Her empty bedroom was odd. Where was she?

After taking a shower, I got dressed and went down to the kitchen. I flipped on the light and got out the coffee. Apparently Dad wasn’t up either.

The scent of coffee filled the air and I took a seat at the kitchen table while it brewed. Mom had left a book she’d been reading sitting out, so I idly thumbed through the pages.

When the coffee had just about finished brewing, Dad came downstairs, whistling.

“Morning, sweetheart,” he said with a smile.

“Morning.”

He moved around the kitchen and I swear, he had a spring in his step. He seemed lighter, somehow, his spine straight, shoulders back.

“You’re in a good mood,” I said. “Do you have an unexpected day off or something?”

“No, I have to be at the firehouse at eight.” He opened the cupboard and pulled out a travel mug. “Mind if I have a cup of coffee?”

“Help yourself.”

He smiled at me. No, he grinned at me, there was no other way to describe it. He filled his mug with coffee, then poured a cup for me.

“Thanks. Do you know where Mom went?”

“She’s still in bed.”

I glanced up from the book. “Really? I thought I saw her door open and her bed was still—”

Oh.

Oh.

Dad froze, and my eyes widened.

Mom had always known the perfect moment to make an entrance, and this morning was no exception. She waltzed in, dressed in her silk floral robe and I did not miss the smile she gave my dad.

Oh my god. Had my divorced parents slept together last night?

“Morning,” she said, a cheerful lilt to her voice.

“Good morning.” I eyed them both, wondering what the heck was going on.

Neither of them seemed inclined to offer any explanation which, when I thought about it, was probably a good thing. If they’d wound up in bed together last night, I didn’t particularly want to know the details.

My phone saved the day. Before the silence could get too awkward, it binged with a text, giving me an excuse to put my attention somewhere other than the looks my parents were giving each other.

Gavin: Sorry to text so early but I have the best idea.

That made my lips curl in a smile. I was quickly learning that I liked it when Gavin had ideas.

Me: What’s up?

Gavin: It’s a surprise. When can I come get you?

Me: How about twenty minutes?

Gavin: Perfect. See you soon.

“How’s Gavin?” Mom asked, doing nothing to hide the suggestion in her tone.

I lowered my phone. “He’s fine.”

“What about Gavin?” Dad asked casually.

I avoided meeting his gaze. “Nothing. He just wants to get together this morning.”

Dad seemed to be about to say something, but Mom beat him to it.

“I bet it’s good to have him back on duty full-time.” Her eyes flicked to me and I gave her a grateful smile. I didn’t want to get into the nature of my relationship with Gavin right now. Not with Dad.

“Yeah, it makes scheduling easier when we’re at full strength.” He leaned his hip against the counter and took a drink of coffee. “And Gavin’s good for morale. The other guys feed off his energy.”

“He certainly seems like a nice young man,” she said, and I couldn’t tell if that comment was meant for me or Dad. Maybe both of us.

“Somehow he’s turning out all right,” Dad said with a little grin.

Mom’s expression changed, the mirth in her eyes fading into something like surprise. Or maybe curiosity. She tilted her head slightly, gazing at him. “I have a feeling you have a lot to do with that, don’t you?”

Dad cleared his throat and looked at his coffee mug. “I don’t know about that.”

“They were lucky to have you,” Mom said, her voice soft.

Dad met her eyes. “Thank you.”

I got up and gestured toward the stairs. “Gavin’s coming to get me, so I’m going to go blow dry my hair really quick.”

“Have a good day, honey,” Mom said.

“Thanks.”

I went upstairs, idly wondering if I should leave my parents alone together. What was going on with them? Despite not wanting to know the intimate details of anything that might have transpired last night, I was curious. Were they just messing around for old time’s sake? Or was there more?

I’d have to talk to my mom about it later. For now, Gavin had a surprise for me, and I couldn’t wait to see what it was.

We drove down a bumpy back road. Gavin hadn’t told me where we were going and his mischievous smile had me brimming with curiosity. What was he up to?

The road curved, then climbed a small hill before coming to an abrupt end. The trees were thick here, casting a deep shadow over the terrain, and mist hung in the air.

“Okay, you’ve got me,” I said. “I have no idea what we’re doing out here.”

“I was thinking this might help you finish your book.”

I glanced outside, wondering if there was something I was missing. “How?”

“I’ll show you.”

We got out of the truck and the damp fall air was cool on my cheeks. As soon as my feet hit the forest floor, my senses heightened, my heart beating faster. The gray mist made the view between the trees hazy, and the heavy silence pressed against me.

“It’s a little bit creepy out here,” I said, stepping slowly to the front of the truck.

“Exactly,” Gavin said, his voice quiet but never losing its undercurrent of excitement. “There’s a hot spring not far from here and it gets really misty in the morning. Come on.”

“Are we going to the hot spring?”

“Not this time. Just follow me.”

He took my hand and led me to a narrow trail through the brush. Tall pines towered over us and the mist in the air was eerie. The only sound was our feet crunching on dry debris and the occasional distant call of a bird.

I squeezed Gavin’s hand. I wasn’t scared, exactly, but this place was unsettling.

After a short walk down the trail, we came within sight of a decrepit old cabin.

“Welcome to the murder cabin,” he said, gesturing with his other hand.

“Wait, what?”

“You don’t have to be scared for real. There’s nothing that can hurt you, and I don’t think anyone’s actually been murdered here. But I set it up so it’s creepy as fuck. I wasn’t sure what you were going for in your book, so there’s a little of everything. I thought this might give you some ideas.”

“You set up a murder cabin for me?”

“Yeah.” He shrugged, like it wasn’t a big deal. “Shall we?”

It was a big deal, but I wasn’t sure how to tell him how amazing this was without making it awkward. We were supposed to be just friends, but things like this—and what we’d done yesterday—were starting to make my heart yearn for more.

And I couldn’t go there. It wouldn’t be fair to suddenly spring a bunch of messy feelings on him when I was the one who’d talked him into our current… arrangement, for lack of a better word.

But he’d made me a murder cabin.

He’d make such a great boyfriend, if someone could ever convince him she was worth it.