June 20

Minett, Muskoka

Jogging down the rocky slope from the cottage down to the water, I skid the last few feet, jumping lightly onto the dock.

I'm running a few minutes late for my first day at work.

I untie the stern line, then bow and push off the dock as I jump in. Trimming down, I start my boat and accelerate as soon as the trim is down.

I spent too much time getting ready this morning, wanting to look effortlessly perfect for my first full day working alongside Greyson.

I fly around the point, slowing down at the last possible moment. Coasting in and glancing at my watch, I sigh with relief. Three minutes to spare.

I love this place. I came to visit Greyson nearly every day last summer when he worked here. I was surprised to find out he chose to work here again since he generally found the job to be too slow for his taste.

Last summer, he'd wanted to work in construction or on the grounds of the club instead. As I know all too well with him, I guess things change.

I look around at the old pine marina, now painted dark green to blend into the beautiful surroundings. Crisp white trim makes it pop, just a little, and adds an old town vibe to the building. A small shop, a large mechanic bay, and three gas pumps stand out by the water. The water sports equipment shop is just off to one side.

Tying off once I've docked, I wander over the creaky, wobbly floating docks and into the marina.

I spot Hunter, Greyson's older cousin, who manages the marina during the summers. He's four years ahead of me, and good friends with Steph and Brodie. He lives locally, other than attending college a few hours southwest of here. I smile. "Hey, Hunter, or do I call you Mr. Pruitt now that you're my boss?" I tease him, just a little.

"Hey, Ellie-bean," he opens his arms, greeting me enthusiastically, and I fly into his embrace for a big hug, returning his squeeze. The nickname brings a rush of warmth to my heart. "Hunter will be fine, or Big Boss, but I'm flexible."

Hunter is another one of those known-for-as-long-as-I-can-remember friends. He's always been what I call 'core group adjacent' since he doesn't live in the city close to the rest of us, we often drop out of touch during the year, only to pick up again each June.

We start with a short tour, the office, washroom, supplies, and working the equipment. He tells me Greyson can show me the ropes as we work, rather than go over it all today. The back office of the marina is larger than I realized, and I'm glad to see some lockers and cubbies to keep my things.

When we finish the tour, I walk back through the small office to the lockers. I punch in, according to his instructions, then head back out to the desk. The job I've signed on for is general support, so basically anything Hunter needs me to do, I'll do. It's my first real job, so all I want to do is learn and try everything.

"What do you need me on today?" I lean over the counter, peeking down at his desk and the big fat notebook he's got in front of him.

Hunter hands me a list for the week, "Opening week, Ellie. At least for the seasonal stuff, so I'll need you mostly on the resort attraction tasks this week. Inflating the rentals, taking inventory, handling rental inquiries. Just come find me if you have questions or need help. Grey knows the drill, he'll help you out."

Depends what mood he's in, I think to myself. "Great, I guess I'll just get started, then, and holler if I need you."

Jumping in, itching to be productive, I pump up the inflatable tubes and rafts that are available to rent. I have about twenty to inflate, and it's slow going with only a battery-powered pump. By the time I've done one, Greyson is pulling into the marina, ten minutes past the start of our shift. I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

He winks at me as he saunters down the dock, into the store. I overhear Hunter reminding him about timeliness, responsibility, and work ethic. Still, even I have to admit that it would be a hard pill to swallow coming from Hunter, one of the least responsible of us all, historically speaking of course.

By the time Greyson comes back out, he's grinning, so obviously whatever they'd discussed hasn't had any lasting effect on his mood, which is unpredictable enough as it is.

I brace myself as he walks over to me, but he only takes the spare, manual pump and begins helping me inflate the water toys.

Each time a boat comes for gas, he handles the gas pump, showing me how to track the meter and then teaches me how to take payments inside.

We settle into a nice rhythm, and Greyson always comes back to help me with whatever I'm working on. Until the tension releases from my shoulders, I wasn't aware it was there. Relief flows through me. At least we seem to be able to work together just fine.

A few hours later, we get a boom of cottagers and hotel guests from up the road wanting to take the tubes and rafts for the afternoon in the beautiful weather.

A little more than halfway through my shift, I take a break, grabbing a popsicle from the freezer, and sit on the end of the dock, dangling my legs in the water. This dock sits lower on the water, so I can actually reach, and the cool water feels so good in the heat of the day. It must be about thirty degrees celsius already, and it isn't even one o'clock.

