Never Will I Ever

Seventeen

Kaleb

Week Four

As the rest of the week passes, thankfully, so does most of the awkwardness and strife with my co-counselor. There are moments of lingering discord when I slip back into my habit of acting as the “sole leader” of this group, and Avery’s stubbornness still has its way of sneaking into the equation, but overall, things have become relatively peaceful between us.

And thank God for that.

We actually managed to survive the rest of the week without incident, bringing us to another blissful, kid-free Sunday. Well, after getting the heathens to breakfast, then we have all the freedom in the world.

My brothers are bouncing off the walls this morning, acting a fool and pelting one another with pine cones while I attempt to herd them, Elijah, and my remaining half of kids to the dining hall.

I’m all for getting the rambunctious energy out now, especially if it means their listening ears are firmly in place once I hand them off to the other counselors in charge of wrangling them for the day. But the second I get nailed in the back of the head with a pine cone, all the fun and games are over.

“You might be my brothers, but I’m not above making the two of you sit in Colin’s office all day if you don’t cut it out,” I threaten, turning to them and arching a brow. “And seeing as I know what they’ve got planned for you today, you really don’t want that to happen.”

The twins share an oh shit look before promptly dropping the projectiles and pretending like they’ve been angels this entire time.

“What are you gonna do today?” Day asks while he fiddles with the baseball cap on his head.

Colton snorts. “Probably spend it up on the mountain, like the weirdo he is.”

Dayton nods before tacking on, “Or getting far away from Avery.”

I actually hadn’t given much thought to how I’d spend my day off. Normally, I’d only take a half day to do my laundry or maybe go into town for lunch if I was feeling something different, especially if the kids had been trying the day before.

But the mention of Avery has my thoughts shifting to unexpected places. Ones that include him, rather than entertain ways to put as much distance between us as I possibly can.

“I don’t know why you guys don’t like Avery.”

This comes from Elijah, and I glance over my shoulder to find the kid trailing just behind the twins.

Colton scoffs. “Maybe because he’s a complete d—”

“You better quit while you’re ahead, Colton,” I cut him off, aiming my harshest don’t fuck with me glare his way. Lord knows he wouldn’t get away with that language with Mom or Dad around.

“Okay, but if the boat shoes fit…” Dayton says with one of those what can you do? shrugs.

“He’s actually really nice,” Elijah pipes up, and when I glance over at the kid, I find him staring at his hands like they’re the most interesting things in the world before he speaks again. “You guys just don’t really give him much of a chance to be.”

Colton and Dayton share a look—one that speaks louder than actual words of disbelief actually could—and shrug it off.

In Elijah’s eyes, he and Avery are friends. He might even look up to the guy in somewhat of an older brother fashion, and there’s no part of me that wants to soil that image of Avery for him. As it is, I’m starting to find myself agreeing with the kid.

The Avery that’s slowly creeping to the surface—managing to shine through some of the assholery I’ve seen over the past year—is the same one I met freshman year. The one I wanted to be friends with. The one that, as much as I didn’t want to admit it, had my stomach in knots whenever I’d hear him laugh or catch him grinning at me after a good play on the field.

And as I’ve started getting more and more glimpses of that version of him, all those feelings are rushing back in. Especially after what happened last week.

“Elijah’s right,” I finally confirm, eyeing the kid before shooting him a knowing smirk. “There’s more to him than meets the eye.”

When my attention moves to my brothers, I find them both staring at me like I’ve grown two extra heads.

Dayton is the first to speak, cocking his head to the side in confusion. “Who are you, and what have you done with our brother?”

“Yeah,” Cole says slowly. “Did you hit your head and suddenly forget that he—”

“No.” I cut him off before he can bring up what happened back at Foltyn. The last thing I need is one of the other kids catching wind and repeating it to another counselor, or worse, their parents.

Ironic, considering it wasn’t that long ago I was looking to get him kicked out myself.

Cole narrows his eyes ever so slightly. “And now you’re defending him.”

Shit. Am I?

“We’ve put the past in the past” is the response I settle on, my attention flicking between my brothers. “Sometimes in life, people make mistakes. And sometimes they deserve the benefit of the doubt that they won’t make those same ones again.”

They don’t look very convinced, if the vacant expressions are anything to go by, but thankfully, they decide to drop it when we enter the lodge. At that point, they become these half-human, half-feral-animal creatures, rushing to the buffet line for breakfast.

All except for Elijah.

There’s an innocent smile plastered to his face when I glance over at him, about to ask if he’s planning on eating this morning. I don’t get the chance before he speaks instead.

“I’m glad you and Avery are friends again.”

Then he’s off to join the rest of the campers in line, like he didn’t just pin me in place with a simple statement.

Are we friends now?

It doesn’t quite feel like the right word, but I do know there’s a sense of calm surrounding us that didn’t exist before. I’d fully expected things to return to their strained, slightly volatile nature after what happened in my cabin last weekend, but to my surprise, it’s been…normal. Or what normal should be.

