Chapter Four--Burned Burgers & New Friends

Kalvyn carried my one beach bag, and Lola’s three. At this point, his actions shouldn’t be a revelation of old-world charm coupled by a modern twist.

His mom raised him right, that’s for sure.

Lola swung around a tree trunk, humming a tune known only to her. Her life was a song that played in her head, one that affected how she walked, talked and acted. Nothing bad ever entered her make believe world filled with goodness and luminosity, a realm far from my comprehension. Beyond most people for that matter. But mankind flocked to her sunny, fun filled position. The Yin, to my Yang.

That’s the way we had always been.

“She is very nice,” Kalvyn said as Lola skipped ahead. “I can see why you enjoy time with her.”

I smiled. “Lola is what makes my world right.”

He nodded, as if he understood. “I have someone like that.”

Kalvyn helped me down a steep slope. He hurried to hold back a bush Lola had crashed through until I’d passed.

My breath caught at the scene that unfolded in front of me. The gold grains of sand glittered until the butter yellow sun. Tourmaline waves lapped at the beach, backed by tall evergreens dotting the base of Hell’s Gate mountains on the opposite side of the lake.

Nature, in its truest form. Nothing thrilled me more than the smell of a forest, or the sound of a babbling brook. Other than a group of people around a fire, no one occupied this part of the lake. Far away sounds of children playing teased the air around me, but I couldn’t see them.

My sandals sunk into the sunbaked sand as Kalvyn led me across the beach. Among the small crowd, I recognized the two men and woman who’d walked into the adjacent site earlier.

I nodded in their direction. “Your friends?”

“Yes.”

Figured. Beautiful people flock together, like moths to a flame. So, what exactly was I doing here? Even Lola, with her long blonde hair, baby blues and lithe body fit in far better than I did.

I flinched, suddenly wanting to cover up my far less than trim physique.

“You are my goddess,” Lola whispered urgently. “Hooking us up with these fine ass specimens of the human race.”

“I didn’t hook us up with anybody.”

Lola frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Just a little bit of an inferiority complex.”

“Why?” She sighed, then leaned in close to my ear. “Kat, you look fine.”

I pressed my lips together. Not her fault I had an insecurity issue and shouldn’t suffer for it. And she would. If I showed the slightest sign of discomfort, she’d go all momma bear on me.

Kalvyn glanced over his shoulder at me. “Come meet my friends. We’re all staying in the same road.” He smiled at Lola. “You should get to know them. The new arrivals booked in the one empty spot arrived.”

His friends shifted to make room the moment he moved to place our bags down. He didn’t ask. They didn’t either. They just did. Something about the movement unsettled me.

The strangers stared at us in open, friendly curiosity. Seven pairs of bright faces matched their welcoming smiles greeted us, putting me instantly at ease. My small, shy smile was belittled by Lola’s cry of welcome.

“This is Katrina, and Lola.” He placed his hand at the small of my back. “Though I do not expect you to remember them all, allow me to introduce you. The three at the far side are Quinn, Syber and Carmen. The three to your left are Dorian, Roman and Sadie. And this,” he ruffled the black hair of a very young girl, “is my younger sister, Lexi. The one who makes life worth everything.”

A high blush-stained Lexi’s cheeks. “Hey, I’m eighteen now. Not quite that young no more,” Lexi squealed.

Kalvyn laid a beach blanket in the open spot and waited. I sat down with Lola and Kalvyn on either side of me. He stretched out on his side, head supported by bent arm. Syber and Kalvyn shared a long look.

I couldn’t ignore the silent conversation they had.

Lexi tilted her head. Silky black strands framing her pixie face.

“Nice to meet you two. Hope you like hotdogs.” She grimaced. “If they are still hot dogs when Quinn is done with them.”

“I resent that. I am the master of fire.” Quinn fiddled with a portable grill. Flames leapt and crackled, burning said hot dogs.

“I said I wanted them cooked, not charbroiled,” Carmen said dryly. “And why couldn’t we just use sticks over the fire?”

“Because Quinn wanted to play with his new toy,” Syber replied.

Lexi watched us with amusement. “So, Kat—can I call you that?"

I nodded.

"Where you two from?”

“Harbor, about a half hour away,” I replied. “What about you guys?”

“We all live in the mountains.” Lexi leaned past her brother. “Kalvyn, Syber, Quinn and I grew up there.”

“That would be awesome. Much better than civilization.” My breath hitched, ever so slightly. Beside me, Kalvyn stiffened.

“Reclusive?” He whispered.

I shrugged, embarrassed. “Mostly.”