He didn’t plan it. None of it.
Max being injured. Going home alone. His grandpa moved out. The family cabin was empty. No one was available to join him … except Hazel … his best friend’s little sister.
She was always his soft spot even before he left for college. But this time around is a little different. A little stronger. He was a little bit more eager. Impatient. He couldn’t tell what it is, he just wanted something more.
Maybe it’s the way she blushed in fifty shades of red when he looked at her. When she turned away if he was staring at her too long. The way her touches felt on his skin. When she took his hand every time. His opened palm never goes unwelcomed. She laughed at his jokes, even the ones he didn’t think was very funny. She lied to everyone about them being alone at the lake. She was feeling something too. He was sure.
He didn’t plan this. To feel the way he felt when he first saw her at the dance. The way his heart fluttered at the sparkle in her eyes when she smiled at him. The way his heart stopped and start when he put his hands around her waist, to have her so close to him. He wanted to pull her even closer.
And then there she was. Her half naked body brushed against his skin. In the icy water something was heating up inside him. He bit his lower lip. It’s too soon. She had just broken up from her first boyfriend and he … it’s only been three days since he was back. What is wrong with him?
Does she know he felt butterflies in his stomach when she’s near him now? Is he the only one feeling that way? He can’t remember the last time he felt like that with a girl. Maybe he never did. He wrapped his arm around her waist in the water and pulled her closer. She felt so good in his arm. He let her go. It’s too soon.
She looked at him bewildered. Now she was wondering why he let her go. He avoided her gaze. He was caught. She was amused. This is getting dangerous, he thought. The lines were getting blurred and thinner as minutes gone by. This is the girl he shouldn’t even be thinking about kissing, but that was all he could think about.
He started to wonder how it would feel like. What’s the worst thing that could happen … if he kissed her? She wasn’t going to make the first move, he knew she would never do that. But he was almost certain now that she wasn’t going to push him away … nope … don’t think so. Is she as scared as he was?
And then she did something he didn’t expect. She climbed on his back. Her laughter in his ear, her arms around his neck, he was between her thighs. At least she wasn’t in front of him. He couldn’t possibly kiss her now. But he could always turn around and her lips would be right there. Shit. He realized he was in trouble.
“Hazel …” he called her by her name.
“What?” her lips almost touched his ear.
“I think we should go back now,” he said.
“Why?”
“I think it’s going to rain,” it wasn’t the real reason, “I have to prepare lunch.”
“You mean frozen mac and cheese?”
They laughed.
“Well … yeah … it still need to be prepared … hey … and I have some frozen carrots and peas too,” he said and kept walking toward the shore with her still on his back.
“Can I just stay in the water while you prepare dinner?”
“No,” he replied swiftly.
“Why?”
“You know why … come on … climb down now,” he said when they reached the shore.
She jumped down, “Fine … last one a loser,” she said and ran toward the cabin.
“Do you really think you can outrun me?” he followed her.
“I can try …” she let her tongue out at him.
He caught her in less than 10 steps and carried her with one arm all the way to the cabin. They can’t seem to stop laughing. He put her down in front of the cabin entrance. They looked into each others eyes.
He didn’t plan it. None of it. But he can see it in her eyes, she was thinking the same thing. They were both holding it back and it wasn’t going to be long until one of them caved.
They spent the rest of the day inside. As it turned out, it rained. He prepared lunch mostly in silence though there was a million things going on inside his head. She took a couple of beer cans from the ice box and tried to melt the tension.
“A can of beer for your thought?” she handed him the can and sat on the counter next to him.
He glanced at her with a smile, took the can and opened it. “Hungry?” he took a sip of his beer.
She lifted her shoulders, “Kinda … why so quiet?” she was more interested in that.
“I’m just thinking about the tournament … I have to go back to Gastonbury before Summer is over, for practice,” he said.
She nodded, “Are you going to play for the Nationals?”
“Actually … yeah … the tournament is a window for me to go National, they’re recruiting players afterwards.”
“That’s awesome … I’m sure they’ll pick you up real soon … they’ll be bidding for you.”
He smiled, “Thanks … that’s really nice to hear … it’s just …”
“What?”
He looked at her for a few seconds then turned away and shook his head, “Nothing.”
“What? No … that’s not nothing … tell me,” she grabbed his arm and laughed lightly.
“I think I wanna stay here longer,” he said shyly.
She blushed, “Well … stay then …” She instinctively brushed the side of his hair and realized she wasn’t suppose to do that. “Sorry.”
He looked at her again and paused, “This is so not going to go well with Max.” It was another thing that had occupied his mind.
“What is?” she pretended not to understand.
“This …” he continued chopping some veggies, “You and me … here … you and me … ever,” he scoffed. His heart pounded faster. It was out in the open now. He was talking about it.
“Is that what you want though? You and me?” she asked.
He didn’t expect the question. She was blunt and he was unprepared. He chuckled nervously, “You wouldn’t believe me if I tell you,” he cleared his throat and not making eye contact with her.
She jumped off the counter and stood right next to him, her cheek brushed against his shoulder, “I wish you’d try harder,” she said.
He turned to her in surprise, he thought he could handle it but he was wrong. She was standing so close to him and he froze. Too soon. Too many things to consider. He pressed his lips against her forehead, “I think we should get ready for lunch.”