It was my mom who spotted us first. Almost like what I did to Gage, she launched herself at me. I barely had time to let go of Gage’s hand before my mom was pulling me into a death drip. Even though the hug was tight and I was losing air, I hugged her back just as hard. For some reason I felt tears come to my eyes, but I pushed them back. I was not going to cry.
My mom hugged me for a good five minutes before she finally pulled away and let my dad in. My dad’s hugs were still the best after all this time. I felt his body shake slightly against me, which did not help me in not crying.
One by one I was hugged by all of my family members. Gage’s grandmother was even here, and she pulled me into one of her tight hugs. Ethan was the last to hug me, and behind me I felt Gage take a step closer. Even after this long he still didn’t like me being around Ethan too long. Yes, he was closer to Ethan than before, but he just couldn’t get over that Ethan once liked me.
Even after telling Gage so many times that he had nothing to worry about, he just couldn’t get it through his head yet. It was a never-ending argument.
“You didn’t fall flat on your face,” Ethan said once he pulled away.
“You would have liked that, wouldn’t you?” I shook my head at him. No doubt he and my brother made a bet that I would fall.
“Well, actually, no. I won twenty bucks thanks to you.” Gambling issue, I tell you.
“You guys need to stop that.” I rolled my eyes at him. “Anyway, where is…” I trailed off noticing him and Macey walking up the steps, hand in hand. I smiled at the pair. Yet another thing that I didn’t think would happen in my life.
At first seeing them together was gross and just blah. But now I was happy they were together. They just fit so well, and as long as my best friend and brother were happy, I was too. But it was disgusting when they started making out in front of everyone, not caring we were there. Forever burned in my memory.
Upon seeing my best friend, I shoved past Ethan and went right for her. Her parents barely had time to move out of the way before I lunged at her. I almost tackled her in a hug. Thank God for the railing behind her.
“We did it!” I yelled at her as we hugged one another. Some best friends drift apart during college, but we were the opposite. We became closer and we always made time for one another.
“And we didn’t fall!” she yelled back. We laughed at that. I let her go so everyone else could hug her, but not before we sent each other a wide smile.
“Love you,” I mouthed.
“Love you too, babe,” she mouthed back. I stepped back and let my own parents come in to hug her.
After I was wrapped in a bear hug by my brother, Dylan and Anna came around. Speak of another cute couple that no one thought would be together. Dylan gave up his woman-playing ways and stayed true to Anna. She balanced out his dorky side. They were just right for each other.
We didn’t leave the stands until twenty minutes later. By then, the crowds were smaller, and we were able to walk without bumping into people. Because our diplomas were empty, we had to use the “counter” they had so we could trade in our gowns to get them. We were at least able to keep our caps.
Instead of thinking about the fact that after graduation I was a “responsible” adult, I was going to have fun with my entire family and spend the rest of the week with my friends at the beach house.
***
“I’m ready. I’m ready!” Dylan yelled as we started to drive on the freeway. We had just barely left the apartment and he was already on my nerves.
We were on our way to my parents’ beach house about four hours away, in the Hamptons. Because there were eight of us going, we split into two different cars—Gage’s Jeep and Ethan’s Range Rover—so we all wouldn’t be cramped together. We also decided to use some old walkie-talkies my parents had so we could talk to one another. We could have used our cellphones, but this was more. Right now, though, I was envious of Macey seated in Ethan’s car instead of ours.
“I’m ready. I’m ready,” Dylan said again in SpongeBob’s voice. I looked over at Gage.
“Can I tie him up and place him in the back?”
“I can hear you.”
“I said it loudly.” I turned in my seat and saw him stick his tongue out at me.
“Well, we have four hours until we get there. How about some music?” Anna asked from the backseat.
“My phone!” Dylan screamed and shoved his phone toward me. Knowing he wouldn’t shut up until I did, I took his phone and plugged the cord into it. When the music started, I raised an eyebrow at the first song.
