Page 52 of Until We Come Home

I’m just hoping Derek gets crushed out there. At least that would be something to enjoy today.

Derek nods along as Jack and Lark start laying out the next matchups, and Dominic steps up for another go. He and Brooke split their time between Dark River and New York, and with their flight east coming up in a matter of days, they’re squeezing every drop out of the lake before heading out.

Derek says something to Mia that makes her laugh, and I lose myself in a vivid, highly detailed fantasy of punching that smug grin off his face, snapping those fucking beaded bracelets off his wrist, and shoving them down his throat.

The sound of a car pulls me out of it, and I turn to see an SUV pull onto the gravel drive. Alex and Isabelle have arrived, with their guests following right behind them, and I push up off my log as the rest of the family drifts over to greet them.

Alex steps out with his broad grin, pulling his family into quick hugs while Isabelle makes the rounds, introducing the couple who flew up from California with them. The woman, Margot, I remember meeting down in Napa during their opening weekend. She was sweet to everyone that night and went out of her way to find a wine I’d like. Her husband is easy enough to spot as he greets Calvin and Maren. Cillian O’Rourke, the legendary Irish hockey player.

“Good to see you, man,” Alex says, pulling me into a bear hug, Isabelle stepping in right behind him.

“You too,” I say, returning Isabelle’s hug. “It’s been a minute. How’s the restaurant holding up?”

Alex settles a hand on Isabelle’s shoulder. “Thriving. Though Isabelle and I were just saying we need to plan a trip out East next time you’re stationed in Boston.”

I laugh. “You guys always have a place to stay.” Margot steps into the circle, and I turn to greet her with an open hand. “Hey, Margot. Good to see you again.”

“How sweet of you to remember,” she says, her smile warm.

“Pretty sure you poured my favorite glass of cabernet back at the opening,” I tell her with a low chuckle. “Hard to forget that.”

She laughs, pleased, and I look for Cillian, who’s already cornered by Dominic and Brooke.

“Okay, I have to ask,” Brooke says, and I can tell from the look on Dominic’s face that he’s been dying to get to this too. “That defensive block you made in the final period, with about ten seconds left on the clock. Did you actually see that shot coming, or did you just throw yourself across the ice and pray?”

Dominic looks pleased with the question, like it’s the exact one he’d have asked.

Cillian laughs, looking friendly and laid-back despite the interrogation. “Aye, well a bit of both, honestly. I saw him wind up and stopped thinking, and I felt it in my ribs for a fortnight after. Worth it, though.”

Lark claps her hands together, cutting through the noise. “Alright, let's get everyone settled into their cabins, and then the next round of games can officially start!”

Alex and Isabelle haul their bags into the cabin next to mine, Cillian and Margot take the one just past it, and the rest of us head back down toward the shoreline. The afternoon settles into the usual rhythm of a lake day from there.

Tubes going out around the buoy and back, somebody losing a flip-flop, Chloe shrieking every time Jack’s team wins, which is often. People catch up on Napa, the new restaurant, and how Jack’s racing season is shaping up, and eventually I make my way to the picnic table on shore for a breather from the water games. With any luck, I’ll manage to avoid Derek for the rest of the afternoon.

I get maybe twenty minutes of peace before I spot Derek wading out of the water toward me, dripping wet and grinning, with Mia trailing a few steps behind.

“Mateo, you’re with me,” he says. “My team. You, me, and Mia. We’re up against Jack, Alex, and Emma next. Let’s go, the three of us.”

I’d rather run into a burning building about to flash than get in the water with him right now. Not to mention the fact that Mia looks uncomfortable with the idea, standing there behind him looking anywhere but at me.

Not that Derek seems to notice. For someone who’s supposedly been in love with her for four years, he’s comically bad at reading her. What a fucking joke.

I wave them off. “Ah, man, I’ll let you guys take this one. I’m good here.”

“You have to! Come on, it’s been ages since we did anything together,” Derek says, clapping me on the shoulder. “Plus you and Mia have all those fun stories from this summer. Let’s go, the three of us.”

He glances back at Mia as if calling in backup. “Tell him, Mia. Shouldn’t we do one run together?”

She shoots me a look, then her eyes dart between the two of us like she’s measuring the distance to the nearest exit. “Uh, yeah. It could be fun, right?”

I don’t look away. She gives a small shrug and that pleading look I know too well, as if asking me to roll with it and keep the peace. I force myself to let it go. Derek remains as oblivious as ever to our silent communication, already turning to wave at Jack like the matter’s settled.

I let out a low, resigned breath. “Fine. Let’s do it.”

“Awesome!” Derek says, grinning as if I’d been enthusiastic instead of giving in out of reluctant obligation.

Mia gives me a quick, apologetic smile and mouths thanks at me behind his back, though she still looks wildly uncomfortable while Derek bounces on his heels beside her. I stand up, pull my shirt off over my head, and head toward the end of the dock with the two of them. Emma, Jack, and Alex are already waiting out there with their tube, whooping and talking trash before we’ve even lined up.