The Sweetheart Sham

by Danielle Ellison

  I gulp down the water in one go. “Yup, should be fun.”

  “I’m too old to sleep on the ground, but I remember when I could. We had some good times up at the Lexington cabin.” Dad chuckles. He’s opposite of me, slowly taking in the water.

  “What are you doing tonight?”

  Dad stretches his arms behind his back. “I’ll be here. Life’s not as exciting anymore, and I’ve got to be around for Orry,” he says.

  “It was cool of you the other day, what you said to him.”

  Dad shrugs at the compliment. “He doesn’t know what he’s saying sometimes, just shooting from the mouth.” He leans against the counter as I refill my water. “Coach asked me if you were interested in playing for them as a starter.”

  “I live in Atlanta,” I say.

  Dad runs a hand down his neck. “I hear that, but I thought I’d mention it. You have options, if you wanted to stay.”

  Stay in Culler? I never thought I’d get to come visit, let alone that Dad would ask me to stay.

  I shake my head. “I couldn’t.”

  “Mom said she may be getting married,” Dad says. He puts his dirty glass in the dishwasher.

  Ma said. That means they talk? Since when do they talk? Two years of near silence and now he’s involved in our lives? I don’t know what feeling is worse. That they are friends or something now, or that she “may” be getting married. I’m the only thing holding her back.

  “You talk to Ma now?”

  Does she know the he asked me to stay? I said I couldn’t, but I could. It would be pretty easy actually. The thought is nice. I’d get to be with the guys and Will and Georgie. Lots of Will and Georgie, maybe too much. And it’d mean leaving Ma. Not like there’s anything in Atlanta other than Ma.

  “We have a couple times since you’ve been here,” Dad says.

  He says it like it’s no big deal, but it is a big deal. Ma couldn’t even stand hearing his name, let alone his voice. Now she’s talking to him about marrying someone else?

  “She mentioned the marriage thing to me,” I concede.

  “She says she’s waiting on you to give her the okay.”

  Why is everyone making a big deal about this? Why do I have to be the one who says yes to Ma? It’s her future.

  “I told her it was her decision. If she wants to take a gamble on forever, she can,” I say, and I add my glass to the sink. “And I can’t do the whole move here thing. I have basketball and Ma.” I start to walk out of the kitchen. I want him to leave it alone, but I hear him behind me. I know he won’t now. He follows me through the hallway.

  “I reckon your family is here, too. Maybe you’d want a change.”

  “My senior year? I don’t want to start over.” I’ve already moved on from this life. This was where I used to be, not where I am now. I thought it could be. Hell, I’d wanted it to be. You don’t get what you want sometimes. Things change, people move on. I did, too.

  “It wouldn’t be starting over; you already have roots here. At least think about it,” he says.

  “Sure. I gotta go pack up,” I say and head up the stairs. I don’t know why he’s trying so hard. I’m never going to have a life here again.

  Dad calls my name. I look down at him from a few stairs up. “What you said before, you’re wrong. Forever isn’t a gamble. When you find that thing you want in life, you have to hold on and you have to fight.”

  I exhale. “You didn’t.”

  I expect him to play it off, but he doesn’t. “I know. Your mom, son, she deserves someone who will.”

  “Why wasn’t it you?”

  I didn’t even mean to say that; it just came out.

  Dad furrows his brow and his shoulders slump. He looks ragged and defeated. “I was pretty stupid, I guess. I didn’t see what I had until it was gone. I have to live with that forever.”

  I hear what he’s saying, more than I want to. I wasn’t my dad, but we sure did a good job messing up relationships. I don’t want to mess up any more of them. Not with Georgia Ann or with Will, and not with my ma.

  “I can’t abandon Ma to stay here,” I say to Dad. That’s what he did, and I won’t be like him. Even if Ma does marry Lawrence and build a new life, I’m going to be there. Dad nods, but I can tell he doesn’t like that answer. I’d never choose him over her. No matter what. “I’ve gotta get ready.”

  As I head up the stairs, Will rubs his eyes and steps out of his room into the hall. We see each other there, and he’s half asleep, stumbling. “You make me sick.”

