38. Corey

“Ready?” Palmer catches the apple he’s been juggling for the past five minutes.

I check to see if Fallon has replied to my last text with the name and address of the marina.

Fallon: I’m getting a ride with Pops. I’ll see you soon.

“I’m obsessed with our new apartment,” Hadley says, stepping into the kitchen with Nolan behind her, his hands on her waist. “But this place is insane. Corey, your house is stunning. Thanks again for having us.”

I nod. It’s our fourth year here, and once again, our group has grown. For the first two years, it was Palmer, Grey, Hudson, Nolan, Mila, and me. Last year, Evelyn joined, and this year, Hadley’s here for the experience. “I’m glad you were able to make it.” Despite my growing disappointment that Fallon’s not here, I mean it genuinely.

“Why do you guys only come for a week? If I were you guys, I’d find every excuse to get out here.” Hadley stands in front of the windows that look out onto the beach.

“Isn’t it gorgeous?” Evelyn asks from where she’s filling the cooler with drinks. “When they invited me to ‘Camp’ last year,” she raises her fingers to do air quotes, “I was expecting bunkbeds and roasting hotdogs over a campfire—not this place.” She shakes her head.

Hadley laughs.

“I can’t believe this is our last year,” Nolan says, melancholy thick in his voice as he peers around the house.

“Why does it have to be the last year?” Evelyn asks. “There are planes and cars that can bring everyone back. We might have to change the date, but this is a tradition we should definitely keep.”

Hudson nods as he looks at me. “As long as the invitation stands, I’ll keep coming back.”

“You know I’ll be here,” Palmer says, taking a bite of his apple.

“I might buy a house up the road,” Grey admits, pointing his thumb toward the neighboring house.

Mila tries to elbow him in the gut, but Grey laughs, catching her arm before she can connect.

“I like our own space,” he says. “Besides, you remember last year and all the randos that showed up.”

“We’re not doing that again this year,” I say. “If the other guys on the team want to stay, that’s fine, but everyone else is kicked out.”

“What about Fallon?” Mila asks.

“Oh. I’ve heard about Fallon,” Hadley says. “Is she coming today? I’m excited to meet her.”

“You’ll like her,” Palmer says. “She’s a badass soccer player, and your new apartment would be a very sad space if she hadn’t bailed us out.”

“A female athlete? Hell yes. Tell me more.” Hadley glances at me, but rather than respond, I tip my head toward the door.

“She’s nice. We approve, but Corey’s being very tight-lipped about the details, and they’re not using any labels,” Mila says.

“Pops is nearly there. We’ve got to go,” I tell them, cutting the conversation short.

Nolan helps Hudson haul the cooler out to Hudson’s Jeep.

“Just a heads up, Pops is also bringing Callum, Lenny, and some dude from the soccer team. He didn’t say who.” I share a look with Nolan and then Palmer, a warning to not retaliate or allow any shit to start.

Nolan gives a firm nod and holds the door of the Jeep open for Hadley to climb in. Thankfully, he’s far less combative when she’s around. Not only because he’s fully distracted by her presence, but his protectiveness ensures he won’t start anything if there’s a chance she’ll be caught in the crosshairs.

I don’t have to look at Grey to confirm he’ll toe the line. His world begins and ends with Mila. If someone starts shit today, he’ll be the first to put a stop to things.

The air is already warm, and the sky is clear of clouds from the wind, which is a constant here at the Outer Banks as we arrive at the marina.

“Hey,” Pops greets me with a thumping hug as we arrive at the marina, but my attention is focused on Fallon as she slings a bag over her shoulder and nods as Brent Claywell crowds her, laughing as he continues telling her a story. She glances at me with an unreadable expression that has panic swirling in my stomach.

“Hey, Corey!” Kelly approaches me from the side, taking me by surprise. She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls her body flush against mine. Just like when she hugged me at Pops’s birthday, my attention is on Fallon, only this time panic isn’t stirring in her eyes. It’s defeat.

“Today’s going to be so much fun!” Kelly beams at me.

“Oh, damn,” Mila says on an exhale.

“Fallon, do you know everyone?” Kelly turns to face both groups. “This is half the starting offensive lineup of Camden’s football team.”

“We’ve met.” Palmer cuts through the small crowd, positioning himself like a barrier between Brent and Fallon before draping an arm around her shoulders.

“Oh,” Kelly nods. “Well, in that case, everyone, this is Brent,” Kelly waves toward him. “He’s a forward for the men’s soccer team and Fallon’s friend.”

Mila chokes on her surprise.

My gaze snaps to Fallon. Her mouth falls open, and her eyes flare wide, but she doesn’t say anything to correct Kelly.

“Are we ready to get out there?” Pops asks.

“Who’s ready to get wet?” Lenny booms, leading our group down to the docks.

Kelly links her arm with mine. “You guys should come down tonight. We’re planning to do a bar crawl.”

I nod without meaning to, so damn distracted as Palmer fires off a litany of questions to Fallon about her first night that Brent answers from her opposite side.

I slip my arm out of Kelly’s grip with the excuse of helping Grey carry the life jackets.

As soon as we’re in the boat, Nolan sits behind the wheel and pats his lap, inviting Hadley to drive. Kelly strips off her sundress, and I know this day’s already gone to hell when she saddles up next to me and places a hand possessively on my back.

“Corey, can you help me with this?” Mila asks, calling me to the back of the boat where she’s making a half-assed attempt to move the cooler with one foot. Her excuse is contrived, but it goes unnoticed with fourteen other people aboard the small boat.

Fallon keeps her gaze forward as I pass her, looking more unsure now that we’re sequestered to a hundred square feet. My arm grazes hers, and she turns, her eyes inches from mine. We pause for a second. I want to assure her I’m here, that we’ll figure this bullshit out. Instead, I slide my thumb along her wrist and down the length of her thumb, feeling her warmth that has my blood singing before moving back to where Mila’s waiting for me with a confused looking Grey hovering nearby.

“What kind of Groundhog Day hell is this?” Mila whispers. “And how is Aiko always at the center of the drama?” She’s referring to last summer when Aiko brought Hudson’s ex out when Evelyn was with us, creating a moment just as tension-filled as today.

“What do you want us to do?” Mila asks. “How can we help?”

Grey shakes his head. “Who’s that clown?” He nods at Brent.

“It’s a fucking shitshow,” I admit.

The boat is way too damn small to have this conversation, so I shove the cooler to save face and sit with Mila and Grey in the back.

Nolan turns the music on and then maneuvers us safely away from the dock before turning the reins over to Hadley. She pushes the throttle forward, gaining speed as we slice through the ocean.

With my sunglasses hiding my stare, I slowly trace up the length of Fallon’s exposed legs, tracing a faint scar across her knee, recalling having seen it when I had her on her back and was gripping her thighs before thrusting deep inside of her.

Fallon turns, and even with her sunglasses on, I know she’s staring at me as though knowing exactly where my thoughts are.

Brent leans closer to her and says something that I can’t hear over all the noise.

Fallon nods, and when she says something, he places a hand on her bare thigh and leans closer.

“Are you sure you don’t want our help?” Mila taunts.