Leaning more forward, I whisper, “This place is weird. Between the cabin sex-a-thons, the owner with the moose antlers, and the superhero question, like what are we really doing here? I mean, it’s weird, right?”

“It could be perceived that way,” Wilder says. “But that’s not an answer to the question.”

“My answer to the question is it’s a weird question.”

“Everything okay over here?” Sanders asks as he walks up, straightening his bow tie.

“Yup,” I nearly shout because he startled me. “Everything is great.” I offer him a thumbs-up.

“Any problems with the questions?”

“Nope.” I shake my head. “They’re great. Very thought-provoking.”

“Wonderful. Let us know if you need anything, and we’ll take care of it.” And then he takes off.

When he’s out of earshot, I ask, “Does he just come out of nowhere all the time?”

“Nah, I saw him walking up.” Wilder smirks.

“And you didn’t bother to give me a warning?”

Wilder shrugs. “We never talked about a warning sign. Is that something you’re interested in?”

“If he’s going to keep popping up like that, then yes.”

“What do you want the warning sign to be?” he asks, still holding the list of questions.

“Maybe bulge your eyes out.”

He presses his hand to his chest and asks, “I’m sorry, were you under the impression that I’m a cartoon character with eye-bulging capabilities?”

“I mean, like widen them and shift them side to side.” I offer him an example of what I’m talking about, and he snorts. “What?” I ask.

“Pips, going to tell you right now, that’s not going to work. There’s nothing discreet about that expression.”

“Fine.” I cross my arms at my chest. “Then what is your solution?”

“I can say ‘colonel.’”

“Colonel?” I ask. “Why on earth would you say that?”

“Because,” Wilder says simply with a light shrug of his shoulder. “Colonel Sanders.”

Huh.

That is actually pretty good.

“You like it, don’t you?” he asks, knocking his foot against my leg under the table. “Admit it. Admit that I’m clever.”

“You’re annoying,” I reply as Meghan sets down our drinks and a basket of bread. When she’s gone, I add, “And for the record, I think the underwear is worn on the outside of the superhero costume because it’s an extra layer of protection from the greedy eyes of people trying to catch a glimpse of the bulge and all the defined parts that go along with it.”

Wilder nearly spits out his sparkling water, clearly not ready for my answer.

He dries his mouth with his napkin and then says, “Jesus. I think you might be right.”

“I know I am.”

Chapter Eleven

WILDER

What I know about Scottie, my brother’s best friend, is very limited to what I learned in the car and what Mika has told me.