Page 10 of Back to You
Chapter 4
It was sweltering hot for the weekend of July Fourth. One of those days where you feel sweaty and gross and your butt-sweat sticks to your seat. Luckily for me, we were on our way to the lake, just like old times.
The Fishers had been renting a little place on Lake Michigan for as long as I’d known them. Every year, they’d pack up their stuff and drive across state lines for the weekend, and every year, they’d invite me to come along.
This year was no exception. I tried to argue, but they were adamant. I was pretty sure they just didn’t want to leave me home alone, worried about what I might do. But when Dane started begging me, saying it wouldn’t be fun without me, I agreed. Maybe he was right. Maybe what I needed was a weekend in the sun.
It was always a nice little getaway. The cottage was small but cozy, with a patio that led straight out to the lakefront. Three big oaks provided plenty of shade from the hazy summer sun. There was a shed filled with all sorts of floaties and water toys, and a red brick fire pit sat at the edge of the sandy beach, surrounded by plastic lawn chairs. Countless nights had been spent roasting marshmallows around the fire and telling ghost stories.
Good times.
All I knew was that I intended to spend the entire weekend in my swim trunks, preferably lounging in the lake on a noodle. Violet was already sporting a tan, thanks to spending some time at the local pool with her friends. I was kind of jealous. The twins always tanned easily. Me? I burned. I got as red as a lobster, then I’d blister and all my skin would peel, even after using plenty of sunscreen.
The first thing we did upon arriving at the cottage was change into our swimsuits and sandals. “Last one to the lake’s a rotten egg!” Violet shouted before sprinting off across the yard, her beach towel trailing the air behind her like a purple flag.
I looked at Dane, who was wearing black trunks with yellow emoji faces on them. He grinned goofily back at me, like we were sharing some big secret. “Nice shorts.” He pointed to my own neon green pants. They were loud and proud, and people could probably see me from across the lake, but fuck it.
“They were on sale,” I said. “Besides, we’re gonna be in the water. Who cares what color they are.”
“The fish care. You’re gonna blind them.”
“Oh, fuck off,” I said, but I was laughing. It felt good to laugh.
Without warning, I smacked him across the chest and took off running. Violet squealed as I thundered down the pier and leapt into the air with a whoop. “Cannonball!” I hit the water with a big splash, and everything went quiet and bubbly. Being underwater was always so peaceful.
When I breached the surface, Violet slapped me. “You’re a big jerk.”
“You love me anyway,” I replied, if only to see her go pink and get all flustered. Yep. Dane was right. She was crushing. With a scowl, she cupped her hands and sprayed lake water right in my face.
“Geronimo!” Dane ungracefully belly-flopped right in front of us. He made waves, but came up groaning. He clutched at his stomach. “Ow. That hurt.”
“Dumbass.”
“The one and only. God, the lake feels so good.” He kicked himself through the water until he was floating on his back with a bright blue noodle tucked beneath his armpits. Violet shook out her long hair and treaded water beside us—and that was how we spent the evening, floating and joking around.
For the first time since before Mom got sick, I found myself truly having fun.
The sunset was gorgeous, the sky painted in shades of sherbert orange and raspberry pink. It looked like someone had taken a paintbrush and smeared the canvas with color. I leaned back against my floaty and enjoyed the peace.
I turned to see Dane grinning at me. “What?”
He bobbed his shoulders in a shrug. “Nothing,” he replied innocently.
“Bullshit. You’re thinking something, I know it.” Letting go of my noodle, I sank beneath the surface of the water and propelled myself forwards. I heard him shout when I grabbed him around the waist. I tried my damndest to drag him under too. We wrestled in the water for a few minutes, splashing around.
I came up for air with a gasp. Dane sputtered right beside me before throwing an arm around my neck, to try and get the upper hand. I kicked myself away from him. He barked out a laugh and grabbed the waistband of my trunks. And, since I’d lost some weight, they slipped down my hips too easily.
“Dane!”
It was my turn to yelp. I twisted out of his reach, my face burning as I yanked them back up. I spun in the water to face him, except when I did, it brought us damn near nose to nose. My breath caught in my throat. His lips were too close for comfort. It would be so easy to kiss him. Fuck, it would be so damn easy…
Our eyes met. Dane froze, his hand stilling on my shoulder. My pulse thudded wildly in the back of my skull, eradicating all thoughts in its wake. I gazed at him and tried to memorize the single threads of green and gold that seemed to weave themselves around his pupils.
For one breathless moment, he leaned in. I thought he might actually kiss me.
Then he grinned and splashed me in the face, and the moment was over, just like that.Damn.“I was thinking you seem happier, and it makes me happy. That’s all.”
“I am happier,” I told him. “Out here, it feels like I can forget about everything but the water and the sun, and the hotdogs and marshmallows we’re gonna cook over the fire. It’s nice. I’m glad you harassed me into coming.”
