Page 172 of Wildest Dreams

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It’s late in the afternoon by the time that Jason packs up to leave, having shown me how to fix up the wall and then offering to survey the rest of the house for before Aisling’s mom comes by tomorrow.

I quickly sent off a text to Aisling to see if she’d like him to check out the house, and she immediately came over, looking beautifully sun-kissed and super shy. She settled down on one of the couches with Jace for around ten minutes before saying that, if he was happy to, she’d really appreciate him looking over her first ever renovation.

And to say that Jason was impressed, given what I told him the original state of the lake house was in when we first arrived, would be a damn understatement.

I’m so freaking proud of everything that Aisling’s achieved this summer.

Afterwards, seeing as Jason runs a construction company of his own, Aisling asked for his business details so that maybe she could link up her family’s company with his for her upcoming ventures.

When they finished talking, I caught a glimpse of our group heading down into the lake for one final get-together before we all leave, so I gave Aisling a gentle kiss on the temple and suggested that she head out there with everyone else, and that I’d join them as soon as Jason and I had finished up here.

We went back to check on the drywall and Jace reiterated what he’d already told me this morning – that I need to wait until tomorrow morning to paint it, and then hopefully it’ll at least lookdry in time for Aisling’s mom’s visit.

Jason drops his toolbox on the floor in front of the backseat of his truck, closing the door and then pulling open the drivers’ side.

“Can’t tell you how grateful I am right now,” I tell him, not sure how to fully convey my gratitude. “Seriously. Thank you so fuckin’ much.”

“No problem,” he replies, clasping my hand, and then hunching down to settle inside of his truck.

Before he closes the door he jerks his chin in the direction of the lake, where the sounds of my teammates and my girl are filtering through the air.

“She did real good, especially for a first project. She should be proud.”

I nod in agreement as he closes his door, before stepping back as his tires begin crunching over the gravel.

He rolls down his window as he slowly manoeuvres over the rocky terrain.

“Will I see you in Carter Ridge after you’ve finished up here?” he calls out.

A smile pulls at the corner of my mouth and I nod my head in case he can see me in his mirrors.

“Yeah, fingers crossed Ash and I will be over to see y’all in a few days,” I call back to him, breathing out a laugh when he sticks his giant hand out of his window and gives me a quick thumbs-up.

I raise my hand in a saluting wave until his truck reaches the tall larch tree canopy, and then I turn around, eyes on the lake as I begin heading down the shore.

The late afternoon sun is bright and golden, reflecting off the warm water as my friends splash around in the lake. They’re bellowing with laughter as they throw around a football – hockey guys on one side and football guys on another.

Hunter has Fallon on his back with her long legs wrapped around his middle, his hands holding her firmly as she reaches overhead for the ball.

And Caden has Winter’s back plastered to his front, his face nuzzling into her neck, making her scream with laughter as they mess around in the middle of the fray.

Ash is the only chick splashing on her own for the ball, and I pause on the shoreline as I watch her fucking go for it.

She jumps up onto Austin’s back as he tries to hide the football from her and she claws the ball into the water, jumping down from him so that she can grab it. Then she throws her arm backwards, laughing and shouting for Logan to go long before she hurtles the ball through the air, slapping her hand against the water in excitement when he catches her shot.

Regardless of the fact that they’re playing football without any fucking rules, my chest swells with warmth as I watch Aisling howl with laughter.

My eyes trail down her body – semi-submerged in the water but exposed from the waist up – and I tug a hand through my hair as I take in her soaked khaki bathing suit and sparkling golden skin. Her hair is down and drenched, covering her entire back, and she grins widely as she catches the ball again, readjusting the cap that she’s wearing before hauling the ball over to her brother.

It’s that khaki cap that I was wearing when we first met, and watching her play with the brim that she’s got on backwards as she splashes around with all of our friends is doing crazy things to my heart.

I kick off my boots and socks, dropping the pair of swim shorts in my hand down onto the dirt beside them.

Aisling’s back suddenly straightens. As if she senses me, she slowly glances back at me over her shoulder.

We get lost in each other’s eyes for a long, beautiful moment.

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