Eli sighed and looked at the bottle. “Here’s to finding our soul mates like Ace and Riley did.” He tipped the bottle towards us and grinned. His whole body shook when he swallowed.
Ace ran his hand along my arm. When I looked at him, he winked.
“My turn!” Aiden shouted as he took the bottle from Eli’s outstretched hand. “To the Seven!” Tipping the bottle back above his open mouth, he poured a stream of amber liquid in and swallowed. He pounded his fist against his chest and shouted, “Whooo!”
“Show off,” Mark said, grabbing the bottle from Aiden and laughing. “Here’s to making this week the best damn one we’ve had here!” The bottle tilted and sloshed when he brought it back down. He shook it at me, and I stood up to take it from him.
The seriousness of the moment made my chest tighten. It was like saying goodbye before it was time. I pulled a deep breath that came from the tips of my toes, but the tightness wouldn’t go away. For whatever reason, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it would never really be the same again when the guys went their separate ways.
I hugged the bottle against my chest and trembled. Ace’s arms wrapped around me, and the first tear fell. My thoughts weighed heavy on me and for once, I just let them out without worrying what anyone thought. “Promise me this isn’t the last time we’ll all be together.” I searched their faces, looking for something, but I wasn’t sure what.
I think they felt it, too. That pull that said, ‘This is it—so make the most of it.’ I cleared my throat, uncomfortable with the silence. “To the best guy friends a girl could ask for.” I brought the bottle up to my lips and took a long swallow, closing my eyes when the alcohol burned a path down my throat. Ace’s hand rubbed in soothing strokes against my shoulder. I blinked to clear my watery eyes and handed Ace the bottle, as the rum hit my stomach like a fireball. Warmth bloomed against my skin as Ace’s voice rolled over me. “I agree with Riley. We need to make a pact here and now that we’ll always make our way back here. But I want to add to that. I want us to keep in touch. I know it won’t be easy with where all of our lives are taking us, but it’s important. So with that said… here’s to us.”
Ace didn’t make a sound, not even a hiss, when he tipped the bottle back and took a swig.
The moment was broken when a set of headlights cut across the field, and Paige’s car came into view.
“Well, it’s about damn time,” Mark huffed under his breath. I looked over at him and found him watching Paige until her car pulled to a stop, and she got out.
Jared grabbed the bottle from Ace. “To Paige!” The bottle was passed around again until it landed in Mark’s hand.
“To you,” he said as he stood when she got closer. He handed the bottle over to her, and she didn’t even hesitate as she took two long pulls from the bottle. Jared, Aiden, and Eli howled out supporting cheers until Paige handed the bottle back to Mark.
“What a suck-ass day. I needed that, especially having to come out here and deal with y’all too,” Paige muttered.
Mark rubbed the spot over his heart. “Been waitin’ on you to get here.”
“Jesus, Paige, would you just put him out of his misery already?” Jared asked as he walked over and took the bottle from Mark. He screwed the lid on and stuffed it back in the cooler.
PAIGE PEGGED MARK WITH A hard look. “Do you know what your idiot friend did when he came to see me today?”
Mark groaned. “No.” He looked back at Jared. “What the hell did you do? I asked you to stop in and invite her out here. By the looks of it, you added your own spin on it.”
Jared’s face split into a grin that threatened to swallow his face. “You mad, bro?”
Paige pushed past Mark and advanced on Jared. “I’ve put up with a lot of shit over the years from you, Jared. But if you ever show up at my work again and do what you did today, I promise, I will castrate you, so that the chances of ever having a little Jared will be gone.”
Aiden lost it. He laughed so hard that he fell out of his chair. Jared’s face stayed plastered with his shit-eating grin.
“Aw, come on, Paige. It was funny!”
Paige’s arm came back and her fist shot out, but Mark caught her and yanked her backwards at the same time, saving Jared’s face.
Jared snapped his teeth together at her and danced further away. “Vicious.” He was baiting her… and loving every second of it.
