June 20

Minett, Muskoka

Frac's is jumping tonight. The long docks are packed with boats, some rafted off one another. The rooftop deck is packed, making me glad we came early.

Watching her get excited over all the tricks makes me smile. She's counting, bracing, twitching, and clenching her small body in time with Hud's tricks. When he went up the ski jump, she'd actually closed her eyes, scrunching them tightly.

I wonder if she'd worry like that for me?

Elle and Hud are near to inseparable. As long as I can remember, they've been together all the time. They're so in sync that I sometimes find I'm jealous of his knowing her thoughts, feelings, as well as his own. I find that I want that, too. I'm worried she won't let go again, trust again... at least not with me.

For now, I'm pleased she's content to stay in this close proximity to me, relaxing into my chest, letting me touch her. I find the contact soothing like just by this smallest of touches, I'll absorb her happiness and laughter.

She's always been openly affectionate, physically, and emotionally and I envy this about her. She's the only person I can think of whose touch and affection don't set my teeth on edge.

Tracing my fingers over her shoulder, I can't help but feel grateful for this time together. I know I was such an ass last year. I'd regretted my actions almost immediately after that first event for our schools. I'd watched the hurt flash across her face when she'd asked me to the school dance, and I'd told her I already had a date. I hadn't, and I'm not entirely sure why I decided to lie.

She'd even taken a second chance asking me to another event, I could've repaired our relationship then, but I'd continued to be an ass. Denying all my feelings for her. Feeling so unworthy of her. Convincing myself I had no right to be with her, that she'd be better off with someone else, hell anyone else.

It had gone on like this, for months, until New Year's, when I'd seen Hudson kiss her at midnight, I'd nearly snapped. In my mind I knew it wasn't anything serious, he'd barely touched her. I tried to talk myself out of it, but before I knew it, she'd been in my arms, and my lips had been on hers. Only for the briefest of moments, but I'd felt complete. That's when I'd known what a mistake I'd made, but I didn't know how to find my way back.

Looking at her now, she's changed, just a little from last summer. She's curvier, filling in beautifully, and I can't help but appreciate those curves. Her angelic face has lost some of the round, youthful cherubic shape, her chin is slightly pointed, her cheekbones just a little more prominent.

It'd taken all my self-control not to peek over my shoulder as she'd changed, but even I have my limits. I had hoped she'd give in to her own curiosity and look back over her shoulder as I'd changed. But who am I kidding, she's too polite for that. Too shy for that.

I barely watch the ski show, trying to work out a game plan for this summer and for making it work again in the fall if she agrees. I can't fuck up this time.

When Hud finishes, she relaxes fully, turning towards me with a big smile on her face and excitement dancing in her eyes. "How amazing was that? This is going to be the best season for them, I just know it."

"It was pretty cool," I admit. I reach out to tuck a stray piece of hair that's blown free from Elle's braid behind her ear. She blushes a pretty shade of pink, and I smile at her, "Now, let's get down to business. What do you think you'd like to eat?"

Elle bites her lip, thinking. "I'll have the cobb salad, please." It drives me crazy when she does this, and for just a moment, I imagine running my tongue over that bottom lip of hers.

Nodding, I head back to the bar area to drop the order in at the kitchen. I holler down the stairs to Hud on the way, asking what he wants. Two burgers for the guys, one with extra fries so Elle can have some.

Inside is equally busy tonight, it's sweltering inside, and I push my way to the bar. I see college students doing shot skis, where they have their shot glasses lined up on a ski, tipping it back in unison. Not really sure where that tradition came from, but you'll see it all summer long at Frac's.

This small local restaurant is directly above the water ski and sports school, attached to an old resort called Cleve's. Or well Cleveland's House. It's basically the only place close to us to hang, and we've developed a fondness for the place. We're here three or four times a week.

After placing our order, I pay and walk back out with fresh drinks. I set the ginger ale and my Coke in front of Elle, but I deliberately place Hud's Coke on the other side of the table, so I can have Elle to myself.

When he does join us, dropping into the seat, he raises his eyebrow at Elle. After the show, she'd set her chair slightly further from mine. She immediately walks Hud through her favorite moments. He's clearly pleased she enjoyed the show, winking at her that he'll get her up to the top of the tower if she'll let him. Elle adamantly refuses, which makes me laugh, because I've seen him practicing with her, and I know he'll convince her.

"What're you doing here, anyway, Grey? Wasn't expecting to see you tonight," Hudson asks me over a big bite of his burger.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Elle biting her lip anxiously. I could tell Hud the truth, that we're on a date, but I wonder whether she'd rather be the one to tell him. Since this is all so new, I'll ask her about it before I say anything. I know she doesn't want to keep secrets, and I'm okay with that, I just don't want to blow it on date one by overstepping. If this is even a date. From her withdrawal from me at this moment, it's clear that she's not ready either.

"We finished our first shift together today at the marina. Thought we'd watch you, grab a bite. Hang."

Elle's look of relief is not missed on me, which tells me I did the right thing, this time.

We settle back into the evening, going over Hud's routine, Elle has a million questions, how did he do this, how did he do that? How does it work for the girls who climb up into the tower? Is it fun?

Before I know it, it's nearly eleven, and none of us have texted our parents to let them know we'd be out late. When I mention it to the table at large, Elle waves my brief concern away. "I told mum that we'd watch the ski show together, then have a bite with Hudson. I don't think they're expecting us home till midnight or so. Mum would have told your folks."

Not that I'm a stranger to worrying my parents with the hours I've kept all school year, but I don't exactly want to be the reason Elle or Hud cross the line on informing their folks.

