Chapter 36
CADE
The theme for this reunion was sleepover.
Then again, maybe it would be fun? I was back in Vermont, and I knew Bryan and Nic would be going, so really, there was no reason for me not to attend.
And yeah, part of me wondered if I’d run into Brooke.
Three years had passed since we’d last spoken, but I was always still wondering about Brooke.
She truly was my one that got away, and as much as I’d tried to move on, I’d always found myself unfairly comparing my girlfriends to Brooke.
No one had measured up. Since my last breakup, I’d resolved to take a break from dating for a while.
The reunion was taking place at this huge cabin on the lake, some massive rental property from one of those Air B&B-type sites.
The inside had an enormous open living space with lofted ceilings up to a vaulted roof.
The whole thing was a marvel of architecture, heavy on the wood-cabin lakehouse vibes, but in an upscale way.
Having just renovated my own place in my old neighborhood, I was pretty interested in home design, so I found myself taking in the details of the place.
Gorgeous wood beams ran across the peaked ceiling at evenly-spaced intervals.
There was an impressive farmhouse-style kitchen, and a dining table that could seat a dozen or more.
The sightlines were open, and we could see several couples standing and talking around an island in the kitchen, cups in hand.
Old-school board games and card games were scattered throughout the spacious living space, forming stations of a sort, and people in various types of sleepwear and athletic wear were gathered around them.
Floor pillows and folding chairs surrounded each game.
And was that Twister in the corner? Wow, they’d really leaned into this theme.
From the living room you could see a wall of glass, pulled back—one of those accordion glass doors from design shows that opened out fully towards an outdoor living space.
Out back was a large patio, a pool, and further afield, a sand volleyball court.
There were a couple dozen old classmates and their partners and dates present, but they were spread across many different areas, so the space didn’t feel that crowded.
A voice suddenly boomed all around us, and Brooke startled at my side. “Karaoke and foosball downstairs in the basement,” the voice declared over a state-of-the-art sound system. “The Pictionary competition will begin at 9 pm.”
I caught Brooke’s awed reaction as she took it all in, then tracked as her gaze dropped to our still-linked hands. I rubbed my thumb across her left hand. No ring.
Nic had told me they’d met up and that Brooke was single. But as usual, I was getting ahead of myself.
Suddenly self-conscious, Brooke dropped her hand from my grip.
“I—” she began. “I have a lot to tell you.” She started to reach inside the bag strapped across her.
“Later,” I told her, stilling her hands.
I could see her open her mouth and start to object.
“Please. We can go have coffee after the reunion. For now, let’s just—hang out.
Okay? Spend a little time together? I know we need to talk.
And we will. I just . . . I want to enjoy this together.
Ten years. Feels like a pretty big milestone. For all of us.”
She nodded, but I could tell it was killing her a bit to leave so many things unsaid.
I caught her eye. “Volleyball?”
Suddenly she grinned, nodding.
The rain was still no more than an off-and-on sprinkle, so I gestured for her to lead the way out to the sand court. I placed my hand at the small of her back, guiding her progress.
Also, a possessive, caveman-brain part of me itched to claim her again as mine, especially in front of all these classmates and old friends.
But there I was, getting ahead of myself again.
Just because Brooke had shown up here and declared she came for me didn’t mean anything had really changed between us.
I hoped it was the start of something, though.
“We’ve got next,” I said to the two teams of two on either side of the net.
“Well if it isn’t little Brookie,” a familiarly snide voice rang out.
Jace.
Oh, fuck no.
Not this asshole.
I made to take a step towards the taunting voice, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw Brooke wave me off.
Instead, Brooke stepped up to face him head-on, their eye lines nearly level.
“Jace.” She met his stare, her hands placed defiantly on her hips. “You look the same.” Her tone of voice made it clear that it wasn’t a compliment.
“Wish I could say the same of you.” He nudged a nearby friend, Zach, and they both chuckled, as if he’d dropped some clever insult. Wow, he really hadn’t grown up. “And is that your little Gay-de best friend still following you around? Guess some things never do change.”
And I guess you’re still a homophobic, sexist pig, I wanted to snap.
“You and Zach ready to take your big mouths out onto the court?” Brooke challenged, tilting her head towards the sand.
I looked at her in surprise. My fiery high school crush was back. And Jace had never been one to back down for a challenge, especially in front of an audience.
When our turn was up, she grabbed my hand and pulled me to our side of the net.
“Just don’t overdo it, okay?” I leaned down to whisper in her ear, my voice full of worry.
“I’m good,” she returned. “Let’s kick their asses.”
And we did.