Chapter 3
Cora
"Finally!" Cindy walked out onto the porch as I pulled my bag out of the back of the car. Her red hair was the color of copper, and her freckles only added to a false sense of innocence that fit her personality well.
"Hey. You guys need a hand?" Dedra walked out beside her as she tugged her hair into a ponytail. Her mixed heritage left her skin a beautiful mocha and her hair black and silky to the touch.
"No. We just have our bags." I lugged Emily's out first and then mine. After a quick glance around, I pulled my bag toward the quaint log cabin we'd rented and laughed as Cindy bounded down the stairs and almost knocked me off my feet with a huge hug.
"Summer has finally started!" She moved back and turned to Emily, giving her a hug, as well. "How are you? How was the funeral?"
"It was good." Emily tugged at her suitcase, forcing it up the stairs as she grunted and grumbled.
"Where are the hot guys Dedra said you already found? We could use their help with these bags." I laughed and pulled mine up the stairs, as well, wondering why the hell I hadn't packed several small suitcases instead of one huge one.
"Let me help." Dedra moved in beside me and pressed her shoulder to mine as we gave it one good heave, almost falling over backwards with our efforts.
"Hot guys? Please. They're all too busy working on their tans to care too much about helping anyone out." Cindy opened the door and smiled. "I made cookies."
"Why am I not surprised to hear that? You're always baking something, and yet you still look like a model." I tugged at the front of her t-shirt before walking into the house.
The open floor plan had the living room, kitchen, and dining room all visible from the front door. The delicious scent of chocolate and sugar wrapped around me, and I breathed in deeply.
"Hey it's hot out here. Move it on inside." Emily pushed at my bag.
"Oh, right." I laughed and moved into the coolness of the house. "I love it. I was hoping it would look just like it did in the pictures."
"And, it does." Cindy moved up beside me. "Plus, the lake is gorgeous. We've been lying out and boating for a couple weeks, trying to relax. I would say it's your turn to do the same, but we're bored out of our minds, so..."
"So, we're supposed to have brought the party with us?" Emily rolled her eyes as she walked toward the back of the house. "We sharing rooms?"
"No, Miss Good Times," I called after her. "We each have a room to ourselves. You know, in case you want to bring a boy home and give him your V-card."
"Very funny." Emily didn't turn to face me, but the tone of her voice told me that she knew I was just teasing her. She'd slept with as many guys as I had, which wasn't many.
"What did you get at the grocery store?" I left my bag by the front door, not at all concerned with where I would be sleeping at night. For the chance of a long summer with my friends by the lake, I'd gladly sleep in the bathtub if needed.
"I didn't get up there. They're having a sale today for some festival in town, and I must have stopped at three little dress stands. I got a few new things. You want to see?" Cindy stopped at the opening to the kitchen as I walked in and grabbed a few warm cookies.
"Absolutely." I groaned in delight over the cookie. "Are these from scratch?"
"Did you really just ask her that?" Dedra moved closer and snagged the other half of the cookie from my hand. "You know you're talking to a fully degreed chef."
I smirked. "How could I forget? I'm quite jealous."
"Me, too." Dedra leaned against the counter and let out a long sigh. "I finally found a basketball court to play hoops at. You wanna go check it out with me later today when you get settled?"
Though I was tired as hell, there was no way I was denying her. "Of course, though getting my ass handed to me by the captain of our basketball team does not sound like fun."
"Was the captain." She pursed her lips and shrugged. "I don't know what I am now. It's weird not belonging anymore."
"What? You'll always belong. That's silly." I popped the rest of my cookie in my mouth and ran my hands over her upper arms. "And besides, now it's your turn to teach young girls how to be great team players and leaders like you were, D. Like you are."
"I guess you're right. It's just such a hard transition." She took a shaky breath. "I thought I was going to spend my life playing ball, but I guess not. Having to grow up and tuck that dream away has been the hardest thing I've ever done. Even beyond losing my dad when I was little."
"I get that." I squeezed her shoulders one more time and picked up two cookies, giving her one. "My dreams aren't worthy of focusing on, either, at least not from my father's perspective."
