Page 64 of It Started at the Lake

I’m lost in visions of my hands gliding down his wet chest during our swim today. Hmmm, touching him like that requires us to be quite close together. Right now me doesn’t hate it. Future me is ringing alarm bells left and right, warning me to keep myself from doing anything rash or stupid. Protection is of utmost importance.

I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head, sadly vanquishing the image.

Grabbing my favorite pink and gray refillable water bottle off my nightstand, I head to the kitchen. After packing a few snacks and a bottle of sunscreen in a small backpack Evie lent me last night, I send Bennett a text:

Me: Hey! I’m on the back patio, ready to head out whenever you are. [hiker emoji][mountain emoji]

My butt is halfway to sitting in a lounge chair by the pool when hands push on my side, and a voice shouts, “Gotcha!”

“Ahhh!” I scream as I fall. Right. Into. The. Pool.

Whoever did that is so dead. Swimming to the surface, I pop my head above the water, coughing like a ten-pack-a-day-smoker as I tread in the deep end. Swiping at my eyes, I clear the chlorine.

Laughing and pointing at me is Henry. “Oh my heck, you should see your face right now. Priceless!” He laughs again.

Anger rises in me. Really? Is this funny, Henry? Now I have to go change, and I haven’t done laundry. Who knows what random outfit I’ll find—if I even have anything suitable for a hike besides what I’m wearing. I packed light for this trip knowing I could wash my clothes whenever I wanted. Bennett said he’d bring towels for us to dry off with before we hiked back today. Walking six miles in wet clothes is asking for chafing. “You better run, Henry, because when I get out of here, you’re a—”

A flash of color comes behind Henry. Henry flies in the air, arms and legs spinning wildly, landing with a massive splash.

I hold my arms over my face, trying to protect myself from Henry’s limbs and the monsoon of water sent my way.

Henry swims to the opposite end of the pool as me. I make my way to the edge, resting my arms on the cement.

“Is it as funny now that it happened to you?” Bennett asks Henry dryly, his hands on his hips. He’s wearing burnt orange swim bottoms, a navy blue shirt, and a gray baseball hat. A few of his curls escape the side of his hat. Never have I seen a man look so sexy.

Okay, that’s a lie. Every time I see Bennett, I’m blown away by how freaking hot he is.

Henry scowls. “Yeah, it is. Want to try it too?”

“I don’t have time. Millie and I have plans that you’re ruining. Apologize and stop acting like a fourteen-year-old.”

“You’re not my dad. Stop bossing me around.”

Bennett hangs his head forward, slowly shaking it. “You’re right, I’m not Dad. But you bet your behind if Dad saw what you just did to a female guest, you’d be getting an earful.”

My childish self is spitting my tongue out at Henry and saying, “Yeah, what Bennett said.” But as the mature person I am, I do nothing.

Henry turns to me. “You’re fine, right, Mils? You know I meant it as a joke?”

“Almost any other time, I’d say yes. But now I can’t go hiking. And I am annoyed and sad.”

“Wait, what?” Bennett swings his gaze to mine. “Why can’t we go?”

“My other workout clothes are dir—”

“Cannonball!” Emerson shouts, pushing Bennett into the pool with him.

Shielding myself from another round of spraying water, I stay where I am. No one else better come out here or else Bennett and I won’t make it out today.

Bennett and Emerson break the surface at the same time.

Henry and Emerson are laughing hysterically. Bennett’s gaze is lasered in on Emerson. A slow, mischievous smile lifts my lips.

It’s payback time.

As Bennett lunges toward Emerson, trying to dunk him, I dive under the water toward Henry. He’s about to experience my wrath.

Taking one lungful of air halfway through my swim, I finally make it to Henry’s legs in the shallow water. Grabbing his calf, I yank as hard as I can, sending Henry off balance.

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