Page 68 of Seven Lost Summers
“Theo, I swear to God—” Ace mutters, already regretting every decision that led him here.
I cut him off with a dramatic sigh, shaking my head as if the whole thing exhausts me.
“Man, you’re no fun anymore. Not that you ever were,” I add, floating backward, just out of range. “Seriously, let the kid live a little. Don’t crush his spirit before he even hits double digits.”
Alex doesn’t wait for a green light. His hands crash into the water with the fury of a pint-sized hurricane, spraying wild, chaotic splashes straight into Ace’s face.
Ace recoils with a sharp curse, water streaming from his lashes as he scrubs at his eyes.
Scarlet bursts out laughing, nearly doubling over. Alex beams like he’s unlocked a brand-new life achievement.
Ace looks ready to decide if murder is worth the jail time. “You’re a dead man, Theo.”
I grin, smug as hell, all teeth and no remorse. “Bring it, rockstar. But you’ll have to catch us first.”
Alex lets out a delighted shriek and takes off paddling as if his life depends on it, arms flailing, water churning behind him like a damn speedboat.
But before I can make my great escape, Ace is on me. One swift move, a solid grip—and I’m under. Fuck.
When I resurface, gasping and shaking water from my face, Alex’s giggle cuts through everything, echoing across the pool like music.
Ace is already on the hunt, slicing through the water with one target in sight. Alex.
Alex kicks harder, desperate to escape, but he doesn’t stand a chance. Ace catches him with ease, gripping the floaties, but this time, he doesn’t drag him under. He holds him steady instead, chest heaving, water dripping from his hair, and for a second, he looks… calm.
He lets Alex go but stays put. Big, broody, grumpy-as-fuck Ace, floating in the water with a kid who thinks the sun shines out of his ass.
I push through the water and drift over to Scarlet, stopping beside her.
Neither of us says a word. We just stand there, staring.
Alex laughs, splashing at Ace, who barely reacts, just smirks and flicks water back at him.
For all the shit I give Ace. For every time I’ve made it my mission to piss him off, this is who he is. The guy who plays gruff and untouchable, yet lets a kid cling to him as if he’s the safest place in the world.
“What’s up with Nate?” Scarlet asks, her voice low enough that only I can hear. But I know her. She’s been watching.
I shift my attention to where he stands by the grill, arms crossed, watching Xander flip whatever the hell he’s burning.
I shrug, not because I don’t care, but to pretend it doesn’t hurt seeing him like that.
“You know… it’s the time of year. Usual stuff.”
Scarlet keeps her gaze on Nate. “He said you guys went to Quinn’s. How is she?”
I shift, eyes lingering on Nate a second longer before I answer.
“She’s still Quinn. Strong. Beautiful. Tough as hell.” My voice drops. “The trip to Bianca’s grave didn’t hit as hard as the other times. Seeing Quinn there brought it all back. Reminded me of how it used to be when the four of us were only… us.”
Scarlet glances over, a hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. “Five of us, sometimes.”
A grin tugs at mine. “You did tag along more than a little.”
She shrugs, casual, though something softer flickers in her expression. “I liked being around you guys. Quinn and Bianca were—” She cuts herself off, clears her throat. “It felt solid back then.”
I nod. “Yeah. It did.”
We both go quiet, memories pressing heavy between us. The silence says it all—we’re all carrying the same ghost.