  I laugh. “What?”

  “Getting up early to run in summer,” he says. “You’re not normal.”

  “Not all of us can be perfect,” I say. I’m joking but he stands up stock straight, suddenly awake.

  “I’m not,” he says.

  “I know. I’m just kidding.” I bump him with my elbow. I missed this lug, not that I’d tell him. I don’t think he knows how glad I am to have him around. So glad I’m trying to accept him being with the girl I like.

  “Come on. Let’s see if we can complete that last mission before we have to meet everyone.”

  “Only if you shower. You stink,” Will says, plugging his nose, so I laugh and punch him. He punches back. Life doesn’t totally suck.

  …

  Everyone is already there when we make it to the parking lot at the edge of the woods. Will’s out of the truck before I’m totally in park, springing over to see Georgie, Lyla, and Spencer Newman. I catch a glimpse of Georgia Ann and Will, standing too close to each other. Ever since our night in Charleston, the last two weeks have been rough. I felt something between us. Old or new, I don’t know. Even if she was interested in me, we can’t be together. Still, seeing her with Will, as much as I love him, is like being punched in the gut over and over.

  I toss my pack on my shoulders and nod toward Jake and Abby.

  “Is this everyone?” I ask.

  “Reyes is a wimp who doesn’t do the outdoors,” Jake sighs.

  “Don’t be mean,” Abby says, smacking him on the shoulder.

  Jake shrugs. “Whatever. You’re one to talk,” he says. “Besides, you know it’s true.”

  She shakes her head. “Haley and Chris have some Howell family reunion thing.”

  Jake takes a drink of whatever’s in that water bottle. “I told them the camping trip was sacred, but tradition doesn’t mean shit. And then I didn’t invite Shelby. I figured she’d just cause drama and I need a break from that.”

  “Thank God,” Abby adds.

  “Again, one to talk,” Jake says.

  “Shut up,” she says back.

  Jake looks toward me. “Glad you’re here though, man. Someone fun needs to be on this trip.” Abby smacks him again. “I’m kidding, Christ, woman.” Jake grabs his pack from the ground, flipping his long hair over his face. “Let’s get going,” he yells to everyone.

  Abby’s hand finds his. He gives me this look that says he doesn’t want it there. Everyone falls in line and we head through the path in the woods. Jake and Abby lead the way. Everyone probably still remembers it. Most of us have walked this path every year since we were kids. The Lexington cabin is tradition—Granddad and his friends started it when they were our age. When we were little, we’d come up here with our parents for the whole weekend. You can drive right up to the cabin, but we always hike it. It’s more fun this way, and like Jake said, it’s tradition.

  There’s nothing like sleeping under the stars and eating over a campfire next to the lake, the woods, the trails. It’s already hot as balls out here, though. The humidity is sticking to me like an extra layer of skin.

  “This place is still real pretty,” Georgia Ann says. She’s on my left side. How did she end up right beside me? “This is one of my favorite weekends all summer.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes,” she says. “Why do you sound surprised?”

  “Well, you’re a Belle now.”

  The look on her face is a challen
ge. “Which means…?”

  “Belles aren’t really camping and fishing kind of girls.” Her buttons are so easy to push that it’s hard to resist.

  She scoffs. Her eyes are wide and on me. “I’ll have you know that all three of us are Belles, thank you, and we’re here. I can outfish you any day of the week.”

  “You think so?”

  “I know so,” she says.

  I hold out a hand to her. “You’re on, then.”

  She eyes my hand. “On for what?”

  “Let’s see who catches the most.”

  Georgia Ann shakes my hand.

  “You’re going to lose,” I say.

  “We’ll see, city boy.”

  I can’t help but smile. “I’m not a city boy.”

  “Tell me that again when your address isn’t Atlanta.”

  So much for keeping my distance from her.

  We’re both quiet, the sounds of twigs crunching under our feet. Will, Spencer, and Lyla are talking behind us about some TV show they’re all watching. What Dad said earlier about me moving back lingers in my head. He genuinely seemed like he wanted me to consider it. It would be nice to be here all the time. To play ball and be with my friends. Enjoy my last year at home.

