Chapter 67
CADE
The Briggs’s lakehouse
The warm spray of the shower fades behind me as I step into the massive family room overlooking the lake. A fresh breeze drifts through the open windows, carrying the smell of charcoal, sunscreen, pine trees, and the unmistakable scent of freshwater.
Caleb’s grandparent’s lakehouse somehow manages to feel rustic and extravagant all at once.
Cool, hunter green slate floors stretch beneath my bare feet while warm cedar walls climb toward exposed beams framing faded plexiglass skylights overhead.
A towering river-rock fireplace dominates the entire front corner of the room.
Above the built-in-bar sits an enormous mounted elk head whose eyes seem to follow you around the room.
Before stepping out front to man the grill, Ty told us the entire story about his grandpa Briggs shooting that thing when they were around seven years old. Apparently it hit some sort of hunting record.
I tug on a clean T-shirt over my head when the backdoor to the deck slams open.
“CADE!”
Haley barrels inside like she’s on fire. Her damp, red hair sprays little droplets across the hardwood as she skids to a stop in front of me.
“Where’s Bella?”
“I… what?”
She points frantically toward the deck.
“We don’t have time! Come on!”
Before I can ask another question, she grabs my wrist and drags me across the slate floor.
Bella pokes her head out of the sunroom, one eyebrow raised. “What’s happening?”
“Just trust me!” Haley whisper-yells, grabbing Bella’s hand too.
The three of us practically jog toward the door. Haley throws it open leading onto the second-story deck. She immediately crouches beneath the railing next to Knox and Brett.
“Were we too late?” she whispers to Knox.
“Not yet,” Brett answers for him, shaking his head.
Bella slowly peeks her head over the top. “For what, Hales?”
“Just look!” Haley squeals, pointing down toward the dock.
The answer becomes obvious the moment I follow her gaze.
Far below us, at the very end of the dock, Caleb and Ellie stand alone. The lake behind them has turned into liquid gold beneath the sinking sun. Neither of them notices the house is watching.
Bella’s fingers wrap around my forearm. “Oh my God…” she breathes.
Caleb reaches into the pocket of his shorts.
Bella squeals.
Haley smacks Bella’s shoulder. “Quiet!”
My little sister’s eyes widen. Even from a distance, I can see Ellie’s mouth falling open.
“I think…” Bella whispers.
“I know,” Haley breathes back.
The door behind us suddenly flies open. “What the hell is everyone doing out—”
“SHHHH!!!”
Five voices hit Lex all at once.
He freezes mid-step, blinking between all of us. “The fuck?”
Haley lunges forward in a flash of red hair and lime green shorts. She grabs the front of his shirt and yanks him down beside us before he can ruin everything.
Lex finally follows our line of sight.
“Ohhhh,” he mutters, his grin slowly spreading.
“Yeah,” Haley whispers.
He lowers his voice. “I’ll shut up.”
“Thank you,” she grits out, rolling her eyes and peering back toward the scene unfolding lakeside.
Back on the dock, Caleb slowly lowers himself to one knee. Ellie’s hands fly over her mouth. For a heartbeat, nobody on the deck breathes.
Caleb says something we can’t hear.
“This would suck if Buttercup said no,” Brett laughs, gaining him a well-earned slap in the back of the head from Lex.
Ellie shakes her head through the tears. Then she nods so enthusiastically I swear she’s about to give herself whiplash.
“She said yes,” Bella whispers, already crying.
Caleb slips the ring onto her finger before pulling her into his arms.
The silence lasts exactly half a second.
“YES!” Haley screams.
The entire deck loses it.
Knox cups his hands around his mouth. “ABOUT DAMN TIME!”
Down on the dock, both Caleb and Ellie’s heads snap up toward the house. They burst out into laughter.
Ellie points accusingly and yells up toward Haley. “I knew you were acting weird today!”
“I regret nothing!” Haley yells back.
Caleb slips an arm around Ellie’s waist as they start walking back up the hill toward the house. Both of them are smiling so hard it almost hurts to look.
Ellie barely gets a foot onto the deck before Haley launches herself at her.
“You bitch!” Ellie shrieks through the laughter. “You fucking knew!”
Haley doesn’t even try to deny it. “Who do you think helped him pick out the ring?”
Tears are running down Bella’s face by the time Haley lets go of my sister. Ellie turns just in time for Bella to wrap her up in another embrace.
“I’m so happy for you, El.”
“I’m getting married!” Ellie’s laugh breaks into a sob as she squeezes Bella back.
Bella nods, wiping tears from both of their cheeks. “And you’re going to be the most beautiful bride.”
“And you’re going to be the most beautiful maid of honor,” Ellie says to Bella.
“What?” Bella breathes. “Are you—”
“Who else would I possibly ask?” Ellie beams, pulling Bella and Haley back in. “And you, Hales, are going to be the sexiest bridesmaid the East Coast has ever fucking seen.”
