by Megan Wade
“Hayden!” My back arches off the dock, my head falling back as I call out, my insides releasing a surge of heat as I tighten around him, my hips making involuntary movements as I come undone around him. “Oh, god. Oh, god!”
“Holy shit,” he grunts, hissing through his teeth as he places both hands either side of my shoulders and thrusts once more, burying himself so deep it feels like we might be joined in this way forever.
If the shudder of his body didn’t tell me, the pulsing twitch inside me tells me he’s letting go, filling me with his seed as we kiss and touch like this is what we were always meant to be—lovers, partners, soulmates.
Emotion overwhelms me, and I turn my face, tearing my mouth from his as tears flood my eyes, my chest hiccupping.
“Hey.” Hayden places a hand on my cheek and turns me so I’m looking his way again, his eyes filled with concern. “I didn’t hurt you too much, did I?”
I shake my head. “No. Not at all. It’s just…” Emotion causes another sob to escape before I can finish.
“Just what? You can tell me, beautiful. You’re mine now. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I just… I love you is all,” I finally manage. “I love you, and that was so fucking beautiful that I hate myself for ever thinking I could possibly hate you.”
I burst into tears again, my hands going to my face to cover my foolishness. Hayden’s arms instantly go around me, pulling me until I’m sitting against him, my legs around his waist, his cock still inside me as he whispers sweet words and reassurances.
When I finally get control of my emotions enough to take a calming breath, I place my hands on either side of his face and stare deep into his eyes. “I’m so in love with you, Hayden Corby,” I whisper as I move against him again.
His body reacts instantly, one hand dropping to grip my hip on a hiss. “And I'm so in love with you, my beautiful storm. So fucking in love.”
Hayden
I drop my T-shirt over the top of her head when we get back to shore, even though all I really want to do is go back to that diving platform and fuck her until the sun rises. But since there are other lake houses around here, I’m not too keen on sharing her delectable curves with any early morning fishermen. She’s mine and mine alone.
Besides, the moment that sun cracks over the horizon, I’ll be on Davey duty—and that kid is a tornado of energy first thing in the morning.
“Would I sound too over the top if I said I wanted this night to last forever?” Zoey asks, tilting her sweet face up to me.
I long for a life of carelessness, the ability to make selfish decisions and to follow my own path. That time in my life is coming, but it isn’t here yet. And even though I long for it, I feel like shit for wanting it. I feel like shit for wanting to leave home and essentially abandon Davey. Even though I’m aware he has two parents who can alter their work schedules for him, I still feel like an ass for it. ‘Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it.’ I have the words inked on my skin. All I have to do is follow them, find my own path and place in this world.
Pushing my troubled thoughts to the side, I pinch Zoey’s upturned chin between my forefinger and my thumb, leaning down to press a sensuous kiss to her lips, inhaling her scent, the reason I’ve always longed to break free.
“I think I would enjoy forever with you,” I murmur, moving my hand to brush her wet hair behind her ear.
“You would?” she repeats, a frown crossing her features as she steps out of my grasp.
“What?” I’m not sure I understand.
“You just said you would enjoy forever with me. Like you wish you could, but you know you can’t. What is this, Hayden? Am I just some Fourth of July conquest to you? Were you lying to me on that dock? Because you were very good at the...the sex thing for a guy who never did it before.”
“I didn’t lie,” I say immediately, stepping forward and wrapping my hand around her wrist. “Everything I said on that dock was the truth. It was my first time, and fuck, Zoey, I told you I love you.”
“Guys say that kind of stuff all the time, and they don’t mean it,” she says, tears filling her eyes.
“Fuck,” I growl, grabbing her face in both of my hands and kissing her hard. She fights me for a moment, her hands around my wrists pushing, but it doesn’t take long before she’s sighing into my mouth and sinking against my body, kissing me back.
“Hayden.”
“I love you, Zoey Storm,” I whisper, still holding on to her face. “I love you in a way that makes me feel like I can’t live without you, can’t breathe without you. I have hated all my years away from you, even though you’re infuriating and you nitpick the tense I speak in, and you overreact and...fuck. I want forever with you, OK? I want it. Present and future tense.”
“Oh, Hayden,” she cries, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m just so scared of losing you again. I only just got you back, and we only have two days before we have to leave again and I—”
I don’t let her continue. Instead, I slide my hand around to the back of her head and kiss the life out of her. There’s a lot of shit in this world that’s out of our control, but right now, all we can do is make the most of the moments we have.
Zoey
Sleep is almost impossible. Knowing Hayden is only a few doors away from my room has me lying awake and staring at the ceiling, trying to work up the courage to go to him. It seems silly being so nervous all of a sudden, I mean, we’re both adults now, and after what we did out in the center of the lake on that platform, I shouldn’t think twice about climbing into bed beside him. There’s no law against two eighteen-year-olds engaging in premarital relations, but it’s the fact we’re under my parents’ roof, sharing a space with his family too, that keeps me tucked beneath my blankets, staring up at the ceiling while reliving the way he felt—against me, over me, under me, inside me. A delighted shiver runs through me as I roll onto my stomach, watching the pink-and-peach-colored sky shift to blue while delighting in the gentle ache between my legs that tells me last night wasn’t a figment of my imagination. It was very real…
Now what?
