CHAPTER 30
I’m in black bike shorts, a maroon tank, and a UMass hat with my swimsuit on underneath. Bennett said there’s a waterfall with a pool we get to swim in at the end of the hike.
My insides vibrate, ready to get this journey going. I’m checking off another “first” on my summer bucket-list and I can’t wait to experience it.
Am I hoping we’re the only ones at this waterfall today? Definitely.
But I can’t be blamed. Unlike yesterday when I pretended Bennett needed to keep his shirt on because modesty seemed like the best course of action, Bennett will be shirtless, and this time there isn’t a hands-off policy like before. Fake girlfriends get to touch their fake boyfriends, right? Bennett at least said I can look as much as I want.
Though I don’t want anyone else to see him like that. Now that we’re hanging out more, there’s this nasty little monster in my head saying Bennett’s for my eyes only. I’ve always known I get a little jealous once I’m dating someone, but I’ve also never gone out with someone this built before. I’m absolutely being pickier about Bennett’s torso being for my eyes only.
I’m lost in visions of my hands gliding down his wet chest during our swim today. Hmmm, touching him like that requires us to be quite close together. Right now me doesn’t hate it. Future me is ringing alarm bells left and right, warning me to keep myself from doing anything rash or stupid. Protection is of utmost importance.
I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head, sadly vanquishing the image.
Grabbing my favorite pink and gray refillable water bottle off my nightstand, I head to the kitchen. After packing a few snacks and a bottle of sunscreen in a small backpack Evie lent me last night, I send Bennett a text:
Me: Hey! I’m on the back patio, ready to head out whenever you are. [hiker emoji][mountain emoji]
My butt is halfway to sitting in a lounge chair by the pool when hands push on my side, and a voice shouts, “Gotcha!”
“Ahhh!” I scream as I fall. Right. Into. The. Pool.
Whoever did that is so dead. Swimming to the surface, I pop my head above the water, coughing like a ten-pack-a-day-smoker as I tread in the deep end. Swiping at my eyes, I clear the chlorine.
Laughing and pointing at me is Henry. “Oh my heck, you should see your face right now. Priceless!” He laughs again.
Anger rises in me. Really? Is this funny, Henry? Now I have to go change, and I haven’t done laundry. Who knows what random outfit I’ll find—if I even have anything suitable for a hike besides what I’m wearing. I packed light for this trip knowing I could wash my clothes whenever I wanted. Bennett said he’d bring towels for us to dry off with before we hiked back today. Walking six miles in wet clothes is asking for chafing. “You better run, Henry, because when I get out of here, you’re a—”
A flash of color comes behind Henry. Henry flies in the air, arms and legs spinning wildly, landing with a massive splash.
I hold my arms over my face, trying to protect myself from Henry’s limbs and the monsoon of water sent my way.
Henry swims to the opposite end of the pool as me. I make my way to the edge, resting my arms on the cement.
“Is it as funny now that it happened to you?” Bennett asks Henry dryly, his hands on his hips. He’s wearing burnt orange swim bottoms, a navy blue shirt, and a gray baseball hat. A few of his curls escape the side of his hat. Never have I seen a man look so sexy.
Okay, that’s a lie. Every time I see Bennett, I’m blown away by how freaking hot he is.
Henry scowls. “Yeah, it is. Want to try it too?”
“I don’t have time. Millie and I have plans that you’re ruining. Apologize and stop acting like a fourteen-year-old.”
“You’re not my dad. Stop bossing me around.”
Bennett hangs his head forward, slowly shaking it. “You’re right, I’m not Dad. But you bet your behind if Dad saw what you just did to a female guest, you’d be getting an earful.”
My childish self is spitting my tongue out at Henry and saying, “Yeah, what Bennett said.” But as the mature person I am, I do nothing.
Henry turns to me. “You’re fine, right, Mils? You know I meant it as a joke?”
“Almost any other time, I’d say yes. But now I can’t go hiking. And I am annoyed and sad.”
“Wait, what?” Bennett swings his gaze to mine. “Why can’t we go?”
“My other workout clothes are dir—”
“Cannonball!” Emerson shouts, pushing Bennett into the pool with him.
Shielding myself from another round of spraying water, I stay where I am. No one else better come out here or else Bennett and I won’t make it out today.
Bennett and Emerson break the surface at the same time.
Henry and Emerson are laughing hysterically. Bennett’s gaze is lasered in on Emerson. A slow, mischievous smile lifts my lips.
It’s payback time.
As Bennett lunges toward Emerson, trying to dunk him, I dive under the water toward Henry. He’s about to experience my wrath.
Taking one lungful of air halfway through my swim, I finally make it to Henry’s legs in the shallow water. Grabbing his calf, I yank as hard as I can, sending Henry off balance.
