The Couple at the Lake House by James Caine

Author:James Caine [Caine, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Cole makes a seafood boil on the beach for dinner. It’s amazing! Lobster, shrimp, potatoes, salted and boiled in butter over a fire. I’m stuffed after.

I’m surprised he was capable of cooking dinner near a fire without falling into it. All four of us had too much to drink. It wasn’t just Cole and Matt giggling like long lost brothers; Tess and I were too.

As the sun sets, we decide to move our shenanigans to a campfire. The four of us drink some more and melt marshmallows for smores. Cole mocks Tess by smudging some marshmallow on her nose but remedies it by licking the gooeyness off. Matt and I holler and cheer them on.

For a moment, Matt looks at me and I catch his glance. I can tell he wants to kiss me, and for a change, he acts on it. He gets off his chair and grabs me, kissing me hard. This time Cole and Tess cheer us on.

I’m not one for public affection, especially one so bold, but in the moment, I love it.

“Congrats again on your new story,” Tess says to me.

Cole is melting a marshmallow on his skewer. He shoves it in the fire while taking a long drink of his beer. “Cheers! To Sidney’s new book and to me as her main character!”

The four of us clink our drinks together. I thank them all.

As much fun as I’m having, I have to admit I’m not fully in the moment. Whenever I’m knee deep in a new story, my mind wanders all the time as to what the characters in my book are doing.

I suppose it's okay to let my thoughts run free, especially since I’m being inspired by the real Cole and Tess. Every so often though, I’ll look up at the lake house at the office window and feel the urge to write something. Maybe I’ll sneak in some words tonight. I’m not sure how. In my current state, I don't feel anything I write would be usable when I look at it the next day.

“So, what do you do, Tess?” Matt asks. “I don’t think I asked before.”

“Well, I’m sort of figuring things out,” Tess says, brushing her hair back behind her shoulder and taking a sip of her beer.

“That means she has no clue.” Cole laughs. Tess rolls her eyes. “What? You don’t,” he says in his defence.

“I don't know,” Tess says. “I feel so envious of people like you, Sidney.” She turns to me with a thin smile. “I mean, you know what you want to do, and look at you now. You’re a writer and doing great.”

I nod. “Well, that's true, but it took a lot to get here. Don't think it happens overnight. You just have to figure out what you enjoy doing and go for it. Do you have anything that interests you?”

Cole laughs again. “Spending your parents’ money.” This time I kick him in the lower leg. I know Tess is scared to do it, but I can't help it.

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