"How's one to know? I'd live and die for moments that we stole. On begged and borrowed time." -T.S.
We sat there, caught in the quiet pull of each other's presence, until reality crashed back in. A sudden burst of screams from downstairs was followed by a loud splash. We both stood up and leaned over the balcony just in time to see Jacob and Hunter resurface in the pool, sending a roar of laughter and cheers through the crowd.
"We should probably head back down there," I murmured.
"Probably," he agreed, but neither of us moved right away.
Eventually, we stepped back outside, slipping out of the moment and back into the night. The party had only gotten louder, too caught up in its own chaos to notice our return.
Everyone except Justin.
His gaze had been on us since the second we walked in. The scowl he'd worn earlier was gone, replaced by a knowing smirk that made my stomach flip. I bit the inside of my cheek, refusing to give him the satisfaction of responding.
His eyes held mine for a fraction too long before Hannah tugged his attention away, giving me just enough of an opening to look elsewhere.
"Are you going to get in?" I asked Erik, glancing at the pool and then back to him.
"I didn't wear my swim trunks, I should've. I don't know why I didn't," he chuckled, looking down at his clothes as if regretting his decision.
Dani spotted us and walked over. "Hey, you two! You getting in with us?" She motioned over to Marshall, who was already at the steps of the pool, eagerly waiting for Dani.
"I don't know…" I hesitated, glancing back at Erik. I didn't want to get in without him, but I didn't want to miss out either.
"Oh, come on! Get in, Auggie!" Dani practically begged, her excitement contagious.
"Yeah, Auggie, join us!" Justin added, his voice mimicking Dani's as he walked past me, throwing a playful smirk my way.
I rolled my eyes, trying to hide the smile tugging at my lips.
"Go in with them. I'm too tired to swim anyway, but I don't want you to miss out because of me," Erik whispered, leaning in close.
I bit my bottom lip, weighing the options before nodding.
Dani squealed, grabbing my hand and dragging me to the edge of the pool. Almost everyone was in the water except Erik, Hannah, and Mallory, who by now were gathering around the patio table, almost deep in conversation.
The night air felt cool against our wet skin. The moon was no longer a strong light, just a distant speck allowing for the stars to take over. These little moments where everything felt infinite kept me going.
"Alright, who's up for a game of chicken fight?" Dani called out, her voice cutting through the chatter.
"Chicken fight?" Hunter raised an eyebrow from where he sat on the edge of the pool, looking intrigued but not moving to join.
"You know, where we get on each other's shoulders and try to knock the other person off?" Dani grinned, already turning toward Marshall to set up for her next challenge.
I stood in the water, unsure if I should participate. It sounded fun, but I wasn't sure I was up for the chaos of it all.
"Come on, August, you're not gonna leave me hanging, are you?" Justin's voice was playful, his smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth as he waded over to me.
Before I could respond, Justin slipped beneath the surface of the water, reappearing in front of me, effortlessly lifting me up onto his shoulders with a surprising amount of ease.
"Ready?" His voice was closer than I expected, the proximity making my heart race a little faster than I cared to admit.
"Wait, what—" I started to protest, but his hands were already steady on my thighs, and the balance between us was immediate.
"On three," Justin grinned, not giving me a chance to back out.
I tried to steady myself, gripping his shoulders as we floated in the water, watching Dani and Marshall get into position on the other side of the pool.
"One, two, three—!" Justin called out, and with a swift, coordinated motion, he waded into the center of the pool.
We charged toward Dani and Marshall, the game beginning with all the chaos of splashing and laughter. I barely had time to think about how close I was to Justin or how my heart seemed to be racing faster with each passing second. For the moment, all that mattered was staying upright and trying not to fall into the water.
Eventually, Dani took me down, but not before she accidentally untied my bathing suit top. It flew through the air like a Frisbee, landing somewhere in the pool.
Laughter erupted from the group, and for a split second, I considered being mortified. But honestly? I just couldn't. Instead, I threw my head back, laughing at the absurdity of it all. "Of course this is how my night goes," I said, voice tinged with amusement as I reached to cover myself.