Paige was sputtering mad, trying to get Mark to release her. When Mark realized that she wasn’t going to give up, he scooped her in his arms and carried her to the cabin. She struggled and kicked. He stopped when he almost dropped her and set her on her feet. He didn’t give her time to steady herself, as he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.
“Stop it, Paige!” He sounded angry, but the fight went out of her, and she spun away, all but running into the cabin.
Jared whistled. “That’s an orgasmic explosion waiting to happen.”
“Why do you always push people so hard?” The question slipped out of me before I could stop it.
“Because some of you are too stupid to see what’s in front of you while it’s standing right there,” he replied.
What did that mean? I couldn’t be more in focus of what was in front of me. “Why are you so pissed? It’s not like it’s your love life we’re talking about here. Let it happen on its own, Jared. Forcing something makes it awkward.” He had the decency to wince at what I’d said.
Mark and Paige’s argument grew louder until we could hear everything they said. Ace shook his head and walked towards the house. As soon as he stepped inside, their voices cut off. Seconds later, he came out holding a radio and plugged it into an extension cord that he dragged behind him. He flipped the power on and turned the volume up enough for us to hear Florida Georgia Line crooning. Ace held his hand out and pulled me up into his arms. Singing along, he spun me in a circle.
The song ended, and the spell broke between us. The guys had ignored us, caught up with giving each other hell. A few minutes later, Mark came back out with Paige. She seemed calmer and a little glassy-eyed. The rum had probably kicked in. Paige wasn’t one to explode, but when she did, it didn’t last long. It was like a violent storm that blew out just as fast as it blew in, but it could leave devastating destruction in its path.
Falling into a chair across the fire from me, Paige rubbed her head. Mark pulled a beer out of the cooler and handed it to her before he went to sit next to her. Jared walked over and kicked at her shoe, so she’d look at him. Her eyes snapped up, and a frown stretched out over her face. “What, Jared?”
“Sorry, Paige.”
“What the hell possessed you to do that? Do you know how many people came up and asked me when I was due?”
Mark’s breath hissed between his teeth. His hands clenched on his bouncing knees.
“How the hell was I supposed to know those old biddies would jump to that conclusion? Wait, they seriously asked you that?”
“Yes…” The word dragged out like a hiss.
“What the hell did you say, Jared?” Aiden asked.
Paige kicked him in the ankle, and Jared winced as he stepped back to put a safe distance between them. “This idiot cornered me and asked me when I was going to quit hiding it from everyone.”
Jared snorted. “Clearly, I meant something else.”
“Yeah, well, did they know that?” Paige shot back at him.
Paige cracked her beer open and lifted it up. “You’re a real dickhead, Jared.”
Jared swooped in and took it from her hands. “You can’t drink that in your condition!”
Paige shot out of her seat and took off after him. He was smart enough to run. Mark groaned and leaned his head back, looking up at the stars. “When will he learn to leave things alone?”
I heard Paige shriek, and then Jared hooted with laughter.
“Put me down, Jared Jackson!” Paige’s demand was followed up by a laugh. “You’re impossible!”
Jared
strode out of the darkness. “Good news! She’s not expecting. Aiden, get this woman a beer!”
Josh beat him to it as he grabbed a new can and handed it to Paige when Jared lowered her to her feet.
“Fuckin’ Jared. How can he piss you off and make you laugh at the same time?” Paige asked, sliding back into the seat beside Mark.
“We’ve wondered that for years,” Eli said, crushing his can between his hands. Before he could ask, Josh chucked another beer at him.
“Is anyone else glad that Mark and Ace’s rooms are at the end of the hallway?” Jared asked.
Ace groaned beside me when everyone else chuckled.
“Jared, go get your guitar.” I no sooner had the idea out of my mouth then Jared was halfway across the yard.
“Ace, come help me.” Jared didn’t wait for a reply as he slipped inside.
“Good call. With his hands and mouth busy, he can’t say anymore stupid shit.” Ace winked at me and got up to help Jared.
They came out with a guitar in both hands. Jared handed one to Josh, and Ace handed one to Mark. Eli could play, but he was happy to sit and listen. Playing the guitar had never been his thing; he preferred belting out each song as loud as possible.