He flops backward, kicking and flailing as he lands on his butt. But I’m not done with my torture. Getting a hold of his leg once more, I pinch the leg hair covering his shin and pull as hard as I can. My wet fingers slip right off, but from the “Yowch!” Henry squeals and the kick he lands on my thigh, I’d say I got my revenge.
I swim a few yards away, smiling sweetly at him. “Next time, don’t be a jerk.”
Behind me, Emerson and Bennett take turns shoving one another underwater. There’s grunting, groaning, laughing, and heaps of splashing.
Henry laughs. “I won’t make any promises.” With that, he plunges toward me.
We take turns dunking one another, Bennett joining me in picking on Henry. We take a few minutes to catch our breath and for me and Bennett to shed a few layers of clothes. Our hike isn’t happening, and I’m disappointed I won’t get one-on-one time with Bennett, but this has turned out fun too.
“Chicken fight?” Emerson asks. “Me and Henry versus you two?”
“We’re undefeated,” I taunt. “Bring it on.”
I swim over to Bennett.
“Hey, are you sure about this?” Bennett asks under his breath. “Henry’s stronger than you.”
I nod. “I know. But you’re taller and broader than Emerson. A good foundation goes a long way. We’ve got this.”
“Alright, Mils. Let’s do this.”
Bennett squats under water. I climb on top of his shoulders, his hands wrap around my legs, squeezing my thighs.
And holy heat, Batman. Bennett’s palms on my bare skin make my brain fuzzy and heat pump through my veins like I’m a bodybuilder in the middle of a workout. With how hot I am, my cheeks are surely as red as a watermelon. Not something I want Henry and Emerson to see.
But it’s too late.
Shaking my head, I clear it of Bennett. I need to focus on the game and winning. Our streak is strong, and Bennett touching me won’t be the reason I become unglued and unable to perform to the best of my abilities.
I face Henry, who’s grinning at me like he can’t wait to knock me in the water. Too bad for him I’m not going down without a fight. Sorry, B, I’m about to squeeze your head with my legs. Clinging to Bennett the best I can, I reach out, trying to knock Henry over.
“I barely felt that.” Henry laughs. “Try harder, little miss.”
“I’m older than you, mister.” Going for his ribs, I pinch what little skin I can grab at his side.
“Hey! No playing dirty.”
“We never agreed on terms.”
Henry and I continue our battle, arms locked, doing what we can to knock the other down. Henry is stronger, but Bennett does an excellent job of keeping me upright.
“Dude, can you knock her down already?” Emerson complains. “You’re as heavy as a horse and stink like one, too.”
“You could try kicking Bennett or something, bro. Millie’s tiny, but strong.”
I’m all warm and fuzzy inside from Henry’s compliment.
“That’s my girl,” Bennett says, squeezing my legs.
My girl? Did Bennett really say that? My heart flutters and I’m giddy at his words. They’re not real. Don’t get caught up in this feeling.
The news shocks Henry. Henry’s arms go limp and he stares at Bennett with wide eyes. “Are you serious, man?”
I get his reaction. What Bennett said is huge, but I’m totally taking advantage of the situation. Shoving as hard as I can without falling off Bennett, I push Henry’s shoulders. He goes down without a fight, splashing into the water like a boulder into a lake.
“Yes!” I cry out in victory. “We’re undefeated!”
“Boo-ya!” Bennett says, then helps me down from his shoulders.
I may (totally) slither down his body, taking my time to caress as much of Bennett’s body with my own in the process. He snatches my lingering hands, trapping them. He smiles at me like he knows exactly what I’m doing.
Bennett playfully shakes his head at me and whispers, “You’re killing me, Mils. Just because I’m not ready to move on from Jen doesn’t mean I’m immune to your body against mine.”
“Right back atcha.” Bennett is ri-ipped. And that skin-to-skin contact? Whoo-wee, I am on fire. Not even the cool water in the swimming pool is bringing the heat raging in my limbs down to a better temperature.
“It’s true then?” Emerson asks, pointing between us. “You two are a thing?”
This is it. The moment Bennett waited for. His family finding out we’re dating. The crowning achievement of Evie and Becca getting off his back.
Henry springs out of the water. He swipes the water from his face, then his gaze bounces between me and Bennett. His jaw is wide open. “Well?”
I stay silent.
Bennett eyes me.
I shrug, telling him it’s his call how to reveal this fake relationship to his brothers.
Bennett nods at me, then faces his brothers. “We’re dating, yes.”
If only it were real. “Yep.” I nod. “Yep, we are.”
Bennett shoves me away from him as his brothers jump on him.
I fall backward, unexpectedly going underwater. Pushing myself off the bottom of the pool, I break the surface, coughing up chlorine water.
It was sweet of Bennett to protect me from the onslaught of his brothers, but maybe next time he can be a bit gentler?
“Seriously, man?!” Emerson says. “I’m so excited for you!”
“Aw, listen, bro, we loved Jen,” Henry says. “But we are thrilled you found someone again. This whole time you’ve been saying you weren’t ready or interested, or whatever crap, and it was all a front!”