Dani's face turned bright red, and she swam over to apologize. "Oh my God, I didn't mean to! I'm so sorry!"
I gave her a playful wave. "No need to apologize. I mean, why would my bathing suit stay on for a game like this?" I joked, trying to keep the mood light.
Justin, looking completely unfazed by the whole thing, swam around in search of my top. "Don't worry, I got you," he called out, a grin in his voice.
I couldn't help but laugh again, letting go of any embarrassment. "Clearly, the universe has decided I'm just here for everyone's entertainment again," I joked, glancing at Dani who was still apologizing between laughs.
Justin surfaced, holding my bathing suit top like it was a trophy. "Found it!" he said, grinning and handing it back to me with a quickness.
"Thanks, I'll try to keep this one in place," I said, he helped me tie the back up. His fingers lingering on me for a second too long. I got lost in the moment briefly before the laughter cut through my thoughts. I smiled at him and thanked him one more time before I swam over to the swim up bar.
"For a second there I thought we were gonna go skinny dipping." Jacob joked as I took the submerged stool next to him.
"Once is enough for me!" I laughed, still thinking about the absurdity of my luck. Nancy was on the other end of the bar with a drink in hand for me.
"I think you earned this." She said playfully.
I took a sip before realizing it tasted like flat Red Bull, which could only mean it was a vodka Red Bull. I took another sip before setting it down.
"So how are you liking paradise so far?" I leaned over to ask Nancy and Jacob.
"We went to a sick ass cave yesterday. You have to check it out at some point! I'm loving it so far though!" Jacob nudged my arm with his, before jumping off the stool and swimming over to where Allie was. I turned to look at Nancy, who seemed to be lost in thought. I cleared my throat lightly, and she finally broke her silence.
"I'm having a good time so far. I'm just… trying to take it all in while dealing with some weird emotions." Her brows furrowed deeply.
"You and me both," I admitted. "What's going on? If you don't mind me asking?"
She hesitated, her eyes flicking away as if she wasn't sure whether she should say anything. Then, after a pause, she leaned in as she spoke.
"I really like Hunter, but I feel like I'm getting mixed signals. We've always been cool at work, but here, it just feels different." She shook her head a little, her gaze distant.
I nodded, a soft smile tugging at my lips, feeling some connection to her struggle. "I get it," I said quietly, swirling the drink in my hand. "But sometimes you just have to take the leap, you know? Stop overthinking it. Just… go for it."
Nancy looked at me, her expression a mix of uncertainty and curiosity.
"I mean, you're already in this incredible place—why not take the risk and see what happens? Worst case, you end up with an awkward story, but at least you tried." I shrugged with a grin. "And, hey, you've got me rooting for you, so there's that."
She chuckled, but the tension in her shoulders seemed to ease a little. "I'll think about it," she said, her smile a little more genuine.
I smiled back, feeling like I'd said just the right thing, or at least enough to make her feel a bit lighter. "Just don't let the fear of what could go wrong stop you from seeing what could go right." She smiled at me and nodded, her steps taking her back toward the group.
As she walked away, the last part of my words felt like I was speaking to myself more than her. I sat with the thought for a moment, my mind wandering. I glanced over at the patio, where Erik was deep in conversation with Mallory. Then my eyes flicked to Justin, laughing at something Marshall said.
I couldn't help but watch Justin for a beat longer than necessary. There was something so effortless about how he connected with people. The way his attention made you feel like you were the only one in the room.
And then, as if sensing my gaze, his eyes locked with mine. A smirk stretched across his face, and before I could look away, he was swimming up to me.
"You just couldn't help yourself, could you?" he whispered, leaning close enough that his breath brushed against my ear.
"I'm still mad at you," I whispered back, trying to keep my tone light.
"Good. You'll need that anger for later." He winked, his words like an unexpected jolt. And just like that, he was gone, leaving me with a shiver that wasn't just from the water.
I was in for more trouble than I realized. I sat by myself, quietly nursing my drink, before Dani slid into the seat next to me.
"Again, I am so sorry. That was not my intention, even if you do have perfect boobs worth showing off." She laughed, and I joined her.
