"You're up to bat first, but if she keeps this Betty Crocker shit up, I'm going to hurt her feelings."
Dedra moved up beside Emily at the door of my room. "It's been a long two weeks."
I laughed and got up, tugging at my tank top to pull it back in place. "Alright. I get it. She's just excited, and I'd take a homemade cinnamon roll over a cold bowl of cereal any day. Both of you would, too."
I pushed past them and yawned again before making a beeline to one of the two bathrooms in the house. After brushing my hair and teeth, I put on my bikini, a tank top and some shorts. I made my way to the kitchen to find Cindy humming something.
"Coffee's ready." She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. "Will you braid my hair after we eat breakfast? I want to go out on the boat today, and it gets in my face like crazy."
"Absolutely." I got a cup and poured the dark liquid into it before walking to the front door. "I'll be right back."
"Five minutes and we're making these cinnamon rolls!" She called after me in a perky tone.
"I wouldn't miss it." I closed the door behind me as I inhaled deeply. I didn't mind Cindy's excitement. It was almost refreshing, and getting up early wasn't too bad, either.
The soft sounds of birds chirping in the trees above me caused my heart to flutter in my chest. I didn't have to be anything or anyone but myself for the next six to eight weeks.
"Incredible." I leaned against the railing at the front of the house and watched the sun play across the lake. The house was nestled against the street that ran right in front of the large blue lake, and our boat bobbed up and down with the waves at the edge of our pier, tempting me to sneak away for a few hours.
The door behind me opened, and Emily walked out with a cup of coffee. "You owe Dedra a thank you."
"Why is that?" I took a sip of my coffee.
"She told Cindy that you and I needed to get out of here for a while and that they could make breakfast together. We have thirty minutes." She wagged her eyebrows. "I think she feels bad for slamming you on the courts last night."
"She didn't slam me." I gave her a silly grin. "Alright, yeah, she did."
Emily chuckled and nodded toward the lake. "Let's go sit on the pier; you want to?"
"Hell yeah." I followed her toward the lake, making sure to keep my eyes on the ground to avoid broken glass. There was no need to end up with a staph infection in the hospital before the summer really started.
"You sleep alright?" Emily slowed a little, and I caught up to her.
"Yeah. I don't remember anything after us sitting down for the movie. Did you guys take me to my bed?" I took another drink of my coffee and turned as someone whistled just behind us.
A car full of guys slowed down, and the goofy-looking one half hanging out of the back window called out to us. "Party tonight at the big ass house as you drove in. Bring your own beer!"
"Got it. Thanks." I waved and turned back to Emily. "Sounds like everyone in the whole damn town got invited."
"You got up and went to bed yourself about halfway through the movie." She stood still as her gaze followed the guys down the road. "That guy looked familiar. I think he was in my Calculus class."
"Oh yeah?" I turned to look back down the road, honestly not caring. "I'm not sure I'm going tonight."
"What? Yes, you are. You're going." She lopped her arm into mine and walked with me down to the grassy bank of the lake. "I'm going, and that means you're going."
"Why do we have to go?" I took another sip of my coffee and walked out onto the pier, loving the way the sun warmed my skin.
"Because, Cora, it is summer break and we're in the middle of party central. Let's go meet all of these people, and if they suck, then we'll rent a bunch of movies and survive Cindy's cooking lessons instead." She smirked and sat down on the edge of the pier, letting her legs dangle off the edge.
"Are there alligators in this water?" I handed her my coffee before sitting down beside her.
"Doubtful, and even if there were, they wouldn't be over here. They're scared of humans." She moved over as I sat down beside her and let my feet skim over the warm water beneath
us.
I took a deep breath. "You guys be nice to Cindy. She's a good person. Cooking is just her thing."
"I get it, but it's not mine." She handed me my coffee before leaning back and closing her eyes. "I'll behave, though. I love her; you know that."