Page 32 of When We Were Us
As he approaches, he smiles at me. I smile back at him, my cheeks heating.
“If it isn’t the three musketeers,” he says with a beatific smile.
“Hey, Hank,” I say with a small smile. I run a hand over my hair, wishing I’d done a bit more with myself this morning before leaving the house. We don’t run in the same circles, but I’ll never forget how he helped me the day my dad died.
I catch Finn’s eye as Hank turns to Hudson, and she gives me a crazy, wide-eyed look as if to convey she thinks he’s handsome, too, and can't believe he’s talking to us.
Hank graduated two years earlier, and in the minds of most girls in our town, he was basically the greatest thing since sliced bread. He had been captain of the football team three years running, student body president, and everyone’s friend. We mostly knew of his accomplishments because his face and name were plastered all over the glass cases of the high school hallways for either sports or community service projects. He was not only gorgeous but also just an all-around nice guy. The perfect package, if you asked any teenage girl in town, including me.
“I’ll be back in an hour. Don’t make me wait, all right?” he says to Hudson as if he knows that is exactly what he’ll do.
Hudson nods and Hank turns to go.
I don’t know where it comes from, but I pipe up, “Actually, Finn and I are going to swim after this if you want to come too, Hudson?” My eyes flick from him to Finn, and then finally land back on Hank. “Could you get him from my house later?”
From the corner of my eye, I can see the questioning look Finn shoots me. We do have plans to go swimming after this, but I would never be the one to invite Hudson. That was usually her deal.
Hank removes his hat to scratch the back of his head before replacing it. Do guys know how hot that is? Do they teach them how to do that in some secret class I don’t know about?
Hudson gives his brother a look and Hank rolls his eyes, capitulating.
“Fine, but you take the stables tomorrow,” he says to Hudson, folding his arms across his chest.
“Done.” Hudson bobs his head eagerly.
“All right. See you at four. Wrenley, Finn,” he says and touches the bill of his black baseball cap with a smile before turning and striding away.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
hank
THEN
It’s halfpast four when I pull up in front of Wrenley’s house. I’ve been here a couple of times before, since my granddad and Wrenley’s have been friends for a long time. Our parents also went to school together.
I climb the short set of steps onto the whitewashed porch and knock on the door. A few seconds pass, and then Wrenley’s granddad ambles into view just beyond the screen.
“Hello, Mr. Hardcastle,” I say with a smile and a wave.
“Hank Hayes!” he calls out heartily. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” he asks. He pushes open the screen and leans out, his heavy-set frame filling most of the doorway.
“Just looking for my brother, sir. He was going to hang out with Wrenley and Finn this afternoon.”
Just then, I hear a peal of laughter. An excited scream and the faint sounds of water splashing come from around the back of the house.
“Ah, well, they’re out back in the pond, as I guess you’ve heard. Go on back,” he says, gesturing to the side of the house.
“Yes, sir. Thank you,” I say with a wave over my shoulder.
The door creaks shut as I leave the porch and round the house.
When the pond comes into view, I can see Hudson and Finn treading water in the pond a few feet out. They're laughing and calling out to Wrenley, who is running toward the pond, a rope swing in her hand. She’s backlit by the sun as she lifts her bare feet off the ground, with her thighs and arms working together to pull herself higher as she swings out over the water.
She is also in the smallest red bikini I have ever seen. Her long blond hair is slicked away from her face and hanging down her back in a thick, wet curtain.
I turn and throw a glance over my shoulder, wishing I was anywhere but here. She is all tanned skin and legs for days, and I’m pretty sure that if I move any closer, I won’t be able to hide the boner I’m instantly sporting.
She gives a battle cry and then launches herself into the air with a loud squeal just as Finn spots me and calls out. She’s waving like a madwoman from where she’s still treading water in the middle of the pond with Hudson.
