Jade

I dragged Maria to the front door. “Are you going to go willingly, or are we doing this the whole way there?”

She huffed out a breath and pouted like a scolded child, and I almost laughed.

“Fine,” she said. “Whatever. I could use some fresh air anyway.”

We headed around the perimeter of the houses that surrounded the lake, which was shaped like a big horseshoe—thus, the name. Making our way to the lodge—which was situated at the bottom curve that connected to the two top points—we passed both the Hodgeses’ place, where Ariana and Benji stayed, and my cabin filled with the Han clan. I caught Maria giving the Hodges house the side-eye, and I knew it would be way too hard to drag her into there. Thankfully, I knew everyone would be at the lodge.

As we rounded the corner, the familiar long building came into view with its huge deck filled with Adirondack chairs for sunning and a grilling area for people to host parties or simply cook for their own family.

“It’s always great seeing the lodge for the first time, don’t you think?” I said, flashing her my brightest smile.

“Sure.”

We cut through the large kitchen/dining area, which was practically dead at this time of day, plus it was only the first day of the season, so not everyone had arrived yet. Maria slowed her pace, as if I wouldn’t notice she was stalling. Whatever happened with Ariana, putting off seeing her or any of the Hodgeses wasn’t the answer.

As we exited onto the deck, there were quite a few people sipping coffee and chatting. I watched Maria’s face fall, then she crossed in front of me and made a beeline for the railing, ignoring my confused tone as I called her name. Hesitantly, I followed her over to where you could look out over the giant lake. It was already dotted with rented kayaks and canoes. One of our favorite things to do was rent paddleboards, head out as far as we could, and then just hang out in the water. The warmth of that memory didn’t last long when I wondered if those days were over. No, I won’t let that happen.

I hooked my arm through Maria’s and said, “Oh, awesome, they already have the obstacle course set up.” I pointed to the right where a large blow-up course floated and swayed in the water. I remembered the first year we all played in it. Our parents had to drag us from the scene, and that night I crashed hard, the complete exhaustion the best feeling in the world.

I let Maria have a moment longer, and then I tugged on her sleeve. “Look, there’s your mom talking with Ariana’s mom.”

She turned and spotted the two of them. “Of course, my mother is the only one day drinking,” she mumbled quietly.

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I kept quiet. Maybe she just needed to take the edge off from all the stress and the travel.

When Maria continued to hesitate, I stood in front of her, blocking her view. “You know you can’t hide the whole summer. Time to rip the Band-Aid off.” I might not have known what happened with Ariana and Maria, but I knew Maria would have a hard time seeing everyone this summer after what happened with her family. People always had to talk, put their two cents in, and even when they were just trying to be comforting, it still could make you feel like crap.

“If Lisa Hodges is here, then Ariana and Benji have to be somewhere close.”

“Exactly. I’m glad you understand. Now, come on.” This time I just started moving and held my breath as I waited for her to follow. My brave girl was at my side a moment later, but watching Lisa as we approached made me think of Benji and the end of last summer.

The flames of the bonfire danced in front of us as we sat shoulder to shoulder on a log, trying to get dry from being in the lake after dark. Benji was so close his scent wafted under my nose: a combination of sunscreen and wood smoke.

Benji nudged me. “Great day, huh?”

When I turned to look at him, there was something in his smile I didn’t remember ever seeing before. Something in the darkness of his eyes too. It mesmerized me but also filled me with excitement. I didn’t know if he was leaning in or I was. But there we were, our lips only a breath away.

“Why’d you stop?” Maria said.

“Huh?” I didn’t realize I had stopped.

Maria snapped a finger in front of my eyes. “What’s up with you? Space out much?”

I shook my head, wanting to jump back into the daydream but knowing it was completely bad timing. “Sorry, I was just thinking…”

“That this was a mistake? I’ve been trying to tell you.”

“No, of course not.”

“Then what?”

“Nothing, I—”

“Hey, girls!” Maria’s mom came toward us, and I started walking again to meet her.

“Hi, Mrs. Silvo.”

“Oh, please, Jade. Call me Donna,” she said, giving me a one-arm hug since her other hand held a glass of wine. “I think you’re old enough now.”

