Page 5 of It Started at the Lake

“You’re right,” Camden says, throwing his towel on the grass and sliding out of his sandals. “Screw waiting. I’m not going to have a crappy summer because of him.”

I highly doubt a few minutes will have any effect on how Cam’s summer goes, but he’s right as far as waiting. “I agree. Let’s do this.” We drop our towels on the grass and take off at a sprint down the dock.

I’m almost to the end when I’m shoved in the back and go flying in the air. My arms and legs pinwheel. Milliseconds later, I smack into the freezing water. My lungs seize from the shock. Kicking my legs, I work my way up to the surface. When I break free, I gasp for breath. “Wow-wee! That’s cold!”

Camden splashes water in my direction. “Don’t be a wuss, Bennett. It’s refreshing.”

I’m treading water, calculating how long I have to stay in the lake before I claim I’ve had enough without worrying about my family teasing me for not toughing it out. “Aunt Clara’s lemonade on a hot July day is refreshing. This is like an ice bath.”

Emerson and Camden laugh.

“Come on, old man,” Emerson teases. “It’s good for your joints.”

I scoff. I’m only five years older than Emerson and four years older than Camden. “I appreciate your concern for my ailing body, but I prefer to stretch instead of freeze.”

“Cannonball!” Henry yells right before a giant splash sprays me in the face. Henry’s brown-haired head pops up, a huge smile on his lips. “That feels good.”

They’re lying. Nothing about this water feels nice. “About time you got down here. What held you up?” I ask, purposely swimming away from Henry. He loves dunking people.

“Mom wanted to know what we should cook for dinner tonight. Aunt Clara and Uncle Harvey won’t get here until tomorrow, so she wanted to do something a little easier. I told her tacos.”

I wrinkle my nose, disappointed we won’t get Clara’s cooking tonight. Mom is a decent chef, but compared to Aunt Clara? There’s no competition. Granted, it’s not fair to compare an author to a professional caterer. Maybe if Evie gets here in time, she’ll help us. She’s just as skilled in the kitchen as her mom. “Tacos are fine. When’s Evie getting here?” I ask.

Camden shrugs. “I thought she’d be here already. She’s bringing a friend—a beautiful friend, I might add.”

If I don’t stop this conversation, these three will wax poetic about their favorite dates from last summer and make bets on who will go out the most this year.

“Who’s up for a round of golf or pickleball tomorrow?” I ask. “I need someone who will challenge me. My friends back home have gotten slow.”

Cam smiles. “You’re pretty slow yourself, but if you want a butt whooping, I’m game.”

“Funny, because as I recall, you’ve never beat me.” Despite Cam’s attempts to win, my longer arms make sports easier for me. It’s why I always beat Peter, too.

“Your memory must be going.” Cam laughs at his own joke and my brothers join in.

One thing I can always count on my brothers and cousin for? A good ribbing. “Nah, just your pride.”

Henry makes a sizzle sound. “Burn, dude.”

I shrug. “Camden needs it. His head gets too bi—”

A mixture of laughter and squealing—the kind only girls produce—snags my attention. Running at full speed down the dock is Evie, pulling another woman wearing cut-off shorts and a white t-shirt.

Ooooh, bad wardrobe choice.

Evie jumps first, her strong legs propelling her high in the air, followed closely by her friend, who launches herself after Evie.

I shield my face with my arms, partly to save myself from being soaked by the after splash, but mostly because I’m staring long enough to notice this new girl’s legs. Legs that are as long and lean as a swimsuit model’s.

Evie’s head rises above the surface, a giant smile making the apples of her cheeks more rounded. “Oh my goodness, this water is so flippin’ cold! I’m pretty sure my leg hairs just grew ten inches.”

Emerson, Henry, and Cam all laugh.

I smile. “It’s not possible to grow that much in such a short amount of time.”

Evie looks at me, her smile softening from a grin to one of affection. “Yes, Doc, I know. It’s called an exaggeration. How are you?”

Nope. Not talking about me in front of the others. I’ll confide in Evie later. “What happened to your friend?” I search the water, but see no movement.

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