A Lover Lost

The pizza was delicious even after sitting in a cold trunk for a couple of hours and being heated back up. Jeff insisted that it get heated up in the oven, not the microwave. The early dinner helped calm the mood of the younger occupants after Austin and Jared's tense moment. Whitney's father's laidback and charming personality helped keep the mood lively. Still, Sean, Jared, and Newt had opted to eat in the kitchen on the island to avoid any flare-ups. All twelve seats had been filled at the dinner table, prompting Sean to think it was a good thing his parents weren't here yet, although he had expected them around now. Remarkably enough, they had been joined by Lacey, who sat on the fourth stool closest to the dining room. She wanted to make it perfectly clear to her boyfriend that she wasn't happy with his temper tantrum. Trying to distract herself, she had been a pleasant dinner companion, firing away questions about how each of their Christmases had been. Newt had even managed to string together a few coherent sentences in response. Sean was relieved that his urges and thoughts were back to normal after taking care of himself in the bathroom.

"You know, Skye, I just can't get over the feeling I've seen you before. You seem familiar," Clive Stratton told the younger beauty. Austin, sitting with his back to the kitchen, turned partly around, giving Lacey a smug smile and putting his wrists together, mimicking handcuffs.

"I've been thinking the same thing, hun," Rachel Stratton agreed with her husband. "I have the feeling that I've seen you working somewhere." Austin's eyebrows were now raised, with a suggestive grin plastered on his face.

"I'm a hostess at Goforth's. That's where you've likely seen me. I've noticed you both there many times," she informed the Strattons in a soft, friendly voice. Goforth's was a popular, upscale restaurant and bar in downtown Honey Hollow. Both Strattons agreed that they now remembered her with this extra information.

"Babe, don't sell yourself short. Tell them about your other thing," Fredrick Singer prompted his younger girlfriend, who seemed **** to follow his suggestion. "Skye, here, is also a model. She's gaining quite a following on social media," he proudly told his friends.

"It's really nothing...more like a hobby. I'm not looking to be famous or anything," she shyly tried to downplay.

"Well, I think that's wonderful. You're a gorgeous young woman who should have some fun with it. If we had these options when I was younger, you can bet I would be out there flaunting what I got. Tastefully, of course," Gabriela Lockett added with a laugh at the end, earning more laughter from her husband and friends and an embarrassed cough from her son.

Several individuals in the room noted this news and reminded themselves to look up Skye's social media accounts later; not all of them were young. Austin was already planning on sending a link to his teammates and gloating over spending a week around this hot, wannabe model. Newt silently cursed Sean, who had confiscated his phone at the start of dinner.

"Speaking of young beauties, when is Shenai arriving, Harvey?" Jeff Lockett asked, unknowingly upending the mood at the table.

"Uh, she's not," Harvey answered in a low, sad voice from the head of the table.

"Break another heart again, Harvey?" Kimberly Goose asked smugly.

"He did not break her heart!" Whitney hissed angrily. She sat at one end of the table to her father's right side. Harvey gently touched his daughter's arm before she could say anything else.

"Shenai's mother has been dealing with serious health issues. It's...a...not a good situation," Harvey revealed. Then, he paused to gather his thoughts. "She moved back to her hometown early in November."

"Dad has searched all over the world for the best specialists, flown them here on the company jet, but..." Whitney explained while tearing up.

"We're lucky that the doctors believe she's turned the corner and is improving. However, she's going to have a long road to recovery. Shenai's father has struggled to cope with all of it," Harvey added somberly before perking up. "Still, Shenai found an unexpected benefit to going back home. She reconnected with the boy who grew up across the street. I'd heard his name numerous times from Shenai and her old friends. They all lost touch with him after he joined the military out of high school. From what I understand, they were always the will-they-or-won't-they friends in the group."

"I get to be a bridesmaid!" Whitney joyfully announced.

"What?!" Fred shouted, staring at his old friend in shock.

"Yes, they finally put an end to that question over Thanksgiving weekend," Harvey revealed with a nod. "Shenai called yesterday to wish us a Merry Christmas and to let us know that he proposed on Christmas Eve."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Harvey," Rachel said, her husband nodding in agreement.

"No, I'm happy for her. We weren't really a couple in a committed relationship, and she's found happiness with an old friend. Whom am I to deny true love?" Harvey remarked, attempting to put a smile on his face. "It's not as if I'm the marrying kind anymore."