Sure, we haven’t exactly talked about the way we devoured each other like animals in heat until we were covered in our own cum, but that’s okay. If he wants to leave it as a one-time thing, or if it was too much too soon, then I’m not gonna push the subject. It’s not worth disrupting the newfound peace we’ve established, and honestly, I’m not really looking to put it under a microscope. I’d much rather enjoy where we are now. Maybe even replace some of the bullshit between us with something better.

Hell, we could actually be friends.

An idea clicks in my head, and after making sure the kids are all accounted for, I slip down the hall leading toward Colin’s office and snag a piece of scrap paper. Then, taking a page from Avery’s playbook, I scribble out a quick note on it.

10:00am, north trailhead.

There’s something I want to show you.

— K

I make a beeline for Avery’s cabin after that. A stupid grin tugs at my lips, and I wonder how he’s gonna feel about me returning the favor when I slip inside and leave the note on his bed.

If this goes as planned, I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.

“You’re late.”

I glance down at my Garmin, noting the time as 10:02, before lifting my gaze to Avery. While I may have just seen him in the dining hall at breakfast, the sight of him leaning against the trail marker, waiting for me, does something weird to my stomach.

Choosing to ignore the weird fluttering altogether, I shake my head and sigh. “Look, my brothers were a couple of menaces after breakfast. I couldn’t exactly leave them in the hands of someone else when they’re acting a fool.”

“Guess you’re lucky I didn’t impose the same terms as you, otherwise you’d be six feet under right now.”

I hate the stupid smile pulling at my lips when I recall the threat I’d given him, but I can’t seem to stop it either.

God, was that really only last week?

With how smooth things have been going the past few days, it may as well have been a millenia ago.

“Consider me grateful that you’re sparing me from meeting an untimely demise,” I joke, reaching up and placing my palm over my heart. “I’ll be forever in your debt.”

Rolling his eyes, he pushes off the sign and motions toward the trail. “You gonna tell me where the hell we’re going?”

“Nope. It’s a surprise.”

And with that, I make my way past him and start up the trail.

He lets out a long, resounding sigh, and I glance over just in time to catch him glaring at me. “Of course not. Because why would you ever make anything easy or simple or enjoyable for me?”

The snort that slips out can’t be helped. Leave it to Avery to complain about a surprise.

“You’ve met my brothers, and should know dramatics aren’t gonna work on me.” I flash him a grin—which earns me the finger this time—before adding, “Now, let’s get your ass in gear. We only have so many hours of daylight, and I’m planning to use every one of them.”

To his credit, he does start moving. But not without another smart-ass comment.

“I thought I was getting the day off, Drill Sergeant.”

So fucking dramatic.

I don’t dignify his comment with a response, and instead, keep up my pace. The trail to the base of Veil Falls is steep yet relatively short, and I know it won’t be long before the sound of rushing water greets our ears.

Of course, by the time that actually happens, Avery is breathing heavily and glaring at me like we just hiked five miles straight uphill.

“Sometimes I really wonder if you’re trying to kill me out here.”

“Oh, relax,” I chide, barely giving him a second glance. “You’re a college athlete. We’ve had practices harder than this.”

“Did you forget I’m a pitcher?” he asks between pants while locking his hands behind his head. “Coach didn’t make us do half the shit that the rest of you were forced into.”

Damn, he has a point there.

“Well, on the bright side, it’s all downhill from here.” Literally.

“Fucking hilarious, LaMothe,” he gripes before dropping onto a nearby rock and making a big show of gulping down water. “You know, you really—”

The rest of his sentence dies on the spot when he finally quits his antics long enough to take in his surroundings, including the massive waterfall looming a few hundred feet from where we’ve stopped on the trail.

Avery pushes off from his make-shift seat, theatrics forgotten and a bit more pep in his step now. Almost as if the sound of rushing water was the song of a siren, luring him to the source. And because I seem to be a moth to his flame, I follow.

“Goddamn,” he whispers on a breath nearly drowned out by the noise.

Thought so.

I paint an innocent smirk on my face when he looks back at me. “Well? Worth it, Mr. Complains-A-Lot?”

“You’re so fucking smug sometimes,” Avery mutters, but his eyes are dancing with child-like excitement before he looks back at the pool of aqua-colored water gathered at the base of the falls. “Are we allowed to swim in it?”

My forehead creases as I glance between him and the water. “It’s glacial runoff, so it’s cold as shit. But, yeah, I have once or twice.”

It seems to be all the confirmation he needs, because without a second thought, he strips out of his clothes, leaving him in a pair of light-gray boxer briefs that mold to his muscular thighs and ass.

Damn, is it a sight to behold.

I watch, completely enraptured by the way his muscles move and flex, as he walks toward some rocks off the edge of the water; a perfect jumping spot if the water wasn’t colder than Antarctica.

A wicked grin crosses his face, creating a complete juxtaposition to the halo of blond hair shining in the sunlight. “You coming?”

I shake my head. Vehemently. “You’re insane.”

“You’re the one who hikes for fun, and you’re calling me insane?” he counters, brow arched in opposition.

Brushing off his little dig, I motion toward the water pooling below the falls. “Then by all means, if you’re looking to freeze your dick off, go ahead. I may have said you’re dramatic earlier, but at least the theatrics will be merited once you’re a human popsicle.”

