Some Things You Can't Control

15: Hold Me Close

Chapter 15

Hold Me Close

- EDEN GARCIA -

The moment I step out of Mickie's car after the hour long drive out of town, I experience a feeling of freedom. Reaching up, I stretch, relief sinking into every one of my limbs. Even the fresh air surrounding us serves to provide a renewed sense of vigour in comparison to the stale air inside the car.

Mickie and Em both slide out of the car moments later, just as Drew's vehicle comes down the driveway to the lake house. The guys park nearby, looking as relieved to exit the car as I had felt. Mickie pops the boot of her car, and the three of us set about grabbing out the food and other supplies we'd packed, in addition to our overnight bags.

We meet Drew at the front door, where he's busy finding the right key and inserting it into the lock.

"The water looks so good," Em comments, casting her eyes over to the lake longingly.

"Perfect day for it," Drew agrees, pushing the door open, "did you girls have a good trip out?"

The sight that greets us is familiar; the interior of the house is entirely open-plan; the kitchen benches lining the corner to the left, the lounge room set up along the opposite wall, and a couple beds along the wall to the right.

Mickie replies, "Yeah pretty good- minus the cramped legs and sore ass."

"And the driver that nearly got us lost," Em inputs teasingly.

"We weren't lost," Mikaela protests, "we just took a purposeful detour."

This earns a laugh from Drew and myself, as I dump the bags of food I was carrying down on the kitchen bench, and Drew stands at the power box near the door trying to turn on the electricity.

"Em, just be glad you got here in one piece," Drew grins.

Mickie doesn't have a chance to form a defence as Brody and Lewis make their grand entrance, only just managing to carry the huge esky we'd jammed into the back of Drew's car.

"Fuck," Brody curses as he trips on the bottom of the door frame. The esky is shoved forward, into Lewis, who stumbles slightly but readily regains his balance. Its clear both boys are utilising all of their strength to move the fully-packed esky, arms visibly straining with the weight.

"Oi, you dickhead, watch it," Drew smirks, purposely punching Brody's right arm, which is holding the esky, as he passes and slips back out the front door.

I can't help but notice the bulge in Lewis' bicep, but at the same time, the moment I see him all I can picture is the scene I'd witnessed last night between him and my sister.

And it doesn't make me feel very good.

Without wasting another second, I weave through my friends and step over the threshold of the door, finding small reprieve in no longer being within such close proximity of Lewis. Outside, I find Jake, Trey and Drew down at the water's edge, loading logs, sticks and kindle into a canoe to transport across to the small island in the middle of the lake.

"Eden!" Jake calls when he sees me.

"What's up?"

"We need you to row these over to the island," Trey inputs.

"... Why me?"

"Because you're light enough not to sink it with all the other shit in it. If this firewood gets wet, we have no fire."

"No pressure," I mumble jokingly. I take off my shirt and chuck it on the grass, instead wearing my black bikini top and denim shorts. At least if I do manage to capsize, I'll be prepared.