"Don't say that, Harvey. It's never too late to find love," Rachel insisted. Her daughter nodded vigorously at the kitchen island. Gabriela and Jeff agreed, sending the conversation into a discussion of second marriages and not giving up. Whitney threw her arms around her dad in a supportive hug.

"Who's Shenai?" Jared whispered to Sean, who thought he knew but hesitated to answer. Luckily, Lacey heard and leaned past Sean to whisper to Jared.

"Shenai Platt. She's worked for Whitney's dad for like five years, the last few as his main assistant. She's also been his...lover, probably the closest to a serious girlfriend I've seen Mr. Diamond have. She's a nice, caring person and good to Whitney," she informed while failing to hold back her own tears. Out of instinct, Sean touched her back and rubbed it slowly in a comforting manner.

"I'm truly sorry for assuming the worst in you," Kimberly said sincerely. "I know she's been an important part of your life."

Nodding at her, Harvey then broke off the hug with his daughter. "Okay, how about you and your friends go find something fun to do? Didn't you mention using the hot tub?" Whitney nodded while wiping her tears. She felt happy for Shenai but sad for her father. "Then you should go and turn it on, plus the heaters. It's going to take a while to warm that room up in this cold."

Whitney stood up, still sniffling, and Owen placed a caring arm around her. An awkward silence filled the room as the teens weren't sure if they should get ready for some fun activities or not. Finally, Ramsey took charge and suggested they head down to the recreation room and decide what to do. The others eagerly accepted the idea and started that way.

Rachel looked up from her phone and stopped Sean before he could head downstairs. "Sean, did your mom send you a text? No? Well, it looks like they are delayed. Your dad is stuck at the hospital, and they won't be here until tomorrow morning."

After double-checking his phone, Sean sighed, "Yeah, nothing. That means she must be mad at Dad right now. He's been doing this more and more."

"Uh, I think you're right. She's pretty angry in the message, so I won't show it to you," Rachel told him sympathetically.

"Delayed at work? Yeah, that sounds like Leo," Jeff chuckled, causing others in the room to shake their heads knowingly.

Feeling bad that his mom would miss out on a night with her friends, Sean reached the rec room to see the mood had brightened slightly. Austin and Jared now disagreed about what channel a college football bowl game should be on, but at least it was a civil disagreement. Newt sat in one of the chairs near them, looking bored. Lacey and Ramsey weren't in sight, but the bathroom door was closed, and he could hear voices in there. Owen was sitting at a barstool, watching his girlfriend in concern as she made several alcoholic drinks.

"Sean, you want one?" she asked.

"I really don't drink much, so I'm going to pass," he tried to turn her down politely, unsure of her mood.

"Well, I fricking need one, so you're getting one too. Got a problem with that? Good...you better get used to a few drinks as you will be drinking this week," she told him.

Lacey and Ramsey returned, with Lacey accepting a mixed drink and Ramsey turning one down, earning her an eye-roll from her best friend/bartender. Deciding she had better start warming up the hot tub area, Whitney left with the non-drinking redhead in tow. Searching for something to keep him occupied, Sean asked if anyone was up for a game of pool, and Owen agreed to play.

Time passed as the two pool players traded shots. Playing best of three, Sean and Owen split the first two games. Newt had made his way over to sit at the card table and watch. Whitney joined him when she returned, rooting on her boyfriend while fiddling with a pendant on her necklace. Sean felt disappointed that Ramsey hadn't joined her; instead, she sat down with Lacey over by Austin and Jared. That disappointment crept into his game, eventually helping Owen prevail.

Whitney headed to a closet near the laundry room with the game over, returning with several pairs of swim trunks and white, terrycloth robes. She passed out the robes to the four guys and the trunks to Sean and Newt. She ordered them to head back to the boathouse and return to the hot tub room in just the robes and swim trunks. Not arguing with her, the four guys headed back to the bunkroom. Once there, Austin called dibs on the bathroom first, heading in there to clean up and change. Sean pulled out Newt's phone and handed it over.

"I'm going to guess you don't want to come back with us...I figured," he added after Newt's nod. "Whitney's probably going to be pissed since she's acting like a party planner, but I'll deal with her. At some point, you'll need to hang out with everyone in there, or she will drag you down there herself. Understand?" Sean asked his friend, who reluctantly promised to join them another day.

