The Lost Fisherman (Fisherman #2)(45)

I kept my gaze on the fire and the hot dog at the end of my stick.

“Spaced it, I guess. After I took Reese’s stuff to the car and loaded the equipment, I didn’t go back inside.”

“Angie said she had a headache. I told her to take something for it and come with us. But she said no. I asked why, and she said to ask you?” Rory had Fisher in the hot seat.

I glanced up at Rose as she walked past me to put their bags in their tent.

Yes, Rose. We planned this. And while you were driving through the winding mountain roads, I was having the best sex EVER!

I wasn’t sure if she got all that from my tiny smirk, but I knew she wasn’t stupid. And I don’t think she was mad either. Her silence said as much. Before our little heart-to-heart, she was the first to call me out on everything.

I mean … even with my hat on, I must have had a terrible case of sex hair that stuck out in all directions beneath my hat. Fisher put me in every position imaginable, often grabbing my hair until I submitted by bending, spreading, or opening at his command. My cheeks filled with heat just thinking about it.

In return, Rose lifted a single brow and shook her head. She knew I was thinking about things that would have made Rory shudder, shattering her naive little world, at least when it came to me.

“It was kind of my therapist’s suggestion,” Fisher said to Rory.

“What does that mean?” Rory took a seat as Fisher handed her a stick and the package of hot dogs.

“It means, while I sort out my situation and consider all possibilities … meaning the possibility of getting my memory back as well as the possibility of not getting my memory back … it’s important for me to have time to clear my head without the influence of outside opinions.”

“So we’re not allowed to give you our two cents this weekend?” Rory grinned, putting her hot dog over the fire.

“Correct. No Angie talk. No accident talk. No wedding talk. We can talk about you or Rose or the birthday girl.” Fisher gave a resolute nod, clearly proud of his little speech.

“Okay. Let’s talk about the birthday girl.” Rory grinned at me from across the fire. “One of the other ladies who works at the salon has a brother that I think would be a perfect match for you.”

My gaze shifted to Fisher for a split second, but he kept his attention on the fire, jaw a little tighter than usual.

Rose sat next to my mom, shooting me a tiny grin. Yeah, I needed to find a way to tell Rory everything.

“What makes him a perfect match for me?”

“He’s a third-year resident in pediatrics.” Rory’s smile could have crossed the Grand Canyon. Really, she thought she hit the jackpot for me.

I chuckled. “That makes him perfect for me?”

“He loves traveling, reading, puzzles, animals, all sports, and he’s a Christian. Oh … did I mention he is incredibly hot? During his undergrad years, he did bodybuilding competitions. He’s not like over-the-top bulky with massive, hard veins popping out of his skin everywhere. Just extremely fit.”

But would he peel my panties off with his teeth while kneeling behind me?

“I’m sure he’s great, but he’s also a resident which means he lives at the hospital. And I’m starting my master’s next year which means I won’t have a lot of free time either.”

“Reese, stop waiting to find love. The timing will never be perfect. You can’t pass up opportunities. When the right person comes along, you should grab him. Nothing would make me happier than you finding love. Like I found with Rose.” She reached over and squeezed Rose’s leg. “Like Angie and Fisher. I want the people who mean the most to me to have the best life has to offer.”

“What if she just wants to work and finish school?” Fisher said. “What if she wants to live freely like I did at her age? What if she doesn’t want one man? What if she wants a different guy every night because …” He shrugged. “Why the fuck not? Why rush into anything?”

I wasn’t sure who was in more shock, me or Rory. On the one hand, he was kind of sticking up for me. On the other hand, did he believe the things he said to her? Did Fisher think I was still too young? Was that our fate? Our reality?

When I was seventy, was he still going to play the age card?

“Reese, you might have a little arthritis, but wait until you’re eighty and you can’t get out of bed in the morning without a handful of pain meds consumed with a stiff drink.”

Rose did a commendable job of taking Rory’s hot dog from her and getting it on a bun with ketchup and mustard, acting like it wasn’t the most uncomfortable conversation.

“Is that what you want, Reese? Just … random hookups? Have you completely left your religious morals behind?”

“Well …” I wasn’t sure how to answer that. How to make the whole conversation end or shift the focus to someone besides me. “Maybe there’s something between marriage and sleeping with three guys a week. Maybe I can just focus on my job and let my love life happen organically without being fixed up right now.” I took a big bite of my hot dog. “But thanks,” I mumbled over the food in my mouth.

Rory was just looking out for her daughter. And a few months earlier, I would have been really excited about Dr. Awesome.

After another hour of fire, beer, and marshmallows, Rory and Rose escaped into the woods to do their business.