The hours passed by as the guys plucked away, and we sang along. When the beer ran out, the rum bottle got passed around, until that too, was gone. The fire died out, and the mood mellowed. A yawn passed around the group several times before Aiden called it a night first.
“What’s on the agenda tomorrow?” Eli asked.
“The Hole,” Mark and Jared answered together.
“Cool. See y’all in the morning,” Eli gave a brief wave in our direction and zigzagged his way to the cabin.
“I’m calling it a night, too,” Josh said as he got up from his seat and stretched.
Ace stood and put his hand out to help me up. “I think we should all call it a night.”
My stomach lurched when I got to my feet and swayed. I’d drunk way more than I ever had before.
Ace helped steady me. “You okay?”
When my mouth opened to answer him, I hiccupped. He shook his head with a soft chuckle. “Yep, you’re toast.”
I giggled, leaning heavily on him as I stumbled along beside him to the cabin.
“Can y’all get the door?” Mark called out as the door closed behind us.
Jared walked past us. “I got it.”
Mark sidestepped Jared with Paige cradled in his arms. “Dang, Paige is passed the fuck out,” Jared said, looking down at her.
“Yeah, let’s just hope she keeps it all down and doesn’t spew everywhere tonight.” Mark sighed.
It was like his words triggered my gag reflex. I half stumbled, half ran to the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet when my stomach tried to leave my body.
I begged and pleaded for the volcano in my stomach to stop erupting. Miserable, I was so miserable that I wanted to die. I cursed everything and anything. Ace stayed beside me, holding my hair and wiping my face with a washcloth. He even fed me chips of ice, telling me to suck on them and spit it out. It worked until I swallowed a mouthful of the cold water and retched again.
When my stomach finally decided it was done purging itself, Ace handed me some ibuprofen and a lukewarm glass of water. I eyed them warily, but he told me that if I didn’t take them, I’d really hate myself in the morning. Tossing them in my mouth, I swallowed enough water to wash them down. When we were sure they’d stay down, Ace helped me to bed. He peeled me out of my clothes and slid one of his T-shirts over my head.
His lips met mine in a soft whisper of a kiss before he walked around and climbed into bed beside me. I inched closer and curled up against him.
“If you need anything, just wake me up,” Ace said as he ran his hand up my arm.
It hit me then. Ace had no intention of doing anything but sleeping. I felt bad, like I’d stolen a night from us that we couldn’t get back. “I’m sorry, Ace.”
He pulled back to look at me. “For what? Having a good time with our friends? I won’t say that I’m not desperate to be with you again, but I’m also glad you let go and had fun, Riley.”
I snuggled up against him and felt the weight of my eyelids dipping until I couldn’t keep them open any longer.
I WOKE UP, COCOONED IN a comforter that smelled like Ace, and winced when my head thumped like a bass drum. Never again. Never again would I touch that much liquor.
The bedroom door opened and then closed, carrying in the smell of toast. It wafted across the room, and my stomach clenched. I pulled the comforter up over my head with a groan.
“Uh-uh, Riley. You need food, headache medicine, and to hydrate.”
“Go ’way, Ace.” I lifted my hand and shooed him.
“Not gonna work.”
The comforter was pulled from my death grip, and Ace hauled me into a sitting position. “Trust me. You’ll feel better after you get something in your stomach.”
I screwed up my face, but took the cup of coffee from him. The first sip tasted good enough that I took another one. Ace took the cup from my hands and handed me a piece of toast.
I grumbled my way through it, but felt relieved when the heavy feeling I’d woken up with receded.
When I finished both pieces of toast and my coffee, Ace took the empty plate to the kitchen as I got our bathing suits out for our day at the Hole.
I could hear the guys in the kitchen; their voices had started out low as they waited for everyone to wake up.
I looked up when Mark’s door opened, and he looked at me with bleary eyes. Behind him, I could see Paige’s hair spilling over the side of the bed.
“She okay?” I asked.