"It's okay! I swear!" I laughed, shaking my head as I took another sip of my drink, but I could tell there was something more serious on her mind.
"How's the love triangle going?" she teased, a glint of mischief in her eyes. I quickly held my finger to my lips, signaling her to keep quiet.
"Not a love triangle. There's Erik and I, that's a love line, maybe. Then there's a second line, parallel to that, where I just like to have carefree fun with Justin. But they never meet. No triangle. See?" I raised my two index fingers in parallel, demonstrating the perfect separation.
She sighed, a soft but knowing sound. "Oh, August. I wish I lived in whatever delulu land your head is in."
I raised an eyebrow, confused. "What's that supposed to mean?"
She hesitated, biting her lip before continuing. "It means… nothing. I just don't want to see you hurt. By either of them." She gave my arm a gentle squeeze, her eyes soft with concern.
I nodded, understanding what she meant even if I wasn't ready to admit it. Maybe it was more complicated than I let on, but I didn't think I'd get hurt. At least not yet.
The night carried on with laughter, pool-jumping, and drinking. One by one, people started disappearing like clockwork, Nancy was the first to go, followed by Allie and Jacob. Then Dani, Marshall, and Hunter called it a night, leaving just Erik, Mallory, Justin, Hannah, and me.
Justin and I stayed in the pool while the others sat on the edge, their feet skimming the water. The conversation stayed light, drifting from one topic to the next. But every so often, Justin and I would drift too close, his hand brushing my waist, and I'd have to play off the discomfort that followed. I could handle his piercing gaze, but his touch was another story.
"I should probably head in. We're still doing The Skyline Trail tomorrow, right?" Mallory asked, standing up from the edge of the pool.
I had completely forgotten I signed up for a fifteen-mile hike with her and Hunter. My hesitation must've been obvious. Fifteen miles was grueling.
"That's tomorrow?" I asked, stalling.
Mallory nodded.
I sighed. "Fine. I'm in. What time do I have to be up?"
"We're leaving at five."
I groaned.
"Anyone else want to join? We have room for two more."
"I'll pass," Hannah said with a smile. "Allie, Nancy, and I are shopping tomorrow."
"I'm in," Erik said, raising a hand slightly.
"Yeah, I'm down too," Justin added.
Mallory shot me a look as heat crept up my neck. Not only would I be hiking fifteen miles, but now Erik and Justin were coming and I knew Justin was going to do everything in his power to make it insufferable. Mallory smirked before heading inside, fully aware of the chaos she'd just set in motion.
"I should probably go too," Hannah said, standing. "Allie's going to kill me if I don't wake up on time."
"I'll walk you, it's dark, don't think you should go alone." Erik offered, pulling his feet out of the water.
I shot Justin a look, silently telling him he should be the one to do it.
He caught on. "Wait, let me grab a towel and my phone. I'll walk you." He smiled at Hannah before wading toward the pool steps.
Justin climbed out, grabbing a towel and giving Erik a quick handshake before following Hannah.
Erik exhaled, glancing at me. "Guess I'll sit back down."
I made my way closer to him but I stayed in the water. I threw my arms over the edge of the pool and stared up at the sky. Enjoying the peaceful quiet with Erik by my side.
"It's crazy how visible the stars are here." He whispered.
I let out a soft exhale. "They're even brighter up on the mountain top behind you. I'll have to take you one night. It's breathtaking."
He turned his head trying to see the mountain I was talking about. "I'll take you up on that offer one of these nights." He turned to look at me as I was yawning. "I should probably walk you to your room too. We have a very early start to the day."
He extended his arm out and helped me out of the pool. We started making our way over to the towels and I grabbed one and wrapped myself up. I shook off as much water as I could and we made our way back inside the house.
"You don't have to walk me all the way up, besides I'm going to clean up a little bit before I head up." I leaned over towards him.
He leaned in as well. "You sure?"
I nodded yes and we made our way over to the front door where he slipped out into the darkness after giving me a drawn out hug. I closed the door behind me and made my way over to the kitchen. I started clearing off the counter until I heard my phone go off.
Justin: "you still mad at me or did Erik finally kiss it better?"
August: "insufferable."
Justin: "unlock the front door, you locked me out."