“How are you, Donna?” I said hesitantly.

“Better now.” She held up her glass and took a quick sip. “You’ve turned into such a beautiful young woman, Jade.”

“Thank you. It’s good to be back on the lake.”

Donna slipped her free arm around Maria’s shoulders, guiding her toward the other women. My heart sank at seeing the embarrassed expression on Maria’s face.

Ariana’s mom, Lisa, stood and gave me a hug, then Maria, who looked stiff during the embrace. “I can’t believe how you’ve all grown.” Lisa didn’t release Maria’s hand and turned to face her. “If there’s anything you need this summer, you come find me, all right?”

Maria only nodded, then shot her gaze to her mother, probably wondering if she’d heard the quiet offer.

Of course my mother came right over to me, tapping a bottle of sunscreen against her palm. “Jade, honey, did you put on sunscreen? You know how you burn.”

It was my turn to be embarrassed. I backed away from her reach, saying, “Yes, Mother, of course I did. Geez, don’t freak out.”

“What do you mean, dear? It’s the first day, and I didn’t want you ruining your summer with a burn.” She glanced around at the other women as if searching for backup. “This is what moms do.”

Yeah, moms of children. I was nineteen years old, and I didn’t know if my mother would ever start treating me like an adult. Which was why I couldn’t even fess up to my own adult decisions. “Sorry, Mom,” I said, thinking I might have overreacted and not wanting her to feel bad.

“Ari and Benji are around here somewhere, if you girls want to go find them,” Lisa said, breaking the tension.

I nodded because that was my whole goal, but when I glanced at Maria, she was looking down at her feet. I moved in next to Maria and nudged her. “We’ll see you at the bonfire, Mrs. Hodges.”

Lisa and Donna sat, but my mother stayed standing, watching us walk away before taking a seat with the other moms.

Maria and I headed back through the lodge, but I pulled her to the side where there was a seating area in front of a fireplace and said, “Can you please just tell me what’s going on with you?” I sat on the couch and patted the seat next to me. “You’re acting so weird, and I want to help.”

She sat down. “It’s nothing. Just leave it alone, Jade. You can’t do anything about it.”

“See! Right there.” I jabbed a finger into her thigh. “You just admitted there is something!”

Maria shook her head, her eyes narrow. “What?”

“If it’s something I can’t do anything about, then that means there is something going on.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.” She got up and walked over to the large window, looking out to the water.

I followed her. “You’re avoiding…”

Arms folded, she just stood there, staring through the glass.

“Fine, but—hey, there’s Ariana on the dock. Come on.” I grabbed her hand, determined not to stop until we reached our friend and hashed this thing out.

“Ariana!” I called, waving my free arm, the other barely keeping hold of Maria.

Her beautiful golden hair blew in the breeze before she whipped around and flashed us a pearly white smile. Sadly, her expression fell a moment later, and that was all the confirmation I needed.

Damn, this is going to be harder than I thought. “The gang is all here!” I said, hugging her.

Ariana pulled back and said, “Um, yeah, I guess so.”

We all stood there in the thick silence, the only sound a motorboat in the distance. I tried to give Maria a pointed look, but she was staring off into space.

“Hey, Maria,” Ari finally said.

Maria nodded, and suddenly I was fuming. I can’t do all the work. I also couldn’t knock sense into them and force them to talk.

A loud splash came from one side of the dock, and we all rushed over to the edge, leaning over it. Climbing up the old wooden ladder, chest broad and tan, was a dreamy specimen of a boy—wait, no, a man. He shook the water from his dirty blond mop of hair, and when he opened his dark eyes, my heart jolted. He smiled. I smiled.

“Hey, Jade,” he said.

What the…

“Hi, Benji.”

“Actually, it’s just Ben now,” he said, grabbing the top of the dock, his weight dipping it farther.

The whole thing rocked, and I stumbled over the edge, shocked and breathless at how fast it all happened. I’d barely hit the water when a hand was grabbing my wrist, yanking me close to their strong body. I glanced up into Benji’s dark eyes, gripping his muscular shoulders. Where did these come from? I should have been embarrassed, but I was so overwhelmed by this man, whose face was now inches from mine.