The Summer I Fell (The Six Series) Read online

  Jared snorted. “Pus—”

  “Jared!” Ace’s voice stopped Jared from finishing the word.

  Jared huffed and set the bottles back inside the box. “Anyway, yabunchapansies,” he rushed his insult out so it wouldn’t get shut down, “the point is, this week is about us having fun—unsupervised, crazy-ass fun. Things we can look back at and laugh about.”

  A somber mood hung in the air. Jared was just as affected by everyone moving on, and he wanted to make the most of what little time we had left.

  “I think it’s a great idea, Jared,” I piped up, and they all turned to look at me. “I don’t know about you guys, but I think a little fun is in order.”

  The room seemed to brighten again when they smiled.

  I walked over to the fridge, pulled out a package of hamburger, and grabbed a plate. “Can one of you guys go fire up the grill?”

  My question put them all in motion. Back to normal. The jokes started, and we moved around each other like we’d always done. I breathed it all in and held it close.

  The kitchen cleared out except for Ace. He hadn’t moved from his position against the counter. “You’re amazing.”

  I smiled at him. “Why’s that?”

  “You just have this ability to make it all work out. Like you’re the center of our gravity.”

  I blushed at his admission. I never felt like that. I knew I was a part of them, but a bystander of sorts. “Yeah, well, someone has to keep them in line.”

  “I’ll make those if you want to go put our clothes away,” Ace said as he turned to the sink and washed his hands.

  Our clothes. A shiver ran down my spine.

  “Go get us settled in, Riley. I got this.” Ace leaned down and kissed me. My eyes darted to the screen door, waiting for someone to say something.

  Ace saw my reaction and smirked at me. “They all know, Riley. You can see it in their faces without them saying a word.”

  He was right, but it still felt weird. Like we had to sneak around behind their backs, so they didn’t find out. But that wasn’t the case. They’d seen something change between Ace and me without knowing what had happened. And I damn sure wasn’t going to hide how I felt about Ace and be miserable the entire time we were all together, only to be happy in stolen moments when no one was around. I rose up on my tiptoes and pulled him in for a melting kiss. Growling against my lips, he pulled me against him.

  “Hey, grab me the… Never mind,” Aiden’s voice halted, but neither of us turned to acknowledge him.

  I broke the kiss. Teasingly, Ace ran his hands down my backside and squeezed. “You’ll pay for that later.” He nipped at my lips and groaned when I backed out of his arms.

  Through the kitchen window, I heard Aiden speak. “I can’t get the tinfoil right now ’cause Riley and Ace are practically sucking each other’s faces off in there.”

  My hand flew up to my mouth as a laugh bubbled up. “Well, if they didn’t know, they do now.”

  I left Ace in the kitchen and went to unpack our stuff.

  “Hey asshole, come get the tinfoil.” I heard Ace holler as the screen door creaked open.

  I waited, listening for whatever comment would come next. The screen door closed, and I heard Ace moving around in the kitchen. Maybe they wouldn’t say anything at all. The silence was shattered when Mark shouted loud enough for me to hear all the way at the back of the cabin. “Boys, we have a problem. I think Ace ate Riley ’cause she wasn’t in the kitchen.”

  “I bet he did…” Jared’s reply was followed by a hoot of laughter.

  My cheeks burned and flooded my entire body with heat. It would definitely be a week of good-natured sex jokes at our expense. I had to learn how to shut down the immediate flood of embarrassment. Those boys were like sharks, even the slightest hint of a blush would send them into a frenzy. I’d seen it all too often with them.

  I decided to check Ace’s closet to see how much room he had and was shocked to find several of my shirts hung up in between his.

  There would be more than enough room in his closet for the shirts I brought. I unpacked my bag and sorted through my stuff, leaving a stack of clothes for the dresser. I carried the shirts over to the closet, hung them up, and turned back to the dresser. I pulled the top drawer open, expecting to find underwear and socks, but found a photo album, receipts, and other stuff shoved inside. I slid it closed, not wanting to intrude on his privacy, even though my fingers itched to move things around to see the rest of the contents.