“Right! Who knew our Benny had it in him?”
“Of course we knew. He’s a stud, like us,” Henry says, beaming.
“Alright!” Bennett yells, swimming away from his brothers toward me. “I appreciate your happiness on our behalf, but what do you say you two leave us alone since you ruined our date?”
The brothers flee the pool like Bennett said they have ten seconds to leave before he starts making love to me.
“So happy for you two!” Emerson says, running toward the house.
“Welcome more officially to the family, Mils!” Henry throws me a thumbs up, chasing after Emerson.
Yeah, except how long will this welcome wagon be around? Once we “break up,” will I no longer be wanted, even though Evie and I will remain friends? Oh no. Why haven’t I thought of this before? When Evie finds out I lied to her, she’s going to kill me. What if she never speaks to me again?
She can never find out.
It’s going to suck and be incredibly hard as it is to stop hanging around Bennett so much, but if I lose my best friend? That, I guarantee, I definitely will NOT recover from.
“Well…” I swirl a leg in the water. “That was a lot.”
Bennett looks at me, lines creasing around his eyes. “Are you okay?”
“It’s better than you being ashamed of me and only wanting to meet after dark,” I tease.
His gaze changes to one of sincerity. “Anyone who is ashamed to be around you doesn’t deserve you.”
“Thank—”
“Bennneeetttt! My man!” Cam hollers as he comes running out the back door.
Bennett sighs. “Here we go again.”
Cam stops by the edge of the pool. “Are Henry and Emerson yanking my chain? Are you two an item?” He looks hopeful. “I told you at darts, Mils. I told you!” He whoops.
“We are. Now, can the family leave us alone for a single minute? Go gossip like giddy teen girls somewhere else.”
It finally hits Cam. “Oh!” He holds his hands out apologetically. “Were you two about to kiss?” He winces. “Dang, bro. I’m sorry. I’ll leave you to it, but congrats, guys. This is fantastic news. Wait until I tell Evs.”
For Evie’s sake, I don’t tell Cam she already knows.
“Cam!” Bennett spits out. “Privacy.”
He flinches. “Right. I’m leaving.” He waves and jogs back to the house, shouting nonsense about his sister and how he was the first to know.
“That hike never sounded so good.”
Bennett rolls his eyes. “Sorry about that. I didn’t realize the ball I set in motion when telling my brothers. The entire population in Stokesley and Boston will know in approximately twenty minutes.”
I put my hand over my heart, pretending to be shocked. “What will people say, professor, when they find out you’re dating someone in college?”
“They’ll revoke my license and I’ll never be allowed to teach anywhere ever again.”
I playfully smack his chest. “For reals, though. Are you nervous what people might say about our age difference?”
“No. You’re mature, kind, loyal, a hard worker, and stubborn. Qualities I admire and that make you seem older than you are.”
“I am not stubborn.”
“Determined, then. Is that better?”
“Kind of. But why do you like that about me?”
Bennett and I make our way to the shallow end of the pool. He sits, pulling me next to him. “Because it means you don’t give up easily or let people push you around. Do you know how hard it is watching you work your butt off while everyone else here is goofing around? Or when we went shopping, you got a kid-size cone instead of a normal one? I love that you don’t take advantage of Evie, or cave to what everyone else is doing. You know what you need to do to take care of yourself, and I admire that. It’s hard for me to sit by and not help you with your problems, but it’s incredible to me to see someone so responsible and focused on their goals.”
I shake my head. “I’m only doing what I have to. I would love to be able to do what I want to.”
“But your ability to be patient and have so much self-control? It’s unheard of for most college students.”
“You’re saying as a friend, you like me because I act older than I am?”
“It’s one reason, yes.”
Well, there’s one thing I can tell Mom and Dad thanks for. Maturing faster than others my age because of the environment I grew up in. Flirtatiously, I say, “And if I told you I have a thing for hot, older professors, would that in any way change how you feel about me?”
“You targeted me?”
“My old soul recognized another.” I shrug, like it was out of my hands. Bennett’s occupation has nothing to do with the reason I like him, but it also doesn’t hurt.
Instead of answering my question, Bennett sits on the ledge of the pool, moving away from me. “Everyone else is gone. Since our hike didn’t work out, I’m going to shower and get more work done. Should we reschedule for tomorrow?”
I freaked him out. Why did I say anything about having a thing for him? Vaguely or not? I’m ruining this and the route I’m going will only end badly for me. “Yeah. We’ve accomplished what we needed to today. I’ll see you at dinner.”
“See you.”
I stay in the pool, swimming laps, trying to clear my head from everything I’m thinking and feeling. I agreed to help Bennett for his benefit and mine, but I regret saying yes.
It’s getting harder and harder to hide my true feelings for him. Feelings he will never reciprocate, and may cause me to lose my best friend in the process, leaving me worse than before.