him a kiss before digging into my food.

"So, what's the plan? Who's driving? Can we rent a raft? I heard the white water is off the hook." Misty asks questions between bites.

"Have you ever been white water rafting?" I ask her.

"Nah. Charlie told me it's good in the early summer when the water levels are still pretty high from the runoff. They had a decent snowpack last winter."

"I guess we could sign up for a tour. The festival is the last full day and night we're there. We have plenty of time for adventures." Jeff nudges me.

I wonder what adventures he's got in mind. I blush but don't look him in the eyes. He grabs my waist in a gentle squeeze, telling me without words that he knows what I'm thinking about. He must be thinking it, too.

"Did you know?" He whispers in my ear.

I glance at him, shaking my head with brow furrowed. "Know what?"

"How good it could be?"

I smile. "I think I did."

"When did you know?"

"About the minute you caught me, and I looked up into your eyes."

He nods. "Same."

"Are you ready for the next step?"

"What's that?"

"A friend vacation together." I wink and gesture to the group around us. "This kind of thing can make or break a couple."

"Yeah, right." He puts his arm around me again, pulling me into him. "Don't you think we've already survived something way bigger than a vacay."

I laugh. "Friend drama is nothing to joke about, babe."

"Okay, I'll make a deal with you."

"What's that."

"If by the end of our trip, at the Music by Moonlight festival, we've survived whatever drama comes our way, I'll ask you a big question."

My eyes get wide. "What are you talking about?" When a boyfriend talks about asking a big question, there's only one possibility in a girl's mind, and we haven't been together long enough to go there.

He smiles and kisses me. "Not that question." Then he leans closer to whisper in my ear. "But I love you enough to be thinking the same thing."

"Then what question?"

"You'll have to survive the week with me to find out."

"That's either the most motivating deal possible, or a set up for the biggest disappointment ever."

"I'm going with the first option. Let's promise not to get caught up in whatever everyone brings with them and trust me I know that's a tall order based on the way Pete's been acting, but I believe in us not to let them get between you and me."

"Pete's been acting weird?" I look over at him and sure enough, his mouth is twisted, and his arms are crossed. Then I glance at Kyra, who I've noticed has been withdrawn most of the day, and she's got her back to Pete.

"Totally cranky. Not to mention, Micah and Charlie have been up there together for the last week. By the time we all join them, world war three could have started."

"They're best friends!"

"Who want to bang. That doesn't ever end without a blow up first."

"Oh jeez."

"We've got our work cut out for us. Are you up to the task?" He holds out his pinkie. I link mine to his and we pinkie promise.

"Can't wait for the big ask."

He raises a brow in answer, the most adorable smirk gracing his mouth.

"Me neither."

On to our next adventure. Together.

The end!! Can you believe we made it here! Thank you SO MUCH for taking this ride with me, and with Jeff and Alison. When I wrote that first meet cute as a stand-alone chapter, I knew it needed to be more. And here we are.

But the fun isn't over yet!! In a few weeks I'll start posting the first of 4 Salt Creek novellas! Moonlight:

Micah and Charlie have been avoiding each other since last summers music festival, when he attempted to cross the line between friends and lovers-and failed epically. But now they're both working at the Salt Creek resort for the summer and can't hide anymore. When Micah finds out that Charlie's planning to move away in a few weeks, will that finally push him to confess everything he's been feeling?

And it wouldn't be a 4thpowermama book without a Behind the Scenes so keep an eye open for that soon. Plus, Irrevocable is on deck! That book should start posting next week (if all goes as planned!)

Music! Your Love, what more does anyone need?

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