Page 83 of Winter's End

“Next!” Winter called, and I took my chance, flying like a deranged chimpanzee before tucking in the last minute. The cool water embraced me, and I pushed off from the sandy bottom, welcoming the warm air on my face as I broke the surface.

“8!” Winter yelled, smiling down at me as I swam towards her. “Nice job, Hardy Boy,” she praised, and I received my own quick congratulatory peck.

I followed Cam and Travis and climbed out of the water to warm up on the hot stones.

She turned her attention upward. “Come on, Quick!”

“Just a second,” he yelled back. “Logan, get your ass up here before I make Cam carry you up!”

“To be clear, you can’tmakeme.” Cam said dryly. “But I’ll gladly volunteer.” A devilish smirk crossed his normally stoic features. “Don’t make me volunteer, Pretty Boy.”

Logan watched us all from the opposite side of the swimming hole and rolled his eyes.

“Fuckers,” he muttered, probably thinking none of us could hear, but he indulged us and pulled out of the water, anyway.

Despite the heat, Logan still wore a fitted black tee along with his swim shorts. He climbed up the cliff face with an athletic swiftness and stood a good five feet away from Shane at the top.

“You can go first.” Logan crossed his arms and nodded his chin towards the water below.

“No can do, brother! Can’t have you chickening out on me.” Shane’s glee wasn’t subtle. He loved pushing Logan out of his comfort zone.

I couldn’t say for sure who was the biggest shit disturber in our group, but Logan and Shane would probably tie for first place.

They had a miniature stare-off, neither of them blinking for several seconds. Then, without another word, Logan launched himself off the cliff.

His splash was decent, but definitely not Cam’s.

“8!” Winter exclaimed as Logan swam toward our group of sunbathing penguins.

She cradled Logan’s cheeks in her palms when he swam up to her side and gave him a brief kiss before ducking her head to whisper something in his ear. I couldn’t hear what it was, but his irritated expression immediately softened.

He pulled himself out and sat beside her in my spot. I hoped he realized I’d be taking my prime perch back.

“Alright, Quick! Strut your stuff, you show off!”

“Wahoooooooo!”

Shane dove off and held himself in the hedgehog position long before he hit the water. He splashed all of us on the sidelines; I had to wonder if he lined his pockets with rocks when we weren’t looking.

“10!” Winter yelled. Her cheers dissolved into giggles as Shane swam up to her and dragged her into the water by her ankles.

She shouted in surprise and wrapped her arms around Shane’s neck so tightly she looked like she was going to choke him out.

“Quick!” Her screeches halted when Shane closed his mouth over hers in a deep, more-than-friendly kiss.

“Fucking finally,” Logan barked out at the same time Travis crowed, “I knew it!”

I had known about this latest development. Shane and Winter had both told me separately, given the nature of our now-triad relationship. By their reaction, the guys hadn’t been brought up to speed yet.

Winter slowly turned her head to face the four men on shore. Her cheeks were tinged pink—from the heat or Shane’s kiss, I didn’t know. A shy smile crept across her face as she lookedat us.

“Ummm, yeah,” she admitted with an embarrassed laugh. “So, we’re all… in a fully formed harem now. Probably a little late to have this conversation, but… is everybody in?”

She scrunched up her brows and bit her lip as her gaze hesitantly landed on each of us individually.

Cam, Travis and I didn’t need to confirm with each other. We’d known what we were getting into. We all bobbed our heads in agreement. Shane still held her in his arms and nuzzled his lips into her hair. “I’m in, Snowflake.”

Her gaze fixed on Logan. He held her stare for a moment before sighing out a breath. “Princess, of course I’m fucking in. I’m the one trying to find this annoying bunch of twits a house, aren’t I? I’m in.”

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