“Off to see your room?” Mason asked.
“Sure.”
Gabby and I followed my brothers through the cabin, and it was just as I remembered it. The exposed timbers on the inside of the cabin gave it a cozy vibe. The wood-burning fireplace in the corner of the great room had logs stacked neatly next to it. The two dark green couches had been pushed back to the walls to provide more seating with the foldout chairs. As we followed my brothers toward the back of the house where the staircase was, I started laughing as I saw what they had done. Two yellow caution tapes had been crisscrossed at the bottom of the stairs.
“We knew you didn’t like all the commotion upstairs so we think we found a fix,” Ayden said proudly, unpinning the caution tape so we could move through.
“This way we can keep an eye on you three as well,” Mason said, grinning.
“That was very sweet of you,” I said laughing, climbing up the stairs.
There were two bathrooms upstairs. One was to the right of the stairs in between the two guest bedrooms, and the other one was connected to the master.
“See. There’s no one sneaking around upstairs now,” Mason said, completely enthralled with his bright idea.
I pushed open the master bedroom’s door and was completely shocked. They had redone the room. There was a large pine four-poster bed that was jetting out from the corner of the room. A chaise was under the picture window that overlooked the lake, and my brothers had blown up a full-size air mattress that was tucked in front of the closet.
“Do you realize how much you two spoil me?” I asked, dropping my backpack down.
“We try, knucklehead,” Ayden said.
“This is great. Forget the tent,” Gabby said. “I’m staying in here. I don’t care if someone’s doing beer pong outside the door. This is where I’m staying.”
“Agreed,” I said, watching her plop both bags down next to the air mattress.
“It’s so freaking hot on this side of the mountains,” she said, looking toward the bathroom. “I think I’m gonna shower and suit up.”
“Awesome. I’ll do the same, but first I’m gonna get the scoop from my brothers,” I told her as we three exited the room.
Gabby closed the door and my brothers, and I walked back down the stairs.
“Okay, guys. I’ve kind of got a surprise planned for Gabby.”
“Yeah?” Ayden said, his brows raising.
We reached the bottom of the stairs, and I followed my brothers to the kitchen. It was a bright and cheery space, and every surface was covered with either chip bags, cracker boxes, or cookie tins. We would not be going hungry this weekend.
“So you know the bike builder she’s been seeing?”
My brothers nodded.
“Well, I invited him over here for the weekend. He had some delivery today, but was planning on getting here tonight. I gave him both of your numbers in case he needed directions.”
“I thought it was a girls’ weekend for you three,” Mason said, grabbing a bag of potato chips.
“It is, kind of. But she’s so happy with him, and I thought it would be an awesome little getaway for them. And that’s why I brought the tent.”
“What was his name again?” Mason asked.
“Jason. He’s so sweet. I think you guys will really like him.”
Ayden and Mason both shook their heads. “We’ve heard that before,” they said in unison.
“Well, whatever. Just keep it a surprise and if you get a call from him, let me know. I was also kind of hoping with a pretty please and a cherry on top, that you’d maybe sneak up there and grab the tent bag and put it up somewhere for them.”
“Anything for you,” Mason said, pecking the top of my head with a brotherly kiss right before he shoved me away. “Now go suit up and start to have some fun you worrywart, and no, we didn’t make any of our guests sign waivers.”
“Hardy-har-har.” I grinned and ran up the stairs.
This weekend was exactly what I needed.
The afternoon had turned to early evening, and the temperature was beginning to shift. I was lying on a towel by the lake, reading one of my favorite authors as Lily and Gabby took turns riding one of the Jet Skis. We had gorged on hot dogs and potato salad for lunch, but my stomach was already responding to the smells from the grills lighting up around the property. It had been a wonderful afternoon, and my skin was already turning a nice shade in the ninety-degree weather. Lily had ditched the blond but was still keeping her eye out as she showed off on the watercraft. I wasn’t sure when Jason was going to be able to get across the mountains, but my guess was early evening. I hoped it was before it got dark so he could find it easier, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it. Even on a mini-vacation I managed to worry. How annoying.
