Page 80 of Forged Forever

Seb brings up Charleston University and USC again. He really wants to stay local but can’t reconcile his lifestyle and the coach. All of us are in agreement, including Gabby and Troy, that he should go to USC. He checks in for reassurance that E and I will visit as often as we can and that we trust him not to stray. After a quiet few minutes of floating around, he announces he’s going to USC and he will contact the schools Monday morning.

I smile at him. It’s the right choice for him. He wouldn’t be happy here with the coach. Sometimes it takes a while to admit what your intuition is telling you, but he got there.

When Jake tires, the four of us make our way back to the canopy. Seb explains the thirsty people looking for summer flings as we people watch. Since it’s Saturday, there’s a good mix of families and young people. You can still see people on the prowl, though.

When Nick emerges from the water, like the godlike sculpture he is, the guys laugh as a group of women make a beeline for him. His scowl is strong as they get closer. He can’t help but look like a wet dream. My wet dream. He tries to swing wide, but they track him anyway. Words are exchanged as Nick stands in calf high water; arms crossed over his chest. A slash of his hand through the air has them turning and walking away.

He walks back to us, grabs a water bottle from the cooler, and sits on a towel in front of us. “Vultures,” he grumbles.

Seb laughs. “A few more weeks, man, and it’ll settle down.”

We enjoy a late lunch of sandwiches and salads that E prepped before breakfast. Jake is stunned at the brazen people here as he watches throughout the afternoon. All the guys have been approached.

Jake gets a scowl rivalling Nick when two guys try to stop me from getting out of the water when I go for a dip to cool off. Nick stepping up beside me has them quickly leaving.

Jake takes two naps during the day, under the shade of the canopy. Alex, being Alex, purchased a zero gravity lounger for Jake. Nick and I go for a run during his second nap, while the rest of the guys hang out near him.

Surprisingly, Nick is having trouble keeping up today. I tease him endlessly about having to slow down, which earns me a full, genuine smile. He didn’t have many opportunities to run while he was gone. If he wasn’t too injured, he would use the treadmill for an hour a few times a week.

When we rest at the inlet, Nick tells me a little about his time there. I listen intently, knowing it’s uncommon for him to open up. It seems he had a rough time, and I hate he had to go through that. Thanking him again for protecting me, he reminds me it wasn’t a choice; my safety was paramount. Kissing his cheek, we begin our jog back at a more leisurely pace. Dipping into the water when we return to cool off, I jump on his back to carry me to the guys.

Dinner today is a barbecue feast in the backyard under the shade trees. We’re planning a sunset bonfire again, so I send Jake up for a proper nap after dinner, and we relax on the couches for some tv and A/C. I’m between Seb and E on one couch while Nick is sketching and Alex is doing something on his phone across from us. Bay excuses himself for the hammock.

Seb breaks the silence after we watch a sitcom. “Hey, does everyone know Bay and Penny broke up?” Seb asks. It seems Nick and E were unaware.

“Hurry,” I warn. Bay wanted to talk when he was ready.

“What? He talked to me this morning. Said it was okay to tell you guys.”

“Oh, okay. Sorry.” I kiss his cheek in apology.

“You should go check on him, Sunshine. He might want to talk.” Raising an eyebrow at him, E gives me a gentle push off the couch with a smile. Okay…

Walking upstairs, I use Alex’s bedroom to get to the upper deck. Bay is gently swaying in the hammock with one foot on the floor. “Hey,” I greet. Walking past, I gently close my patio door so as not to disturb Jake and pull a chair in front of the hammock. “Doing okay?”

Bay smiles at me. “Yeah, just thinking. You know I still really like you.”

Surprised, I meet his eyes. “Oh. That’s unexpected.” Suddenly unsure what to do with my hands, I tuck them under my thighs. I assumed he got over his feelings for me since he and Penny were together all senior year.

“I care for Penny and don’t want to minimize what we shared, but you were never far from my thoughts. Have your feelings towards me changed?”

“No,” I quickly answer. “What are you saying, Bay?” I must be dreaming.

“Assuming your other boyfriends are agreeable, could we try dating?”

“I thought you didn’t want a poly relationship. Are you sure about this?” The last thing I want is for him to enter into a relationship with me only for it to end badly because deep down he doesn’t want this type of relationship.

Bay sits up, swinging his legs over the edge of the hammock. “I’ve thought about this a lot. I watched your interactions with Nick, Seb, and E. I saw you after Nick left, and watched through the breakup with E, then when Jake came here. You never favored one person. It was never awkward in our group, no matter what was happening. Your capacity to love, but set boundaries, is impressive.

“I thought if I joined your group, you would give me only a part of your attention and leave me out while you spent time with the others, but you don’t do that. No matter what was happening, our friend group was whole, and you went where you were needed. You have an innate ability to know whom to focus on while including the others.” He stands and comes over, crouching in front of me, taking my hand. “I’m sure.”

How did I get so lucky? I stare into his aquamarine eyes, his blond hair tousled from swimming today. Smiling down at him, I nod, pulling him into a hug. Bay drags me off the chair and onto his lap. I get all my guys.

I’m giddy when we part, as Bay helps me up with a smile. “I want to kiss you really bad but I’ll wait to speak with the others first.”

“Fair. Shall we head downstairs?” I lead him back through Alex’s room and down to the living area, to find the guys watching an action movie. Seb snatches me around the waist, settling me between him and E again. “Success, Sunshine?” He whispers in my ear.

“He’s good.” I smile.