I didn't even realize I had locked the door. Part of me wanted to let him stew out there a little longer but the other part of me knew I shouldn't. I finally walked over and unlocked the door. Justin still had his towel wrapped around him and his smirk was intact. We started making our way back to the kitchen where Justin took a seat on a stool and I kept clearing the counter. Trying to ignore his pressing gaze on me.
"You locked me out on purpose didn't you!" He said in a playfully accusatory tone.
I felt a smirk form and I couldn't resist it much longer. I turned quickly before it took its full shape putting things away in the cabinets.
"Sooo, was there finally a kiss, or is he still holding out on you?" Smugness dripped from his tone.
I grabbed a glass from the cabinet, stalling a bit before finally turning to face him. Setting the glass down, I leaned against the counter, arms crossed.
"I could ask the same about you. Did she kiss it better?" I pouted dramatically, earning a laugh from him.
"You're real funny, August. I can't wait to hear the jokes you tell on our hike tomorrow. Just you, me, and your not-boyfriend for fifteen miles."
I paused, already dreading how difficult tomorrow was going to be. He only agreed to this to get under my skin. I was sure of it.
"To answer your earlier question, yes, I'm still mad at you." I rolled my eyes, half playful, half serious.
Justin stood from his stool, moving toward me slowly. The teasing edge still lingered at the corners of his lips, but his expression had shifted more intent, less amusement. He stopped just close enough that I had to tip my chin up to meet his gaze.
He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear.
"Can I kiss it better?"
I pressed my chest closer to his, closing whatever gap we had left. He leaned in closer as I tilted my head further up. And just as our lips were about to meet—
"No. Grovel." I whispered and softly pushed away from him. He stood there frozen for a second until a deep smirk spread. I turned my body to face away from him. I could feel him standing directly behind me. He pressed his body into mine pushing me up lightly against the counter.
"Oh…" he leaned in closer to my ear letting out a warm breath. "This is the game we're playing now." He pushed a little harder up against me, a small gasp escaped my mouth. This game we were playing was starting to become harder and harder to win. He placed his hands on my arms and brushed up and down. The tension was becoming unbearable.
I knew I was losing control. He was just too good at this, like he had me all figured out. His hands continued to trail up and down my arms sending a shiver through me. I hated how easy it was for him. How I could feel myself caving with every inch of space he stole.
I tilted my head slightly, just enough for his lips to graze the edge of my jaw. So light I almost wasn't sure it happened. Almost. And for a split second, I let myself lean into it. Let myself sink into the heat between us. Then, just as his hands started to settle at my waist, I let out a breath and forced myself back to reality. I twisted in his grip, slipping just far enough away to turn and face him. My lips curved into a smirk I barely felt in control of.
"Nice try," I murmured, voice lower than I meant for it to be.
His hand still holding tightly on my waist while his eyes moved to my lips, it sent a jolt straight through me. It was getting harder to pull away.
"I'm just getting started." He leaned in and whispered in my ear once more.
"Justin…" My voice came out breathier than expected.
"You know how to end this, August." His tone was soft but firm. "Tell me to stop. I'll stop. Tell me you don't want it. I'll walk away." His jaw clenched, grip tightening as he pulled me closer.
And that was the problem. I didn't want him to stop. But I didn't want him to continue either. I stared at him, words stuck in my throat, as my mind raced, caught in a battle I wasn't sure I could win.
But I didn't say anything. Instead, I shifted slightly in his hold, just enough to regain some space between us. I wanted control—my control. And with every passing second I felt it slipping.
"Don't make me say it," I whispered, voice catching slightly. "Justin you know I can't say it."
His eyebrows furrowed. "Then what's stopping you?" His face shifted a little, he seemed softer now.
My breath caught in my throat. I didn't have an answer for him. He pressed his hands against the counter behind, closing the gap once more. He leaned in again and began to whisper in my ear.
"I'm gonna go shower, but the ball is in your court." He pushed himself off the counter and away from me. He paused and looked at me for a moment before turning around and heading up the steps.
Finally I was able to breathe now that he wasn't on top of me, but now my mind is spinning once again. I decided to go take a cold shower, hoping that would cool my overheated body.
