Friday

The weekend approached quickly, and Bobby felt a mix of excitement and dread. He had never been one for reunions, and this would be the first one he attended, but Alex's enthusiasm was contagious. They packed their bags and set off Friday morning, the city skyline shrinking in the rearview mirror.

Upon arrival at the lodge, Bobby felt a rush of nostalgia. The lake looked just as serene as he remembered it, with lush forests surrounding it. The only time he had been there before was the weekend after graduation. His girlfriend had talked him into coming to the party, which held another memory for him. He had become 'a man' that weekend, as his father so eloquently put it, and then took Bobby out for his first drink. He hoped to erase those memories with new ones of Alex.

They were greeted by Mary Thomas, whose family had owned and run the lodge as far back as anyone could remember. She gave them the key to their room and informed them of the weekend's activities, starting with a day of watersports and an evening bonfire.

They dropped their bags on the bed, and Bobby grabbed Alex from behind, hugging her. She wrapped her arms around his, holding him tight, relishing being able to hold him without hiding in either his or her apartment. She turned in his arms and kissed him slowly. "Mmm, I get to do that anytime I want for the next 72 hours." She kissed him again. The kiss quickly turned from slow to heated, and just as Bobby was wondering if anyone would notice if they never left the room, Alex pulled away from him.

"C'mon, get your swimsuit on, the water looked inviting." She grabbed her bag, pulled out a bikini top and a pair of swim shorts, and started to get undressed.

Bobby grabbed his bag and headed for the en-suite bathroom. She raised an eyebrow at him. "When did you become shy?"

"I don't know if I'll be able to control myself if I see you naked. I'm having a difficult time as it is just seeing you in this." He ran a finger along the curve of her breast next to the lacy fabric of her bra, then hooked his finger into the bra between her breasts and pulled her toward him, kissing her again. He dropped his bag and wrapped his arms around her, one hand in her hair, the other on her panty-clad ass. She kissed him back enthusiastically, then pulled away from him and stepped back. "We can't spend the whole weekend in the room."

"Why not?" he pouted.

"Because I need to learn some embarrassing stories, remember." She teased him. His pout didn't leave his face. "Not going to work, Goren. I became immune to that look long ago." She stepped closer to him again. "But hold onto that thought, and who knows, you might get lucky tonight." His pout turned to a devilish grin, and he kissed her quickly on the lips before disappearing into the bathroom.

They emerged from the side of the lodge through sliding doors facing the lake. There was a huge wooden deck running the length of the lodge with deck chairs scattered about under huge umbrellas. The deck was filled with classmates reuniting and sharing stories. Past the deck was the shore of the lake, the sand pristine and hot under Alex's feet.

The lake was buzzing with activity. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the water was sparkling invitingly, shimmering under the afternoon sun. Bobby led Alex to the water's edge, where they found a canoe.

"I've never been in one of these before," Alex admitted, her hands gripping the sides nervously.

"You'll love it," Bobby assured her, his confidence in the water evident as he pushed them off the dock.

Bobby paddled them out to a quiet corner of the lake, away from all the bustling watersports. This area was narrow and surrounded by trees on both sides. He stowed the oars and let them just float with the flow of the water. Alex leaned back on her elbows and stared up at the sky and surrounding woodland.

"It's beautiful out here. I wish we could stay here for a week, not just a weekend."

"Maybe one day we will." He smiled at Alex, appreciating her beauty as well as that of the nature surrounding them.

They drifted for a while until Alex started getting uncomfortable in the hot late afternoon sun.

As Bobby paddled them back and shored the canoe, he couldn't help but notice his old rival, Marcus Ramsay, watching them from the shore. Marcus had always been the popular jock who seemed to have everything handed to him on a silver platter, while Bobby had been the awkward intellectual who, although popular amongst his group of friends, never quite fit in, and the sight of him brought back memories of high school competitions. Marcus may have been the jock, but Bobby had always been bigger and stronger, Marcus hated that. Without missing a beat, Marcus challenged him to a race.

The rivalry was on, and soon, they were gliding through the water in fierce competition. The paddles sliced through the lake's surface, the rhythmic splash echoing through the air. Alex watched, her eyes wide with excitement as Bobby's muscles flexed with each stroke. In the end, Bobby's canoe edged ahead, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph.

The two men shored their canoes, and begrudgingly Marcus congratulated Bobby on his win.

"Looks like the nerd finally beat the jock, huh, Marcus?" Bobby taunted with a smirk. Marcus grumbled, conceding defeat. "You've still got it, Goren. Maybe I underestimated you back in high school." Bobby laughed, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over him. It was a small victory, but it felt good to show Marcus that he was more than just a bookworm.

Alex came running to him and hugged him. "Congrats." Bobby grinned at Alex, feeling a sense of elation at having come out on top.

As the sun began to set, they sat by the bonfire. Alex was seated between Bobby's knees, and Bobby wrapped his arm around Alex's shoulders, feeling grateful for her presence by his side. Bobby couldn't remember the last time he had felt so carefree and light-hearted.

Later that evening, Mary and about a dozen servers came around placing large platters of food amongst each group of people and taking drinks orders. They sat quietly by themselves, roasting marshmallows and reminiscing with classmates who came and went.

Slowly, people started to disappear back to their rooms or the bar inside the lodge. Alex stood and held her hand out for Bobby. "I believe you have a thought to finish…" she coaxed.

He took her hand and stood. "I don't know, all that manly prowess I showed earlier might have tired me out."

Still holding his hand, she walked backwards, pulling him with her. "What if I told you that seeing all that manly prowess turned me on."

"I say, lead on." He grinned at her.

They made their way to their room, hand in hand, greeting and chatting with people on their way.

They were hardly in the room when Bobby grabbed Alex around the waist and pulled her to him, kissing her soundly and backing her toward the bed.

They quickly divested each other of the little clothing they had and fell onto the bed.

End Chapter 2