August 7

Loon Call Island, Lake Rosseau, Muskoka

"I'll see you later, Elle. Can I come by tonight?" I lean down to kiss her, sliding my hands through her long, soft ponytail and tugging so her face tips up to mine.

"I'd like that. Say hi to Ryan, from me."

"Only Ry? I see how it is." Skimming my lips across her cheek, down to her lips, I nip her lightly before kissing along her other cheekbone, more affected by the soft catch in her breath than I can explain. "Should I be worried?"

She shakes her head, like she's trying to focus, "What? Why should you worry?"

"That you're soft on Ry, I mean don't you want me to say hi to everyone for you?"

I kiss her again, desperate for some time alone with her. We've been surrounded by friends and family the past days, and both Hudson and Theo have been taking her attention. We haven't been properly alone since she'd practically passed out in my arms.

Her head tips back as I trail kisses along the side of her throat. "No... I mean yes, of course. But Ry's the only one I haven't seen today."

I glance at my watch quickly, it's only noon, and we've been together since nine. When did she see Theo and Hud?

"Go, Greyson, before you get me in trouble with the boss." She swats me lightly, pushing me towards my boat, even as I pull her with me.

Shaking the idle curiosity off, I grab her again, yanking her up onto her tiptoes and against my chest. "Tonight, Elle. I'll walk over around eleven." With a quick, hard kiss to her lips, I set her back on her feet, then kick off the dock as I jump into my boat, speeding away.

The guys will be at Theo's any minute, I got caught up helping Elle at work today, not wanting to leave her alone in the mechanic bay again, even though Dan hasn't made an appearance in weeks.

For the rest of the afternoon, I'm going to drink beer, forget about my problems and shoot the breeze.

Elle had been the one to push us to take the afternoon together, having hovered over us all the past few days. It wasn't a terrible idea, so we all agreed.

Pulling up to Theo's, I use the empty boat slip, tying off. As usual, his parents' boats aren't here. Sometimes I think his parents' absence is at last better than the cold indifference or controlling pressure I get from my dad.

Shaking those thoughts off, I strip to my boxers, diving off the back of my boat to rinse the sweat and the smell of gas from my skin. Not that my friends care, but I figure why add the smell of beer and booze on top of it.

I swim around the front of the boathouse, pulling myself up on the dock. I strip, tossing my briefs into my boat and pull on a dry pair of board shorts before wandering up to the boathouse loft.

"T! You around, brother?"

Theo swings around the corner, carrying a giant cooler, staggering under the weight of it. "Grey, my man, you have perfect timing. Help me lug this beast downstairs."

"Fuck that's heavy. Why did you pack it up here?"

A shrug is all I get as we heft the packed cooler.

We drop the cooler on the dock a few minutes later, just as Hud and Ry race towards us. They're well matched, but Hud beats Ry to the dock, turning sharply, sending waves splashing over the dock.

I meet Ry as he spins into the dock smoothly. I grab hold of the tower of his boat, steadying him, before picking up the bowline.

Hud tosses Theo a line. "Got something to show you boys." Theo's voice is excited as he grins at each of us.

Curiosity piqued, I follow him around the other side of the boathouse. A brand new Sea-Doo is pulled up on his slanted sailing dock, beside the small catamaran his parents bought earlier this season.

Hud leaps down, running his hands over the leather seat. "No way, new toy?"

"Dad had the sales rep deliver it last night. I've already been out once this morning, with Elle."

So that's what Elle meant when she said she'd already seen Theo. Why was Elle here this morning? She'd have to have been here earlier than nine, when we started work. Did she spend the night here? With Theo? The thought twists in my gut, even though I know, logically, they'd never cross that line. I'm sure it's totally innocent.

"Can I take her out?" Hud's voice is excited, as he bounces from foot to foot.

"Knock yourself out, just go easy. Don't want to break it the first day out."

"When have you ever known me to go easy? How's this? I break it, I buy it."

Theo grins, "You break it, you buy it, have fun."

Hud's off like a bullet. "I don't know why he hasn't bought one, or convinced his folks to buy one yet."

I shrug, looking over at Theo. "You know him, into a toy one minute, into something else the next." Hud's attention span, or lack of it is a well-established fact in the group. Theo's into chasing thrills and the ladies, Hud's the same, but with toys as the object of his desire. For now.

"Beer?" I pop the tops on three beers, handing one to Ry, then Theo. I flop down on a lounge chair, stretching my legs out.

"Did anyone think of lunch? Or dinner for that matter?" Ry rubs his stomach, which growls loudly. Come to think of it, I'm starved as well.