Once everyone else had changed, Sean and Jared followed Austin and Owen back to the main cabin. The Honey Hollow quarterback kept commenting non-stop about the latest hot arrival while the college student seemed lost in thought. They arrived to find the room empty and looked around. It appeared to be more suited for the year's warmer months, as the walls were mainly comprised of windows, except for the wall shared with the main cabin. There were a couple of beach-style chairs just inside the room on the ground level before several steps led up to the deck, covering about three-quarters of the room. In the middle of the room was a large, rectangular hot tub, its top level with the deck. Two wooden benches on the deck a few feet away provided seating outside the tub. The long bench was on the room's shared wall side; the shorter one was on the backside of the room.

All three young men commented on the great setup when Whitney strode into the room with a purpose. "It doesn't feel too cold in here now. My dad only had a temporary space heater put up over there until something better can be figured out. Warming this room up in the winter slipped past everyone designing and building the cabin." The beautiful blonde wore a red silk robe that barely reached mid-thigh. Behind her, Lacey was wearing a cute pink robe that covered slightly more. Ramsey was in a far more conservative and winter-practical baby blue robe. "Now, the hot tub controls are pretty standard if you've ever used one before; still, I've set it up, so you probably don't need to touch anything."

"What, are you not coming in with us?" Austin asked, half-chuckling.

"Nope, I've got another matter to attend to. Owen, I want you to wait about fifteen minutes, then come to the master bedroom. You're to come in from the sliding door on the deck. Inside, you'll find your Christmas present waiting," she instructed her boyfriend, adding a little purr to her voice at the last part. Oohs and aahs from the other teens filled the room.

"Uh, are you sure about this, Whitney?" he said, slightly taken aback by his girlfriend's blatant suggestion in front of her friends. He was used to being the person in charge of a relationship. "Won't I get seen sneaking past the main windows on the deck? What if your dad hears us in there?"

"There's another flight of stairs leading up to the deck over on the other side of the cabin by the master bedroom; that's how I'm going back. Also, the master bedroom is soundproofed, so don't worry," Whitney reassured him before turning to leave but stopping. "Hey, where's Denton?" she asked, getting a response back from his best friend and sighing just before she left. "I don't have time to deal with this now, but this shit isn't continuing. You heard me tell him he would have fun this week, and I meant it!"

"Alright, let's do this," Austin excitedly said as he tossed his robe to the side and lowered himself into the hot tub on one of the shorter sides, a smug look on his face like a king at the head of a table. His girlfriend giggled before climbing the stairs, joining her longtime beau, just around the corner of the tub from him on one of the longer sides. Underneath her robe, she had a pink bikini. The ruffled top covered most of the shape of her breasts, but her fit figure, honed by years of cheerleading, was undeniable.

An idea popped into Sean's head, so seizing the moment, he slid into the tub next. He sat on the same long side as Lacey but left a large gap between them. Jared, next in, sat down on the other short side, opposite Austin. Ramsey discarded her robe, showcasing her white one-piece swimsuit, causing Sean to clench his jaw so his mouth wouldn't gape open in wonder. As she slid into the tub, his crush crushed his plans by sitting down across from him. He had assumed that Ramsey would want to sit next to her best friend, thus next to him too, and Owen would briefly take the spot she was in. Instead, the oldest person sat on the wooden bench outside the hot tub behind Ramsey. Noticing Sean's questioning look, he spoke up, "I figure why get wet if I'm heading back out into the cold in a little bit."

"This is an eight-person tub? You could easily squeeze ten, maybe twelve people in here," Jared noted, causing the teens to comment on the tub's size, water temperature, and past times in one.

Finally, Owen stood up and announced he was heading over to meet his girlfriend, getting some catcalls from Austin and even one from Jared. Exiting the door, Owen braced himself from the cold wind, happy he had decided not to get wet. Crossing past the walk-out level bedroom windows and rec room, he was comforted to see their lights were all off. He reached the west side of the cabin and ascended the stairs, his mind jumbled with thoughts. What's Whitney's surprise present? If it's sex, am I really comfortable doing anything with her dad and his friends in the next room--wait, why is the room soundproofed? Reaching the sliding door, he couldn't see inside as the curtains were closed. Grabbing the handle, he pulled the door open and prepared to enter, with a mix of excitement and apprehension.