I ran up the stairs to my room and shut the door behind me as I began taking my damp bathing suit off. My skin still felt warm from Justin's touch and a small part of me thought about texting him and telling him to join me. But I also thought about telling him to fuck off for all the mind games he's playing. But instead of texting him I just finished my shower and headed to bed.
My thoughts wouldn't quiet as I tossed and turned for a while, before deciding to reach for my phone. I opened my phone and clicked on his contact, typing and erasing the same message about three times before I finally hit send.
August: "are you still awake?"
Justin: "is this your first 'you up text?'"
August: "the door is unlocked."
A few minutes passed and I thought maybe I had let too much time pass and he wasn't interested in sneaking in tonight, until the sound of my door could be heard as it creaked open. Justin locked the door behind and without making another sound he slid into my bed. As he got closer the warmth of his body intensified.
His arms wrapped around me and my body wrapped instinctively around him. We still hadn't said anything. My body melted in his, as his arms traveled slowly around my waist and to my back causing my body to grow hot and shift ever so slightly.
"You win… you have me right where you want me, Justin." I whispered.
He pulled me even closer, his breath warm against my skin. "No, I think this is the part where you tell me to grovel again. Considering I was an ass earlier."
Neither of us moved for a second until his hand slid underneath my shirt and his fingers skimmed over my bare spine, deliberately, sending a shiver through me. My hand drifted up to his shoulder, then his neck, feeling the heat of his skin beneath my palm.
His eyes dropped to my lips. "Tell me to grovel, August. Please." His voice was lower now, rougher.
And I should've told him to grovel but I couldn't take it anymore. The pressure was about to burst. So instead, my fingers curled against him, pulling him down just as I lifted up. Our lips met in a slow, searing kiss, one that neither of us seemed willing to break. His grip tightened on my waist, and I found myself pressed into him.
His hands roamed, exploring the curve of my back, my hips, as his mouth deepened the kiss. I gasped against him, and he took the opportunity to tilt my head back, trailing his lips down my jaw, my neck, stealing the breath right from my lungs.
I tangled my fingers in his hair, pulling him back up to meet my lips again, slower this time. Less urgency, more something else—something that settled deep in me and made it hard to think.
His hands softened against my waist, no longer gripping, just holding. The desperation flipped into something more fluid, as if we had all the time in the world. Our kisses turned lazier, more drawn out, the heat still simmering but no longer threatening to consume us.
I sighed against him, feeling the way our bodies fit together, warm and steady. His fingers traced circles on my back, and before I knew it, my eyes started to grow heavy.
Justin pressed one last kiss to the corner of my mouth before resting his forehead against mine. Neither of us moved to break the closeness, and I didn't want to.
"Sleep," he murmured, voice low.
I didn't argue. My body curled instinctively into his, and with his warmth surrounding me, my breathing slowed.
Somewhere between awake and asleep, I felt the press of his lips against my temple, light as a whisper. And then, finally, I let myself drift.
My alarm went off around four in the morning, I set it early enough for him to sneak out. His arms were still wrapped around me, like they were before we fell asleep. I could feel the alarm had woken him up but he didn't move. I nudged him and he just lightly tightened his grip on me and a small smile formed on his face.
I gave him another push hoping this time it would work. "It's time to get up, you gotta go before everyone wakes up." I whispered.
His grip tightened even more than I thought was possible. "Just five more minutes before I have to share you again."
I turned to look at him to see if he was joking but his eyes were closed and it sounded like he had fallen back asleep. I laid there for a minute, replaying his words in my head. Before I have to share you again.
It didn't mean anything. Just sleep talk. Just a half-asleep mumble that I had no business dissecting. I gave him his five extra minutes, and the alarm started blaring in our ears again. This time though, he rolled over and faced away from me. This gave me the chance to get up and start getting ready.
Before I got out of bed completely, I tossed the pillow at him and that finally woke him up. He sat up in bed and stared at me for a second, like he realized he had slept over again.
"August…" His voice had that morning rasp that made my heart flutter. "I'm sorry, I was gonna sneak out of here when you fell asleep but I guess I knocked out too."
