Page 6 of It Started at the Lake

The group scans the surface with me. My chest tightens the longer we look.

“Millie?” Evie calls out, twisting a new direction every few seconds. “Millie!” A panicked edge enters my cousin's voice. “Where did she go?” she asks us, then shouts, “It’s not funny, Mils. Come on, where are you?”

My stomach drops. Doesn’t Millie know how to swim?

As if summoned, Millie, a good thirty yards away from us, materializes, gasping for breath. Her smile lights up her entire face, her lips stretching wide. Her grin is like finding hidden treasure. It’s triumphant, bright, mesmerizing, and really difficult to tear my gaze away from.

Why am I noticing these weird details about Evie’s friend?

It must be from the conversation I had with Mom and Dad.

“First, this water is ridiculously cold, you liar,” Millie addresses Evie, swimming toward us. “Second, next time there is ‘something I HAVE to do,’ give me a little warning about what that something is. Third, I miss swimming.” With that, she dives back under the water like a mermaid, complete with long flowy hair.

“I like her already,” Emerson says, staring at the spot Millie went under, like he’s a smitten schoolboy. Hearts dance in his eyes.

Evie shakes her head, a stern expression on her face. “She’s off-limits, boys. Millie isn’t looking for a summer fling, so stay away from her.”

Camden scoffs. “Why don’t you let Millie say one way or another after she’s gotten to know these three better?”

I note how he excluded himself. He was the one who pointedly stated she was beautiful. Does he not like more than her physical appearance?

I hold my hand out. “Nope. Leave me out as well. I’m not looking for anything either.” “Sweet.” Emerson nods. “That eliminates another competitor.”

Evie glares at Emerson. “This isn’t a competition, and I already said to leave her alone. I mean it, Em.”

He huffs. “Fine.”

“What about me?” Henry points to himself. “What if she likes me? You’d stop us from being together?” He looks wounded, but I know it’s a front.

“You guys,” Evie huffs out in frustration. “I’ve practically begged her to marry Camden over the years so we’d become sisters and she wasn’t having any of it. Let it be.”

Camden splashes Evie. “Rude—”

Out of nowhere, Millie’s head emerges right next to Evie.

Evie screams, putting a hand on her heart. “Oh my heck, Mils. You scared me to death!”

Millie laughs. “Sorry. I thought I heard my name.”

Evie’s cheeks go pink. “Uhh… I was just telling my family about you.” She blinks, I’m assuming in an attempt at innocence, but guilt is dominating her features. Evie points at us as she says our names. “Bennett. Henry. Emerson.”

“Hey,” Emerson and Henry say at the same time.

I nod in greeting, absently rubbing at my bare left ring finger.

Camden smiles warmly at Millie. “Hey Mils. Good to see you again.”

Millie gives Camden a smile that would turn any frown upside down. “Hey, Cam. How come your sister failed to mention I’d be jumping in the lake with no chance of changing clothes first?”

Good. Evie didn’t prep her friend on our tradition. Not surprising, considering the white tank top plastered to Millie’s skin. Skin I can’t tell is natural, or if she gets sprayed to look tan like a lot of sorority girls do. Skin that is also showing through her shirt and I’m having a hard time not staring at. Not in a gross stalker way, but in a find her beautiful way.

Cam laughs. “Sorry about that. It’s our family initiation for visitors. Are you okay?”

A shiver wiggles through her body. Goosebumps rise along her shoulders. “I’m cold. I thought swimming around would warm me up, but it’s not. How long do we have to stay in here?”

I purposely direct my question to Evie and ignore Millie. “Did you stop for towels in the boathouse?” I ask.

Evie shakes her head. “You know that’s not allowed with first-timers.”

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