“Then you give it a nice lick to warm it up again.”

The dirty comment lingers in the air between us, and I’m not sure who’s more shocked by it coming outta his mouth. It honestly might be him, going off the blush creeping over his cheeks.

“I’ll…keep that in mind,” I manage through my surprise.

It’s the first mention of anything remotely sexual since our night in my cabin, and my mind instantly pulls the memory front and center. His skin beneath my touch, his body arching into mine while I took us sky high, they play out in my mind like a movie.

That night was fun. More than fun, honestly. It was sinful and addictive. Down right intoxicating in a way that had nothing to do with the beer we’d been drinking. It was each other.

From the blush still lingering on Avery’s skin, paired with the heat in his gaze as he looks at me, I have a sneaking suspicion his mind has gone to a similar place.

Clearing his throat, he breaks our connection and looks back at the frigid water.

“Are you really—”

I don’t have the chance to finish the rest of my question, but I don’t really need to when Avery’s actions answer for me. He takes two steps back from the ledge and then takes a running leap into the air. His body crashes through the water seconds later before disappearing from sight, leaving bubbles and ripples in his wake.

“Like I said. Insane,” I mumble under my breath.

I watch the spot where his body vanished below the surface, waiting for him to reappear dripping wet and freezing, if only so I can gloat about being right. But as nearly a minute passes without any sign of him, I start to worry that the frigid water sent his system into shock and he drowned on my watch.

Ah, shit.

Instincts start kicking in, and I strip my shirt over my head and set to work on my boot laces. I’ve just toed them both off when I catch a blur moving in the water swimming back toward the surface.

“Holy shit,” Avery gasps, his damp hair and skin glistening in the sun. His eyes are comically wide when he turns toward me, and with all my panic now dissipating into the ether, I burst out laughing.

The look on his face is one I’ve experienced myself, because, as it turns out, I had the same bright idea Avery just acted on my first summer as a counselor. And much like him, I also quickly realized after jumping in just how much of a mistake it was.

“Shit. The first hit takes your breath away,” he says, but there’s a smile on his lips…even if they’re turning the slightest bit blue already.

“Full of regrets, huh?” I call out, unable to keep the smugness from my tone. It’s his own fault for not listening to me, yet again. Sometimes I think he does it just to spite me. “I’ve got my I told you so on hand whenever you’re ready to hear it.”

“As if I’d ever give you the satisfaction.”

Snorting, I shake my head. “No truer words have been spoken.”

Avery swims toward me until he’s lingering below the rocks he’d jumped off. The aqua hue of the water reflects off his eyes, making them appear even bluer than normal as he stares up at me.

“You decide to come in after all?”

What?

“Uh, no?”

“Then why” —he lifts his hand and motions to my chest— “are you half-dressed?”

I frown and glance down, only to remember my state of undress.

Oh, right.

“You took a minute to come back up. I was just preparing to play lifeguard and save your ass.”

He bursts out laughing and shakes his head, the water flicking off the ends of his hair from the movement. “Careful, LaMothe. Willing to freeze your ass off to save me? I might think you actually care about me or something.”

“More like I didn’t want to get fired for letting you die,” I toss back dryly.

That only makes him laugh harder, and the sound does something weird to my stomach. I don’t think I’ve heard him sound this carefree since…fuck, maybe sophomore year? The days we’d spend screwing around in the batting cages instantly come to mind, and I let myself linger in those moments as I slip back into my boots.

“Why’d you bring me here if you weren’t planning to take a little dip?”

Because it’s beautiful and I wanted to share it with you.

The thought hits me like a freight train, causing me to momentarily falter before responding with something a little safer than the unfiltered truth.

“Because I was looking for some fun today, and thought you might like to join. I didn’t take into account that you’d see a body of water and would automatically want to jump in it.”

His scoff floats on the breeze. “That’s like bringing a kid to a candy store and saying he’s only allowed to look.”

“Like I said. You’re insane.”

“It’s not even that cold once you get used to it.”

And I’m the king of England.

I throw my head back and chuckle. “Yeah, sure. Okay.”

“It’s not,” he insists. Then he uses the back of his hand to splash the freezing cold water up at me, the droplets landing on my bare chest. “See? Not bad at all.”

Wiping the icy drops from my skin, I shoot him a glare. “Dick.”

Smirking, he does it again, but I manage to step back enough that only a few drops meet their mark.

“If you don’t come in, I’m just gonna keep splashing you.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Try me. I dare you,” he taunts, arching a brow and positioning his hands for another attack.

Yeah, I don’t think so. I’ve seen Avery’s stubbornness firsthand, and there’s not a chance in hell I’m betting against it. Which is why, with an annoyed grumble, I toe my boots back off and strip the rest of the way to my briefs.

My bare skin heats beneath the afternoon sun, but it’s scorching where I can feel Avery’s gaze watching me.

“Not getting any younger, LaMothe!” he chides before swimming away from the edge.

Fucking relentless asshole.

But rather than tossing more snide remarks with him, I take a long, slow inhale.

And then I jump.