"Don't get me started on your dad." She narrowed her warm brown eyes at me.
Cindy's voice startled me. "Okay. Check it out."
She twirled around in place, showing off the pretty, blue summer dress that fit her thin, model-like body beautifully. She was almost completely flat-chested, and yet with all of the other great attributes she had to show off, she was nothing less than stunning.
"Wow. I'm not standing next to you wearing that thing. Not ever." I smirked as she turned around once more.
"I love it. I bet you could wear it, Cora. We're about the same size. Well, except for your boobs." She ran her hands over hers and let out a growl. "Damn genetics."
"Is she complaining again about eating everything in sight and still being thin?" Emily walked into the kitchen and smirked. "Seems like such a problem to have."
I clapped my hands. "Alright. Are we going to get groceries before we settle in? I'd rather get that out of the way."
Dedra glanced over at Cindy. "I thought you got groceries this morning while I was cleaning the whole house."
Cindy's cheeks turned pink, making her even prettier. "Sorry. I got dresses?"
I laughed. "And, you have no room to talk. Cleaning doesn't including shoving shit under the beds and in the closets."
Cindy glanced at Dedra and gasped dramatically. "You didn't!"
"I did." Dedra shrugged before turning and darting down the hall. Cindy ran after her, the two of them laughing as her blue dress danced around her.
"I need this." Emily picked up a cookie. "I swear I'm turning into a statue. A cold, unfeeling, solid form."
"No. Not you." I moved in behind her and squeezed her shoulders, massaging her neck as I glanced out the large window that sat over the sink in the kitchen. "We'll change that. You just have to stop defining the tight lines around your life."
"How do I do that?" She let out a huff and shoved the cookie in her mouth. "How do I get out of this shell—and don't you dare say something about my clothes."
I laughed and released her. "Fine, but when you're ready to start living a little, come talk to me without borders erected all around you. No walls. No protection. Just you, and I'll help."
"Whatever. Why are you a business major again? I still think you'd make a great counselor." She turned to face me as she licked at her fingers.
"That is not on the approved list of career choices, Cora Beatrix Ross." I shook my finger at her like my father had done to me a million times.
"So dumb." She turned back to the window and leaned toward it. "Look at all those half-naked people. Ugh."
I laughed and worked my hair into a messy bun that the wind would ruin in a matter of seconds. "Come on. Call shotgun or Dedra will and you'll be pissy about it."
"Shotgun!" Emily yelled as she walked to the hallway with her hands cupped over her mouth.
"Really?" Dedra walked out. "You know I've been waiting to ride shotgun in that new Beamer."
"You'll get your chance. I might even let you drive it." I picked up the keys and wagged my eyebrows at her.
"No, you won't. Not if you're smart." Cindy grabbed a large straw hat and put it on her head. No one should be able to pull off something so gaudy, but she was doing it beautifully.
"Don't start with me again." Dedra gave Cindy a warning look.
"Oh, this sounds interesting." Emily opened the door and smiled. "What happened?"
"Dedra almost wrecked the boat because of some beautiful chocolate man that was half naked lying out on his peer two days ago." Cindy shook her head and walked out on the deck.
"Beautiful chocolate man?" I walked out after her and laughed deep in my chest.
Serenity wrapped around me due to the beautiful scene before me. The lake was vast, and the dark blue water almost seemed to sparkle right along the surface. The sun sat at the top of the sky, and the tall trees all around us rustled with the force of the wind. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply, not hearing the response to my question. I didn't care about anything for the moment but finding my center and trying to release the last four years to the past.
"Hey, you can meditate or do that yoga mess later. I'm hungry." Emily bumped her shoulder against mine, pulling me out of my mini-moment.
"Always about you." I winked as she gave me a look. She was the most giving person I knew. If any of us were selfish, it was me. I was raised to be and had worked hard to get over it, but it lingered—a lot.
"Tell me about the boat." Emily opened her door, directing her question at Cindy and Dedra.
"It's a small speedboat," Dedra started.
I got in and started the car, almost pulling out as a group of bikers rode just behind us. I slammed on the brakes, let out a yelp and jerked around, causing my friends to do the same.
"Damn." I shook my head and let the car roll back slowly.
