Page 6 of Relentless (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 2)

Both of them are looking at me intently, waiting for my response. Fuck it. They’re my boys. I know I can trust them.

“Yeah. Ivy Bane. You just met her. I had no idea she was Jennifer’s daughter.”

“You liked her,” this question worded as a statement comes from Griff.

“Yeah. I did.” I still probably do if my reaction earlier says anything about it. “She was my first,”everything, “kiss, first crush.”

I still remember the first night we hung out like it happened yesterday instead of years ago. When I decided she was going to be my best friend over gummy bears.

I watch James, our counselor, walk into the cabin next door and make a break for the trail that leads to the lake. It was warmer last night, good thing I grabbed the black hoodie to wear for cover. I see flashlights in the distance, so I keep to the side of the path, just inside where the trees thicken. I’ve spent every evening sneaking out of my cabin, trying to get away to think. Part of me feels bad for interrupting Ivy while she was doing the same thing, but I’m glad I did it. I like talking to her. She has no expectations for me.

When I get to the dock, she isn’t there yet. I walk to the end and let my legs hang over. It’s been a dry summer, so the water is well below my feet. I feel her footsteps before I hear her. She drops down beside me quietly.

“Hey.” She says as she dangles her legs next to mine.

“Hi.” I pull out a bag of gummy bears from my hoodie pocket. “Want to split them?”

She looks down, giggles, and pulls out a bag of the same thing. “What’s that saying? Great minds think alike or something?”

“Yeah, they do.” I laugh quietly. We sit there taking in the night for a few minutes before I break the silence. “What’s your favorite color?” I shake my bag of gummies.

“Clear and yellow.” She says.

“Seriously?” I fake a gag. “Those are the worst. Red and orange is where it’s at.”

“Everyone likes red,” she says.

“So, you want to be different?”

“No. I don’t mind red. I hate green. My favorites are just clear and yellow.” She says decisively.

“Green is okay. Better than clear and yellow.” I start sorting out my clears and yellows.

“What are you doing?”

“Giving you my clears and yellows. Hand over all your greens and a few reds and oranges.” I grin at her. “We’re perfect gummy bear buddies.”

She returns my grin with one of her own and starts sorting. We spend a while talking about TV shows we like, tease each other about whether team or individual sports are harder, and what music we like. She doesn’t like boy bands like most girls I know; she likes real bands although some of them I don’t recognize the name of. She rolls her eyes when I talk about my love of hip hop. Before I know it, my watch is chirping with the alarm I set, so we could sneak back before final bed checks.

“Do you want to do this again tomorrow night?” I ask.

Say yes.

Please say yes.

“Sure.” She shrugs like she could not care less one way or another.

“Cool.” I am definitely more excited about this than she is. I almost hugged her.

Gross.

“Lev?” Con smacks my chest with the back of his hand. “We’re here. Move your ass.”

I unfold myself from the car and scan the first level of The Abyss. I’m going to need a drink right fucking now. Then I’m going to grab the first girl that walks by giving methe look.

“Are you okay?” Despite the permanent scowl etched onto his face and harsh tone to his voice, I know he’s actually showing concern right now, not annoyance.

“I’m good, bro.” I pat his cheek and walk into the fray.

---