Priya drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She stared at the ripples in the lake, willing her mind to go blank, but her thoughts kept circling back to one thing:I just want to go home.
Shecouldbe having fun like Brooke and Rachel, but here she was instead—cold, miserable, and stuck in an endless loop—always comparing every guy to Ethan. She couldn’t be with anyone else, not when her heart was already so full of him, even if he never realized it or returned her feelings.
The sound of heavy footsteps broke through her thoughts, the vibrations carrying through the wood. Priya turned and froze, her heart leaping when she saw Ethan walking toward her. He looked like he’d ridden straight through the storm, rain streaking his leather jacket, his dark hair plastered to his forehead. Yet somehow, he still looked impossibly handsome. As their eyes locked, a slow smile tugged at the corners of his lips. A tingling sensation stirred in the pit of Priya’s stomach.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Brooke forgot her phone charger, so I offered to drop it off. I was headed to the office when I saw you sitting here, all by your lonesome. Everything okay?” He dropped down beside her, his legs swinging over the edge.
“Yeah.” Priya put on a casual smile even as her heart thudded painfully. How was she supposed to tell him that she was sad because she was hung up on him? “I guess I’m just not vibing with this place. It’s tough when you want to do one thing, but your squad is into something totally different.”
Ethan let out a dry laugh. “I hated this place when I was here. I’m not exactly the team spirit type.”
“And yet, somehow, it just makes you more popular.”
“Apparently girls like the whole loner-rebel vibe.”
His words were playful, but Priya wasn’t blind to how everyone practically melted when he passed by in the school hallway. Ethan had always been a head-turner, but now, closing in on eighteen, he’d become undeniably hotter. The scruff along his jaw gave him a rugged edge. His build had filled out—shoulders wider, chest defined—making it hard not to notice every move he made. His moody, smoldering energy only intensified how impossible he was to ignore. It was no wonder everyone was drawn to him. Including her.
As Ethan leaned back and propped himself up on his wrist, Priya averted her gaze and peered at her own reflection in the water. There was something about being around Ethan that mended the frayed edges of her heart. Her emotions settled like the lake’s surface after a storm. Around them, everything felt vividly alive—the quiet drip of water from the trees, the heavy scent of rain, the shimmer of the sun’s reflection as it slipped beneath the water.
Priya glanced back at Ethan with a smile. “Your jeans are completely soaked, you know.”
“It probably wasn’t the best time to come out, but hey, here I am.” He gave her a lopsided grin.
“Let’s go inside so you can dry off.” Priya motioned toward the glow spilling out of the lodge.
“Good call.” Ethan rose to his feet and extended his hand toward Priya. “It’ll save me from riding back with a soggy ass.”
Priya laughed as they strolled off the pier. Their boots sank into the ground, squelching with each step. At the lodge’s entrance, Ethan spotted a tap and turned it on, washing the mud off Priya’s boots.
“Go on in,” he said, cleaning his own. “I won’t be long.”
Priya stepped inside, greeted by the cozy scent of pine and hot chocolate. The common area was buzzing with kids—laughing, chatting, and playing board games. Some stretched out on sofas, scrolling through their phones. Priya spotted an empty couch near the hearth and began making her way toward it. She was halfway there when a familiar voice stopped her.
“Priya! Over here!” Rachel’s voice carried through the noise of the crowd.
“Rachel?” Priya blinked. “What are you doing here?”
Rachel’s grin turned sheepish. “Well, Ryan bailed right after you left and Tyler turned out to be super annoying, so I took off too.”
Priya scanned the room. “Brooke’s still with Caleb?”
Rachel leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Actually, they snuck off together. Pretty sure they headed back to our cabin.”
“Oh shit!” Priya said. “We have to give Brooke a heads-up. Her brother just showed up…” She trailed off as Rachel’s eyes flicked past her and settled on something behind her.
The chatter around them slowed, then stopped entirely, like a record scratching to a halt. Priya didn’t need to turn around to know that Ethan had made his entrance. The silence seemed to grow louder, broken only by the sound of his footsteps. His presence shifted the atmosphere, curiosity rippling through the room.
She watched as he strolled into view and headed for the couch, unbothered by the attention trailing him. He shrugged off his jacket,draped it over the armrest, and sank onto the cushions. After tugging his boots off and stretching his legs toward the fire, he locked eyes with Priya and flashed her a grin.
“You coming?” he drawled, patting the seat beside him.
Heat rushed into Priya’s cheeks. Beside her, Rachel’s mouth fell open. She shot Priya a stunned glance. Priya swallowed and forced a smile before crossing the room. She lowered herself next to him, keenly aware of how every set of eyes was glued to them.
“You’ve officially silenced the room,” Priya whispered,trying to ignore the flush crawling up her neck.
“Good.” Ethan grinned. “I wasn’t in the mood for small talk.”