"Yeah, those bikers are everywhere." Cindy patted my shoulder from the backseat. "Just be careful and we'll be fine. You can actually rent a bike at the lodge if you want. Might be fun one day?"
"Absolutely." Emily turned in her seat. "And, is the boat nice or a piece of shit they just threw in thinking we wouldn't use it?"
"It's nice." Dedra responded. "It's not a yacht, but it will comfortably fit all of us, and the thing is like a speeding bullet if you want it to be."
"Which you do," Cindy added.
"I like fast cars, fast men, and fast food. What can I say?" Dedra laughed, and we all joined her.
"Is the grocery store on the other side of town? I didn't see it when we were driving in." I stopped at the stop sign at the end of our street and glanced around, surprised by how many people were already on the lake.
Cindy leaned up into the front seat as Emily turned back around. "Yeah. Just take a left up here at the main light and it's on your left about a mile down. It's not like the big grocery stores we're used to, but it'll work."
"What do you guys want for dinner?" I asked and followed her directions, trying hard not to let my eyes wander to the half-dressed guys walking around everywhere.
It had been three months since I'd been on a date, flirted, anything. After dating Brandon for two years and being cheated on, I was done with guys. Or I thought I was.
"Let's make something delicious for your first night here." Cindy offered as she sat back next to Dedra. "Maybe pasta and salad?"
"Yeah, and let's get a bottle or two of wine and some more stuff for Cindy to make her cookies with." Dedra leaned into the front seat and pointed to the left. "It's right there. It's easy to miss."
"Oh, hell. I would have missed that." I pulled into the center lane and put on my blinker, waiting for a large group of bikini-wearing girls to cross the street. "This place is busy."
"Oh, yeah. It's the best summer hang out for almost everyone in the state." Emily glanced over at me. "If we can't find some fun here, we need to see a specialist."
I pulled into the parking lot and turned the car off, chuckling at my best friend. "Do they have people who specialize in having fun?"
"Watch it." She popped me in the arm before getting out of the car.
I got out and walked to the back, suddenly feeling overdressed in my jeans and t-shirt. Cindy was still in her beach-dress and Dedra was sporting a pair of tight shorts and a tank top. I was suddenly itching to get into my swimsuit and get out in the sun.
"We'll grab the cold stuff," Cindy slid her arm into Emily's. "You and D get the wine and bread?"
"And the pasta," Emily added before the two of them turned and walked off, chattering about something.
"Are we thinking red wine?" I asked before getting a small shopping cart.
"I think so. Maybe we'll just get both. You know how Cindy gets about pairing up drinks with food." She rolled her eyes playfully and walked beside me. "So, are you open to finding a cute boy to snuggle up with?"
"I don't know yet. Are there a lot of single cute boys that you've seen?" I glanced over at her. Everyone knew my story and that I'd been a loner for a few months on purpose.
"Oh, yeah. We've met quite a few people since getting here. I'm saving myself for that chocolate man that Cindy mentioned." She snorted. "I seriously almost wrecked the damn boat over him."
"Was he that hot?" I lifted my eyebrow and turned down the liquor aisle.
"Let's just say that I had to check to make sure my panties hadn't melted off." She shrugged and lifted her hand to grab a bottle too high for me to reach. I wasn't short by most standards, but up next to Dedra's six foot two frame, I felt like a small fry.
"Wow. Maybe I need to meet this guy." I knelt and picked out a bottle of white wine that looked good. "Dearington Farms. Have you heard of this brand?"
A masculine voice behind us startled me. "It's local. The farm is just down the road, though I have no clue how they grow grapes. It's hot as hell here." I turned to find a lanky guy with dark brown hair and a warm smile. "I'm Clint. My folks own the big house as you first pull into town. We're having a huge party tomorrow night to welcome all the vacationers. The property off the back of the house is huge. You guys are invited."
He handed me a slip of paper and smiled before walking off, not really waiting for a response.
"Cool." I turned back to Dedra and shrugged. "Looks like we're off to a good start. We've been invited to the in-crowd."
She rolled her eyes and took the paper from me. "Everyone is invited, but it's still a party."