For some reason I wasn't upset that he fell asleep, I just knew I didn't want to get caught again. I stood there for a second without saying anything, just mulling over what I wanted to do right then and there. Not thinking ahead. Not thinking of any consequences. Not thinking about the hold he did or didn't have on me. Just thinking about what I wanted at this very moment.
"I'm gonna go shower." I began walking toward the bathroom before stopping to look at him one more time. I took a deep breath, "do you want to join me?"
He looked at me with furrowed eyebrows for a second until his face lit up in a way I'd never seen before. He stared at me for a second longer until he slowly nodded yes. I wasn't expecting that look from him. It made me feel… like it was worth the risk I took.
We made our way over to the bathroom and hopped in the shower. The routine went as follows: pretend to shower, get handsy for a second, actually try to shower, accidentally bump into him, get kissed desperately, kiss him back just as desperately. Almost slip. Hands everywhere. Finding our perfect footing. Blissful moments. Try to shower again. Fail. Another blissful moment. A few giggles. Finally, somehow, actually finish taking a shower.
"I'm sorry I don't know what came over me." I giggled as I threw a towel over myself.
Justin wrapped his lower body with a towel. "Please don't ever apologize for that. In fact I encourage you to make the first move. Believe me, it's way hotter."
I blushed at the thought of the moments we shared minutes ago. I unwrapped the blow dryer and connected it to the outlet.
"Let me dry your hair so they don't get suspicious. Our wet hair gave us away the other day." I turned the blow dryer on, he sat down at the edge of the tub and I began drying his hair.
We couldn't help but laugh at how silly we must've looked half naked drying his hair so we wouldn't be caught. Like high school kids sneaking out to party in the middle of the night. And for the first time my first emotion wasn't guilt.
Moments later his hair was fully dry. And he was finally out the door, still wrapped in the towel. There was enough time for me to dry my own hair and put it up in a ponytail. I threw on a pair of black leggings with the matching sports bra, a white t-shirt on top of that, and packed my crossbody bag with sunscreen and a few other things. I threw on my running shoes all before heading out the door.
Mallory stepped out of her room, the same moment I stepped out of mine and with perfect timing Justin also stepped out of his room fully dressed. Minimizing any suspicion of him sleeping over, or what just happened in the shower. She shot me a quick tight smile before we all headed downstairs.
Hunter was on the couch with his eyes closed, arms crossed, patiently waiting for us. We packed a small backpack cooler with a few waters and a couple of snacks. Once we finished packing we headed out the door, Erik was already waiting outside but he was on the phone. He gave me a quick side hug and continued his conversation, while the others loaded up the Jeep.
Fortunately for me Justin was going to drive and Hunter sat in the front, so I wouldn't be awkwardly stuck between Justin and Erik. Instead, I'd be comfortably stuck between Mallory and Erik. And with that, we were off. I was sitting in the middle, though, so I knew eventually I'd have to face his stolen glances but at least I could play it off. For now, I kept my gaze forward, pretending not to notice how much I liked how I dried his hair.
After about a fifty minute drive we arrived at the parking lot. We climbed out of the car, Justin threw the backpack cooler on his back while the rest of us applied sunscreen. And off the trail we headed. The trail was immediately intimidating. The fifteen miles we were about to trek was a round trip but from a first glance the steepness made us uneasy. But we pushed along anyway and began the trip.
After about a mile we realized how difficult it was going to be. I consider myself in shape so it was hard but not impossible. Mallory on the other hand was really struggling. She is naturally skinny but the most exercise she does is walking in the mall and lifting her shopping bags. And even then sometimes she has someone else carry them for her.
After about another mile she was really huffing and puffing. I offered several times to turn back around but she kept saying she was fine until finally she couldn't move much further. She sat on the ground trying to catch her breath.
"Come on Mals, I'll take you back. It's not worth it. The guys can finish the hike, we can go do something else in the meantime." I helped her off the ground and she dusted herself off.
"No, I want to keep going. I just need a minute." She waved me off and started walking again.
