LAUREN

 

“I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” Gabe teased as Tyler quickly moved away from me.

Disappointment crept across my chest. Disappointment and annoyance. I shouldn’t be so easily swayed by seeing Tyler shirtless. Placing his foot between us, Gabe sunk into the water, wrapping his arms around us both, grinning stupidly until Tyler stood, water streaming down his body, and climbed out.

“Don’t leave on my account,” Gabe called after him. But Tyler didn’t reply. Instead, only wet footprints were left behind. “That guy has zero chill,” Gabe said, his arm still wrapped around my shoulder. “I hope you two weren’t talking about your relationship. It’s against the rules. I, on the other hand, would never defy the rules by talking. Besides, there are things other than talking which I’d far rather engage you in.”

Physically lifting Gabe’s arm away, I sighed. “Why do you have to taunt him like that?”

“Like what?” Gabe appeared genuinely confused. “You were mine first, Lauren. That makes him the bad guy, not me.” Gabe locked his hands behind his head, eyes sparkling. “Now you’re not with either of us, and I don’t know about Tyler, but I’d like the chance to change your mind.”

I remained silent beside him, my mind still stuck on Tyler and the desire to run after him.

“I know you still have feelings for me, Lauren,” Gabe said.

“I’m not having this conversation again.” I stood, ready to leave Gabe alone in the pool, but Gabe stood too, his eyes travelling over my body now that it was exposed and out of the water. “I miss you. I miss us.” He reached out, just the tip of his finger trailing over my arm, following a drip of water. “I miss the way you feel under—”

“Gabe, please,” I said, stopping him before he said words he couldn’t take back. Words I didn’t want to hear. “You’re making—” But I was interrupted by Jake ducking low to enter the cave. He held up his hands when Gabe scowled in his direction.

“Tyler told me I had to.”

“And since when do you listen to Tyler?”

Jake shrugged, his back pressed to the walls of the man-made cave, shoulders hunched and looking entirely out of place. “Since I had nothing better to do.” He looked over, watching as I wrapped a towel around my shoulders. “You alright?”

“Of course I’m alright,” I replied, a little more annoyance in my voice than I intended. “I’m fine.”

“Fine,” Jake repeated, eyebrows lifting.

“See?” Gabe said. “She’s fine.” Gabe leaned over the edge of the pool. “We were actually just going to partake in some forbidden activities before you so rudely interrupted us.” He held up a clear plastic bag, the green leafed contents leaving nothing to the imagination. “Care to join?”

Jake looked over at me. “Don’t leave on my account.”

“I was leaving anyway.”

“Oh, come on, Mrs Robinson,” Gabe said, a grin covering his face at the use of the old nickname. “Break free. Have a little fun. Or did being with Tyler all that time make you forget how?”

Jake pulled himself from the wall. “You don’t have to ask me twice. Lauren?” he asked once he was waist deep, the water creating a dark line across the shirt covering his stomach. “You can’t tell me that the offer doesn’t tempt you?” Jake lowered himself so he was sitting in the water, stretching his arms out along the edge of the pool like both his brothers before him. “I won’t tell Tyler.”

“I don’t care if you tell Tyler, it’s just that…” I let my words trail off. It was just that I didn’t want to be alone with Gabe? That despite not being with Tyler, I was still letting him influence my choices? I let my towel drop to the floor. “Move over,” I said to Jake, choosing to sit next to him rather than Gabe.

The state of blissful contentment that took over a few minutes later was exactly what I needed. I forgot about Tyler’s body so close to mine. I forgot about his scowl when Gabe entered the cave. I let go of why I was there and simply enjoyed being there. Although Gabe tried to slide around the side of the pool to sit beside me, Jake made a game of blocking him, insisting that he had promised Tyler to cock-block Gabe with each attempt. Thankfully, probably due to a previously inhaled substance, Gabe found this funny and it wasn’t until the swirling steam of the room convinced us it was difficult to breathe, that we left.

The cold night air bit into my skin and I wrapped the towel tighter around my shoulders, falling behind the two brothers as they climbed the narrow steps back up the hill to the house.

Tyler sat outside, staring at the blank phone in his hands. He caught my hand as I passed, his fingers wrapping gently around my wrist. A breath caught in my throat at the sensation that bolted through my body, freezing me in place just as it had done every time before.

“Did he touch you?” Tyler’s voice was rough.

“Tut, tut, tut,” Hillis’s voice called out the window. “That sounds suspiciously like a conversation involving some issues.”