The dock creaks behind me, and I see Greyson's bare feet to my right. "Mind if I join you?"

Shading my eyes with my hand, I look up at him and shake my head, sucking on my strawberry popsicle. The juice is running down my hand as I try to eat it quickly enough in the heat.

Greyson reaches over, snatching it from my hand to take a big bite, grinning at me.

"Hey, get your own," I take my popsicle back, smiling, even though I'm a little annoyed. Does this boy have no boundaries?

"You're the one making a giant mess of yourself. I'm only trying to help. His hand reaches out, and he brushes his thumb across my bottom lip slowly, deliberately, before bringing to his lips and licking it, sucking the popsicle juice from his fingertip. "Mmm, my favorite flavor."

I nearly choke on my frozen treat. Me or the popsicle?

My thoughts crash into each other, and my heart skips a beat, well more like twenty, but it's hammering wildly now, trying to thump back into its normal rhythm.

I turn my focus back to my popsicle, but I leave the last dripping bite for Greyson, much to his pleasure.

I rinse my hands in the lake and lean back on my arms, turning my face towards him, closing my eyes against the sun.

I'm not really sure how to tackle this next part, but I need to know where we stand. Where he stands.

I'm not going to turn myself into an anxious mess, waiting to see what he decides to do next. We'll work practically every day together for the next two months, after all. I cycle through my thoughts quickly, looking at the facts.

We enjoyed a month spending time together, romantically, last summer. Well, I enjoyed it at any rate. He's ignored me for almost a year, and now, he wants to be friends like he wasn't an ass for the past ten months? Plus he's already tormenting me with his suggestive teasing.

I decide to just say what's on my mind, it's worked with him before, the direct approach.

"Greyson, you're confusing me. Can you please just tell me what you want? You pushed me away all year, and now, what, you want to be my friend?"

"I'll be whatever you'll let me be." Is his quiet answer.

Still refusing to open my eyes, grateful the sun is blazing in my direction, I continue, "Why now? What's changed? You ditched me last September, threw your dates in my face all year, turned me down, twice, I might add. Then, this past week alone, I've woken up to you watching me, touching my face while I sleep, your hands have been on me when we're climbing, jumping. You kissed my cheek, my neck. Then you apologize for this Chiara girl's interest in you, but you haven't spoken to me since, even though you said you wanted to. I just don't know what's going on, and it's confusing." My bubbling, slightly manic, confused outburst leaves me feeling uncertain. So does his silence.

After a few agonizing moments, Greyson slides his sunglasses onto my face, since his back is to the sun. So much for that excuse to keep my eyes closed. I sigh, opening them, blinking a few times to clear my vision, so I can see him. His stare is intense, focused. I bite my lip nervously.

"I want to spend time with you again, Elle. As friends, as more than friends. I've wanted it for a while. I didn't know how to talk to you about it, so I just thought I'd try to show you. I ended up tangling things up, pushing too hard on old habits. I'm sorry about before, I'm sorry for how I treated you."

My traitorously weak heart catches at the part where he says he's wanted this for a while. But then why didn't he say something? Do something?

"Greyson, you can be sorry, but it doesn't really change the fact that you did it, or the why behind it."

His hand reaches out, and he runs a fingertip over the bracelet on my wrist. I pull my hand away, tucking it between my thighs so I don't do something stupid, like hold his hand, or let him link our fingers together.

"What can I do, Elle? To show you I'm sorry, I mean." His eyes are serious, uncertain.

"I can't tell you what to do. You have to decide for yourself. Let's look at the facts for a second. First, we enjoyed our time together last summer. Or at least I did."

He opens his mouth, probably to tell me he did too, or something like that to reassure me, but I hold a finger up, signalling I'm not done. After a year of waiting, he can wait a stupid minute.

"Then, you ignored me not only on a romantic level, but as my friend. With no explanation. Do you have any idea how that felt?"

I'm on a roll, so I keep going, it's like a dam has opened in my heart, and all the uncertainty, all the stress, and anxiety rush out of me.

I deflate a little, my confidence waning when he's silent for a moment. I breathe a deep sigh of relief when he turns back to me.

"All I can do is tell you how sorry I am. I was always your friend, will always be your friend, I just didn't show it. I'll say it again, over and over, until you can see it. I'm sorry."