  “Remember the last time we came here?” I ask Georgie.

  That summer, Drew was in charge of us. He convinced our parents not to come, and they let us take the night alone. All his friends were here and Will, Georgie, Jake, and me. I guess it’s easier to let a bunch of teenagers roam free when they’re only a few miles from home. The other kids drank beers and roasted marshmallows. Georgie and I snuck off into the lake in the middle of the night, just the two of us.

  She’s grinning. Her eyes have an extra sparkle. “I do remember. We had that massive game of flashlight tag and Anthony Greer fell asleep in the woods.”

  “Took us hours to find him,” I add.

  “You talking about Greer?” Jake asks, calling back.

  “Yeah, man,” I say.

  Jake hollers into the air. “That was crazy shit.”

  “Drew was freaking out,” Will adds.

  “What are you talking about?” Lyla asks.

  Will and Jake recap that trip for the others. While we walk, Georgia Ann’s hand brushes mine. I feel unsteady. I tell myself it’s just the uneven ground.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Georgie

  The Lexington cabin isn’t much to look at anymore. Once upon a time, though, it was. Jake’s great-great something uncle built it with his own hands. It’s at least fifty years old, since my grandparents used to come here. The whole thing is more of a storage unit now for some fishing poles, tents, and all the major camping supplies. We don’t even stay in the cabin. There’s only one bedroom, with an old twin bed on a metal frame with wires poking out the side of the mattress. There are some ugly, old couches in what used to be the living room, from the 70s or something, orange and brown flowers and birds all over it. A table with three chairs in the kitchen and one of those old fridges that locks, not that it works since there’s no power.

  “Did you find it?” Jake calls to me from the outside.

  I head back toward the door. “Yup,” I answer, holding up the tackle box as I step out onto the porch. “Victory is going to be mine.”

  “We’ll see,” Beau says.

  “I don’t care who wins just as long as we all get to eat,” Spencer says. This makes everyone laugh. Especially Will. He laughs a little too hard, and I shoot him a weird look. He shrugs.

  I carry the tackle box and the others gather up their stuff. The lake isn’t far from the cabin, and now that we have the tents and the fire pits ready, we get to enjoy the day. Fishing, swimming, then a snack and four wheelers. We’ll come back and eat, do some s’mores, and Jake will have some beers because he doesn’t care about the rules or expectations anymore.

  Lyla walks beside me. “Thanks for inviting me. I knew y’all did this, and I’m glad I got to come.”

  “Anytime. You know I love hanging out with you,” I say to her.

  Lyla smiles real big. “I know. If I can pull you away from Will now that y’all are together.”

  “You can. I promise I will budge, just tug a little,” I say.

  “That’s what she said,” she whispers. I about lose my head with laughter. She does, too. I needed this today.

  Lyla tosses a blue towel over her shoulder. “It’s nice to get away. I’m so ready for school to start again.”

  I laugh. “Oddly enough, I feel you.”

  Abby falls in step with us as the four guys walk on ahead. “So, how’s Will?”

  “Good, I reckon. Why?”

  “I’m just making sure you’re on track too, because he seems super happy,” she says.

  I watch Will up ahead, talking excitedly with the others. He does seem really happy. Like super, super happy. He had another date a few days ago, but maybe it went really, really good. He’s not been telling me much about them anymore.

  “It’s refreshing,” Lyla adds. “You know, to see a guy who’s so glad to be with someone else. Kinda like you and Beau.”

  “What?”

  “I can tell y’all are close.”

  “Friends,” I add.

  “That’s all I meant because you’re with Will,” Lyla says.

  Abby laughs. “I have that with Jake. He’s always happy to be with me.” Lyla and I exchange a glance. No one has that with Jake.

  “Really?” Lyla asks. She’s only been here a year and even she knows no one has that with Jake.

  Abby holds up her head. “Well, we’re working on it.”

