“I’d love to.”
“Go on, you two get changed and meet me on the docks. Where are your bags?”
“In the car,” I say and go through the kitchen into the small office that’s crammed full of furniture and filing cabinets. I grab the keys for Cabin 18.
“That’s reserved,” Mom says, eyeing the numbers on the key chain.
“For Lily and James Potter,” I say and shake my head.
“How do you know?” Mom asks, generally surprised.
“And you call yourself my mother.” I let out a dramatic sigh. “Mom, I made the reservation.”
Her lips press together then she laughs before her face gets serious. “You two together … I don’t know, young lady.”
I cock an eyebrow. “Really, Mom.”
“Oh lighten up, Melissa,” Aunt Tilly says. “She’s a grown woman who lives on her own in another city. You think she never has overnight guests at her own place?”
“Fine,” Mom concedes. “But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“Love you too,” I say and dash around her. “We’ll meet you outside in fifteen, Dad.” I take Ben’s hand and pull him from the house. “Sorry,” I say when we’re in his car. “I told you they’re a bit much.”
“They’re family,” he says back. He starts the car, puts on his seatbelt and kisses me. “It’s perfect.”
*
I wake up wrapped in Ben’s arms. We stayed outside on the sandy shore until two AM, and the flames of the bonfire dwindled to nothing. Tired and tipsy, we stumbled our way to the cabin and had lazy sex in the shower before crashing in bed for the rest of the night. It’s nearing nine o’clock, and I already know we’ve missed whatever breakfast Mom cooked and served.
Oh well. We’ll make up for it with the feast she makes for lunch.
I sneak out of Ben’s arms and tip toe into the bathroom to pee, brush my teeth, and wash my face. My hair is still damp; I quickly brush it then put it in a braid to keep it from becoming a tangled mess from the lakefront breeze or the air whipping through my hair as we zip along the water in the boat.
I’m not even going to bother with makeup. I lift my arms to inspect the hair situation going on under them. Damn you, dark pit hair. I shave them dry, regret it immediately, then sneak back into bed.
Ben opens his eyes and pulls me in. “I woke up and you were gone,” he mumbles. “I didn’t like that.”
I’m smiling as I tangle myself around his naked body. “Can I make it up to you?”
“I think so.” He pulls me in, squeezing me against him, then gets up to use the bathroom and get a drink. I roll out of bed, knowing we should get up and get moving or else Mom or one of my aunts will come down here to get us.
I put on my bikini. The top has fabric clam shells stitched onto the cups, and the bottoms are sparkly green with printed scales. I pull on the straps of the bikini. Being well endowed is a blessing and a curse. I can forego support and comfort for cleavage or get something with full coverage and hide these puppies.
I went with the mermaid suit with neither in mind. Because, mermaids. It wasn’t a hard choice at all. I pull on a white dress over top and slip my feet into flip-flops, then toss my phone and sunglasses into a beach bag. It’s big and I have room, so I throw in another dress in case this one gets soaked and I need to change. I get cold easily on the lake.
Ben comes out of the bathroom wearing gray swim trunks and a teal T-shirt. He has his sunglasses on his head, and his hair is still a rumpled mess from sleeping. He looks adorable.
“Ready?” I ask.
“If you are.”
“I am. We’ll eat breakfast at the house, and I’ll bring some snacks over with us tonight. I kinda forgot about it last night.”
“Good thinking. I’m starving.” We walk hand in hand down the boardwalk. The beach is already crowded with picnickers, and the water is dotted with boats. The sun is out in full force, with only a few clouds in sight.
It’s going to be perfect.
To my surprise, Danielle and her friends haven’t arrived yet. Ben and I eat warmed-over bacon and eggs—which isn’t as bad as it sounds—and go down to the dock with Jake to wait for his fiancé. The boat is loaded with beach towels, food and drinks. Dad makes sure everyone has a life vest, then goes to help some of the renters with the boat they checked out for the day.
Ben and I sit in the back of the boat. He drapes his arm around me and I do my best to take a few selfies of the two of us. I look like a hot mess: frizzy hair, red spots visible on my cheeks, and puffy tired eyes.