Gabe’s grin stuck out like a light bulb behind him.

“Time for bed people, and remember, although I will not be sharing in the same intimate circle as you, I will still be listening to every word spoken during the night. In order for you to gain the most from this experience, you must adhere to the rules.”

Tyler’s grip on my wrist dropped, but his eyes still scanned my face, searching for any clue of my response in my expression. I let my gaze fall to the ground. I didn’t owe him an explanation. After silently waiting, Tyler sighed and walked towards the house, letting me fall into step behind him.

Gabe and Jake stood in the kitchen, a cupboard open behind them and a bag of marshmallows on the table. Jake’s fist dove into the bag and returned with a handful of sticky sweetness, popping them one at a time into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed under Tyler’s glare, and then offered him the bag. “How many?” he asked.

“How many what?” Tyler replied, grumpily.

“How many can you fit in your mouth?”

“Challenge accepted!” Gabe yelled, grabbing for the bag. “How many of these things do we have? I’ll go first. One,” he counted. The numbers grew more mumbled as he shoved marshmallow after marshmallow in his mouth.

Jake lifted a single brow in Tyler’s direction, the signature move of the Thornton men.

“Not in the mood,” Tyler replied to his unspoken question.

“Are you ever?” Gabe garbled, a marshmallow popping out of his mouth. “That doesn’t count!” he half yelled, half mumbled, shoving the offending sweet back in.

Tyler walked out of the room, throwing me a look over his shoulder I couldn’t decipher as Gabe continued to shove more marshmallows into his mouth until saliva began to fall. He spat the marshmallows into the sink. “Seven. Fuck, I thought I would do better than that.”

Jake looked at the sticky mess. “I can do more.”

“Like hell, you can.” Gabe turned to me. “You going to try?”

“What the fuck?” The curse word sounded funny on Hillis’ lips. Unnatural. Briefly, I wondered if it was what I sounded like when I swore. “Well, there goes tomorrow night’s campfire activity.”

Gabe did his best to look guilty, but he ended up simply laughing. “Sorry, man, I didn’t know you were saving them for something.”

Hillis snatched the bag out of Jake’s hand. “Everything on this trip is planned for the best outcome. I do not appreciate you messing with things.”

“I’m sorry,” Jake offered, plucking marshmallows out of his mouth. “I didn’t realise these little guys meant so much to you.”

“It’s not the marshmallows.” Hillis let out a frustrated sigh that was much too serious, and I had to swallow the splutter of laughter that threatened. “It’s the fact that you have zero respect for the work I do. Your father has just spent thirty days in rehab, attempting to put his life back together, and you boys come along and act as though this is all a joke. How do you think that makes him feel after all the hard work he’s put in?” Hillis stood, arms planted firmly on his hips, his glare altering between Gabe and Jake.

“Shit,” Gabe said. “I didn’t realise Dad’s life was that bad. I mean, from all the overseas trips, the fancy houses, the company and all, I figured he had his shit sorted. Thank goodness you’re here to correct me.”

Jake snorted and a marshmallow shot out of his mouth, landing on the indignant face of Hillis. Jake froze, waiting for Hillis’ reaction before bursting into laughter. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to mallow your face.” He swiped at the offending marshmallow, but it stuck to Hillis’ skin.

“Bed. Now,” Hillis stated calmly, despite the puff of pink stuck to his cheek. He pulled it off, leaving a sticky residue in its wake.

After changing in the bathroom, I padded across the wooden floor and tucked my clothing inside my pack, ready to be worn again the next day. Supplies were strictly limited. Billie watched me from across the room, her wide-eyed expression following my movements in the dim light.

“It’s good,” she said to no one in particular. “This is good. This is good,” she repeated, tossing and turning. “I am comfortable in my surroundings. I am happy and at peace with myself.”

“I am shit at talking under my breath,” Gabe added, mocking her tone.

Laying down on my mattress with my head turned towards Gabe, his teeth shone at me through his grin. “Hey, Mrs Robinson,” he whispered.

I turned over, only to be met by Tyler’s gaze. It had always amazed me how much he could say without opening his mouth, and as I lay there, eyes locked on his in the semi-darkness, his intention was clear and the familiar feeling of arousal began to warm my insides. Feeling the heat creep into my cheeks, I snuggled down into my sleeping bag, tucked my head under the covers and shielded myself from exposing the thoughts racing through my head.