"Hey, how about you and I go back, we get breakfast and then come pick them up when they're back down! You did say there were a few shops in this area you wanted to check out?" Hunter reached over and grabbed her arm. She hesitated for a moment before meeting my eyes.
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Her eyebrows furrowed slightly.
I walked over to her and gave her a quick hug. "Buy me something cute, I promise to wear it tomorrow. I'll be okay though."
She finally relented so they turned back around. Erik and Justin were a couple feet in front of me waiting for me to come back. The way they both looked at me sent me into a tiny panic. My stomach tightened as I walked back toward them, suddenly hyper aware of how alone we were. I had a buffer before but now…it was just the three of us.
As we continued making our way up, the conversation continued just the same. It was awkward for me but not once did I get the sense that either of them felt the awkwardness. Every once in a while, though, Justin would walk a little behind us, always close enough to offer help when I needed it. His hand would find the small of my back, steadying me and sending a million little sparks through my stomach and making it impossible to ignore just how easy it felt to lean into him. I fought to keep my face neutral, to pretend like it was nothing. But as I glanced ahead, I caught Erik's gaze flickering toward us before he looked away, his expression unreadable. My stomach twisted, though I wasn't sure why.
We kept moving forward, enjoying the amazing views the altitude was offering. Moments of silence would draw between us, I had to fight hard to shut my brain off so I wouldn't overthink, over analyze, or spiral.
"What are the plans after this?" Justin leaned closer to me.
"These are theplans." I laughed trying to control my breathing. "I can't imagine any of us wanting to do anything besides sleep or eat after this." I stopped for a second to get some water, I could feel myself overheating so I decided to take my shirt off. My sports bra offered enough coverage and I usually workout with just it on. The minute the shirt came off they both started to stare, before Justin's lips formed a soft smirk.
"Oh we're doing skins. Okay." He followed suit and took his shirt off too then proceeded to grab my shirt from my hand and put both of them away in the side pocket of the backpack. The moment finally came where it was noticeably awkward, so I had to divert quickly.
"You're not gonna join us?" I teased Erik, trying to break the tension. His face was stoic until finally, he broke a smile and pulled his shirt over his head.
I wasn't sure what I expected, but I suddenly felt ridiculous for assuming Justin was the only one built like that. Erik was leaner, but still really toned, broad in the shoulders in a way I hadn't really noticed before. It wasn't as obvious under his usual button-ups, but now… well, it was definitely obvious.
I dragged my gaze away before either of them could catch me staring, ignoring the way my stomach twisted at the realization. But before I could look away, Erik caught me staring. A small smirk appeared, like he knew exactly what I was thinking.
My eyes shot down to my crossbody bag, pretending to look for something to avoid holding his gaze any longer. I found my sunscreen and started applying it. I shook the bottle lightly and suggested they put some on too since we were more exposed to the UV rays that were burning us.
Justin was the first to reach for the bottle and started spraying his back. Meanwhile I texted Mallory to see how she was doing.
August: "I hope you're doing okay. :("
Mallory: "We're almost down to the bottom, going down is so much easier idk what I was thinking I could do this lol how's your love triangle going?"
August: "lmao it's NOT A LOVE TRIANGLE! I'm starting to think you were fine and just faked it cause you wanted to see me suffer!"
Mallory: "i'll never tell ;)"
Both of them had reapplied sunscreen and we started back up. The next few miles passed in a haze of steep inclines, uneven footing, and burning legs. Conversation came in short bursts, broken up by deep breaths and the occasional groan of exhaustion. Even Justin, who seemed to handle the climb with irritating ease, had started rolling his shoulders and stretching his legs between steps. Erik kept pace beside me, quiet but steady, while I focused on placing one foot in front of the other, determined not to be the first to complain.
But then finally the ground leveled out.
A gust of cool air rushed past us as we reached the top, and when I lifted my gaze, my breath caught.
The world stretched wide beneath us, endless and untouched. The sky was impossibly clear, the ocean reflecting its deep blue, and in the far distance, rising above the horizon, was the silhouette of Mauna Kea.
"Whoa," I exhaled, momentarily forgetting the ache in my legs.
Justin let out a low whistle, stepping up beside me. "Okay, I'll admit—that was worth it."