Theo nods, taking a long sip of his beer before dropping to sit on the dock, swinging his legs into the water. "I have burgers and hotdogs for lunch, along with a shit ton of chips. Hud brought some steaks when he dropped Elle off with me this morning before work.

Christ on a frigging bike, she is a morning person. She dragged me out of bed at like seven, made potato salad for us, did something with some veg and corn for the grill and left a bag of homemade corn muffins. She also left a basket of peaches to grill and told me there's vanilla ice cream in the freezer. She left instructions with everything, of course."

Theo's voice is sarcastic, but his smile is soft, tender as he talks about her. So Elle didn't stay here, she stayed with Hud. The knots in my stomach untangle slightly. I'd rather she stay with me, but I'm glad she didn't stay with Theo. As much as he loves her, I know him. Too well. I know he's at least thought about it, hell, I'm fairly certain we all have. We're only human, after all. Still, the thought of her in anyone's bed, in anyone's imagination settles heavily in my gut.

Hud sighs happily, "Not just any potato salad, it's Diana's recipe. So are the muffins. Elle's a stress baker, so be prepared for a real treat boys, considering our little anxiety nugget has had plenty of practice over the years."

We all know that means we'll be well fed tonight. Hud's casual remark about her anxiety and stress leaves me frowning, though. She has been off lately, but it's clear she doesn't want to talk about it. She thinks I haven't noticed her distraction tactics, or her planning everything we do with the group, or her pawning me off on the boys today. I'm just waiting her out.

"That girl is the best thing that's ever happened to me, boys." Ry sighs dreamily, patting his stomach and winking at me. I'm confused by his comment, and I must look it because he adds, "Way to go G, she really improves your side of the friendship offer. Cookies, cakes, planned road trips, now dinner... pretty sweet girl."

I grunt, taking another sip of my beer. "Careful, I'm starting to think you're only friends with me to get to her."

"Well, she cooks better, she looks better, and she certainly smells better. She's definitely not as prickly. What's not to love? She seems pretty perfect, if you ask me. She tolerates you lunatics, and all that, imagine what she could do with an easygoing, gentlemanly, emotionally stable and available guy like me?"

"Fuk off, Ry, find your own girl." There's no heat in my words, I know he's only messing with me, but I idly wonder if Ry would be better friends with Elle by choice, if I wasn't around.

I already know where Hud and T stand: with her. Hud is in her corner, regardless, and even though T and I are close, he says Elle's more like a sister to him. But I know how he is with girls, anything in a skirt is an option for him, and he rarely hooks up with the same girl more than once. He's unpredictable too.

What happens if I fuck up again? Will I have any friends left? Before, I always tried to keep Ry and Liam separate, well as separate as I could at any rate, considering Hud plays with Ry and Liam on the Landon team now. Well, he plays with Ry and I, and played with Liam, at any rate.

A loud whoop and revving sound pull my attention out over the water just as Hud rips forward over his own waves and flips the Sea-Doo, splashing down when he lands. Kid's nuts.

"Holy shit, that was awesome! I can't wait to try that." Theo cheers loudly as Hud spins the Sea-Doo around and zips back towards us.

Ry flips his baseball cap around, so the brim shades the back of his neck. "What was the occasion?"

"Guess the folks feel guilty for leaving me up here on my own for the summer." Theo's shrug is careless, but he looks down at his feet, kicking them lightly in the water. "They shouldn't though, I love the freedom, I've got my own place to bring girls, party all night, whatever. I haven't spent many nights alone, if you catch my drift, so they can do whatever they like. But I won't tell them that, they can send whatever toys they want if it makes them feel better."

I tip the bottle back up to my lips, pausing and looking over at Theo, "Oh yeah? So, who did Elle have to kick out of your bed this time? When she came by today, I mean."

Theo grins, passing a beer to Hud as he drops down beside him on the dock. "Hud warned me last night he'd bring her over, so crisis averted this time."

Ry chokes on his beer, "This time? She's found you in bed with someone before?"

At least Theo looks slightly sheepish before he laughs. Shoving his hand through his hair, he shakes his head, smiling. "She found me in bed with two someone's last summer, actually. Two seniors from Briar."

Hud hoots with laughter at the memory. "You should have seen him, Ry. He actually came out of the bedroom naked trying to soothe Elle's ruffled feathers. She ended up tripping over his jeans, trying to walk away with her hand over her eyes. He caught her before she hurt herself, but he was buck ass naked. I ran upstairs when I heard all the commotion and I swear, I don't think I've ever seen a body blush like that. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen you blush, T, but boy you sure did then, from top to bottom and everywhere in between, with our Ellie tangled up in your arms."

"Fuck off, Hud. You and G know me well enough that one of you should have come in, not her. Christ, was she ever annoyed."