He turned to look back at her and rubbed his hand against the back of his neck. “Yeah, but it’s gonna suck when she wakes up.” He tried for a smile that fell flat as he closed the door behind him and made his way to the bathroom.
Ace stuck his head into our room, “Jared said you can use his bathroom if you want.”
I nodded, grabbing my bathing suit, shorts, and tank top. Jared’s bathroom was attached to his bedroom. His parents added it when they realized that six boys and one bathroom wasn’t such a good idea.
I changed, ran a washcloth over my face and arms, and then headed back to Ace’s room. My eyes were still sensitive, so I grabbed my sunglasses and a canvas tote bag to stuff some snacks in. When I got to the kitchen, I pulled one strap off my shoulder and held it open as the guys loaded the bag down with snacks. We’d done this so many times that it was like a routine.
Mark came down the hallway, still in the T-shirt and shorts he’d slept in. “I’m gonna stay here in case Paige needs anything. We’ll meet you down there in a little bit.” He stabbed his fingers through his hair and blew out a long breath.
“If you need anything, just call my cell,” Jared said, unplugging his phone and sticking it in the snack bag.
“Thanks,” Mark said. He gave a half wave and wandered back down the hallway to his room.
Outside the screen door, I heard the sound of ice being dumped into a cooler. The ice machine had been delivered two years ago during one of our summer stays at the cabin. Having an unlimited supply of ice on hand was nice, especially with the brutal heat of summer. There were days when I wanted to climb inside the opening and lay on the ice just to cool off.
Josh carried the blanket we always used to spread out under the sweeping boughs of the oak tree on the bank of the Hole.
Aiden shoved bottles of water and a few sodas into the cooler, and gestured for Eli to grab one side. Together, they lifted it and carried it across the yard. We always walked to the Hole, since it wasn’t that far from the house, maybe a half mile at the most.
Ace pulled the bag from my shoulder and laced his fingers through mine. A lazy day in the sun sounded good.
We were halfway to the Hole when Jared’s phone rang. Ace pulled it out of the bag and handed it to him.
“I’ll catch up with
y’all,” he said and then answered the phone as he walked away to talk privately.
Ace and I looked at each other, both not sure what to make of it. Jared never made anything private. He’d always been an open book. Sometimes too much information spilled from him and you wished he had an off button. When I looked back over my shoulder, I could see him rubbing at his neck as he paced. Something wasn’t right.
By the time we reached the Hole, Josh already had the blanket spread out. The cooler was placed off to the side of the tree, and the guys were running down the dock. Aiden hit the water first with a splash. Eli and Josh jumped at the same time, sending a wave of water over Aiden’s head when he surfaced. All bets were off, and it became a water war for a solid ten minutes.
I still didn’t feel a hundred percent, so I opted to sit on the blanket and watch their antics. Ace stretched out beside me and leaned back on his arms, crossing his legs at the ankle. I tilted my head back and inhaled the fresh air as a warm breeze drifted over us. If the temperature of the morning had any indication of what the afternoon would be like, we’d spend the majority of the day in the water. The heat was brutal. Summer had arrived.
“Come on, you guys!” Josh flailed his arms at Ace and me.
Ace stood and put his hand out to help me up. “We better go before they come get us.”
I let him pull me up, but stopped him so that I could pull my shorts and tank top off. I watched his jaw clench and his nostrils flare when my shorts slipped past my hips and fell to the blanket below.
Before I could pick them up and fold them, Ace had me in his arms, running for the dock.
“Ace!” I shrieked, but he kept going until his feet left the dock and we were falling into the water.
I shot up to the surface, and Ace reached for me. Kicking backwards, I cupped my hands and attempted to hit him with a wave of water. He laughed and dove down, coming up behind me. When his hand settled on my hip, he pulled me against him and swam us close enough to the bank where I could touch.
I heard Jared’s four-wheeler and turned as he backed the double trailer down to unload the Jet Skis. He jumped off the four-wheeler, unhooked one, and shoved it off the trailer. His leg went over the machine, and then he was out on the water like a slingshot.
The Summer I Fell (The Six Series) Page 9
