Knowing it’s Tanner who’s asked, I don’t even bother looking behind me. I raise my chin and wave a hand out as I clear the last step and walk toward the door. “Yep, never been better.”
“You know the rules,” I hear one of the guys say as I enter the lodge, but I don’t hear more, because the sound of people chatting and laughing rings in my ears as I walk down a short hall. When I enter the great room, I realize the photos online didn’t do it justice. It’s beautiful, with high ceilings, exposed wood, and large picture windows that look out over the forest of tall ponderosa pines and gorgeous Douglas firs. The chatting of the couples seated on the two couches comes to a standstill as everyone turns to look at me, and I feel more awkward than I did before.
“Hi.” I wave, glancing through everyone. “I’m Cybil.”
“Nice to meet you, Cybil.” A slim older gentleman with thinning hair and a kind smile stands, and the much younger, very pretty blonde woman he was sitting next to follows close behind. “I’m Dr. Oliver Price.”
“And I’m his girlfriend.” The blonde now plastered to his side flops out her hand toward me. “Lauren.”
“Nice to meet you both.” I smile at the two of them, then turn my attention to an attractive man with dark hair and thick black-rimmed glasses, and he grins at me.
“I’m Jacob,” he greets, then nods to the equally attractive man at his side, who is smiling.
“I’m his husband, Parker. Come sit down.” Parker motions to a chair that’s kitty-corner to the couches that are facing each other. I step deeper into the room as everyone takes their seats, and I notice a third couple on the couch, holding up a phone and talking to a kid, judging by the way they’re speaking.
“That’s Grant and Avery. They’re talking to their son,” Parker tells me as I sit, and the man who must be Grant waves, then nudges his wife’s shoulder and motions in my direction when she looks at him.
As she looks around the phone she’s still holding up, her eyes meet mine. “Sorry, I’m Avery.”
“Cybil,” I greet, and she smiles.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too,” I reply as the child on the phone shouts “Mom!” making her sigh and focus on the phone once more.
“Where’s your partner?” Lauren asks while she does that annoying thing some women do, where you know they are judging and dissecting each and every little detail about you.
“She’s with me,” Tanner says, walking into the room carrying a handful of papers, which he begins to pass out, while Maverick flips on the TV hanging on the wall, and Blake takes a seat in the chair next to mine. Taking one when he holds it out to me, I startle slightly when he sits on the arm of my chair. “The sheet of paper you’re now holding has a breakdown of our daily itinerary. As you can see, every day, you’ll be required to complete one task with your partner’s help and—”
“Um, is that fair?” Lauren cuts in, holding up her paper. “If you’re her partner, she’s going to always win, because this is your job.”
“I don’t think this is a competition,” Parker says, sounding annoyed, and Jacob presses his lips together like he’s trying not to laugh.
“You’re right; this is not a competition,” Blake says as he stands. “The point of this retreat is to build trust between you and your partner. No relationship works unless you are able to work together, and—”
“Sorry,” Lauren interrupts again, and everyone focuses on her. “I’m just wondering why she’s here, if this is supposed to be a retreat for couples.”
“Lauren,” Oliver hisses, turning to glare at her.
“What? It’s just a question.” She frowns back.
“I’m here because I booked this trip for my fiancé and me, and since he’s now my ex, he obviously didn’t come,” I say, figuring I might as well get it over with.
“Oh,” Lauren whispers, while everyone else around the room shifts uncomfortably. “Sorry.”
“No problem.” I look up when a heavy hand rests on my shoulder and lock eyes with Tanner. He doesn’t say anything, but then again, he doesn’t have to. His expression tells me that he feels bad for me, which flipping sucks. I’m tired of people feeling sorry for me, tired of the pity-filled looks and awkwardness. I wanted to come on this trip to forget about the last couple of months, not to relive them.
“Now that that’s out of the way, let’s go over the schedule for the week, talk about the safety guidelines, and then load up in the bus. There’s about an hour drive to the first drop-off location,” Maverick says, holding the remote toward the TV, and the schedule on the paper I’m holding comes up on the screen.
For the next hour and a half, I listen to Tanner, Blake, and Maverick speak, and as I watch the three of them interact, I realize they are more than just men who work together. There’s something seamless about the way they work together. They’re completely in sync, like they know each other inside and out, which makes me curious about their relationship.
“Are there any questions?” Blake asks when the safety video comes to an end, his attention directed at Lauren, who’s asked a million questions and interrupted a dozen times.
“I don’t think so,” she says, and Oliver sighs, probably relieved that we can all finally move along.
“Then let’s go through your packs to make sure you have everything you need and that you aren’t taking anything unnecessary before we get on the bus.”
“Umm, you have to go through our packs?” Avery asks, looking horrified.
“Yes.” Maverick plants his fists on his hips. “Like it was stated in the email you received, you are allowed to bring anything you think you might want or need except drugs or alcohol.”
“Okay,” she agrees quietly.
“Let’s go.” Maverick moves first, and the rest of us follow.
When I get outside, I head for my Bronco to grab my pack from the trunk. As I start to pull it out, a hand lands on it, and I follow the arm that hand is attached to and find Tanner standing next to me.
“You don’t need to drag it out. We can go through it here,” he says as he starts to unzip the main zipper, making me panic.
“You can’t go through my bag.” I pull it from his grasp, and he tugs it back.
“Sunshine, I promise you I’ve seen it all, so there’s nothing in your pack that’s going to surprise me.”
“That might be.” I yank it back toward me. “But I have things in here that I don’t want you to see.”
“I get that, but I need to make sure you only have the necessities, because as your partner, if you can’t carry your pack, I’m going to be the one lugging it around, and I’d rather not have to carry shit you can’t or won’t ever use.”
“Fine.” I let it go and stand back, crossing my arms over my chest, and he gives me a look that makes my stomach feel funny before he starts to pull everything out. “Do I get to go through your pack?” I ask, tapping my foot.
“If you want.” His dimple pops out, and I quickly grab the waterproof bag with my bras and underwear in it before he can open it. “Have you tried walking around with this on your back since you packed it?”
“Yes.”
“How did it feel?”