We stand there in silence for a minute, the sound of the water gently lapping against the pier, and for a second, it actuallyiskind of peaceful. Then Elijah, without any warning, takes a giant gulp of coffee and turns toward me. “You gonna make it to yoga tomorrow?”
I stare at him for a second, processing the question. “Uh. Wasn’t planning on it.”
He shakes his head. “Seriously? It’s a team-building activity.” He stretches one arm above his head and groans. “Sunrise yoga by the lake.”
I snort. “There’s no way in hell I’m waking up at the crack of dawn to do downward dog with you idiots.”
Elijah shrugs—and I can hear him slurping his coffee from here. “Suit yourself. Coach says it’s mandatory, though. Something about flexibility improving performance.”
“He said it wasstrongly encouraged—not mandatory. And I’msosure flexibility is the only reason he wants us there.” I roll my eyes. “Not because the photos would be good PR.”
Elijah grins, unbothered. “Hey. I don’t make the rules. I show up.” He stretches his arms behind his head, twisting his body to the right, then to the left, like he’s already warming up for his next yoga session. “Plus, there’s a women’s waterskiing team on the lake—I’m hoping they practice early so we can watch.”
I blink at him.Women’s waterskiing team?What the fuck is that? Like ... gymnastics on water? I mean, I’ve heard of synchronized swimming, but synchronized skiing? Do they do backflips while getting dragged behind a boat?
“That’s a thing?” I ask, genuinely baffled.
“Apparently,” Elijah drawls. “Saw it on the camp itinerary.”
“Camp itinerary?” Is it me, or did my eyes bug out of my skull? “Is that the sheet of paper hanging on the fireplace?”
How did this go from a relaxing retreat to one with required activities? With prizes for most participation? Are we earning badges now, like the Boy Scouts?
What’s next? Arts and crafts time? Making friendship bracelets out of sea-glass beads, sourced from the beach and polished?
Elijah shrugs again, completely unfazed. “Nah, there’s a whole list of stuff we can sign up for at the main cabin. Where Coach is staying. Waterskiing, canoe races, archery. You know,campstuff.”
“Camp stuff,” I deadpan the words. “And here I thought we were supposed torelax.”
“Relaxation through participation, man,” Elijah says, sounding way too Zen for my liking. He obviously doesn’t realize we’re trapped in a web of competitive wilderness survival masquerading asteam building.
“Dude. Are you high?” I ask him, hoping my voice won’t carry across the lake.
High. . .igh . . . igh. . .
“No. I’m embracing the experience.” He laughs, a little too laid back for my taste. “You should try it—maybe you’ll surprise yourself.”
I shake my head. “The only thing I’m going to enjoy is my bed while the rest of you are doing downward dog at dawn.”
Which sounds fucking terrible.
Elijah shrugs again, still grinning. “Your loss. More for the rest of us.”
“I’m sure I’ll survive.”
I watch as Elijah pulls out his phone, stares at it for a beat, then stuffs it into the back pocket of his athletic pants. He looks over at me with a nonplussed expression he’s perfected. “Dex texted. A few of us are going downtown to a pub for a burger. Wanna come?”
I shake my head. “Nah, I’m gonna grab groceries. Think I’ll pop an old movie into the ancient VCR back at the cabin and, you know—embracethe experience.”
He chuckles, giving me a little salute. “You do you—but don’t be jealous when the rest of us return home enlightened.”
Chapter 2
Lucy
“Where did these giant men come from?”
The bar is packed with bodies, many of them broad shouldered. They’re taking up more space than the average human, and I glance around, perplexed. It’s like someone in town put out a Bat-Signal for giants, and they all decided to congregate here, crowding Lakeside Brew with their booming laughs and oversize appetites.