“Hey, girl. I’m freezing,” Lily said. Unfastening her life vest, she tossed it on the grass next to me. “I think it’s time for me to get in my sweats.”
“Me too,” Gabby seconded, towel drying her hair.
“Sounds good to me.” I snapped my book closed and sprung up.
We grabbed our towels and headed for the cabin. I saw Ayden’s ex-girlfriend and waved. She gave a friendly wave back, and I noticed there was a guy standing next to her, his hand on her shoulder. I was always amazed with how my brothers handled break-ups. Granted, I wasn’t as extreme as Gabby where she’d switch her phone number and call out the national guard, but I don’t know that I’d ever be inviting them to parties I hosted.
Opening the front door, I saw the fire roaring and knew it was going to be a wonderful, cozy night. Even though the days were warm over here, the nights cooled off tremendously. My brothers had already stopped by while we were at the lake to let us know about the three different bonfires that they were setting up along the waterfront. Mason also managed to whisper to me where they had set the tent up for Jason and Gabby, which was so sweet.
Before running upstairs, we stopped in the kitchen and each of us filled a bowl with tortilla chips, and I grabbed the guacamole.
Gabby grabbed the entire bag of chips. “Just in case we need more.”
We ducked under the caution tape and jogged up the stairs, excited to change into something warmer. I grabbed a pair of pink sweats that I could roll up and a white hoodie. I didn’t bother putting on a shirt and just zipped up the hoodie. My bikini top would be fine. Lily slid a pair of jeans on and an oversized sweatshirt. Gabby grabbed a pair of black, baggy sweats and a grey sweatshirt. She pulled out a face wipe from her bag and began wiping off all of the sunblock and makeup from her skin.
“There. Now I feel all ready to snuggle in for the night next to the bonfire. Which one should we hit up?”
“Whichever one doesn’t have Dustin hanging around.”
“Dustin?” I asked, confused pulling on my sweatpants.
“Yeah. Dustin,” Lily replied, exasperated.
“Oh, the blonde,” Gabby chuckled.
“I say we do the fire closest to the house.” I eyed Lily and she nodded, once she realized I wanted Jason’s entrance to be caught by Gabby.
I scooted back on the bed and grabbed my bowl of chips as Gabby and Lily piled on top. Tossing them each a throw blanket we settled in and munched on our chips quietly for a few minutes.
“So how’s everything going with your brother?” Lily asked, scooping a huge pile of the guacamole on her chip.
Gabby crossed her legs underneath her and let out a deep breath. “Surprisingly good. I kind of figured I had two ways to go about it. Keep him out of my life forever and hold a grudge or just accept the past as the past and move on. I mean, truthfully, I couldn’t hold a grudge against my brother and not hold one toward my dad. And then what? Have no family? My dad was equally to blame, if not more so. I’d have no family left if I didn’t just accept it. Aaron’s not a bad guy. In fact, from what I’ve seen and learned about him, he’s done some pretty incredible things.”
Lily glanced at me quickly and I dropped my gaze.
“It sounds like you’ve really done some thinking about it,” Lily said. “I’m proud of you. It’s like we just might be becoming adults after all.”
“Well, some of us,” I interjected, repositioning my pillows.
Lily tossed a pillow at me, and it narrowly avoided the guacamole bowl.
“I think it’s really amazing how mature you’re being about it. I was just thinking about your family the other day, and I thought about how angry I would have been at my brothers if they just took off without a trace for ten years,” I said.
Gabby bit her lip and nodded slowly. “What really hit home for me was the fact that, sure I didn’t have my brother for ten years, but I did have my family. He had no one. Imagine holidays and birthdays passing year after year with no family around to celebrate. I at least felt loved. My father basically banished him. I couldn’t even imagine.”
