The Hidden Bodies of Sun Valley

Chapter Eight

Nick and Leo left Connecticut early in the morning to head to the lake house in Rhode Island. They informed the entire group chat that they would be busy the whole day; as they were getting ready to go stock up the lake house.

They made sure to get a bunch of snacks and frozen food that Ophelia had texted them about. Nick had wanted to make sure everyone had something they liked to eat.

Leo also grabbed the drinks — wattle bottles, gatorades, sodas, and alcohol.

It only took the boys two hours to make it up to the lake house. They unloaded the kayaks from the shed, fueled up all the jet skis, and made sure to clean up a bit around the dust filled house.

Nick put out all the extra blankets and pillows throughout the spare bedrooms, making sure they didn't have any grime on them.

The last time Nick was at the lake house was for his 21st birthday. It had been a fun night filled with drinks and laughter. So much fun, that he barely remembered it the next day.

There were so many good memories that happened at the house and Nick couldn't wait to share the memories with everyone.

Especially Aurora, because Nick wanted to show her where he grew up, and what his family did for fun. He just wanted her to have the same experiences as he did growing up. He wanted to make it just as memorable because he was falling for her.

Nick wanted to show her the big bay windows where he would read as a child during the more relaxed days that they were there.

Nick couldn't wait to show her the beautiful little dock that you could walk to from the front door. He spent many nights just laying there, looking up at the stars. That had been one of his favorite things to do with his mother.

She had taught him all about the constellations and had even gotten him a telescope one year so that they could be seen in the greatest detail.

He couldn't wait to show Aurora the telescope. He wanted her to experience the lake house the same way he did growing up, and fall in love with it.

The wooden architecture was similar to a cabin. It was harmoniously embraced in nature. Featuring four bedrooms, two half baths, and one full bath. Downstairs on the main level had an open floor plan whereas the lower level had a den space perfect for a home office, with a separate laundry room, and another that held extra storage.

The water's edge outside is where you can immerse yourself in taking a dip, fish, or simply savoring the view from the private dock.

Growing up, Nick's dad and brothers would cast a pole from the dock and even throw a crab cage in the water.

They would constantly clean and grill what they captured while his mother would make side dishes.

The memory faded as Leo screamed "cannonball!" jumping into the water, making a huge splash.

"You're such an idiot man." Nick laughed, standing on the dock.

"What? You're not going to join me Mr. Future surgeon?" Leo chuckled, diving back under.

Nick did what he knows best.

"Cowabunga!" Nick did a backflip into the water.

Both men laughed as they made a bet on who could swim across the lake first.

✣✣✣✣

As for Aurora, she was going into work today to wrap up any loose ends before she went on this trip.

They were going to be gone for over a week.

She wanted to make sure that all the artwork she had been saving for her clients was stored away correctly. Aurora also had to finish up all her meetings with her potential buyers.

Aurora had a few people lined up who had wanted to buy some pieces off her — so she dealt with that while she was there.

Nick texted her earlier in the morning that he was going up to the lake house to get everything ready for the eight of them.

Leo accompanied him to get all the kayak's and jet skis situated. Ophelia was demanding in the groupchat, telling the boys what she wanted from the grocery store.

Aurora and Giovanna haven't spoken to Ophelia and Iris since they went into the city. They both couldn't reach out, especially when they were the ones trash talking Leo.

Aurora was walking back to her office in the gallery, looking for paperwork for her clients to purchase the artwork. When she rounded the corner, she spotted three tulips placed in a triangular position on her desk.

How'd that get here? She wondered.

Nick gave her tulips at the carnival and each time he planned a date, he brought a bouquet full of them.

The day her and Giovanna hosted the dinner, a delivery man brought another bouquet but Nick denied that it was him.

Aurora's phone buzzed as she got another message from that same unknown number.

Are you leaving me for the week?

What the hell?

Aurora was starting to get a little creeped out by these messages. But it had to be someone from the group, just playing a trick on her. She just didn't know why they were still going on with the pranks.

Maybe it was Bo because he always liked to make fun of Nick for giving her flowers at every waking moment.

Haha I know exactly who this is!!

Aurora thought it was quite cute that Bo was so invested in her relationship with Nick. It seemed as though he was also in on the pranks. She remembered how Nick had tried to play it off at dinner that it wasn't him who had sent her flowers eariler in the day.

From afar, Grant watched Aurora through his binoculars as she texted him back.

He had been following her for the past few days as she was preparing for her big trip to the lake house in Rhode Island.

He hated the fact that she was getting so intertwined with Nick. Now she was going up to his family's lake house with her longtime friends? Grant would draw that line before they even got too close.

To him, Aurora was deserving of everything and Nick would never be able to satisfy her the way Grant could.

So what? Just because he has money and a lake house, that suddenly made him a Greek God? He think's he is good enough for her because he's somewhat good looking?

Well, not in Grant's eyes. He saw Nick for who he really was, just a dumb jock who was stepping all over his territory and he would not allow anyone to take what was rightfully his.

Grant continued watching Aurora as she collected the three tulips and smelt them. He loved watching her appreciate the gifts he left for her. It shows him that she still cares and wants to be with him.

It had been so long since he had held her, smelt her sweet scent, and kissed her luscious lips. Grant had missed being the man able to do all these things for her.

It made him viscerally sick every time he saw Nick do the things he wished he could do to Aurora.

But it wouldn't be long now.

Everything he had been planning, was going to fall right into place and he was finally going to have what was his.

He just had to set some things in order and he knew exactly where he wanted to start.