"Annoyed? She was mortified. It was one in the afternoon. You were supposed to have worked in the morning, according to the schedule you gave Elle." Hud's voice shakes with laughter.

Theo only shrugs. "She got over it, she'd never hold anything against me, she loves me too much." He wiggles his eyebrows at us, grinning.

"I seriously can't believe this chick still hangs with all of you delinquents." Ry's laughter makes me grin. I don't always know why she loves us all so damn much. Not sure any of us deserve it.

"Hey, what am I? You can't put me in the same category as these two idiots." Hud's voice huffs out, offense ringing in his tone.

Theo shakes his head, ignoring Hud. "Anyway, not like she can hold it against me anyway, since she's with G, now. Tell me, did she put my advice to good use Grey?"

Hud shoves his friend. "Off limits, bro."

"Careful, T."

Hud and I speak at the same time, warning our friend off.

Theo looks over at me with a frown. "Whatever, so we can make fun of my love life, but G's is off limits?"

"It's Elle, Theo. She's off limits." Hud's voice is firm, hard, even as his cheeks flush a dark red. "Let's all agree that the topic is off limits unless Elle says something about it to us all. Deal? Just because she talks to one person, doesn't mean it's intended for all of us, you with me?"

I jump on that like a lifeline. "Deal." I know she'll talk to Hud about this stuff, the idea embarrasses me more than I'd like to admit. I get the feeling he's not all that thrilled by the idea either from the way he avoids my gaze and rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. I also know she's already asked Theo for advice, which is just plain mortifying.

"Fine, whatever." Theo downs the rest of his beer.

Ry shakes his head at the three of us. "Delinquents, like I said. Cool it, boys. It's the lady's prerogative to do or tell whatever she pleases, and with or to whom, so Hud's suggestion gets my vote." He pops the tops on four more beers, handing them to each of us, the topic closed for good.

By the time dinner rolls around, I'm half in the bag, laughing as Theo tries to get the grill fired up. "Anyone else seeing two grills?"

Shit. Maybe he's more than half in the bag. Standing, I decide to take matters into my own hands, trying to rally the gang. Fuck, how did I become house mom? Is Elle's propensity to care for others rubbing off on me? I hope it's not permanent, cause it seems like a lot of work. Flipping open the cooler, I notice we only have twelve beers left. We started with a pair of two-fours.

Ry's asleep on the deck, hugging his tangled, wet towel like his life depends on it. I knew he'd go down after he opened his fifth beer. He's a lightweight, but we've been drinking slowly and steadily since two.

Hud laughs, well more like giggles, and I cringe, embarrassed on his behalf. He's also clearly way past tipsy as he staggers over to me. Kid can't hold his beer for shit. "I ssee two grillss, t-two T-t's an' two G'ss." He giggles at his own little rhyme.

"Take a seat, Hud. Don't want to bust that pretty face of yours any more that you've done already. Elle will kill me if you bite it on my watch." I shove him down onto a lounge chair, dragging his feet up, so he's horizontal.

Bending over makes my head spin, so I plant my hands on the lounger, steadying myself. Shit. Apparently I'm more than half in the bag too. I toss a rolled-up towel behind his back so he doesn't roll onto the injured side of his face, laughing at myself a little, laughing at how Elle's caring actions seem to be rubbing off on me before I even notice. Shit.

"Elleeey saysss my scar'ss d-dashing." His mumbled words make my lips twitch. Of course Elle would say that, and maybe one day, it will be. But today, it just looks like someone took a meat mallet to his face. The cut looks like ground beef with strings in it; the pink, raw skin and black stitches, surrounded by the green and yellow bruises are totally gruesome. "T-t sayss chicks're gonna d-dig it too..." his cracked giggle turns into a soft snore as his eyes close.

"Yeah, you'll be fighting the girls off, Hud."

Maybe Theo's right and chicks do dig scars. He'd know better than anyone, his propensity for chasing thrills has left him with several injuries, and more than several scars.

Three summers ago, he broke his wrist in a dirt biking accident when he flew over the handlebars. He also got six stitches to his left eyebrow in that accident. Six weeks later, he broke the same wrist flipping off the boathouse roof. His surgical scar is long and gruesome from his wrist to elbow.

He broke both collarbones two summers ago in a wakeboard accident when he fell from a jump at too high a speed.

Last summer, he broke two fingers when a keg stand went badly, the bone splintering through the skin on one, leaving a long, nasty scar down his middle finger. Elle had promptly vomited off the side of the dock at the sight of it, even though she'd been perfectly sober, then proceeded to wrap him up and get Theo's mom from the neighbouring dinner party.

