The Summer Before

Chapter Twelve

Levi

Cars pass by in a blur as Landon leads the way to the lake house that's become our annual vacation spot. Ever since the summer Leah offered up her parent's vacation home to our group as a relaxing getaway, it's become a tradition.

For the next two weeks, our group of eight will play by day and party by night at the secluded spot where the lake house sits. No work, no responsibilities, no worries, and no Benji.

I feel my mouth curl as the reminder hits me. He's not here this summer. Tessa left him. Reflexively, my head turns to glance at the car behind us. I see her sitting between Leah and Charlotte in the backseat of Charlotte's Tahoe. Her smile is infectious, lighting up the space around her and making everyone else follow suit.

It's that smile that first knocked me on my ass as a kid, ensuring that no other female would ever compare. As I grew up, I tried to find someone who could fill her space in my heart, but it was never right. She always owned a part of me.

I almost told her how I felt several times, but someone would interrupt, or doubt would creep in, making me hold my tongue. The timing never seemed to work out for the two of us. When she started dating, it almost wrecked me. I thought I'd lost her for good.

So, I did the only thing I could think of to get over her; I started dating- a lot. It cooled the sting of losing Tessa for a short while, and going off to college helped too. The distance between us while we were off at different schools made me ache for her less, but the moment I came back home and saw her again, it was like all that progress had just washed away.

There was always something about Tessa that kept me coming back. The summer I finally gave up trying to get over her was the summer she brought Benji to the lake with us. I couldn't help the disappointment on my face when she introduced us.

My plans were ruined, and I thought I'd lost my chance. I'd waited too long to come clean about my feelings, and Benji was my punishment. I thought about finding a date this summer, someone to bring to ease the burn of seeing Tessa with Benji again, but something told me not to.

When she told me she dumped his ass, I was ecstatic and so relieved that I chose not to bring someone with me this year. Who knows, maybe this will be the year I finally tell her everything?

"Did you hear she dumped Banjo?" Jason asked from the front seat.

Confusion marred my face as I turned to face him. "Who did what?"

He smirked at me as he informed me, "Tessa. She dumped that asshat she was dating."

"Ohh, you mean Benji."

Jason nodded as his smile grew. He always hated the guy, not that I could blame him; I did too, just for far different reasons. "Yep. She's single now."

I met his eyes as he shot me a knowing look. He's always known or at least suspected that I've held a torch for his sister. He encouraged me to do something about it several times, saying he couldn't think of a better guy for Tessa to be with than me.

Jason would try to get Tessa and me at the same places at the same times, playing my unofficial wingman, as strange as that may sound. When Charlotte was over, he'd use her as his excuse to leave Tessa and me alone, hoping I'd grow a pair and ask her out one day.

His efforts so far had been fruitless, but he didn't seem dismayed. Jason was still down to be my wingman if I wanted him to be. That much was evident by the look on his face.

He'd told me once that he just wanted to see Tessa and me happy, and he thought bringing us together might make that a reality. Jason thought she and I would be a perfect match. He'd watched me pine for her for years.

Maybe he knew something I didn't. Perhaps he saw something in the way she looked at me that gave him such confidence.

I can only hope.

Looking away from Jason, I caught Landon's gaze in the rearview mirror. He was imitating Jason's smirk, aware of my long-lived affection for Tessa. Landon always gave me shit about it, constantly asking when I was going to man up and go for it.

I ignore the mischief in Landon's eyes as I lean back in my seat. "Yeah, Tessa told me. She said the dumbass cheated on her."

"Maybe she needs a shoulder to cry on, Levi," Landon teased.

Jason punched him jokingly in the arm as I turned my attention back to the car following us. From what I could see, Tessa wouldn't need to cry about Benji any time soon. Everyone in the SUV behind us was laughing about something.

"She doesn't look like she'll be crying any time soon." Jason's voice sounded as he looked at the sight I was seeing.

If I have anything to do about it, she won't even remember his name by the end of this vacation. I don't plan to let my opportunity pass me by again. This summer, I'll finally tell Tessa how I feel.

My smile grows as I start to formulate a plan for how I'll win Tessa over in the next two weeks. This will be the best summer ever.