Chapter 1
The final week of school is in full swing at Norwall Prep, and the tension in the air is thick. Senior year's coming to an end, and everybody’s lives as we know it is going to change forever. The summer after your senior year is supposed to be epic, the last hoorah before your adult life truly begins. My best friend Chloe rented us a cabin in Whitebridge, and we're going to spend our summer exploring the quaint town and partying our asses off before we have to go our separate ways to college. I've been accepted into Yale, while Chloe's going to the University of Washington. This is going to be our first time being separated from each other. Our parents have been friends forever, so we have known each other for as long as we can remember.
I finally begin to clear out my locker when Chloe ran up behind me screeching with excitement, “Aria, can you believe high school is finally ending?! Ahhh, I cannot wait for Whitebridge, we are going to have the time of our lives! Maybe we will even find some hot guys to spend our summer with” she giggled while waggling her brows.
“You are so boy crazy, Chlo. I just want to focus on us this summer and enjoy ourselves. I need a break from boys anyway...” I scoffed. I just recently broke up with Wren, my boyfriend of 2 and a half years. He's a nice guy, but he was so clingy- borderline obsessive, and he couldn’t stand the idea of me spending the summer in Whitebridge without him. He practically threw a fit over the prospect.
“Ugh, fine, you’re no fun.” Chloe teased while closing her locker next to mine. She’s been acting off lately, and I can’t help but feel like she’s been keeping something from me. I swear, the past few weeks, every time her phone goes off when I’m around, she practically jumps out of her skin. The bell sounds, and we begin walking to our final class. “I’m gonna go home & pack after school, that way we can head out in the morning if that works for you?” “Sounds perfect.” I desperately need a break from this town, and I'm more than ready to leave.
After a ferry ride and a 3-hour Uber, we finally arrive in Whitebridge. The area is dark and gloomy, surrounded by dense forest, but beautiful nonetheless, and it's exactly the place I need to unwind. Our cabin is breathtaking- a huge two-story cabin with a deck that wraps around the front, a huge hot tub, a gazebo with string lights everywhere- it looks to be straight out of a fairytale. I can't help but notice there are a few sports cars and motorcycles parked around the back of the house.. I guess the owners must keep them here as storage?
The Uber driver unloads our suitcases, and we tip him generously, given the drive was so long. He parts with a gracious smile, and just like that, we're finally alone.
“This is the cabin?! Holy shit, Chlo, this is huge for just the two of us! It’s gorgeous, but geez! I hope this didn’t cost a fortune...” Chloe’s eyes shoot down with guilt, refusing to make eye contact with me. “Yeah, about that… there’s something I've been meaning to tell you...”
My eyes bulge, and panic begins to sweep through my body. Chloe never keeps anything from me.
“Chloe…what did you do…”. I love her, but she has a long history of making rash decisions that aren’t always the smartest.
“Well, I met this guy on Tinder a few weeks ago, and we’ve really hit it off. He invited us to stay here with him and a couple of his friends for the summer. Completely free of charge, by the way!" She adds, hoping it’ll lessen the blow of her news.
Okay, now I’m panicking. “Chloe, are you completely out of your mind?! You don’t even know this guy! He could literally be a serial killer, and now we’re stuck here!” I’m fuming- I knew Chloe could be rash, but this is just stupid.
Just as she’s about to respond, she’s cut off, “Ladies! Welcome to our humble abode!” I look up to see a tall man on the deck staring at us with a huge smile and arms stretched wide. He looks to be about 6’1 with dirty blonde hair and emerald green eyes. He sports a lean, muscular build with an amazing jaw line, and he’s HOT, to say the least.
“Zach!” Chloe squeals; she’s blushing and smiling from ear to ear. I look over with my mouth agape, but she pays me no mind. What is happening?
“Umm, you said friends ... just how many guys are there?” I ask as reality sets in.
Chloe avoids my eyes as she grabs her suitcase and begins walking toward the house, “Umm... I think Zach said there were 5 of them...” she squeaks out, knowing she’s on thin ice right now.
This can’t be happening; we are in the middle of nowhere in the woods with five guys that we know nothing about- besides what Chloe thinks she knows about Zach, and we couldn’t even make a quick escape right now if we wanted.
“We are leaving Chloe, I’m calling another Uber, and we are going back. This is a terrible idea!” The app stays on the loading screen; I huff in frustration as I read “No service” in the corner of the screen. This is it; this is where we die, never to even make it to college or our 21st birthdays. Great. I’m going to die a Virgin.
The front door swings open, and Zach steps out to grab our bags as he leans down to kiss Chloe on the cheek. “Hey, beautiful,” he whispers in her ear. My best friend looks absolutely smitten. Chloe really is a beautiful girl - about 5’6 with long blonde hair and forest green eyes. Men have swooned over her everywhere we went. I, on the other hand, am 5’2 on a good day, with long, wavy brunette hair and baby blue eyes. Thankfully, I’ve always had an amazing tan, and I’ve maintained a very petite build. Thankfully, god still blessed me with curves in all the right places, and Chloe always states her jealousy over that, even though she’s the definition of perfect.
