Throughout our day, I learn more about them while catching up with Tom and Jess. It’s been a long time since I’ve hung out with just guys. I always had my teammates, and then I had the film crew. Joe Scanlon, my future business partner, is awesome, but this is different. These guys are family, and the new members feel like old friends.
“So, the movie industry,” Jacob says. “I know a few people in the business.”
“Oh yeah, like who?”
Jacob looks at Ethan as if questioning if he can trust me. Seeing something in my brother’s eyes, he answers. “My father is Nicholas Vincentia. He’s a supporter of film.”
Holy shit, I know the name and vaguely remember Ethan asking me about him almost a year ago.
“That’s awesome,” I say.
“Yeah, too bad, he’s not.”
Ah. Point made.
“Well, Joe and I aren’t looking for favors. He has a lot of connections where I don’t. I’m just the money man.” I laugh, but it isn’t totally true. Our new venture will be a partnership. “Besides, Zeke Steinmann is the father of my former girlfriend, Zoey. He runs Steinmann Studios.”
Jacob chuckles. “I know Zoey.”
“No shit,” I tease.
“No shit.” He offers no further explanation, and I don’t ask. If he fucked my ex when they were teens, I don’t need to know.
“You aren’t with Zoey anymore? When did that happen?” Ethan asks.
“Quite a while ago,” I say.
“I didn’t know that. How did I not know this?” Ethan teases, lifting a beer for his lips.
“Probably the same way I didn’t know Britton McKay was back in town.”
“Who’s Britton?” Jacob asks.
“This hot piece Gavin was into as a teen,” Ethan explains.
“Hey,” I snap, not liking how my brother describes her.
“Britton McKay? My neighbor?” Tom questions.
“Yeah, funny no one mentioned that either,” I say, reminding myself of things I haven’t known.
“Why would anyone think to tell you a girl you were in love with back in high school was back in town?” Jess questions, his jaw clenching in that thinking-way he has.
I don’t have answers to this question that keeps coming up, but I do know it’s been bothering me more and more that I didn’t know she is here again.
“Just seems strange no one mentioned it,” I say, looking off toward the shoreline wanting to switch topics.
We spend hours discussing Jess and Emily’s upcoming wedding and Leon’s excitement over his child with Tricia. He really does seem like a good guy. Something’s in the water with those Carter women as Pam’s pregnant, too. Jacob’s more hesitant to talk about her, but the subtle gleam to his eyes when it’s mentioned indicates he’s sheepishly proud of himself.
“Fatherhood is the best,” Tom states. He’s the class clown kind of guy, never seeming to take anything seriously, so the comment is surprising. “Holden’s getting to an age that’s really changing things,” he says of his twelve-year-old son. “And it’s hard to believe Madison is going off to college.” Tom gazes back over the windshield. “Time goes too fast.”
Jess smiles up at his brother. “I can’t wait for Emily to have kids.”
“Don’t tell me she’s pregnant, too,” I scoff, feeling like the odd man out without a woman or children. Then again, Ethan and Ella aren’t having children anytime soon, so he says, as they both have new businesses blooming.
“Nah, but we keep working at it,” Jess teases, and we all congratulate him with laughs. For some reason, the comment reminds me of a momentary lapse in judgment when I entered Britton without protection on that glorious weekend romp. I just wanted to feel her again as I had when we were young and stupid. She could have gotten pregnant from that moment, but thankfully, she was on the pill.
“Most valuable piece of property on this lake. Shame she won’t sell,” Tom hollers over the roar of the engine, breaking into my thoughts. He’s been circling the lake, taking the scenic route to fill the time, and I hadn’t noticed where we were. With my back to the shoreline, I twist to notice a piece of land jutting out into the lake which holds Britton’s small yellow cottage. “That land is worth millions.”
“Why won’t she sell?” Leon asks, eyeing the property.
“Her uncle owned it. He was special to her.” All eyes land on me when I twist back to the guys in the boat, and I swallow hard, remembering Leo and Gertie again, and how nice they were to me, how good they were to Britton. I also recall my own comment about her making bank if she did sell and her adamant response that she wasn’t interested.
“Heard there were some issues with it when she inherited it. The old man hadn’t been paying his property taxes, and she’s since been strapped with it. The Sterling Realty company in town is always on her with offers. She’s one tough sell, though.”
Britton didn’t mention that in her explanation of inheriting the place.
“Man, that sounds private,” I say.
“What are we, twelve?” Jess chuckles, but I don’t want Britton’s business blasted like this. If she’s in financial trouble, it’s only for her to share.
“And that’s her,” Tom says, holding up a hand to wave. I twist again, glancing toward the shore, and sure enough, Britton stands tall on the dock while Gee sits on the edge, kicking his feet in the water. They look like they’ve been swimming, and Britton’s one-piece outlines her slight form, sexier than any bikini I’ve ever seen. She’s sexier than she knows.
Britton slowly lifts a towel before her and hesitantly waves back to Tom.
Leon whistles low under his breath. “Damn, you were a lucky man.” He’s not being a dick, just stating a fact. Britton is beautiful standing under the sunshine, her hair slicked back and glistening.
“Yo, Britton,” Ethan cries out, cupping his hands before waving like Tom Hanks seeing Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump. Britton laughs. Even from this distance, I hear the sound in my soul, cracking open more memories.
I glance left, feeling Jess watching me. His head slowly shakes. “You still got it for her, don’t you?”
“I don’t,” I lie before my head turns back in her direction, eyes unable to look away from her as the boat skims past her dock, and she watches us.
“If that’s what you say,” Jess remarks, reminding me of a standard comeback in communication between us when we were teens. Turning back inward, I lean forward, pressing my elbows to my thighs and fighting the pull to look over my shoulder again. I tip up my beer and mutter back at Jess.
“That’s what I say.” The comment normally cuts off a discussion but confirms the unsaid truth.
I still very much have it for her.
It’s not the most opportune time, but a memory strikes me as we pass the house.
We’d been hanging out at Uncle Leo’s when I asked him if we could use his old rowboat. It was a pathetic green thing with metal seats, and I swore the bottom leaked. While Leo didn’t like the idea of us going out on the dark lake, he’d given me an industrial flashlight when I promised to keep us close to the shoreline.