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We made our way over to the bait shop and stepped inside. There were five older men in there and, from the sounds of their teasing, it was clear that they’d been friends for a long time. Zach and I sidled past them and made our way behind the counter to see Edith. She gave us each a hug and then pointed in the direction of the men.

“These guys are a hoot. You should hear them trash-talking each other about who’s going to catch Moby Dick. They all think they’re going to win the five thousand dollars this year,” she said with a grin.

“I don’t know, I think Jeremy here could give them a run for their money. He caught a big one last night.” Zach looked very proud as he brought up the picture on his phone of me holding my fish and showed it to Edith.

“That’s very impressive. I guess you are alright with gross, squirmy things,” she teased.

“Yes, ma’am, I am,” I joked back. She gave me a playful swat on the arm. “How’s your niece?” I asked.

“Oh, she’ll be fine if she can keep her mother from driving her crazy. I swear, my sister got all the worrier genes in our family,” Edith said with a shake of her head. “Anyway, what are you two up to today?”

“We just thought we’d see if you needed any help before we join in the fun,” Zach answered.

“Aww! You boys are sweet, but I’ve got plenty of help this weekend and you boys deserve some time off. Now get out of here and I better not catch you doing any work. Anyone asks you for anything, you just tell them to ask one of the other guys around here.” Edith gave us each a look that said we better not argue with her.

“Okay, okay. We’re going,” Zach laughed, holding his hands up in surrender.

We left Edith to her work and walked out, shaking our heads at the men who were still debating which fishing lure would be best for catching the elusive Moby Dick. We chuckled as we got outside, and my stomach rumbled when I caught a whiff of something delicious cooking on the grill.

We headed over to where a big buffet of food was spread out. There were all kinds of meats, from burgers and hot dogs to pork chops and ribs. Platters were overflowing with potato salad, pasta salad, macaroni and cheese, and corn on the cob. Homemade cookies, brownies and pies covered a separate table along with a giant watermelon that had been cut in the shape of a basket and filled with a fruit salad.

My mouth watered, and we quickly grabbed some paper plates and began filling them. After we’d gotten all the food we wanted, we carefully made our way over to an empty picnic table and sat down. We talked and ate until we were full and then we grabbed the poles and tackle box that Zach had brought along and headed down to the dock.

We kicked off our shoes and let our feet dangle in the water while we baited the hooks and cast our lines out. After a few minutes, Zach set his pole down beside him and leaned back on his hands. I did the same, looking out over the water and keeping an eye on the little red and white bobber floating along the surface.

Zach tilted his head back and closed his eyes, humming quietly to himself. I looked over at him and saw a peaceful smile on his face. The sun shone off the lighter blond strands of his hair, giving him an ethereal glow. He very well could be an angel, I thought. He was certainly one of the kindest, gentlest, most caring people I knew.

“What song is that?” I asked quietly.

Zach looked over at me in surprise. “Sorry, I didn’t even realize I was humming. It’s an older song, one from a few years back. My brother used to love it. We worked together at the same pizza place after school and he’d turn that song on every night when it was time to clean up. He’d belt out the lyrics at the top of his lungs and dance around while he was sweeping the floors.” A small smile lifted the corners of his mouth as he lost himself in the memory.

“Is he older or younger than you?” I asked him, smiling at the happy look on his face. His smile slid away though and a deep sadness crept into his eyes, making me wish I’d never asked that question.

“He was younger,” Zach answered quietly. I hated to see him looking so unhappy, so I reached over and took his hand, wanting to offer him comfort. I hadn’t missed the fact that he’d used past tense that time and my heart hurt for him. Had he lost both his mother and his brother?

“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked.

Zach tightened his grip on my fingers but shook his head. “Maybe another time, but not today. Today is supposed to be about having fun,” he insisted.

“Okay,” I said gently. We turned our attention back to our bobbers, but they’d barely moved. After a few minutes of silence, I spoke. “I wish I could lay you down on this dock, strip you bare and eat cherry pie off of your body. That would be fun,” I said in a casual voice, as if I were talking about the weather.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zach’s head swivel around to face me. His jaw hung open and I had to stifle a laugh. My shoulders shaking gave me away though and Zach shoved my shoulder. “You’re an ass,” he laughed.

“I never said I wasn’t,” I said with a laugh. Zach shook his head, but I was glad I was able to distract him and bring back his good mood from earlier.

We fished for a while then played a few games of cornhole and hillbilly golf in which Zach and I teamed up and beat each of our opponents. Zach laughed at my competitiveness and I tried not to get too worked up when he swiveled his hips in a victory dance that shouldn’t have been seductive, but totally was with the way he moved.

We took a long walk around the lake and then headed back when we started to get hungry. It had been a wonderful day and I couldn’t remember when I’d smiled or laughed so much. I kept waiting for some flaw to appear that would make Zach seem less desirable, but there was nothing. Everything he did, I found adorable or sweet or sexy.

We ate dinner and, when it started to get dark, we spread out a blanket in the grass near the edge of the lake and lay on our backs to watch the fireworks. They shot off over our heads, filling the night sky with bright splashes of reds and blues, purples and greens.

I scooted closer to Zach and took his hand. His fingers were calloused from hard work and they scraped against my skin in a deliciously teasing manner. The sensation sent a tingle all the way up my arm and out the top of my head. I turned to look at him, but he was already staring at me. A flash from another firework revealed the heat behind his gaze.

Our mouths crushed together in a series of wet, hungry kisses and our hearts beat against each other in a rhythm more powerful than the blasts echoing above us. I was totally lost in the taste and the feel of him, so it took me a moment to realize that Zach was pushing at me frantically. I pulled away from him, my eyebrows scrunching up in question and my breathing labored.

He wasn’t looking at me though, but something just over my shoulder. That’s when I heard it. The loathing and disgust from another person who felt it was their right to scream vile obscenities at us. I was on my feet in a flash and I turned to face the man who had just spit on the ground at my feet.

“You think you can come here and just flaunt your filthy homo ways around all these families? There are women and children here who don’t need to be exposed to the perversions of a couple of faggots like you,” the man snarled.

I could feel Zach as he stood up beside me and I instinctively angled my body in front of his to protect him. “We were just minding our own business and we’d appreciate it if you’d do the same. I think it’s time you move along,” I told him. My voice was calm, yet forceful.

“Don’t you dare tell me what to do,” the man roared. His face was mottled with rage and he swayed slightly on his feet.

I held my hands up in a placating gesture. “Sir, we’re not looking for any trouble. I can tell you’ve had a bit too much to drink, so maybe you should just head back to your camper and sleep it off,” I suggested. A small crowd was beginning to gather, and I really didn’t want any trouble, but I was ready to take matters into my own hands if necessary.

“Come on, let’s just go,” Zach urged from behind me.

I turned to look at him over my shoulder and I could see the fear in his eyes. That’s when the man decided to jump me. He’d taken me by surprise which gave him the upper hand, but only momentarily. I’d let him get a couple of hits in, just to make things fair, and then I was going to set him straight.

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