“‘Do You Want to Build A Snowman?’…Really?” Gage asked, looking at Dylan through the rearview mirror.
“What? It is a good song.”
“Why am I still dating this guy?” Anna wondered out loud.
“Shh, everyone! It is playing!”
Laughing under my breath, I was quiet so the song could play. In the backseat Dylan sang every word at the top of his lungs. I was surprised and impressed that he knew all the words, although I shouldn’t have been. It was Dylan we were talking about.
This is how the next hour went. With every single song that came on, Dylan sang at the top of this lungs. The plus was that he at least knew the words, well…most of the words. Some he got the words completely wrong, but went with it. I would be lying if said it wasn’t entertaining because it was.
Thankfully, the four hours went by quickly. We only stopped once because Luke demanded if he didn’t stop, he would pee everywhere. Other than that, though, it was smooth sailing. No traffic or anything on the freeway, so it didn’t take us as long as we thought it would.
Ethan’s car was ahead of us as we pulled up to the gate of the house. He knew the code, so he punched it in, and we drove up the long driveway. It was like a silent agreement here in the Hamptons that you had to have long driveways and a huge house. A house three times the size of a normal one.
I loved our beach house. It was a light blue and two stories tall. It had a stairway that led right to the beach, which was perfect. Our family spent quite a few weeks here in the summer every year, and it was always fun. Just ignore the snotty rich girls that lived nearby, and it is a great place to visit.
“This is your house?” Dylan whistled as he leaned forward to see it.
“Yeah. My dad apparently got a good deal on it years ago.” When we parked, I noticed everyone was gawking at the house. Gage had been here before, but he still looked so shocked.
Gage came here with us two summers ago. My parents thought it would be nice for him to join us, and we spent two weeks here walking along the beach, playing games, and just hanging out with my family.
However, this was Dylan and Anna’s first time coming here. It would take a bit for them to get used to the size. Until then I expected a lot of comments and gasps, all coming from Dylan of course.
“Okay. Pick a bedroom and meet back in the living room in about thirty minutes. We can decide what to do then,” I said as everyone got out of the cars and started unloading. Immediately Luke and Dylan ran inside to find the “best room.” You would think after coming here for ten-plus years Luke would not run inside each time, but nope. Every. Single. Time.
The rest of us grabbed our suitcases and slowly trailed after them. It was just us eight, so every couple got their own room. Good thing no parents were here, or else they’d make us separate. Not even lying. My own made Gage stay in a whole different room when we were here before.
“I know what I want to do today,” Gage joked as we walked upstairs.
“Is everything about sex with you?” I questioned, my back turned to him.
“Yes.” I didn’t even bother to reply. I pushed open the door to the room I normally stayed in. It was easily twice the size of our bedroom back home. Another plus side to the beach house: the rooms were huge.
“We are not doing that right now,” I said once we were in the room with the door shut. I quickly got to work unpacking my suit
case. Gage of course jumped on the bed and lay there watching me.
“Not even a little chance?”
“No. Wasn’t last night enough for you?” I glanced over my shoulder at him. He sat up and stared right at me.
“No,” he stated. Insatiable man, I tell you. I should expect nothing less from Gage, though.
“Still no.” I moved around the room as I unpacked. I felt Gage’s eyes on me the entire time, and I forced myself not to turn and look at him. If I did, I would fall for his charm and give in. That happened more often than I liked.
“Babe!”
“Don’t ‘babe’ me. We are going to go downstairs and do something, all eight of us.”
Behind me I knew Gage was pouting like a little kid. Right now, we couldn’t do that, not when everyone was going to be waiting for us. When I finished unpacking what I could, I turned to face Gage.
He was lying on his back staring up at the ceiling, a hard look on his face. I shook my head and went toward him. I grabbed his hand and hauled him up off the bed. It took me a few tries first, though. Dude weighed a lot.
