Page 37 of It Started at the Lake

I tuck the loose strands of hair the wind tore from my braid behind my ear, watching Evie and Henry laugh as they pretend to be Jack and Rose.

When their turn is over, Evie sits next to me again. “What did you think?”

“It was fun.” For about thirty seconds.

“Everyone needs to experience it once in their life,” Emerson says.

“We’re happy to cross one more item off your ‘firsts list’.” Camden winks at me.

“Does this list contain a near-death experience?” I quirk a brow.

At the mention of death, everyone gets eerily quiet. Evie peeks at Bennett, and I mentally slap myself in the forehead. His wife died in an accident. How stupid can you be to bring that up, Mils?

My mouth goes dry. I’m appalled at my insensitivity.

The music changes to “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys.

Henry, faking enthusiasm, pumps a fist in the air. “Yeah! We’re going old school, baby!”

I force a smile as Henry sings and dances by himself in the back of the boat. The joy of the day is ripped away. All I want is to be alone where I won’t cause any problems.

CHAPTER 16

Bennett

“Will you take this platter out?” Aunt Clara asks me, holding out a tray filled with hamburger toppings.

It’s the night of Memorial Day. The parade happened this morning. Tonight after dinner, we’ll play croquet while we wait for the fireworks to shoot off. The official mark that summer in Lake Lloyd has begun.

“You bet.” I take the red, white, and blue platter from her. Going to the backyard, I place the tray on the table set out with all the other traditional foods served in summer: watermelon, potato salad, pasta salad, fruit, and drinks.

My favorite is after croquet when we start a fire in the pit down by the dock and roast marshmallows. It’s like being a child again. I’m ready for that simple pleasure and to stop thinking about what happened standing behind Millie on the boat two days ago and her almost falling and dying.

I didn’t mean to scramble away as fast as I did, but when she leaned into me, her back touching my chest sent a shock through my core, like a zap of lightning. The sensation caught me off guard and I reacted, albeit badly. When she almost went overboard, my heart stopped beating. I thought for sure I’d killed another person because of my carelessness. I couldn’t look her in the eyes after. The whole thing was a mess.

Two days later, and I’m still off-kilter.

I need to talk to Evie. She’ll help me sort out if Millie ever wants to see my face again and if I can handle being around Mils and these sensations humming inside me when I touch her.

“Will you get me a plate, son?” Dad calls out to me where he stands at the grill.

“Yeah.” I head back into the kitchen, where Aunt Clara and Mom are putting together a fruit pizza.

Mom looks as classy as always in her white capris and red blouse. Her blonde highlighted hair is swept back into some fancy twist. “We’re almost done. Where’s everyone else?”

“On the lawn, setting up croquet. Dad’s ready for a plate for the hamburgers.”

“He better not have burned them,” Aunt Clara says, pointing a sharp knife at me.

I hold my hands up. “I wasn’t watching. I’m sure they’re fine.” For Dad’s sake as well as the rest of us.

Aunt Clara drops the knife on the gray-and-white marble countertop. “I’m going to check.”

Mom smiles as Aunt Clara leaves. “I’m surprised she even allows us to help her with each meal.”

I grab a white plate from the cupboard. “We’ve never eaten anything bad when she’s here. I’m willing to deal with her slight control issues in exchange for good food.”

Mom snags the kitchen towel draped over her slender shoulder and snaps it at me. “Oh hush. I’ve never made you eat anything gross at our house.”

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