That’s the question that keeps interrupting my happiness. In a little over twenty-four hours, we both go back to our separate lives until the summer is over, and then we head off to college. Sure, we can do this thing long distance, but just how far apart are we going to be? What kind of a toll will travel and study and distance take on something that is so new?
Maybe I’m overthinking this.
A gentle tap sounds on my door before the handle turns and Hayden’s gorgeous face smiles at me. “Hey, beautiful. You get much sleep?”
I sit up on my elbows, grinning like mad just from having him this close. “Not a wink. But I’m not tired.”
“Wanna come for a walk? Davey wants to go exploring.”
“He’s up?”
“As soon as the first bird chirped.” Hayden pushes the door a little wider. “Come on. I made you breakfast.”
I didn’t think I could grin any wider, but I do. “You did? I think I like grown-up Hayden—he’s naughty and nice.”
Hayden gives me a wink as he withdraws from the door. “Just don’t tell anyone. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Throwing on my swimsuit and a dress, I twist my hair into a messy bun then bounce my way downstairs. The house is so quiet with the parents still sleeping while Hayden, Davey, and I sit around the counter eating toaster waffles and fruit. It feels like we’re in our own little bubble of happiness like this is how things could be for us, so I decide to hold onto this feeling for today at least; to spend the day together, to enjoy the fireworks and relish in each moment we have until we drive off in opposite directions tomorrow. Then we’ll worry about how this is going to work out when college starts.
For now, I just want to be in love and happy.
Hayden
“How long does it take to catch a fish?” Davey asks as he sits on the edge of the
dock at the boathouse. The moment I stepped foot inside it, the memory of watching that boat sink after I pulled its plug flashed clear in my mind. Normally, it was me daring Zoey to do something reckless before she upped the ante and we really got into trouble. But that weekend, I was destructive all by myself, angry that my life was turning upside down.
“As long as it takes,” I say, shrugging my shoulders as I lean back and let the sun warm my face. Zoey sits beside me, cross-legged while she works on untangling a lure we found in the tackle box.
“And what am I ‘sposed to do while it takes so long?” Davey complains.
“You think,” Zoey volunteers. “Or you sing to yourself. It’s supposed to be relaxing.”
Davey bobs the fishing pole up and down. “I thought this’d be more fun.”
“How about I get the rowboat ready, and we take that out instead?” Zoey suggests. “The festival on the other side of the lake should be starting soon. We can go and see what rides they’ve set up.”
“Can we?” Davey’s eyes light up, and I scrub my hand over the top of his head.
“Why not? I’ll let you eat cotton candy until your belly aches.”
“Yes!” Davey pumps his fist as Zoey gets up and heads back inside the boathouse.
I haven’t had a moment alone with her all day, so I take the opportunity to snatch a quiet moment with my girl, instructing Davey to stay put.
She’s unwinding the rope securing the rowboat’s storage sling when I sneak up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist.
“Finally,” I say, spinning her in my arms and pressing her against the boathouse wall and kissing her deep, my tongue taking leisurely stokes against hers as I breathe her in. “All I can think about is how much I want to be inside you again.”
“Me too,” she says, lacing her fingers behind my neck. “Do you have to babysit the entire day? Or will your parents step in at some point?”
I drop my eyes. “He’s my responsibility.”
She frowns when I meet her eyes. “Always?”
“Almost always,” I say, pressing my lips to hers again. But the passion doesn’t win this time. Instead, she places her hand on my chest and meets my eyes with her concerned gaze.
“That doesn’t seem very fair. How do you socialize? How are you supposed to go to college? Wait. Is this why Bart was so down on you leaving last night?”
I reach up and tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, my fingers brushing the soft skin on her cheek. “Can we skip this talk? I really don’t want to get into it.”
“Of cour—”
“Fish!” Davey’s excited voice calls out, followed by an Argh! and a splash. Zoey and I break apart immediately, rushing out onto the dock to find Davey in the water, his little arms and legs working like crazy even though his life jacket is keeping him afloat.
“How did that happen?” I ask, dropping into the water beside him and helping him back up. Zoey offers her hand, and we’re back to safety in no time.
“Are you OK?” Zoey asks, draping a towel around his body.
Davey giggles. “I got excited about the fish and fell in. But I think I lost your fishing rod.”
“Oh, I don’t care about the rod. Just as long as you’re OK.”
“Oh yeah,” he says, nodding confidently. “Hayden taught me how to swim.”
Zoey meets my eyes and smiles. “You’ve got a pretty amazing big brother.”
We share an intimate look, and damn, if I don’t want to get back to kissing her again, but I have to be PG around my little brother. Plus, the chugging sound of a boat motor draws my attention to the water.
“What the hell was that?” Mom demands, standing on the deck with her hands on her hips and her mouth tight.
“It was nothing. He’s fine,” I say, standing up as Davey tells them about his fish.
Zoey’s parents are listening kindly to his tale of the one that got away while Mom and Bart glare at me.