The moment the words escaped Gabby’s lips, a knot formed in my stomach. The thought of Aaron without anyone, family or loved ones, made my heart hurt just thinking about it. And it also explained his inclination to stay that way, alone.
“I mean I know it had to have screwed with him. Look at his dating life. He obviously doesn’t trust women so he just keeps them at a distance.”
“Has Jason ever mentioned anything?” I asked, tracing the pattern of the comforter. It was the one tip-off this house was owned by guys. The sheets and comforter cover were a Christmas pattern full of snowmen and miniature Santas in the middle of summer.
“A little bit. He tries not to put himself in between anything, but he’s mentioned a few things that had happened over the years, and it tore me up. When they were in the military together they formed a bond really quickly and became one another’s family. He did tell me that he doesn’t think Aaron has ever been in love before. Can you imagine?”
My heart started pounding and I felt Lily’s gaze on me.
“No. I can’t imagine,” I managed to say.
“Everyone deserves love,” Gabby continued on. “I hope he finds it sooner than later rather than continue on with those meaningless relationships. Actually, I don’t think they’d even qualify as relationships. I googled him, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him with the same person twice.”
Exactly what I found. My cheeks began to burn, and I prayed the fresh tan would disguise my embarrassment at thinking that I had a shot at changing him.
“If only he could settle down with a nice girl like Lily,” Gabby teased. “That would certainly give him a run for his money.”
“I doubt you’d be fine with any of your friends dating him,” Lily scoffed.
“I wouldn’t care. If that made him happy or whoever... Who am I to say who people can or can’t date?”
My pulse quickened with this confession, and I suddenly wanted to blurt out that I had been Google-stalking her brother, but I kept quiet. Voicing that she doesn’t care who her brother dates was far different than actually witnessing it with her best friend.
“What sucks is that I think he can’t trust women because of our mom. Like he wants to punish women or beat them to the cheating thing.”
“That would make sense,” I agreed.
“Although, I don’t think he actually cheats on anyone because he doesn’t date anyone long enough for it to qualify as a relationship.”
“Does anyone want any more guacamole?” Lily asked, sliding off the bed.
If she thought that now was the time I was going to confess my love for Gabby’s brother, she was quite mistaken.
“I don’t need any,” I said, raising a brow.
I knew her tricks.
“Yeah, I’m fine too. I’d like to fit in my bikini tomorrow,” Gabby laughed.
Lily reluctantly climbed back on the bed and sat quietly. I glanced out the window and saw flames beginning to roll as the bonfires were started. I hoped Jason would get here soon.
“It’s funny where people find love,” Lily said, jolting me out of my daydreams. Her tone had softened, and this was a side of Lily that didn’t come out much.
“That’s so true,” Gabby said, pulling the blanket around her a little tighter. “I never thought a guy who we crashed into would turn out to be…” her voice trailed off and she blushed.
“The love of your life?” I finished.
She nodded.
“The way Jason looks at you is beyond lust. It’s pure love. He adores you,” Lily said.
“You think?” Gabby asked.
“Totally.”
“Have you ever been in love?” I asked Lily. We’d all been best friends for years, but there were a couple unwritten rules, and one of them included not getting too deep on the subject of love with Lily.
Lily looked down at the comforter, and the words that fell ever-so-quietly from her lips took both Gabby and me by surprise.
“Yes. I’ve been in love. Once.” Lily looked up, and I swore I saw tears in her eyes. Gabby reached over and grabbed her hand.
“At the time I thought I was too young, and it was impossible to love or be in love like I was. But I was wrong. I know that now, but it’s too late.” She glanced out the window and back to us.
“It was in high school, and in senior year he asked me to marry him. It wasn’t official. There wasn’t a ring, but the look in his eyes told me he was serious. He meant it.”
“What happened?” I asked, completely surprised Lily was finally allowing us into this part of her life.