  “Be careful. You know how he is,” I say to Abby. She’s been around Jake all her life, so she really has no excuse.

  Abby waves me off. “It’s going to be great. Just wait,” she says, and she runs off to the group ahead of us, inserting herself in beside Jake.

  “That boy is a player if I’ve ever seen one.” Lyla shakes her head. My eyes are still on them, but on Beau. Since that night at the pier, I keep thinking about him. Wondering if there’s any way out of this mess without hurting him. So far the answer is no.

  It’s like he feels my eyes on him because he doubles back to Lyla and me. “You ready to get your butt kicked, Georgia Ann?”

  I give him a side eye. “Please. You’re going to be very sad very soon.”

  “Yes, making you cry will make me sad.”

  “I’ll only be crying because I’m laughing so hard at you when you lose.”

  “Big words for such a little girl,” he says.

  I shake my head at him as we turn the last little corner of the woods to the lake. The sun glistens off the side. There’s a small fishing dock on one side and a couple chairs. “We’ll see about that in a second.”

  Beau reaches over and takes the tackle box from my hand. “That we will,” he says. He’s all sweaty from the walk and the humidity, but it works for him. He rushes over to the dock. Abby is stripping down into a bikini as Spencer jumps into the water.

  “Mmm-hmm,” Lyla says.

  “What?” She looks toward Beau and me, wordlessly confirming everything she implied earlier. “There’s nothing.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes. I’m with Will,” I say.

  “I know that,” Lyla assures me. She tosses her towel on the dock next to Abby’s and pulls off her shirt. Her bikini is a burnt orange color; I could never pull off that shade. “Just follow your own advice and be careful.”

  “Nothing at all,” I say again.

  Lyla says okay and then jumps into the water. Will is on the fishing side talking to Beau. When he sees me, he hands me a pole. “Catch us a bunch of dinner.”

  “I’m fixin’ to,” I say.

  Will is smiling, that real smile I love so much.

  “You seem happy.”

  “Just having fun,” he says. “I’m with my best girl, my best friend, and the sun is shining.”

  “Okay, scratch that,
you’re like super happy.”

  Will kisses my cheek. “That’s the name of the game, Georgie. Fish away.”

  With that, he also jumps into the water—leaving only Beau and me sitting on the pier, fishing poles in hand. He smirks at me, and I’m more determined than ever to catch more fish than him.

  …

  “I think all the fish are sleeping,” Beau says.

  We both look to our left. Everyone is in the water playing water volleyball except Abby, who’s relaxing on an inflatable bed. Jake takes the ball silently and throws it directly at her so it whacks her in the face. She flips off the inflatable and looks like she’s about to have a hissy fit. Beau and I snicker.

  “I don’t know how with them acting like fools,” I say.

  It’s been an hour. I have caught one fish, and it’s a sad show of my talent and ability. At least I got one. Beau didn’t get any. I want to rub it in his face, but I’m holding back my fire.

  “Maybe the fish are in a coma,” Beau says.

  I look down at my pitiful fish that’s only a little bigger than my hand. “Luckily, we have hot dogs.”

  “Are you saying you forfeit?”

  “I’m saying I’m hot, and our friends are all having more fun than us.” I point down to the fish. “Plus, I caught one, so I win.”

  Beau looks me up and down. I expect him to say something smart, but instead he puts his pole down and jumps up. “All right.” He strips off his shirt, and all I see is the sun bouncing off his skin.

  Before I can register anything beyond his abs, my fishing pole is falling from my hands and Beau is lifting me into the air.

  “What are you doing?”

  “You win, Georgia Ann!” he screams, and the others are all in the water watching us. Jake and Spencer egg him on, and then we’re both hitting the water.

  …

  Back at the cabin, we all have some snacks that someone must’ve brought up while we were fishing. There’s a cooler of food sitting on the ground when we get back. That’s the perk of being so close to home, I guess. Jake starts in with one beer and a bag of sour cream and onion chips that gets passed around the group.

  “I want to go mudding. Who’s in?” Jake asks and looks to Beau. “You riding?”

  “’Course I am,” he says.