  The drawer below it was where he kept his socks and underwear. Heat spread through me again, and I cursed myself for feeling like a sex-craved lunatic. I rearranged it, stacking my stuff inside. I went to slide the drawer closed, but I stopped myself. If Ace had more socks and stuff, I’d just have to open the drawer again. I turned around and eyed Ace’s bag, gathering the courage to open it. Stop it, it’s just clothes. And he asked you to put them away. I huffed at myself for being an idiot and unzipped it. Pulling everything out, I unzipped the side pocket. I froze. Condoms. A whole brand-new box of them. My cheeks flushed, and I fanned my face with my hand. Holy meltdown. I grabbed Ace’s socks and underwear, blindly set them in the drawer, closed it, and leaned against it. I eyed the bag and in turn, realized that I’d been staring at the bed as well. A queen-sized bed—a size bigger than mine. Running my hand down my face, I realized I had to get a damn hold of myself.

  It was real—all of it was real—and not some dream or fantasy that I’d played out in my mind. Ace and I had shared the most intimate of moments and would do it again. A lot, judging by the size of the box inside his bag. I placed my hand over my heart, as it tried to flutter its way out of my chest. My breaths came out short, and my knees felt weak. The heat of my skin built until I felt it break and leave behind a fine sheen of sweat, like an addict going through withdrawals.

  I snatched the box of condoms from the bag, opened the nightstand drawer, and dropped them inside. Closing it, I focused on putting the rest of our clothes away, making quick work of what was left. Shorts went in the third drawer, and my bathing suit got dropped in on top of my underwear. Folding my bag up, I slid it inside Ace’s and stuffed them on the top shelf of the closet. His shirts were hung up next, and I tossed my tennis shoes down beside his hiking boots on the floor. I closed the closet, grabbed my toiletries bag, and headed for the bathroom, needing a cold rag to wipe the telltale flush from my face.

  I didn’t need one of the Six seeing me like that and question me about why I looked like I was about to fall out.

  Closing the bathroom door, I set my case on the counter. I grabbed a washcloth and ran it under the tap, wringing it out and bringing it up to my face. The cool cloth slid over my heated skin, making me feel better almost instantly. Setting the washcloth down, I opened the small bag with all my other crap in it and put everything in its place. When I opened the bathroom door and stepped back out into the hallway, I saw Ace walk into his room. The empty bag clenched in my hand as a bout of nervous butterflies attacked my stomach. I pushed my hand against my belly and willed it to settle as I put one foot in front of the other. It was just Ace. The same guy I’d been friends with for most of my life. The same one who had wiped my tears and had my back, and my front and my… I slammed the door on where my thoughts headed and made my way back to his room.

  When I stepped into it, he was plugging his cell phone in and then grabbed my charger. He braced his hand on the nightstand and leaned over to plug it in. The muscles in his arm flexed, and the memories of this morning flooded my mind. His arms braced alongside my shoulders. My hands traveling up them as his muscles tightened and then relaxed with each move against me. I opened the closet, unzipped his bag, and shoved the small bag I’d just emptied inside of it. As I closed the closet, I heard the drawer to his nightstand squeak as he pulled it open and then closed it.

  I forced myself to turn around as he crossed the room and closed the bedroom door. Walking over to the dresser, he pulled a pair of
shorts out. I chided myself for being nervous to be alone with him.

  “You okay, Riley?” Ace’s arm came past me as he pulled the closet open and tossed the boots he had been wearing inside with the others, then reached down and grabbed a pair of flip-flops. I moved out of his way and tried to take a breath, but it seemed shallow and forced.

  “Riley?” Ace turned around, took one look at my face, and dropped his flip-flops. He stepped closer, and my breath caught on a gasp. “Breathe, Riley.” His finger trailed along my lip. He had no idea that it only made it worse when he did things like that.

  My eyes fluttered closed, and I melted into his touch.

  Ace’s hand slid along my hip, sending pinpricks along my skin. “Ah, I think I understand.”

  I held my breath.

  “It’s overwhelming to you, isn’t it?”

  I nodded. To say it was overwhelming put it mildly.