Erik, standing on my other side, nudged my arm. "I'm glad I tagged along. I can't believe this is what was waiting for us."
I didn't answer, still taking it all in. The view, the wind, the overwhelming feeling of being somewhere that made everything else…every messy thought, every complicated feeling, feel so small.
For a moment, I let myself exist in it. We sat quietly taking it all in on a couple of rocks. Just enjoying the sun beaming on us, and the cool air filling our lungs. I could feel my entire body pulsing from pushing myself to the extreme. I looked over at Erik who was looking over the horizon, deep in thought. And then I looked over at Justin who was looking at me, he had a soft smile and I glared at him playfully until we both looked away. I didn't know what was going to happen the rest of the trip but right now I was perfectly okay where we were at.
We relaxed for a while longer until Mallory called asking if they could pick up food for us while we started to make our descent. Before we moved I reapplied sunscreen because my skin felt very hot but I was still feeling overheated so I decided to pour water all over my head and chest. Catching both of their attention quietly. I ignored them, pretending I couldn't feel their eyes glued on me.
I couldn't help but smirk as I turned to the guys. "So, which one of you is carrying me back down?" I said, mostly joking to break the tension, but honestly, my legs could use a break.
Justin was the first to respond, walking over and turning his back to me. "Hop on," he said, clearly teasing. I didn't take him up on it, but it was enough to get a small laugh out of all of us.
After the laughter faded, we started making our way back down the trail. The descent was definitely easier, the uneven ground was more forgiving, and the conversation flowed more freely. With the hardest part behind us, the hike back felt like it took half the time.
By the time we reached the bottom, Mallory and Hunter were already waiting in the parking lot, bags of food in hand. Our stomachs were growling, so we wasted no time diving in.
Amidst the chatter, Mallory eagerly passed me a bag and watched me expectantly. I pulled out the gift she'd picked for me: a flowy summer dress with a daring neckline. It was cute, no doubt, and though I was tempted to roll my eyes at her "casual" choice, I couldn't be mad about it. I'd definitely be wearing it tomorrow.
"Thank you! We're going to the luau tomorrow, so now I have something to wear!" I grinned, carefully placing the dress back in the bag before returning to my food.
Once our stomachs were full, we started piling back into the car. This time, I insisted on driving—I had a little detour planned, a hidden waterfall most locals kept secret.
Everyone settled into their seats, but Justin ran into a problem. He tried to squeeze into the back, but his knees were practically in his chest. With a sigh, he gave up and slid into the passenger seat next to me.
"Guess you're stuck with me," he muttered through his smirk.
"As long as you keep your little comments about my driving to yourself, we'll be fine," I shot back, throwing the car into drive with the same smirk plastered on my face.
After some time, we left the main road and took a turn onto a rough, bumpy path. Branches scraped against the sides of the car, the 4x4 wheels working their power and almost immediately, the questions started.
"Are you kidnapping us?" Hunter joked as I navigated through the overgrown trail.
"I'm not getting good vibes from this, Auggie!" Mallory's voice wavered, but I caught her smile in the rearview mirror. She knew exactly what I was up to—I'd brought her here when she visited me during my first semester.
The final turn led us into a small clearing, still hidden from view. I parked the car and unbuckled, grinning as everyone stared at me in confusion.
"Can you hand me my bag, please?" I gestured to where it sat between Justin's legs.
He passed it over, then helped me unzip it. I rummaged inside, pulling out a pair of bikini bottoms.
"I need your help, Mals," I said, already turning in my seat. "Grab that towel and cover me."
The guys hesitated, exchanging glances, but I just shot them a mischievous smile.
"You can get out now."
After a beat, they did as I asked. Mallory held up the towel while I quickly slipped out of my leggings, changed into the bikini bottoms, then tugged them back on. My heart raced in excitement, this was going to be worth the secrecy.
I hopped out of the car and insisted we take the backpack cooler. Erik grabbed it without hesitation, slinging it over his shoulder while the others still stood there, eyebrows raised.
I started toward the trail, pushing through the thick leaves that concealed the path. To the untrained eye, it probably looked like I was wandering aimlessly. No one moved.