“Damn straight,” Haley laughs.
Behind her, Brett strolls over to Caleb with that cocky grin of his spread wide. “So…” he says, folding his arms. “You finally grew a pair?”
Caleb just rolls his eyes and shoves him. Brett lets out a bark of laughter before stepping forward and pulling his brother into a tight hug.
The laughter and commotion settle into something softer as Ellie walks over to me. She doesn’t say anything at first. She just simply holds out her hand, letting the diamond sparkle in the evening sunset.
“You ready to help me plan a wedding, big bro?”
My throat tightens. I can’t seem to find the words, so I pull her into the biggest hug I can manage.
“I’m so damn happy for you, El.”
She melts against me, wrapping her arms around my neck and burying her face into the crook of my neck. “Now it’s your turn,” she whispers.
The back door opens back up. Ty, Zeke, and Marisol all step outside with plates full of food and confused looks.
“Food’s read—” Ty starts.
“SHE SAID YES!” Haley screams before he can finish.
Ty blinks.
He looks at his brother.
Looks at my sister.
Looks at the ring.
Then the biggest grin I think I’ve ever seen on the guy spreads across his face. “Did y’all think she’d say no?”
???
Later that night.
I’m not usually one for hot dogs. No matter how many wiener jokes my boyfriend threw my way during dinner. However, after a full day of water sports, sunburns, and beer… the ballpark food surprisingly hit the spot.
Bella is curled between Lex and me on an oversized outdoor sectional on the deck overlooking the lake. The last of the dinner plates have long since disappeared, replaced by beer bottles, half-finished cocktails, and whatever concoction Brett convinced Knox to drink.
The lake ripples beneath the moonlight while the citronella candles scattered around the deck flicker against the wood. Keeping just enough of the mosquitoes away for everyone to pretend they’re working.
Ellie hasn’t stopped twisting the diamond around her finger since dinner.
“I still can’t believe you’re my fiancé,” she says for at least the tenth time.
“Darlin’,” Caleb chuckles. “It’s been three hours.”
Brett groans dramatically from his chair. “Good lord, somebody save us.”
Ty reaches over and tosses a pretzel at his brother.
Brett takes another swig from his solo cup before looking around the deck. “Anyone wanna play Never Have I Ever?”
“Oh hell yes,” Haley says immediately.
I sit up straighter. “Oh, this is going to end badly.”
“That’s the point,” Knox says, chugging the rest of his drink.
“Buttercup.” Brett points toward Ellie. “Ladies first.”
“Never have I ever…” Ellie absentmindedly spins her ring again. “Flashed an entire football team.”
Bella groans. “Oh, come on.”
Haley sighs. “It’s Cal’s fault.”
“Semantics,” Ellie says with a wink. “Now drink, ladies.”
Bella and Haley both take a drink while the rest of us dissolve into laughter.
“My turn,” I say, glancing at my sister and trying to hide a chuckle. “Never have I ever dated brothers with my best friend.”
Bella freezes halfway through reaching for another chip.
Ellie chokes on her martini. “You asshole.”
Bella sighs dramatically before taking another drink. “Those dang prep-school twins.”
“Gotta love that violinist era, sweetheart,” I say.
Bella points at me. “I hate you.”
“No you don’t,” I chuckle, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Marisol lifts her drink. “My turn.” She glances around the deck. “Never have I ever had to shave my face.”
Every guy groans and drinks.
Haley laughs. “That felt slightly sexist, Mar.”
“Work smarter.” Marisol shrugs. “Not harder.”
Lex rolls his eyes, taking over. “Never have I ever steer roped a Russian.”
Caleb drinks.
Brett drinks, laughing his ass off.
Bella looks between the brothers. “What did I miss?”
“My ropin’ skills and Brett’s whippin’ skills, B,” Ty snickers, taking a sip as well. “That’s what you missed.”
“Well.” Brett slaps his thighs and stands up. “I gotta refill. Anyone need anything?”
“I’ll go with you,” Knox says, following him into the house. “I need another.”
Zeke leans forward. “I’ll take a shot at it,” he says. “Never have I ever…” He pauses, tapping his chin before smirking at Bella. “Fucked. A. Dragon.”
“You did not,” Bella snaps, choking on a laugh as she takes another sip.
Lex pinches the bridge of his nose. “Fucking Tattooed-Dragon-Dick.”
“Baby,” Zeke says, eyeing Marisol. “You forgetting something.”
“All I have to say,” Marisol says as she calmly shoots back her drink. “That ladder… oh my God!”
“Right?!” Bella adds.
“Bella!” Lex snaps, pulling her into his side. “Someone else fucking go.”