“I accepted. And the last few weeks of school before graduation were amazing. It was like right out of a storybook. But my parents began interfering, telling me that I was too young. That there’s more fish in the sea…blah-blah,” she laughed bitterly. “He was so attentive. Completely wise beyond his years. I knew my parents were wrong. We lived in a small town and everyone’s business was every one’s fuel. I remember going to get my haircut a few weeks after graduation, and that’s when I heard the first of many rumors.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“That he had gotten some other girl pregnant. That he had planned on proposing to her to fix it and make it right. All sorts of things. The funny thing was that we had spent every waking and non-waking moment together so my logical side should have weeded the gossip out as gossip. But I didn’t. I fell right into the trap and believed everything. I was stupid. I was young. I boxed all my belongings up and shipped them off to college early and made my way soon after where I met you lovely ladies.”
“Did you ever talk to him?” Gabby asked.
“I called him and told him everything I heard and then before he even had a chance to say something, I hung up on him. Of course, both of my parents were delighted and helped move me right along. I was just a heartbroken barely eighteen-year old. That is the biggest regret of my life. So when I say that I know what love looks like, I mean it.” Instead of looking at Gabby she looked directly at me. “It’s not something to dismiss, no matter what complications might come with it.”
I nodded and smiled, privately thanking Lily for sharing something so personal with us.
“Did you ever find out the truth?” Gabby asked.
Lily shrugged. “I think I always knew the truth. I just took the easy way out, pleased my parents, and left the love of my life—potentially. I mean who knows what really would’ve happened.”
“You do,” I whispered.
Lily nodded in agreement.
The room was full of quiet tension. All of us slowly letting go of our secrets. Gabby telling Jason about her heart transplant, Lily admitting to herself why she bounces from guy to guy, and me wanting to confess that I might be falling for Gabby’s brother. But this was why we were friends. We never held anything against one another and when the time was right, we’d confess our sins.
“Ready to drink our hearts out?” Lily interrupted the silence. “I’m not big on confessionals and think I need to wipe it away.”
I threw the comforter off my legs and shot Lily a sympathetic grin
. “Absolutely.”
I snagged one of the throw blankets to take outside with us in case the fire didn’t do its job, and we all trundled downstairs. And to think we managed to get to the heavy subjects before the drinking even started.
As we reached the porch and closed the door behind us, I heard a faint rumble in the distance and grinned at Lily. It had to be Jason. We walked down the steps, toward the closest bonfire. We could see the long drive from our vantage point, and the adrenaline pumped quickly through my veins. I loved surprises as long as I was throwing them for someone else.
“Do you hear that?” Gabby asked, as we wandered toward the flames. There was already a group gathered, passing around sticks, marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers as we made our way to the fire pit. “That sounds like a mean machine.”
“That it does. A mean, dangerous machine,” I added, standing next to the fire but trying to get out of the smoke drift.
Gabby started laughing. “Actually, it sounds like more than one.”
“Seriously?” I asked, straining my ears. Maybe, it wasn’t Jason.
The laughing and hollering around the flames got louder just as the roar of the bikes’ engines began to hit the driveway. She was right. It wasn’t the roar of one engine I was hearing. It was two. Gabby grabbed a marshmallow out of the bag and passed on the graham crackers as she poked the marshmallow onto the end of the stick.
“Hope whoever it is, lets me take a peek at their bike.”
“Isn’t it enough that you already own one,” I sighed, just as I saw the first bike come into view. It was definitely Jason. He was dressed in black leathers and a matching black helmet. Another bike followed right behind him down the drive.
Gabby glanced up and gasped. She turned around to look at me and hopped up and down. “You got him to come? Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
Gabby dropped her marshmallow on the ground and ran toward Jason, who was leading the other biker down the drive.
I watched as the second biker pulled right next to Jason’s bike. It was obviously a man driving it. His broad shoulders filled out the leather jacket. He was dressed in black leathers too, but his helmet was matte black. His sunglasses looked familiar, and then suddenly my heart started pounding.
Beyond Doubt (Beyond Love Series #2) Page 9