Hawke shot me a smile.
“Damn, I’m never going to live that down.” Axel approached the dock where our small boat bobbed. “Let’s do this.”
“You’ll catch more fish near the shore,” I said.
“How do you figure?” Axel asked.
“Because there’re tons of boats in the middle of the lake. Fish will go to the coolest and least populated area.” Dad taught us this a long time ago. Axel never remembered anything.
Axel didn’t seem convinced. “Or maybe we should get in a boat because everyone else is doing it.”
“There’s a pipe just around the lake where the freshwater comes in. I’m telling you, that’s where they’ll be.”
Axel still seemed unsure.
“You know a lot about fishing.” Hawke said it like it wasn’t a question or a statement.
“I was a tomboy growing up,” I answered.
Hawke nodded but said nothing else.
“I’m sticking with the boat,” Axel finally said. “And I’m not letting you go off by yourself so get in here.”
“Let me?” That was one of my biggest pet peeves. I refused to be bossed around—by anyone. “You don’t let me do anything. I’ll go wherever I damn well please.”
Hawke didn’t react overtly, but there was a look of approval in his eyes.
Axel rolled his eyes. “We’re going to be in the boat so wouldn’t it make more sense for you to join us?” He backpedaled because he knew I was a loose cannon when it came to stuff like this. I would take off and head back to the house by myself if he pissed me off enough. “Come on. It’ll be more fun this way.” He stared at me and waited for an answer.
I put my hands on my hips.
Hawke intervened. “Don’t leave me alone with him. He’ll start singing—and you know what that means.”
Axel gave him a murderous look.
“Fine. I’ll come along.” I walked down the dock and approached the boat.
Axel breathed a sigh of relief then climbed on.
Hawke stayed behind and offered his hand to help me on board.
“No, thanks.” I hopped into the boat without any problems and sat down.
Hawke stared at me with an unreadable expression. Then he climbed on and sat in the row behind me.
“Alright.” Axel grabbed both oars. “Off we go.”
***
By late morning, I’d caught the most fish—by far. My brother barely caught one. Hawke did better by catching three, which was impressive since he hadn’t fished in ten years.
“It’s your poles,” Axel said. “They’re better.”
“And the fish can tell?” I said sarcastically.
Axel splashed water on me.
“Gross.” I splashed him back.
Hawke remained in the back and looked across the lake with a peaceful expression on his face.
“Knock it off,” I said as I shielded my face. “You’re going to tip the boat.”
“Not when your fat ass is sitting in it,” Axel snapped.
“My ass is beautiful!” I splashed him a final time.
The boat reached the dock and Hawke jumped out. “You guys keep acting like toddlers. I’ll wait here.”
Axel held up his hands. “Truce?”
“You owe my ass an apology,” I said.
“How about a kick?” Axel asked.
I smacked him playfully with the oar then climbed onto the dock without taking Hawke’s extended hand.
Hawke leaned toward me while Axel tried to climb out of the boat. “You really do have a beautiful ass.” He gave me a playful wink before he turned back to Axel.
I walked past him so he couldn’t see my reddened cheeks. I tried to brush off the compliment, but since it came from Hawke, it hit me in a sensitive spot.
Axel got out of the boat then grabbed all his gear. We had more to carry back than we did on the way up. At least the hike would only be thirty minutes or so.
We headed back, and Axel took the lead like usual. This time, I walked behind him with Hawke behind me. I wondered if he was staring at my ass just the way I was staring at his not too long ago.
Halfway into the hike, Axel looked at me over his shoulder. “Frankie, come here.”
I didn’t like taking orders, but I did as he asked just in case it was something important. I sped up my pace until I was at his side. “What’s up?”
“Have fun today?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Just curious.” He glanced at Hawke over his shoulder then turned back to me. “What do you think of him?”
What kind of question was that? “He’s nice…”
“You aren’t into him, right?”
Why was he asking? Was I making it that obvious? “No.”
“Good.” He looked relieved. “Then I don’t have anything to worry about.”
What? “Anything to worry about?”
“Well, I know you had a thing with my friend Michael.”
“Like a million years ago. And what does that have to do with Hawke?”
“Well, Michael is a good guy. Hawke…not so much.”
My heart slammed hard in my chest, and I felt light-headed. Hawke made a similar statement, and now my brother was agreeing with him. What did that mean? “He’s not a good guy? I don’t understand. Why are you friends with him then?”