Addison
I’m standing on the dock, looking out over the pond. Wesley, Chase, and I have been fishing for the last few hours. I spent the morning making tomato sauce with my mom. We canned about sixty jars, and next weekend we’ll probably do sixty more, depending on how well our garden continues to grow this week.
“What time is it?” Wesley asks, slowly reeling in his line.
I check my phone. “Almost three.” I’m glad he asked, I didn’t think we’d been here that long. I need to be at Blake and Sierra’s by four thirty to babysit.
“It’s been so hot this week,” Chase says, standing on the bank, casting his line out again.
“It has,” Wesley agrees. “It’s funny though because Blake doesn’t think so. He said summers in Georgia are ninety degrees with 100 percent humidity this time of year.”
“I can’t even imagine that,” I say.
Chase shakes his head. “Yeah, when we went to Florida a few years ago it was too hot for me…and we went inMay.”
Wes sets his rod down at his feet. “I’m definitely not one for hot weather.” He pulls his shirt over his head andtosses it down onto the dock beside his phone. I should’ve worn a bikini top. A black T-shirt was not the way to go today.
I flash my mischievous eyes at Chase. He starts smiling and shaking his head, already knowing exactly what I’m going to do. I set my rod down, and when Wesley bends down to pick his up, I push him in.
“Careful!” I yell as I watch him splash into the water headfirst, having no time to react.
Chase and I laugh hysterically, and Wesley resurfaces just a second later.
“Addison!” he scolds, wiping the water off his face and pushing his hair back. He splashes water up at me with a playful grin. “You’re done!” he warns, pointing a finger and chuckling.
“I got you, Wes,” Chase says.
I turn around to find him running towards me. “No! No!” I yell. “Donot!” I hold my hand out to try and stop him.
“Don’t, Chase. Don’t,” Wesley insists just before Chase is able to get ahold of me.
Chase holds his hands up in surrender and backs away. “Fine. I tried,” he mutters.
Wesley swims his way over to the bank and gets out of the water. “See.” He huffs, looking at me. “I’m actually nice.” He’s dripping wet, running his hand through the damp tendrils of his hair. He reaches his arms out and comes closer to me. “Come give me a hug now.”
“No.” I laugh and move away. It strikes me that he might actually pick me up and throw me in. It wouldn’t be the first time.
“Why?” he teases. My heart beating faster, I continue to walk backwards. “Come on,” he says with a laugh, insisting.
“Wesley, stop,” I warn, keeping my eyes on Chase too, but he doesn’t seem to be a threat. I look back to Wes. “I’m serious, I have to babysit. I don’t want to have to shower.”
He stops and rolls his eyes. “Oh fine. You win.” He groans.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.” He breathes a quick laugh and turns back to the dock.
He strips out of his wet jeans, exposing his blue plaid boxers to Chase and me before picking his rod back up.
He turns to see I haven’t moved and chuckles. “Addie, I’m not gonna throw you in. Promise.”
His voice sounds genuine, so I walk back over.
“You’re better than me,” Chase starts. “I’d have thrown you in whether you liked it or not.”
I tilt my head at him. “That’s why I didn’t push you.”
“One of these days I’ll get her,” Wesley teases, and I squint at him. His cheeks become fuller with a playful smile and he nudges me with his elbow.
