CARDIGAN- J. HUGHES

Twenty four

You drew stars around my scars...

I didn't speak to Jackson for literally a week after that grad party. In fact, I basically hid away from everyone except Luke that entire week out of embarrassment for the outburst. I also wanted some time to think about me and Jack, though I couldn't fully escape him. And every time I did see him I couldn't help the butterflies in my stomach the second I laid eyes on him. I could feel it inside me that the physiological response from before was coming back but this time I was wide awake. My brain wasn't trapped in some haze, I was aware of everything. Things were changing and for the better.

Today was gonna be a boat day for just us young people. The guys were currently training and when they came back we were taking the boat out. Meaning I was being forced to face them after my total humiliation at the graduation party.

I have seen them for dinners and in small time portions but no one has spoke about it. Jackson has tried to but I ignore him, I was fucking pissed. I hope he feels guilty. I know he does. He did the grocery shopping and got all my favorite snacks and drinks and offered to take me shopping but I told him I didn't want to speak to him, which he got all pissy about but I don't care. Maybe I'll find it in me to talk to him and forgive him today but that's my decision.

My phone buzzed beside me while I laid out on my balcony reading. Luke. "Hey lukey" I greeted.

"Hey Lily, we're going to be back in like 10 minutes. Make sure your ready so we can go right out to the boat once we change" he told me.

"Ok Im ready. I've been laying out on my balcony anyway. I'll come downstairs though and wait for everyone" I sat up and closed my book, heading back into my room to grab my bag and a towel.

"Ok see you soon" I threw on a zip up over my bikini, zipping it up enough to where it fell a bit off my shoulder before I made my way down stairs to sit at the island, sipping on a smoothie my dad had made for me and my mom.

"Boat day today honey?" My mom asked, coming in from her daily yoga. She has a yoga room at the lake house where she does it daily, sometimes I join her, depends on the day.

"Yep, boys are on the way back now. Probably be home any minute" I told her with a smile. "Any big plans coming up I should prepare for? I feel like this summer has been pretty chill so far as far as planned things."

"Well Fourth of July next week. Then the next big thing is your birthday then you guys are heading back to college" she frowns at the mention of me leaving again. "Why can't you just marry one of the boys and be a professional WAG so you can stop attending school and never have to work" she sighed. I gaped at her. What the hell? Most mothers would say make your own money and be your own person.

"Mom!" I gasped. "I'm not being a professional WAG" I laughed. Though deep down I'm not opposed.

"I'm just wishing a good life for my baby girl!" She defended, grabbing her smoothie from the fridge. We both laughed and not too long after the front door opened and footsteps came bounding in. It was Jackson and Trevor rushing in and up the steps to change into swim trunks. "My goodness those boys are in a rush" my mom shook her head as it sounded like a herd of elephants running up the steps.

"Yeah they told me to wait downstairs so we could go as soon as possible" I laughed. It really didn't take long, like maybe 1 whole minute before they're bounding down the steps.

"Get up let's go" Jackson ordered, grabbing a case of beer from the fridge. I rolled my eyes but got up and followed the boys as they practically ran out the door. The Hughes boys were already waiting with a cooler.

"Come on" they yelled from the end of the dock. Again, rolled my eyes as we got to them. They were all so damn impatient today. Quinn helped me onto the boat and the boys all loaded everything into the boat in record timing before everyone was on the boat and we were out on the water.

I didn't feel like laying out yet so I sat staring over the edge of the boat and just taking in the pretty water. I was leaned over running my hands in the rather clear lake water before I felt hands on my waist and next thing I know I'm being thrown in.

Whoever did that is dead.

I gasped as I broke the surface, wiping the water from eyes as they all laughed their ass off from the boat. "Who. The fuck. Did that?" I seethed while they just laughed harder. "I'm still in this fucking zip up that I really, really like and now it's gonna smell like lake water for the next fucking week" I swam over to the boat where Trevor easily lifted me back onto it. Water dripped off the heavy ass zip up as I bawled my fists at my side.

"It was Trevor" Jackson spoke up with a shrug. I turned to Trevor who was glaring at Jackson.

"Trevor your sleeping in my house. Id recommend not sleeping tonight" I flipped him off as everyone laughed. Fucking hate guys. I unzipped the hoodie and laid it out on the front of the boat so It would catch some sun and dry. After that I grabbed my bag and went down into the cabin, mainly to escape the boys because I was genuinely pissed. The lake had minerals that would probably make my hair dry as hell for the next week which is why I tend to not get my hair wet or I put in conditioner before I go in.

I was brushing in some leave-in conditioner down in the little apartment like cabin in the boat. It was a good sized boat but only had one room and one bathroom on board below deck. A knock on the open door of the bedroom made me turn my head to see Jack coming in with a towel. "Hey, you ok?" He asked nervously.

"Like am I just entertainment for you guys? I was literally minding my business and then I'm being thrown over board into the water" I huffed, dragging the brush aggressively through my hair.

"Trevor's an idiot. He literally acts on his Intrusive thoughts more than anyone I've ever met" Jack chuckled, coming over and taking the brush from my hands. I was confused until he started gently brushing my hair for me. Oh ok. This was different. With every brush It sent tingles down my spine. "Whatever product your using smells amazing" he commented.

"It's like a leave in conditioner. It's raspberry vanilla" I told him. My voice was quiet as this feeling was soothing me yet also turning me on. What a strange combination.

He brushed it until it was silky smooth and the conditioner had been evenly distributed. He reached around handed me the brush. "All done" he hummed.

"Thanks Jack" i whispered, shoving the brush back into my bag. From my peripheral in the mirror I could see him opening the towel before he laid it on my shoulders, running his hands up and down my arms before stepping back.

"You got it Lily" he smiled, quickly letting his eyes drop to look at the bikini covering my body. "You look beautiful" he coughed, probably feeling how thick the air was down here now. It all started because he had to come be sweet and brush my hair.

"I'm soaking wet and half naked" I joked and he only shrugged with a smirk.

"One of my favorite ways to see you" his words were like electricity down my spine, lighting a flame within me. Damn.

I felt my cheeks flush as I jokingly shoved his shoulder. "Come on let's go back up. Now I need to lay in the sun to dry off" I huffed.

"I mean we could stay down here for a bit..."he trailed off, stepping up and grabbing my waist. "I could make it worth it" he whispered. Fuck.

Stay strong. Stay strong. Stay strong. Stay strong.

I sucked in a breathe as he pulled me flush against his bare chest. "They're up there and anyone could come down" I reminded him, though my brain was mad at me for using that as the excuse and not telling him no because I haven't fully forgiven him.

"I'll close the door, say we fell asleep" he answered quickly, his hands sliding down to grip my ass. Ok so atleast I'm not the only horny one but there's a zero percent chance I'm having sex with Jack with all of them up there and anyone can come down.

"Jack" I groaned. "I'm not having my brother walk in on us. I'll legit die"

"Fine" he sighed. "Now I don't know what to do because I'm hard as fuck" he groaned.

"That's your fault" I giggled. "I didn't ask you to come down here and seduce me"

"So I did seduce you?" He smirked. I rolled my eyes and brushed past him.

"Have fun!" I winked before leaving him down there to deal with his problem.