Chapter 5
McKenna
Holy shit. It’s Lucas Brown. The one guy who stole my heart back at sports camp when I was sixteen years old. My first crush. My first kiss. The reason that nerds are my kryptonite. The one that, in my opinion, got away.
“Hi. I’m”
“Caleb.” His name comes out hushed. My heart is beating out of my chest. I can’t take my eyes off of him.
I can see all the differences from nine years ago.
He filled out in his shoulders and chest, he no longer wears glasses but I almost miss that.
His lips still look soft. His arms are muscled now, he isn’t wearing track pants but form fitting jeans that hug his legs and it makes me warm and tingling all over.
His bright blue eyes widen just before he says my name.
“McKenna” I smile and without thinking I throw myself at him. Thankfully he doesn’t hesitate and catches me. Wrapping those big arms around me.
“Holy shit.” Annika mumbles behind me but I don’t pull back. I just hold on really tight. Lucas is here. Lucas is real. Lucas is really hot. I am not letting go. He is holding me tight, almost lifting me off the ground.
“It’s really you.” He buries his face into my neck and inhales deeply, sending chills down my spine. I am super sensitive around my neck and the hussy in me wants to moan a bit. He pulls back, having me set back flat on my feet. He doesn’t let me go fully though, making me giddy inside.
“You are gorgeous.” Instantly he blushes after his admission. “Not that you weren’t before of course.” I laugh letting my hands drift down his arms to hold his.
“You are just as cute as I remember Caleb.”
“Ahem. Someone wants to enlighten me on what's going on here?” The light haired man who is with Caleb speaks up. I had barely noticed he was there to be honest. He’s a bit taller than Caleb.
Light hair where Caleb’s is dark. Green eyes to Caleb’s gorgeous blue’s.
Yeah he is conventionally handsome but looking back at Caleb my stomach gets butterflies.
“Oh sorry, Lucas this is McKenna. She and I met at a sports camp in high school.” He doesn’t take his eyes off me.
“And since McKenna has forgotten all manners I am Annika, her best friend.” Panic sets in but before I can pull away from Caleb and tackle my best friend she continues “I have heard all about the elusive Lucas Brown.” I am now glaring at my ‘former’ best friend.
I can’t believe she called me out like that.
I am going to kill her and feed her to the fishes inside this freaking lake damn it.
“Holy crap. This is the girl from camp?” Lucas’s voice draws my attention from Annika’s proud of herself smile to the laughing Lucas.
“Do you know that he has compared every girl in college to you?” Caleb glares at his friend. I can’t stop smiling. He thought about me too.
“Okay that is enough from you, Lucas.” Caleb turns back to me. Once again I am speechless.
“Can we sit down? I’d love to hear what you have been up to.
” The words just flow out of my mouth. Caleb looks at Lucas who just shrugs and sits down.
Annika takes off her pack and sits across from Lucas.
They start chatting, I see her throw a piece of her red hair over her shoulder.
Her signature move when she is interested in someone.
“Let’s go over to the other picnic table.” Caleb leads the way letting go of one of my hands. I just can’t believe he is here. In front of me. I wonder what he has been up to all these years. We let go of hands to settle across from each other.
“I know it’s been said but holy shit.” I smile at him. “I can’t believe you are here.”
“I know. It’s been so long, McKenna.” His smile shows his perfect white teeth and big dimples.
“I tried to find you on social media. I look every year honestly.” I am putting myself out there. I mean his friend said he hadn’t stopped thinking about me either.
“I am on there but I use my mother’s maiden name. I tried to find you but I never remembered your last name. I am so sorry.” He sounds so sad.
“Well my grandma used to say ‘there is a time and place for everything’ guess then wasn’t our time.
” My heart hurts a bit thinking of grandma.
I remember when I had come home early that year from camp because my grandpa had fallen and needed surgery.
I was upset because I hadn’t given Caleb my number.
I told her all about sitting at the campfire the first night, missing home.
She giggled with me when I told her about Caleb staying out by the fire, how he showed me the constellations.
How over the next two days we had shared lunches, laughter and life stories.
I told her how I had fallen for him and his sweet heart.
“How is your Grandma? I know she was your best friend.” My eyes start to water and I choke on the words.
“We lost her almost a year ago.” He squeezes my hand.
“I am so sorry McKenna” He doesn’t say anything else. I appreciate it. I hate all the words of sympathy.
“Thats why I am here. To find the best paths.” I explain to him the business I have started. The big vision. He gives me encouragement. He tells me how college went for him. Has me laughing about the stories of him and Lucas.
“So how come you are here this weekend Caleb?” He pauses. I can tell he wants to tell me something but is hesitant.