“Let’s go, babe.” He dragged his feet as I pulled him out of the room and downstairs.
***
“Let’s play Never Have I Ever!”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
“This is going to become awkward, guys, so no,” I said, bowing out. Playing Never Have I Ever was never a good idea with friends, especially when someone is family.
We were all sitting around a fire on the beach. We spent the entire day out here. The moment we all gathered in the living room, everyone yelled out that they wanted to spend the day on the beach. We had four days to do other things, so I didn’t care.
“Come on!” Everyone turned to look at me, so I sighed.
“Fine.” Luke cheered as he grabbed beers for everyone.
“We will drink beer, so we can play longer,” Luke said as he handed them out to everyone.
Ever since I turned twenty-one, I have had a few shots, but alcohol just wasn’t really my thing. I’d do a few then switch to water. I stared down at the cold can of beer and scrunched my nose up.
“I’ll drink some for you,” Gage whispered down to me. I nodded and leaned into his side. Gage knew I wasn’t a fan, and he always drank the booze for me or made sure I had water or soda around.
I was wearing one of the sweatshirts that I stole from Gage ages ago. Even though we lived together, I still stole his sweatshirts all the time, and he never got them back. Sitting next to the fireplace, I still leaned into Gage for his warmth.
“Remember: if you have done something, you need to take a shot, in this case a gulp of beer. If you have done it, you have to say exactly what you did,” Luke rattled off. “Who wants to go first?”
“I will,” Amy said first. “Never have I ever…passed out at a party drunk.” For this question no one drank. We all looked surprised at one another.
“No one?” Dylan asked.
“Honest,” Ethan and Luke said at the same time. They were telling the truth, honestly. The reason none of them ever passed out was because I was either there to make sure they didn’t, or one of them called me and had me come get them. Back when I couldn’t drive, I would make a friend of theirs be the sober one and drive everyone home. Most of the time, though, it was Ethan who stayed sober enough to drive everyone home.
“I am the reason behind that,” I said. “I always made sure they didn’t. But I am surprised you never did, Dylan.”
“I had Gage for that. He didn’t let me get piss drunk.”
“Okay, onto the next one. I’ll go.” Luke sat up and looked around at each of us. “Never have I ever smoked weed.” Amy was the only who drank on that one. Next came Macey.
“Never have I ever peed my pants in public.” I grimaced and took a sip of the crappy beer.
“You peed your pants?” Gage asked me with a raised eyebrow.
“It was an accident.” I could feel my cheeks heating up. “It was all Macey’s fault anyway!”
“My fault? You shouldn’t have drunk all of those sodas.”
“When did this happen?” Luke asked.
“Eighth grade. We were at one of your football games and I was really thirsty. After having five bottles of soda, I had to go so bad I didn’t make it all the way to the bathroom. I ended up having to take off my jacket and wear it around my waist for the rest of the night. So embarrassing.” Just thinking of that moment again made me want to crawl into a hole. It was terrible. I blamed it on all the jumping up and down when the team scored. Wasn’t my finest moment I’ll tell you.
“Anna, your turn,” I said, turning the subject away from me.
“Ummm…never have I ever peed outside in or behind a bush.” Of course everyone drank on that one.
“You have never done that? Have you not been camping before?” Dylan gasped.
“My parents were never really around to take me hiking, and I’ve always lived in the city.” Anna shrugged and sunk down, embarrassed.
“Don’t worry, it isn’t that glamourous.” I smiled over at her to ease her a bit.
“Okay, finally, my turn!” Dylan yelled, sitting up. He was quiet for a minute, but I knew he was just doing it to be dramatic.
“Never have I ever been handcuffed before.” We all got what he meant by that. He didn’t mean being handcuffed by a cop. Here I thought we would stay away from the sexual questions for a bit.
I groaned as I brought the beer can to my lips once more. The awful taste of the liquid slid down my throat and I grimaced. At least I wouldn’t get a buzz from this stuff.