Brett and Knox stroll back out both clutching two dusty mason jars. “Look what we found,” Brett yells as he holds them up triumphantly. “Grandpa Briggs’s homemade shine!”
“Nope.” Lex immediately shakes his head.
Haley is already reaching for one. “Oh come on, Lex. You only live once.”
“You only die once too, Hales,” Lex says. “I’ll stick to vodka.”
“To bad decisions!” Knox yells, pouring out the moonshine into plastic shot glasses as Brett begins handing them out. “And to great memories had with you all of you fuckers!”
“TO BAD DECISIONS!” everyone but Lex echoes.
“Nice knowing you guys,” Lex laughs into his vodka.
???
The next morning.
“Cade… move.” Something kicks my thigh. “I have to pee.”
A groan escapes me as I pry one eye open.
Cold tile.
Toilet.
Bathroom.
“What the hell am I doing in here?”
“Couldn’t tell you. I found you snoring by the tub,” Ellie groans, rubbing her eyes and kicking me again. “Now leave!”
My neck pops as I push myself off the floor wearing nothing but boxers. My skull pounds with every step I take toward the bedroom.
I crack the door open and find Bella and Lex curled together beneath the comforter. Both of them are gloriously naked.
Bella peeks one eye open. “Morning.”
“What,” I rasp, rubbing my temples, “the fuck happened?”
Lex immediately begins cackling. “Oh, babe.”
“Don’t,” Bella groans, rolling off his chest and onto her back.
“No, this is too good.”
Lex stretches before propping himself up on one elbow.
“You all were passing around that damn moonshine like it was water.”
Bella drags the comforter over her face.
“And while I was busy fucking the absolute life out of both of you…”
She smacks him through the comforter. “Lex.”
“…you two apparently started getting queasy.”
He shrugs.
“You disappeared,” Bella mumbles.
“I woke up, hugging the toilet.”
“Tracks.” Lex loses it.
“I’m never drinking again,” Bella mutters, rolling over and shoving her forehead into the pillow.
“Heard that before,” Lex laughs, smacking her in the bare ass.
Still trying to piece together whatever disaster unfolded, the three of us wander into the family room. The smell of bacon and coffee spreads through the house from the open kitchen.
Everyone looks like death.
Except Ty.
He’s standing at the stove in gym shorts and a backwards hat, whisking eggs like he didn’t drink enough alcohol last night to kill a horse.
A tall, tatted, muscular Russian with blinding white hair is asleep on the couch.
“Rez?”
He opens his icy-teal eyes. “Cade.”
“When’d you get here?”
Rez yawns. “About the second chorus of you and Bells doing a shitty-ass rendition of what I think was supposed to be Taylor Swift on karaoke out on the deck.”
“What?”
“It was epic,” Knox says, handing me a mug of coffee.
“Thank God Cal and August were stuck at Whitmore Holdings, beginning their internships and didn’t witness—”
“Welllllll,” Knox cringes, eyeing me over the rim of his steaming mug. “About that.”
“Oh no,” I groan. “They didn’t show up too, did they?”
Knox shakes his head. “No they’re stuck back in New York with your dad. But…”
“But what?”
“Hales FaceTimed them,” he blurts out. “They saw the entire production, man.”
“Haley!” I say, the pounding in my head growing louder.
“In my defense,” Haley says, her sunglasses shading her eyes while she sits at the bar sipping coffee. “I do not remotely remember doing that so it could be bullshit.”
“It’s not,” Lex laughs.
Before anyone can pile on another embarrassing memory, Brett strolls into the kitchen and snatches up a strip of bacon.
“So…” he mutters, looking around the room. “Were Ty, Rez, and I seriously the only people at this lake who weren’t fucking like rabbits?”
“What?” I ask.
“Oh yeah.” Brett points toward Marisol who’s lounging on Zeke’s lap in the recliner. “Somebody likes praying during their freaky time.”
Marisol drops her face into Zeke’s shoulder. “Oh my God.”
“Exactly,” Brett says. “That’s all I heard from your room.”
His eyes find Haley. “Hales.”
She slowly looks up. “What?”
“You’re a giggler, sweetheart.”
“No I’m not,” she snaps.
“You are,” Rez says from the couch.
Brett winks at her, chomping on a strip of bacon as he nears Lex. “And Mr. Russian here gets all loud and forgets English when he’s balls deep in these two.”
“He tried to get me to translate,” Rez says to Lex.
“But your damn cousin is way too loyal and wouldn’t budge,” Brett gripes.
“Respect,” Lex says, reaching over to fistbump Rez.
“I got your back,” Rez laughs.
Brett points the last little bit of bacon toward Ellie. “And Buttercup…”
I don’t like where this is going.
“I am not even going to begin to talk about whatever I heard coming from you and our brother’s room.”
“And to think,” Ty says, turning the burner off. “We’ve got another night here.”
Perfect.