Page 53 of It Started at the Lake

Bennett squeezes my hand. “You can’t leave me hanging. Why was it so awful?”

I sigh, not ready to relive this moment. But it’s Bennett, and that means my brain doesn’t do what I want it to when I’m around him. “I really liked this guy, but turns out, he only pretended to like me so he could be the first one to kiss me. He made a bet with his friend that all it would take was one invitation from him, and I’d say yes.” My throat grows thick. The shame of it all hits me again. “I snuck out after curfew and met him and his friend at a park near my house. We hung out and talked for a few minutes, but then he said he had to get home. He hugged me goodbye and when I pulled away, he snatched me back and kissed me. Immediately after, he turned to his friend and said, ‘You owe me a buck now.’ I slapped his face and took off running. I was pissed he stole my first kiss from me and that he’d only bet a dollar. One freaking dollar.” I’d never felt so cheap in my life. Unfortunately, that incident didn’t help me improve my choice in men.

“Boys can be real big jerks sometimes. I’m sorry you went through that. You deserved better.”

“Thank you.”

“Look!” He points to a bunch of logs leaning against a tree trunk. Two hunched figures are half-hidden inside. “We found them.”

We run to Emerson and Cam’s hiding place. “Found you!” I taunt.

“You’re the first ones,” Cam says, sliding over to give us space to sit.

Why am I not surprised we’re first? That’s the pattern with Bennett. He’s a winner in more ways than one.

We chat quietly until every team eventually finds us. We take turns hiding, and Bennett and I find every team first except once.

It’s our turn to hide and my legs are shaking like I squatted one hundred times, did two hundred burpees, and three hundred lunges. Bennett and I are being forced to hide in a tight space for an undisclosed amount of time.

I’m only freaking out a lot.

CHAPTER 24

Bennett

There are plenty of good hiding places throughout the property. I’ve exhausted most of them playing sardines throughout my childhood. But there’s one spot that’s perfect for Millie and me. A place no one will think we chose to hide. We’re back at the fire pit, everyone’s eyes are closed, and the counting begins. I motion for Millie to follow me. Running down the lawn, I get to the edge of the sand, then stop, taking my shoes off and carrying them in my hand. We hobble along the line that separates the grass from the sand, doing our best to keep footprints from forming behind us. I don’t want to lead anyone to our spot.

At the southern tip of our property is a cove. We hardly go there since we have plenty of beach to enjoy without venturing this far, especially as the grass doesn’t come out this way. I can no longer hear the group counting. Diving into the protected inlet, I scoot until my back hits a rock. Millie climbs in right after me. It’s easily ten degrees cooler down here. I’m grateful it’s a low tide at the moment, otherwise we’d be getting wet with every wave that rolls ashore on top of the chilly temperature.

“Do you know every nook and cranny of this place?” she asks, settling next to me on the sand.

“I do.”

“Is summer your favorite season?” Millie whispers, rubbing her hands over her arms.

“Yes. What’s your favorite season?”

Millie shivers. “Fall. I love the cooler weather and changing leaves.”

“Are you freezing? We can hide somewhere else, or give ourselves up.”

She adamantly shakes her head. “We’re not losing over a few measly goosebumps.”

She shivers again.

“Come here.” Tugging Millie toward me, I tuck her into my side, my arm going around her back.

“Thank you.”

She nestles in, resting her head in the crook between my shoulder and chest. Her hand covers my heart. An expected swelling of peace fills me at the same time my pulse spikes at her nearness.

I’ve missed this.

I’ve missed having someone to hold. Someone to talk to. Someone to joke around with and go do things with. The ache of missing Jen is still there. I doubt it will ever completely go away, but with Millie in my arms right now, it’s less than usual. This feeling is new and totally shocking. And not something I ever thought possible after Jen. It doesn't mean I’m ready to change our fake status to real, but it’s something to consider in the future.

“Tell me your favorite summer activity,” I say, needing her to distract me. My fingers are dying to trace a pattern up and down her arm.

“We didn’t have a lot of money growing up, and both my parents worked full time. My grandma babysat us until I turned ten; then it was up to me to watch my sister until one of my parents got home from work. We ran around the backyard a lot, played in the sprinklers, and rode our bikes to a playground down the street. That’s about it.”

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