“Carter?” everyone suddenly yelled. Everyone’s attention was on me, making me sink more into Gage’s side. Beside me I could tell Gage’s pride swelling and a smirk growing on his face.
“You’ve been handcuffed before?” Ethan asked, his eyebrows raised and his mouth wide open.
Thankfully in the dark no one could see how red I got. I really shouldn’t have drunk and lied about it. I had been handcuffed before by Gage. We were just…experimenting.
“I’m not the only one. Did no one else see Luke take a drink?” I pointed at him. “And I know for a fact he hasn’t been arrested!” Just as I wanted, everyone looked at Luke. I could see all the guys looking at him questioningly. Almost like they couldn’t believe a guy could be handcuffed to a bed instead of a girl.
“What? It was fun.” I was probably the only one who noticed Macey smiling softly next to him. I shook my head at her, but she stuck her tongue out at me.
“Let’s move on, shall we?” I asked loudly. Since it was my turn, I quickly rattled off a question. “Never have I ever snuck out of the house.” Sadly, it was only me and Anna who didn’t drink. Of course everyone else had snuck out before. I knew of many times both Ethan and Luke did at home.
As it came to Gage’s turn, I waited to see what he said. I had a feeling he had something up his sleeve by the way he snuck a glance at me.
“Never have I ever given a lap dance.” I silently cursed at him. He did that on purpose. Waiting for everyone to look the other way, I took a quick sip of my beer. From the corner of my eye, though, I saw Dylan send Gage a smirk and a wink.
“You little liar.” Gage leaned down a whispered in my ear.
“Am not. I drank.”
“Not in front of everyone.” His breath was warm against the side of my face.
“Well, I don’t want my brother to find out I gave my boyfriend a lap dance before.”
“Should I tell everyone you didn’t drink?” I noticed a glint in his eyes. He was definitely doing this on purpose.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh yeah?” He started to open his mouth and I quickly slapped my hand across his lips.
“Fine. What do you want?” I asked, although I had an idea on what he wanted.
“A private lap dance from you later on.” This was definitely payback for not letting him
have his way with me earlier.
I looked him right in the eyes and knew he was joking. Not going to lie: he played that smoothly. Sending him a smirk back, I removed my hand from his mouth.
“Fine. But you are handcuffed to the bed.” If he wanted to play dirty, so could I. Being this close to him, I saw his jaw clench and heard his small groan. “We got ourselves a deal then.” Smirking, I tuned back into the game everyone had just picked back up.
We spent the rest of the night playing Never Have I Ever, until we finally just got bored and ran out of questions. One by one each of us split off into our own couple groups. Luke and Macey went back inside to do God knows what. Anna and Dylan went up to the deck and sat on the rocking bench, talking quietly. Ethan and Amy sat beside the fire, sipping their drinks and having their own conversation.
Gage and I decided to go off on our own for a bit. Walking hand in hand, we went along the beach. Our bare feet squished in the wet sand as we walked. Occasionally the water would come up and splash our feet, but we made sure to stay up higher so the cold water wouldn’t get us too wet.
The moon wasn’t full quite yet, but was just enough to light up the area around us. It was a nice night out in the Hamptons. Not too cold that a sweater couldn’t keep you warm. Plus I had a werewolf boyfriend who just radiated heat.
The two of us were quiet as we walked. Neither of us had to say anything, both content being next to each other. We walked further down the shoreline until the fire was in the distance, and light from the nearby houses lit up our pathway.
“What are you thinking about, Princess?” Gage asked after some time.
“I am thinking about how happy I am right now.” I smiled up at him. “Happy that all of us are here right now.”
“It is really a nice break from our lives,” Gage agreed.
“You know, yesterday at graduation I kept hearing everyone say they were nervous about life after college. And to be honest I was too. I was worried things were going to change so much, and I liked what happened to us in college. But now…I am not so scared anymore.”
Silent Love Part Four_Forbidden Series Page 15