  “Riley, open your eyes. Look at me.”

  I released the breath I’d held, shuddering when my eyes met his.

  “Just be my Riley. The one you’ve always been, only a little wilder when it’s just you and me,” he said with a wink.

  The wilder me was what made me feel like I would combust when we stood with our bodies so close, yet so far apart.

  My entire body jittered, flashing hot and then cold. I wanted to melt to the floor. I wanted to attack him. He had me to the point of where I didn’t know if I was coming or going.

  I stepped back to gather my wits. Ace tilted his head and squinted his eyes as he searched my face.

  “I… I can’t think with you so close.” I clasped my hands together and ducked my head.

  He chuckled, and my head snapped up. “It’s not funny, Ace.”

  His eyes crinkled and his mouth kicked up at the corners, creating a devastating smile. I had to get away from him, away from his effect on me, and clear my head.

  I made it to the door and turned the knob as Ace’s hand shot out, stopping me from pulling it open. His other hand swept my hair off my neck and he leaned in, blowing a warm breath along my skin. Moaning, I tilted my neck to give him better access. He blazed a path of kisses in between the gentle nips he took. I felt myself sinking as his hand came up to my stomach and pulled me into him, holding me upright. His hand fisted in the material of my shirt, and I whimpered. A rumble from his chest vibrated into me, causing my hips to arch back and ground against him. I found myself spun around, his body pressing me into the door. His hands slid down my hips and grabbed my thighs, lifting me up. I wrapped my legs around him and laced my fingers behind his neck, pulling him as close as possible, frustrated with the material between us.

  Ace turned us towards his bed and came to an abrupt stop. His eyes changed into slits as he stared at the bedroom window. His grip on my legs loosened until I stood on shaky legs. When I had my footing, he caught my hands up in his and placed them on his chest. His gaze was still on the window, as a sneer crept along the heated flush of his skin.

  “Fucking Jared.”

  I looked over my shoulder at the window and gasped. Jared stood at the window with a crowbar in his hand, shaking it in our direction. “Don’t mind me. I was just coming to see if y’all needed me to pry ya apart. Ya know, in case y’all were stuck or something.” He hooted with laughter at his own joke. “I see it’s not necessary, but it seems the hose might be in order.”

  His words found their mark, dousing me in an ice-cold bucket of reality. We were outnumbered, surrounded by a bunch of guys who weren’t used to us shutting them out.

  “I’m gonna hurt him,” Ace grumbled.

  “Not if I hurt him first,” I said, waving my fingers at Jared.

  He grinned at me, saluted us with the crowbar, and walked away.

  Ace let go of my arms and stepped back. “Sorry, Riley. God, he’s such a…”

  “Pain in the ass? Mood killer? Dead when I get my hands on him?” I jumped in to finish his sentence.

  Ace walked over to his door and pulled it open, gesturing for me to go first. “Yeah, and then some.”

  We stopped in the kitchen, and Ace pulled a glass from the cupboard. “I need a minute before we go out there.”

  His movements were jerky. His body stiff as he filled the glass with water, emptying it in one gulp. I leaned against the fridge and watched him fill it again and take slower sips. He kept his eyes focused on the floor, taking even breaths. Slowly, his body relaxed and he set the glass in the sink.

  Outside the kitchen window, the guys bickered back and forth. The sound was normal, comforting. Ace snorted when Mark threatened Jared when he cracked on him about burning the burgers.

  Ace pushed off the counter, and his gaze sought me out. “You say the word and we’ll leave. We can go back to your house and leave these asshats to themselves for a couple of days.”

  I wanted to grab my keys and jump in my truck, but I knew I’d kick myself later when we both missed out on being together with everyone. “They’re just seeing how far they can push us. So let’s give it right back to them.” I wiggled my eyebrows at him.

  Ace groaned. “You’re just as bad as they are. Okay, we’ll stay, but I can’t promise that I’ll keep my hands off you in front of them. I have no control when it comes to you.”

  “Good.” I darted out the door when Ace growled my name and shot towards me. Running across the yard, I squealed when he caught me and slung me over his shoulder. His hand connected with my ass. He kept his hand there as he continued across the yard and set me down in front of a chair.

