Page 9 of Sweetest Hate

Massive floor-to-ceiling windows lining both floors were separated by thin rows of dark stained wood, creating almost a full wall of glass on the side facing the water. The wide, stacked stone porch wrapped around the entire home was sheltered by a flat wooden awning that shaded several rocking chairs and potted plants. Massive solar panels on the roof faced south, and a huge stone chimney constructed of brown and gray rock jutted up toward the sky.

"What the fuck, Quinn? I knew Bill had money, but…" I gawked at the place, wondering what Quinn's stepdad was thinking, allowing us to come out here on our own. "But this is not what I pictured."

Bill was insane for trusting a bunch of reckless kids, who were barely old enough to call themselves adults, to stay here for a week on their own. The likelihood of it getting trashed was high.

"Nice," Quinn said, impressed, reminding me it was his first time seeing the place as well.

"Toonice," I agreed. "I call dibs on not having to babysit anyone to keep the place in one piece."

"Ass." Quinn chuckled as he hopped out of the car.

When I got out, our friends were already gathering their bags of clothes, some groceries and cases of beer, and heading for the cabin, with Quinn taking off to lead the way to unlock the door. Grabbing my own duffle and paint supplies, I followed and entered the house. More people than I'd anticipated had jumped on the party bandwagon, and I wanted the best room. Without taking time to look around, I bee-lined straight for the wide shiny wood staircase to hunt down a room. Following the catwalk balcony that looked down onto the first floor, I branched off into a long hallway and counted the open doors as I passed them. Four bedrooms and one guest bathroom in this hall alone.Holy shit.I wasn't sure where Quinn had gotten that the place had ten bedrooms, but I would bet there were many more.

The last door on the left was calling my name because it was farthest from the noise coming from the crowd downstairs. When I stepped inside, I scanned the rustic bed and furniture made of raw logs, a bedspread of earthy tones in a plaid print, and a recliner in the corner with a dark throw draped over the back.

Crossing the room, I set my things next to the window and pulled back the heavy drapes, taking in the view of the grounds below. The lake was only a hundred feet or so from the porch, leaving a wide-open view of the dark water that glittered, the sun reflecting off the gently rippling waves that lapped at the grassy bank. In the distance, it appeared a few other houses bordered the water. Overall, the land was secluded, which meant no one would call in a noise complaint.

Despite the sounds that floated from the hallway as people claimed bedrooms before they filled, there was a peaceful aura about the surroundings. It was exactly the type of place where I wanted to spend the rest of my life—but on a smaller, more affordable scale, of course.

Before I headed back downstairs, I glanced in the mirror, noting how odd I appeared, standing inside a room fit more for a lumberjack than a college student that looked like a grungy skater. However, if I ever attempted to get my ass on a skateboard, I'd end up breaking my face.

"You checking yourself out?" Quinn's amused voice cut through my thoughts, and I glanced at him as he entered the room. Already changed into a pair of red boardshorts, he hadn't bothered with a shirt, showing off his tanned chest and shoulders smattered with freckles. "Nice, right?"

I tore my gaze away from his chest but quickly realized he wasn't talking about where my attention had strayed. Rather he was talking about the room. "It's a little more than nice, Quinn," I replied, facing him again with a cocked brow. "Did you know he wasthiswell off?"

Quinn shrugged. "Not really. He's never flashed his money around, and my mom hasn't brought it up."

"Maybe you were right about Arsen. Maybe he's just spoiled," I mused.

Quinn pinched his lips together and shook his head. "I'd rather not talk about him. I dodged a bullet with them backing out. I'm heading down to check out the hot tub and then maybe take the Jet Skis out. Wanna go?"

Trusting us with a house like thisandthe Jet Skis? I hoped Bill had taken out a hefty insurance policy. "Yep. Let me change, and then I'll meet you downstairs."

* * *

This iswhat life was all about. I hummed to myself as I lazily reclined on a wooden chaise lounge near the flickering blaze in a large fire pit, and the smell of burned oak drifted in and out with the breeze.

Birds chirped in the leafy canopy of trees overhead as the last rays of sun dipped over the horizon. My skin still tingled with warmth from spending the day skipping over the water, the steady thrum of the Jet Skis, and the wind whipping through my hair.

Around me, the chairs were filled and other people had to sit on the ground. Music pumped from a truck that had been parked close by, and I dozed as the buzz from the group talking and laughing escalated and fell. Quinn had disappeared thirty minutes ago with a brunette secured under his arm.I was too groggy and sun-drunk to care.

"Kellan!" shouted someone over the noise. I cracked my eyelids open just enough to see Shawn, a guy I'd gone to high school with, leaning toward me from the chair next to mine. His tawny hair was hanging in his light brown eyes as he held a cold beer and smirked. "You lazy ass. Drink with us."

I chuckled as I took the cheap beer and twisted off the top. "Lazy is right. I could sleep right here." The chair creaked beneath my weight as I shifted to get comfortable again.

"This is Sophie," Shawn said, as he introduced to me the blonde sitting on his lap. She was wearing a pink bikini top and denim shorts high enough to show the long length of her pale legs. She gave a shy smile and slight wave while Shawn rubbed her subtly rounded belly. "And this is our little peanut."

I'd seen Shawn regularly when I'd visited Holloway on breaks between semesters, but I had never met his girlfriend.

"Ah, the girlfriend." I tipped my chin toward her. "Nice to meet the girl who's willing to deal with this douchebag."

Shawn laughed and reached out to punch my arm. "See? Told you he was an asshole."

"Let's just hope the peanut doesn't look like this ugly fucker." I grinned, and she laughed as Shawn scowled. Shawn wasn't bad-looking, and he knew it. In fact, he could be considered hot, I supposed. He was also straight and not my type.

"Not girlfriend, actually." Sophie ducked her head and held out her hand, flashing a ring with a tiny diamond in the center.

"No shit?" My gaze flicked to Shawn. He flashed a broad grin and hugged his girl. "Well, congrats, man. I'm happy for you."

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