Page 67 of Seven Lost Summers
Because suddenly, I was back there. Watching Bianca laugh so hard she could barely stand. Back to her dragging us all into a makeshift mosh pit with fifteen people, swearing it was the best night of her life. Back to the way she made everything feel bigger. Louder. More alive.
The second Quinn showed us that stub, we fucking lost it. We laughed until our ribs ached as we remembered that night.
That’s what Quinn gave us. A reason to remember. To hold onto the happy stuff, instead of drowning in the day that we lost her.
My gaze drifts toward Scarlet and Ace, tucked away at the far end of the pool, wrapped up in each other like nothing else exists. She’s on his lap, her body pressed tight against his. They’re making out, completely unbothered by the world around them.
Ace’s hands grip her waist, holding her like he’s fucking addicted.
It’s almost too much, the way they make it appear so damn effortless.
A smirk tugs at my mouth as I set my beer down, the beginnings of an idea creeping in. One I already know I won’t ignore.
Time to piss off Ace.
I shove up from my seat, roll the tension from my shoulders, and dive headfirst into the pool. The cold slams into me, dulling everything for a moment. I break the surface beside them, close enough to make my presence known.
Ace barely reacts, too busy with his tongue down her throat to notice anything else. Scarlet’s fingers are tangled in his hair, his hands still glued to her waist.
I slick my wet hair back, water dripping down my spine as I smirk.
“Damn, Ace,” I say, loud enough to make sure it lands. “You’re kissing like you’re trying to lick the inside of her lungs. We celebrating something, or just horny on a Tuesday?”
“Fuck off, Theo.”
“I would,” I shoot back, all grin and no apology, “but I’m kinda worried she’s gonna need CPR if you keep sucking the life out of her like that.”
Ace turns his head toward me, the kind of slow that says he’s already cataloging every brutal way he could take me out and still make it look like an accident.
Which means… Mission fucking accomplished.
I grin, stretching out along the pool’s edge as if I’ve got all the time in the world.
“Don’t stop on my account,” I add, smirking, every word a dare.
Ace opens his mouth, ready to put me in my place, but before he can fire off whatever smartass comeback he’s got loaded, someone cuts him off.
“Uncle Theo!”
The tiny voice cuts through everything.
I turn in time to see Alex waddling over, floaties strapped tight to his arms. His eyes are locked on me like I’m the most important person in his world right now.
Ace clenches his jaw, swallowing whatever insult he was about to throw my way.
I flash him a smug smile and push off the wall, drifting out, waiting for Alex. His tiny arms churn hard, floaties bouncing with every splash as he kicks toward me, determined as hell.
“You made it, kid,” I say when he finally reaches me, breathless and beaming.
Alex grins proudly, pushing wet hair out of his face, chest puffed as if he swam the entire ocean.
“You wanna play a game?” I ask, smirking.
His eyes light up. “Yeah! What game?”
“Who can splash Uncle Ace the most?”
His mouth parts in surprise, eyes wide with awe. A slow smile spreads as he nods, arms already pulling back, ready for war.