I sip the last of my Coke, listening idly but focusing on Elle, her smile, her laugh, the flush of pleasure under her skin when Hud jabs her ribs lightly with his fingertips, teasing her about something or other. I snap back to attention when Hud mentions he has an early day teaching water ski lessons tomorrow, so he decides to jet. He asks if she can drop him at home.

"You take her boat, I'll drive her home." I nearly bark the words out, not ready for the evening to end. Elle frowns at me but doesn't say anything.

Hud gives me a funny look but drops it when Elle simply hands him her keys without any objection or comment. "Thanks for the burger, G." Dropping a kiss to the top of Elle's head, he takes them and heads around to the marina.

Sighing in relief, I rub my knuckles over her bare shoulder, watching as goosebumps pop up along her skin, despite the humid, lingering heat. "Do you want to go for a cruise before I take you home?" I hope she says yes, I'm not ready to let her out of my sight.

"Sure." I take her hand in mine, leading her down to the docks. As we boat through the islands I know better than the city I grew up in, I slow down, turning the engine off but leaving the navigation lights on.

The beauty of Muskoka simply takes my breath away. Tonight, the moon's shining down on the water, casting a pretty glow around us. The full green trees stand proud against the vast grey rock landscape of the Canadian shield spanning through the area. Cottages dot the shortlines, discreetly for the most part.

Stretching out on the large flat bow cushion, I make room so Elle can lie down next to me. Floating in the gentle waves, I take her hand in mine and look up at the stars, just like we've done so many times before.

She rolls onto her side to look at me, so I turn my head to face her. "Do you really want to tell people about us? Or did you just agree earlier to convince me?"

Her question surprises me. "If you want to, then yeah."

She rolls away from me again, onto her back. "That's not answering the question, Greyson."

No, I suppose it isn't. "If we decide to spend time together, Elle, then yeah, I want to tell people this time. We just need to decide if we both want to spend time together. I want to, but you said you wanted a few days."

"I do, but since Hudson asked, I just wanted to check. The only way I'd even consider this is if we don't keep secrets. Not from each other and not from our friends and family."

She rolls back towards me. "Greyson, I think tonight's the night for getting hard topics out of the way. I've had such a nice evening with you, and I'm not sure if this is the best timing, but Theo also told me about Liam. You don't have to say anything, but if you wanted to, I just thought I'd let you know you can always talk to me, no matter what happens or doesn't happen with us."

I look back up to the stars, I don't want to talk about Liam tonight.

"I appreciate it, Elle. I need to think first, I need to make sure that when I talk about it, I don't lose it. I might take you up on your offer to talk, later though."

She shifts closer, resting her head on my chest, and I nearly stop breathing as her small hand rests on my skin, above the open buttons of my shirt, stroking lightly.

"Maybe you'll let me come for one of the hospital visits? I guess his girlfriend probably feels really alone, I'll bet she could use a friend. Maybe his parents would appreciate some homemade food, and my mum and I could do that in advance."

Closing my eyes against the burn of emotion I don't want to feel or show, I turn my face into her hair, breathing her in. I idly play with the end of her braid, sliding the elastic free and running my fingers through the tangles left from swimming earlier. I don't know how long I lie here, working my fingers through her hair. She simply lies with me, her small hand stroking my chest in comfort.

Elle is the least selfish person I know. She doesn't even know Sam, or Liam's parents. She barely knows Liam, but here she is offering to spend part of her summer driving to the hospital for, well, me, I guess.

After a while, I realize I haven't responded. "I think Sam would really like that, Elle. I'd really like that. I'll be going every Sunday. We can make it work with Hunter."

Her body pressed against my side feels like heaven, and I run my fingers deeper into her hair, to the nape of her neck and scalp. She stiffens slightly at the touch, and I worry for a moment that she might pull away, but I continue a soft glide and light massage, not touching her anywhere else, and she relaxes against me. I love the feeling of her silky hair sliding through my fingers, tickling my wrist. I don't know how long we lay like this, but eventually, her slow, even breathing tells me she's fallen asleep.

It's an odd feeling, holding a sleeping Elle in my arms. I feel it's a gift of trust that she'd let go and fall asleep in my arms tonight. I lie here with her for a while, just listening to her breathing and the steady rhythm of the waves.

Reluctantly, I carefully slide away from her, grabbing a life jacket to rest under her head before quietly starting the boat and continuing the slow ride to her cottage. I hate having to wake her, but I don't exactly think her parents will appreciate seeing me carry her up to her cabin after coming home an hour past their midnight expectation.

Sitting beside her, I lean down close to her ear, "Elle, we're home. You need to get yourself up to bed."

Her eyes pop open, instantly alert, and she smiles up at me. "How long was I asleep?" Sitting up, she grabs her small bag from the floor and sets it on the dock.

"Only about half an hour, forty minutes," I smile back at her, taking her face between my palms. I tip her chin up, pulling her to her feet gently. I know she expects me to kiss her like I once would have done, but tonight, I want to show her I can be different. "I'll pick you up at nine tomorrow morning," I remind her, stroking my thumbs across her cheeks.

Leaning down to her, I press my lips to her forehead, her left cheek, then right. I place a light kiss to the tip of her nose, then pull her into my arms for a hug.

My heart leaps as her arms wrap around my waist, and her cheek presses against my chest. I stroke her hair once, nudging her away, offering my hand as she hops out of the boat.

"Goodnight, Elle. Sleep well."

"Goodnight, Greyson. Sweet dreams."

I watch her walk up the rocky slope to her cottage, then beyond, into the shadowy treeline that hides her cabin. I wait until she's no longer visible in the dark night, wishing I could fast forward to tomorrow morning when I'll see her again.

- - - 

What do you think of Greyson's attempts to reconcile with Elle?

Are you pro Elle and Greyson? Would you like to see her with anyone else?

Hope you like the chapter and will consider giving it a vote if you do!

Xx Toria