“That was not fine,” Mom says, pointing her finger at me. “He was on the dock—By himself—when he went in.”
“It’s OK, Mom,” Davey says, pausing his story. “I can swim.”
“He’s five years old,” Mom accuses. “Where were you?”
“I needed his help getting the rowboat ready,” Zoey offers, trying to help. “We were about to take Davey to the festival. And he had his life vest on, and we got him out straight away—he was never in any danger.”
“I’m OK,” Davey assures them, waving his arms about to prove his point. He’s seen this kind of reaction before.
“This is exactly why I don’t want you going off to some fancy college,” Bart adds, causing me to bristle. It always comes down to this. “You can barely pay attention to your little brother, let alone motivate yourself to complete a degree. What the hell am I paying for? Your chance to go away and party?”
My teeth press together so hard I swear I hear one crack. “Let me get this straight,” I force out. “You’re threatening my future because Davey got wet?”
“He could have drowned,” Mom insists.
My hands go to my hair, raking back and forth before I turn away, knowing how futile arguing with them is. “Come on, Davey. We’ll get you dried up then walk to the festival.”
“No!” Zoey yells, blocking Davey’s path. “Davey is fine! We were right inside and came running straight away. If you’re so worried about his safety, maybe you should be watching him yourself instead of treating Hayden as your glorified babysitter. Davey is your child, after all. Maybe you should try spending some time with him instead of acting like spoiled children.”
Mom gasps. Bart scowls. I curse under my breath.
We might have come here to see the fireworks, but I think they might already be happening.
Zoey
“Now, Zoey, that’s no way to talk to our guests,” Dad says, his voice half-stern, half-wary. I can see the way he’s looking at Bart and Mary. Threatening to take away Hayden’s college hopes was crossing the line for my dad who’s an architect who wouldn’t be anywhere near as successful as he is without his college degree. Same as my mom, who’s a pediatrician. Bart’s stance on college being a waste of time has already bristled them the wrong way, and since we all saw how hands-off they are as Davey’s parents, I know my parents are really on my side here but trying to keep the peace.
“Maybe our guests could quit treating Hayden like the unpaid help while they relax and party like they’re not the ones responsible for Davey’s safety. Hayden was up at five this morning to give Davey breakfast while you all slept in. Where’s his thanks for that? Where’s his thanks for keeping him entertained all day while you drifted about in the lake enjoying your free time? Where’s his free time? He’s eighteen. But he has the responsibilities of someone who’s thirty with kids.”
Mary’s mouth falls open while Bart’s face turns red. I’m expecting steam to whistle out his ears at any moment, which is when Mom steps in.
“Hey, Davey, how about you hop on the big boat with us, huh? We can go to the fair, and you can be my partner on all the rides. Peter is too scared, so I really need someone brave enough to hold my hand.” God bless you, Mom. I have a feeling they’re cursing under their breath that they raised such an outspoken woman for a daughter, but I also think they’re probably a little proud of me right now too.
“Can we be in the boat for the fireworks too?” Davey asks, already holding his arms out as Dad reaches out for him.
“Oh, yeah,” Dad says. “I’ll even let you be captain for a bit. Zoey’s too grown up to play captain with me anymore.”
“Yay!” Davey cheers, holding onto the wheel while Dad puts the boat into reverse.
“Go and be kids,” Dad calls out as we pull away. “Like you said, you’re eighteen now. It’s all downhill from here. Have fun while you can.” He gives us a wink and a salute—that Davey copies too—then turns the boat around. I don’t miss the scowls on Hayden’s parents’ faces. But I also know they’re n
ot about to cause any more of a scene in front of my parents.
“We’ll discuss this at home,” Bart calls out, a parting shot that lets Hayden know this issue isn’t over. He shakes his head and walks into the boathouse. I find him sitting on the wooden floor, his head resting against the wall.
“Am I the asshole here?” he asks, tapping his head against the wood like he’s trying to knock the frustration out.
“No,” I say as I approach.
“Then why do I feel like one? I love Davey. I do. He’s a great kid. But...but he’s my brother. I’m not his parent. I want to do what other guys my age can do. I want to go away to college, have a career, start a life. But at the same time, I feel like an asshole for dumping him. He’s been my responsibility for so long, I’m struggling with the guilt of wanting to leave.”
“That doesn’t make you the asshole, Hayden. It kinda makes your mom and Bart the assholes. Is he always like that?” I ask, sitting beside him.
He takes a breath and reaches for my hand, threading our fingers together before he lets that air out. "Not always."
"What will you do if he won't pay for college?"
"Get a student loan. Work. I don't know. But I’m not giving up on going. I can’t."
"I'm sorry. I probably made things worse. I shouldn't have snapped the way I did."
He lifts my hand to his lips and presses a kiss to my knuckles. "If you'd stood there silent, I'd have wondered where the Zoey I've loved all my life had gone. I love that you're a fighting spirit."
"Still, no man wants his girlfriend fighting his battles for him, huh?"
Hayden grins. "Is that what you're calling yourself now? My girlfriend."
My cheeks burn as my mouth falls open, nonsense words spluttering out as I try to back pedal. "I..."