  Silence. The other five stared at us, openmouthed, but only long enough for the dirty jokes to start.

  “Watch it,” Ace warned them.

  The jokes halted when Mark announced the burgers were done. When Jared chimed in that they were way past done, a burger flew through the air and hit him in the shoulder. Jared sprawled on the ground. “Man down! Man down!”

  A wave of sadness slid under the humor. Damn, I’m gonna miss this.

  AFTERNOON GAVE WAY TO EVENING and Josh carried over an armful of wood, stacking it by the fire pit. Aiden hauled a cooler closer and grabbed a case of beer, shoving cans down in the ice. It wasn’t often they sat around the fire drinking. Mark’s camera flashed as he took random pictures. We were so used to him doing it that the flash didn’t cause us to turn anymore. He’d captured some awesome pictures of us over the years.

  He walked over and sat down beside me. “Hey, check out what I did.” He held his phone out to me, showing me the pictures he’d taken from the bed of my truck. “I was able to smooth out the cut on your face and make you look normal.”

  I smacked his leg with the back of my hand. “I want a copy of that.”

  “I’ll make sure you get one.”

  Josh walked over and plucked the phone from my hands. “Wow, that came out good, Mark.”

  “What came out good?” Jared asked, picking up the broken rake handle that served as the official fire poker for the last four years.

  Josh held the phone up, and Jared leaned in to look. “Of course it did, I’m in it.”

  Josh shoved him, and he laughed. “You’re so in love with yourself.”

  “True dat,” Eli called out as he cracked his beer open.

  “Shut up, Josh. You know I’m the hot one in this group,” Jared said, pointing the fire poker’s glowing end in Josh’s direction.

  Josh handed Mark’s phone back to him when Jared handed him a beer. “Cheers, asshole.”

  The guys settled in and bickered. It wasn’t long before the ‘remember when’s’ started. I blushed to the roots of my hair when Jared brought up the time we’d all gone swimming in the Hole, and I’d lost my top. Josh thought it would be fun to throw me from the dock. When I hit the water, my bikini top disappeared. I’d been so embarrassed. I crouched in the water with my hands over my chest while they searched for the missing top. Aiden found it and Ace brought me a towel, so I could get out of the water with what was left of my pride.
/>   Ace’s hand slid over my leg and squeezed. “I think that’s the day I realized there was no way I was getting over you.”

  I quirked my eyebrow at him. “Why, because I lost my top and you got a peek?”

  A slow smile spread across his lips, and his eyes fired with the memory. “I’m a guy, Riley. But that’s only part of the reason.”

  I rolled my eyes and tried pushing his hand away, but he caught mine in his and pulled it up in front of his mouth as he whispered, “You knocked the breath out of me that day. Dripping wet with eyes as big as a does and so innocent. I knew that very second, I’d do everything I could to make you mine one day.”

  I leaned in the same time as Ace did, lost in his words, not hearing or seeing anything but him.

  “Can you two stop making googly eyes at each other and pay attention?” Jared asked.

  Ace growled under his breath. I turned my attention to Jared at the same time he chucked a piece of ice, hitting Ace in the chest. He flicked it off his shirt and scowled. “Now I owe you twice, jackass.”

  Jared crushed his beer can as he got up from his seat and walked over to the cooler. His hand disappeared inside, pulling out a bottle of rum. “I think this calls for a toast!”

  He unscrewed the top and held the bottle in the air. “Everyone has to say something. I’ll start this off,” he said, tipping the neck of the bottle and sweeping it in an arc. “May the memories we’ve made here last forever.” His words faltered at the end of his toast. Putting the bottle to his lips, he took a swig.

  I shuddered for him as he hissed through his teeth and handed the bottle over to Josh.

  Josh stood, hoisted the bottle in the air, and twisted his mouth like he pondered what to say. The fire snapped and popped in the silence. “To lasting friendships that will span not only across the world, but also the time we’re apart.”

  His eyes glistened when he tilted the bottle back. He handed it off to Eli and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as he coughed.