I don't know why, but his surface level apology makes me angrier, rather than its intended purpose, to soothe.

"Greyson, you can say you're sorry until you run out of air, but it doesn't really change the fact that you did it. How can I possibly know you won't treat me the same way again? I'm not willing to risk it, I'm not an idiot. I also want to know if there's something between you and that girl."

I cringe at how jealous I sound at that moment. I try to look casual, to convince myself that I'm only curious, not jealous.

His deep sigh, followed by silence, makes me wonder if he's going to answer at all.

"I know you're not an idiot, Elle. Nothing is going on between Chiara and I. There hasn't been anything for a while. She was just a... a distraction."

Greyson rubs the back of his neck, "As to the rest? My life is a mess. I was hanging with a bad group of friends. You're too soft, too good. They would've eaten you alive. But after spending time with them, I realize that maybe they're not the kind of friends I want. I'm a better person with you, Hud, Theo, and Ry. Anyway, I'm sorry. Think you can forgive me?"

I nod, sighing again. "Of course I can forgive you, Greyson. I can forgive you as my friend, immediately, just this once."

I don't know what to say about the other stuff. On the one hand, I've wanted Greyson to apologize for so long, and to want to spend time with me again, really want it. I need to buy some time to think.

"I just don't know about all the other stuff." I look over at him, letting all the uncertainty, stress, and insecurity show. "I don't know. I just don't feel like myself when I'm with you, not anymore. It bothers me."

"You can be whoever you want with me, Elle. You know that."

I know, I think to myself. That's why you were able to hurt me the way you did, because I was an unfiltered, unprotected version of myself with you.

Sighing, pushing my thoughts away, I let out the deeper concerns I have. Now or never, I guess.

"I used to know who you were, without a shadow of doubt. I think that's part of what throws me off so much." Even though it's hard to look him in the eyes, I refuse to let myself look away. "I had complete faith in the Greyson I knew. He would never have treated me the way you did, and I'm scared you'll do it again. I'm scared my Greyson is gone."

I watch the pain flash across his face at my words. "I'm sorry, Elle. I don't have any excuse, I was an asshole. I can still be your Greyson. I want to be."

"It wasn't only you. Maybe I put too much pressure onto our new side of our relationship, too many hopes or expectations. That's my problem, I guess."

"It's not only your problem, Elle. You had no reason to believe I'd act the way I did, and I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you. I promise, just give me the chance. Just one more chance."

He reaches over to take my hand, stroking his thumb over my palm. It makes me shiver. It also reminds me of the physical effect he has on me, and how much I've missed the buzz of electricity that only he seems to be able to create. "I swear I can be who you remember. Let me show you."

I look away, not entirely certain I won't regret my next words. "You better be sure this time. Not only about our friendship, but the other stuff too. I am not ready to dive in headfirst. I didn't like how you made me feel, and if we decide to keep spending time with each other in that way, we're telling people this time. No more secrets."

"I'll take what I can get, Elle. Any chance to show you I'm serious this time. Maybe this is pushing my luck, but do you want to grab a bite at Frac's tonight? Consider it a first friendly date?"

My heart leaps. Traitor. He's actually asking me out on a date? Frac's is like the place to hang all summer. You don't take someone there if you want to keep it a secret. Literally, everyone on the lake goes.

I offer a half-smile, "I'd like that, but it's going to take a little time before I'm fully on board. Let's start with a friendly dinner tonight and hang out a bit, okay? See how we feel in a few days." I emphasize the word friendly.

He squeezes my hand, and lifts it, linking fingers and placing a quick kiss to the inside of my wrist, right over my pulse before pulling me up to stand with him.

By the time we lock up, Greyson and I are both hot, sticky, and a little sweaty from the day. I strip down to my bathing suit, jumping into my boat.

"Let's take my boat tonight, Elle. Leave yours here. I'll pick you up on the way tomorrow."

I grab my bag and keys, then jump back onto the dock. "You have to be on time, then. You might be fine with being late to work, but I'm not." I wince a little at the bossy note in my tone.

His laughter rolls out across the dock as I walk towards him. "So noted." He takes my bag, then starts the engine while I untie and push the stern out as hard as I can to help him maneuver the boat out.

We swim off his boat in the middle of the lake, rather than drive home to shower. In these small moments, it's easy to forget the year that's passed since last summer as we're laughing and splashing, playing in the water. I have to remind myself he'd hurt my feelings by being careless with me, and if I wasn't careful, he'd probably do it again.

