4. Nash

4

NASH

7 YEARS AGO

D on't torture yourself. You knew they would be here, and still you decide to join when you saw them. Damn it, Nash.

I slow my walk as I approach Summer and Zac sitting on the edge of the dock. My brother's legs dangling and Summer sitting cross-legged half turned to face him. They are deep in conversation, but Summer's eyes slide in my direction, then she does a double take. Her eyes are laced with fear and delight that I'm here.

My brother shoots his gaze up and an instant beaming smile forms.

"Oh hey, I thought you would be at the rink." My brother scoots over to make room for me to join, and I sit on his other side cross-legged to face Summer as my brother leans back on his elbows.

"Finished early. It's the off season. I was just focusing on practicing skills and concentration. Can't work too hard," I explain. It's been five years since I went pro, but it still feels good to come home in the summer.

My brother shrugs it off. "I was just telling Summer about a BBQ I want to throw later. Remember in high school, when our parents would be complete idiots and leave us alone on the weekends? They kept giving us prime opportunities for parties and stuff," he reflects.

Zac is right, someone should have given them the parenting-a-teenager playbook.

One person's stupidity is another person's gain, right? It meant at the end of my senior year, it gave me ample opportunity for a stolen moment with Summer that stayed in my mind, but we left it in the past.

Until a few months ago.

"Anyway, I think we'll all go easy tonight with a few friends and throw some burgers on the grill. Nothing like the way you normally celebrate a game win," my brother explains.

Last season I only celebrated with Summer because we happened one night. My little brother's best friend who has always occupied my thoughts. It was a kiss in the making, a pop of the tension bubble between us, and it quickly turned to more. We kissed once when we were younger, but this was zero to a hundred within a minute.

It should have only been a hook-up, but I've been addicted to Summer ever since.

We've just kept it quiet, as we weren't sure how Zac would react. Maybe it was our logic that we would only be a fling and he would never need to know.

But it's no longer what we imagined.

Summer clears her throat. "I'm sure people just want to hang out. No need to break out the shots."

"I'm sure that's how Nash rolls between games. Girls are always all over him. They must buy him shots." My brother's words agitate Summer, and I can tell because of the way she nibbles her bottom lip to hide her disdain at the thought.

"How were your classes this morning?" I divert the conversation and stare down at the wood. My brother is taking extra classes because he's in medical school and is about to start clinical rotations.

Summer laughs. "You're too smart for me," she teases Zac.

Zac looks between us, then his eyes land on Summer. "You guys won't be laughing when I'm a doctor and you both need me to save you."

"Whoa, I'm never trusting you, even if you have a stethoscope around your neck," she pushes back in good humor, and it makes him grin more.

My eyes catch Summer's, and my brother is oblivious. It's been happening a lot the past few weeks. We get to have a few seconds of connection before one of has to tear our sight away, and this time it's me when Zac pushes off the dock.

"I have to head in. Need like an hour more of study time. I'll hit the store on my way home."

When Zac stands and looks down, he takes a moment to look between us. His expression is peculiar; I don't recognize it, but when he smiles softly again, then ease hits me.

"See ya." I tip my nose up.

"Later, Zac."

He gives Summer an extra smile. "Don't look too hot tonight, otherwise Nash and I will be too busy playing bodyguard."

Her face blossoms red, but she plays it cool. "I'll do my best to suppress my superpowers." She salutes him.

By the time he's out of sight, my full attention is on Summer who will not be having anyone's fingers but my own touching her tonight.

I admire the way Summer's lips twist when she blushes, and the way her eyes attempt to escape my watch is one of the most beautiful things I've seen. Her head tips to the side as she examines me, waiting for me to say something.

I place the palm of my hand on her thigh below the hem of her jean shorts, not caring that we're on the dock at the Dizzy Duck Inn on a warm summer's day. I lean in to steal a kiss. I need her lips on mine. The way I've needed her every time we manage to see one another. During the end of the season, she would tell Zac she was visiting a friend from college, but really, she was with me when my game schedule would allow.

She always melts under the command of my mouth, always following my cues, as if I will lead the way and be her protector. Her trust in me runs strong.

No matter how hard I kiss her, her lips always remain soft and silky. Even when I'm inside of her going hard, she still captures my mouth so delicately.

Right now, she scoots closer to me, causing our knees to touch to ensure that we are inseparable.

One more second. That's all I get before we need air. Pulling apart, my hand stays put on the back of her neck, with my thumb caressing her cheek.

"Nash," she tuts. "Anyone can see."

"And? My parents own this place. We've also agreed that Zac should probably know, we just need to find the right moment."

She nods her head in complete agreement. " Finally . I've begged you for weeks to tell him."

My jaw flexes at the uncomfortable reminder. "It's just… yo u two have been friends forever. He thinks I look at you like a little sister."

Summer's eyes widen. "Well, I'm sure he will change his view when he discovers you fucked me in the family pool house the other week, and then we agreed that our theory is true and that we're quite good at it together. Hence, why we fuck like crazy."

Summer, my spitfire Summer. I need to thank someone upstairs.

I chuckle and glance up at the sky then back to Summer who is smirking. "You have such a mouth."

She gives me a funny look. "Like you're one to talk." Her smile stays fixed as her eyes squinch from the sun, the breeze off the lake blowing her hair behind her shoulders. "You're leaving soon," she reminds me. Hockey season is not a friend to any relationship.

"We'll make it work." I shrug.

Her blue eyes sparkle at my insistence, and she interlaces our fingers, with her eyes set on our hands as if she is taking a mental picture, but she doesn't answer.

I guide her to turn toward me. "Let's not discuss it any more today. When I'm away, I'll still be possessive of you. You're like a hockey puck I won't let anyone touch."

Her head falls back when she cracks a laugh. "Oh my gosh, you did not just compare your gorgeous fuck to a puck."

"Summer, language," I chide to tease her. We begin to walk back toward the shore, and I nudge her shoulder with mine. "Come on, we have a window of a few hours."

And we take advantage of it. A few hours later, I'm looking in the mirror as I run my fingers through my hair. It's apparent by my flushed look that I've just had sex, and a small smirk of pride hits the corner of my mouth as I slide back into my boxer briefs.

It's a little crazy that I'm back in my family home, but my parents are gone to their house in North Carolina. I have plenty of money to get my own place for the summer, but I just want downtime and the familiar, away from city life. And this room has memories. A first kiss with Summer, and now a few years later, I step back into the room to see her sitting up in bed with her feet on the floor as she attempts to clasp her bra closed.

I dive on top of the bed on my side and take over to help her, then I gently kiss the curve of her shoulder.

An unusual silence fills the room until she breaks it. "Nash, I feel something strong. I know that I'm in?—"

I cut her off instantly and plant my finger on her mouth, not wanting to hear the words. "I feel it, too."

She twists her body to glance down to me. "You have me. Every part, and don't you dare break it." Her lips skim my bottom lip.

She means her heart.