“I got you guys set up in your own rooms- I’ll show you around and introduce you to the guys.” I hesitate, but we’re stuck with no reception and nowhere to go, so I might as well make the best of it and hope that we don’t get murdered.
We walk into the cabin, and my mouth drops. It’s beautiful on the outside, but the inside is breathtaking. What the heck do these guys do for a living? The ceilings are vaulted, making the cabin seem that much bigger. The kitchen is dark and modern with all-black cabinets, quartz countertops, and gold finishes. The cabin looks like it’s straight out of a modern home magazine or something. These guys clearly have money, and a lot of it. We follow Zach up the stairs and down a long hallway. I can’t help but notice all the doors we’re passing- this place is huge, and I wonder just how many rooms they could possibly need in this house.
“Your rooms have a connecting door between them. I thought it might make you guys feel more comfortable...” Zach gives me a small smile. I think he senses my hesitation over this whole situation, and he’s absolutely right.
“I’ll leave you guys to get settled in. Let me know if you need any help or need anything at all; I want you guys to be comfortable and feel like this is your own home. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the guys at dinner. We’re going to have a fire and a barbecue; it should be pretty laid back.” He turns and leaves us in our rooms.
I glare over at Chloe, and she winks. “Oh, come on, Aria, lighten up a little. We’re going to be fine, I trust Zach. Just.. let loose and enjoy yourself for once, I mean, you were so excited for this… we’re in a beautiful cabin, surrounded by hot guys for the entire summer, what’s not to love!”
I level her with a glare. “First of all, how do you even know if the other guys are hot? You haven’t even met them, hell, you haven’t even met Zach before you dragged us here to be stranded for the entire summer! I shot back at her, annoyed.
“Well, if they are anything like Zach, we should be good, because he is HOT,” she laughs. How she manages to brush off my annoyance is beyond me. I roll my eyes and can’t help but laugh with her; it’s so hard to stay mad at her, even when she’s probably risking our lives.
Chloe’s right, I can’t change my situation, so I might as well make the best of it and enjoy myself this summer.. We unpack together while listening to music. I don’t want to admit it, but this is turning out to be a great time so far, and somehow I feel truly relaxed for the first time in a while.
We decided to freshen ourselves up after the long day of traveling and began doing our makeup. I don't want to get too dolled up, but Chloe insists we look hot for our first night here- I’m sure to impress Zach, but I’ll go along with it. She curls her hair and begins touching up her makeup, and I have to admit, we do look pretty damn good. After going through our clothes, I decide on a grey long-sleeve Henley that shows just the right amount of cleavage and some black leggings. It’s a barbecue, and there’s no reason to get too dressed up just to sit by a fire.
“You look so hot, Ari; we clean up pretty good if I do say so myself,” Chloe exclaims.
We hear music coming from outside and run to look out the window to see a few of the guys building a fire with Zach, and just as Chloe predicted, they are also unbelievably attractive. “Oh my gosh, do you see those guys! We are in so much trouble,” Chloe squeals. She’s absolutely boy crazy, and I love her all the more for it.
We make our way down the wooden staircase to the main floor of the cabin. The living room is encased with floor-to-ceiling windows and a huge sliding glass door, leading to the back deck and yard. The deck has a large table with plenty of seating, a few bar games set up, and a top-of-the-line grill. This is definitely a bachelor pad.
As we step outside, Zach looks up, meeting us with a bright smile. “Ladies! I hope you’ve made yourselves comfortable and got all settled in, mi casa su casa,” he holds his arms out wide, signaling to the entire property. The rest of the guys look up and drink us in with smiles and hunger in their eyes. My body breaks out in a blush. Chloe’s always been more outspoken and comfortable within her body, whereas I‘m shy and much more reserved.
“Here, let me introduce you guys to everyone. This is Rush, Wilder, and Micah. Guys, this is Chloe and Aria, they’re going to be spending the summer here with us!” All three men are extremely fit and gorgeous. I wonder if they just spend all their free time working out? The thought makes me smile to myself. I look up and catch Rush staring at me. I quickly avert my eyes and blush, earning me a smirk. “Yeah, this should be a great summer”, his voice drips with insinuation, and I can't help the butterflies that erupt in my stomach.
“Wait, I thought you said there were five of you living here?” Chloe asks, looking to Zach.
“Uhm yeah, there is… the other one can be a bit of an asshole to newcomers. He comes out whenever he pleases. His name’s Dominic, you’ll see him around eventually, I’m sure. He doesn’t like it when we have company.” He quickly changes the subject, but I can’t help the nerves that build. I really don’t like the idea of being stuck in someone’s home all summer, who doesn’t even want us there..