That's my problem, though. I love Greyson when he's like this. Kind, playful, attentive, pushing me, just a little. I'm braver when I'm with him. Like his own recklessness crashes into my cautious streak, and my caution recedes for a moment, allowing me to fully live these moments with him.

He pulls himself back out of the water, and I marvel at the muscles of his shoulders and back as they flex and ripple. Turning to me, he holds his hands down, crossing his arms at the wrists. I reach my hands up, gripping his wrists, and he lifts and spins me, so my butt lands on the side of the boat, my back to him. The feeling of his bare chest against my back sends tingles through me, and I shiver. He must think I'm cold since he pulls me closer, and it's exquisite.

Swinging my legs into the boat, I push him back gently, my palm on his chest. But boy, that sends tingles through my palm too. His warm skin, pulled tight over his muscled chest, sprinkled with the lightest dusting of hair, is the definition of temptation. I want to run my hands all over him.

Friendly date. This is a friendly date, not a romantic date.

He's smiling at me, looking down at me through half-closed eyes. Focusing on my hand pressed against his chest. Like he can read my every thought. He leans into my palm just slightly.

"Let's get dressed and go, Greyson." I barely manage the coherent suggestion, but he steps back after a moment, handing me the white and blue pinstripe sundress from my bag and turning his back to me.

I squeeze my hair out, towel-dry it as best I can, then whip it into a french braid before sliding into my sundress and peeling my wet bathing suit off from underneath. I slip on a pair of dry panties, realizing I haven't packed anything to wear as a bra. I look down at myself, not so obvious. My dress is lined, with a halter top that ties snugly at my neck, so I'm not going to worry about it.

I slide into the passenger seat to Greyson's left, facing forward, giving him the privacy to change. He steps behind the wheel a moment later, kneeling on the seat with only his right knee. He's wearing blue linen shorts and a white t-shirt.

We pull up to Frac's, and I jump out to tie the boat. He passes my purse out to me, then grabs our shoes as he follows. He slides his feet into his loafers, then drops my sandals on the dock, before tugging me towards the stairs to the rooftop deck.

"What do you want to drink? I'll head into the bar and order if you grab us a table."

"I'll have a ginger ale, please," I close my fingers tighter on his hand quickly before he leaves, "will we stay to watch Hudson in the ski show? If we do, I'll find a table upfront." I feel a little guilty, I forgot I had soft plans with Hudson tonight after his show.

"Yeah, let's do that. Hud can join us after for food. I'll get us a snack now, though."

Relieved to hear his answer, I break away from Greyson and find a table for four right up by the glass-paneled balcony railing. I can see Hudson getting ready on the docks, and I whistle down at him using my thumb and finger to make a circle, to amplify the sound. If my mother were here, she'd likely chastise me for the distinctly unladylike gesture.

Hudson turns directly, looking for me. When he spots me, he waves and blows me a kiss, adding a wink. His friends bump him with their shoulders, teasing him. I blow a kiss back to him, and he slaps his palm over his heart dramatically, falling backward into the water with a big splash. Everyone, including the gathering audience, laughs.

The music starts to pump as the bar and crowd get ready for the show. Greyson drags my chair over to his, with me in it, and tosses an arm around my shoulder. I'm now leaning against him, enjoying the proximity and the feel of his fingers tracing small patterns on my bare shoulder.

These feather-light touches send small electric currents through me, and all I want is for him to touch me for real, I want to feel the heat of his palms on me, feel his fingers dig into my skin as they'd done every time we kissed last summer. This soft teasing is so different from the heat of last summer. I find it makes me edgy, restless. It makes me want more.

I shake my head, mentally chastising myself. Do not rush into this, Elle. Snap out of it. Do not throw yourself back into his arms, even if you know how nice it will feel...

To distract myself, I nibble on the nachos he's ordered and watch the kick-off of the first ski show with excitement. I watch the skiers do tricks, build human towers, change costumes, then do it all again. This is just one of the small things I love about summer in Muskoka, and I try to savor every single moment.

- - -

A little bit longer of a chapter this time, I'll aim to keep these 3500+ word ones to a minimum, but I was on a roll here.

Hope you'll consider voting if you like the chapter! I'd love to hear from you in the comments <3

Xx Toria