Those are just the injuries from his summer sports. He's broken a leg skiing, fractured ribs snowboarding, and broken his other leg heli-skiing with his dad. He's practically held together by metal pins at this point. I shudder to think about how he'll be at fifty, if he survives his own reckless activities up until then, at any rate.

Sighing, I look around. Elle's played nurse to us all, at some point in time or another, patching us up, or helping take care of injuries as they heal. Not much seems to faze our girl, and she learned from Tess after all, who was constantly patching Brodie up in high school as the captain of the Regan Football and Hockey teams in his last two years.

What a fine mess we are.

First thing's first, get Theo away from the propane and fire, then take a piss, then deal with the food. "I'll grill, step away from the fire buddy." Thank God Elle made some sides for us, so no one has to use any knives.

I head down the short staircase to the lower deck, shaking off a wave of dizziness, blinking a few times to clear my slightly blurred vision. Fuck, how did this afternoon get so far away from me?

I look at my watch, squinting, trying to make out the time. It's nearly eight. I need to sober up a bit if I'm going to see Elle. Not sure I'll manage the hike in this state though.

Last thing I need is for Theo to scorch his eyebrows off.

"T, why don't you let me-," the lid bounces on the grill as a burst of flame erupts when Theo presses the ignite button.

"Shit. Maybe you should grill, G."

No shit. "Go get the stuff Elle brought, and some sodas or water. I think we're done with the beer for now."

Turning the temperature down, I open the lid again. The blast of heat pushes me back a step, before I can approach the grill again.

Once the flame is under control, the propane turned down and the burners set to a lower heat; I close the grill and head to the boathouse to take a leak.

As I'm walking back to the deck, I notice Theo chugging down a bottle of water and setting some beside Hud and Ry. At least his brain still works.

"Wake 'em up, get them some water. They'll be fine once they eat."

Grabbing the tongs and the food Theo's left on the table, I toss the foil wrapped corn on the grill, then scoop heaping servings of potato salad on our plates.

When the corn is almost done, I toss the seasoned steaks on, silently thanking Elle and her big, soft, considerate heart for preparing everything. I smile as I think about showing my appreciation later tonight.

No one speaks as we eat, and every single scrap of food is consumed. I don't have the energy to grill the peaches, so I toss them on the table alongside the quart of ice cream with four spoons.

We eat like cavemen, straight from the container, peach juice making our hands and lips sticky.

"Bless that sweet girl." Ry's satisfied groan when he finishes his third peach makes Hud and Theo laugh sheepishly.

"She's one in a million, that's for sure." Hud rubs his temples, drinking more water and taking another massive bite of ice cream. "Someone take this away from me, or I'll eat it all."

Theo snags the container, digging in with his spoon. "Guess we went a bit overboard this afternoon." Theo looks over at me. "You drank more than all of us, G, how are you functioning?"

I don't want to tell them that I barely feel the effects of the beer anymore, more used to sulking into a bottle of whisky from my dad's bar alone than I'd care to admit. I shake away the thought. That was last year. I haven't touched the hard stuff in a couple months, not since I knew I'd spend the summer with Elle.

Ry side eyes me knowing the truth, but leaving me the space to say what I will.

I shrug, "Just tougher than you ladies. Next time, I'll make sure to bring the white wine spritzers, or lemonade to mix with your beer."

Snickers roll around the table and the mood lifts as insults fly between us. Theo snags a deck of cards, "Play for KP?"

"I'm out. I cooked, and I'm heading to see Elle."

Hud's quiet groan makes me smile. "Don't tell Ellie we nearly got shit-faced. Just say thanks for the food, okay?"

"Nearly got shit-faced Hud? You were down for the count, still would be if we hadn't dragged your ass here for dinner."

"Just say thanks, no need to sell me out. Since I've definitely felt better than I do now, I'm going to walk home, see you later T, Ry."

Theo salutes him. "You got it, man. No sweat."

Hud clicks on a flashlight from the porch and heads back into the woods as I wander down to the dock, leaving Theo and Ry to deal with the mess from dinner.

Knowing I should leave my boat here, even though it's a quick ride, I strip back down to my board shorts preparing to dive in when a bright flash of light blinds me from around the point.

From the sound of the music pumping off the boat, I can only guess some of Theo's groupies are coming for the after party. I can't get out of here soon enough.

Waiting for them at the edge of the dock to catch their boat, I'm filled with anger when I hear a voice I recognize. Chiara.

- - -

Who else knew we hadn't seen the last of Chiara? 

As always, if you liked the chapter, I hope you'll let me know in the comments, and share your thoughts and feedback! Consider voting if you're enjoying the story so far, means so much to me!

Xx Toria