Chapter Three
We look at each other for a moment before we smile and, without another word, Gemma and I jump into the water where the boys are waiting. The cold hits instantly, making us gasp and sputter, while Gavin surfaces beside us, water running down his shoulders, eyes narrowed but not unkind.
"Finally!" Eben shouts, paddling toward us with exaggerated strokes. "The girls join the party! Took you long enough!"
Gemma splashes him back immediately, laughing. "Took you long enough to stop showing off, Eben!"
I push off the water, splashing Josh lightly. "And you! Stop plotting chaos!"
Josh grins, pretending to look offended. "Me? Chaos? Never. I'm just… strategic."
Gavin groans, brushing water from his hair, and I notice the faint twitch at the corner of his mouth—like he's fighting the urge to smile at all of us. "You guys are ridiculous," he mutters.
"Ridiculous?" I call, splashing him just a little, "We're fun!"
He shakes his head, water spraying around him. "Barely," he mutters, voice low and careful.
Gemma laughs, swimming closer to me. "Ari, this is perfect! You finally give him a run for his broody money!"
I glance at Gavin, who's silently treading water beside us. His jaw is tight, eyes flicking between us and the chaos. "Broody money?" he mutters, shaking his head.
"Yes!" Gemma insists. "You know exactly what I mean. You're way too serious. It's hilarious seeing you finally caught in the chaos."
I snort, splashing both Gavin and Josh lightly. "Yeah, we'll see how long he lasts."
Gavin just shakes his head, letting the corner of his mouth twitch again, betraying a tiny smirk. Eben laughs from a few feet away. "See? This is why summers are better when everyone's wet!"
The four of us—well, five if you count Gemma—splash, dodge, and laugh, the water carrying our chaos across the pier. Even with all the noise and antics, I notice a rhythm in the way Gavin moves—silent, careful, just enough to keep pace with the chaos but never letting himself get fully swept away.
Gemma glances at me, grin wide. "This is exactly what I needed. Ari, we have to survive this summer, chaos and all."
I laugh, treading water beside her. "Survive… yeah. I think we can handle it."
And Gavin? He keeps swimming beside us, quiet, controlled, with just enough presence to remind me that summer isn't just about chaos. It's about currents, about tides, and maybe… about noticing someone without even trying.
Finally, dripping and laughing, we climb out of the water, shivering slightly as the sun dips lower behind us. Eben and Josh are still shrieking and shaking water everywhere, while Gemma and I wring out our hair the best we can, laughing at the mess.
"Ugh, my hair," I groan, shaking my head, strands plastered to my forehead and clinging to my neck.
"You look fine," Gemma teases, tugging at her own dripping hair. "Besides, it's summer—wet hair is basically a uniform."
I roll my eyes but can't help grinning. "Fine. But Eben and Josh are impossible."
"They thrive on impossible," Gemma says, looping her arm through mine, ignoring the fact we're both soaked to the bone. "And let's be honest, Gavin's totally enjoying this on the inside."
I glance at him, trying to read his expression. He's quiet, water dripping from his hair and board shorts, eyes flicking between all of us like he's cataloging every move. No smile, but there's that subtle twitch at the corner of his mouth when Eben splashes Josh again.
"Uh-oh," Gemma whispers conspiratorially, nudging me. "Bet he's plotting revenge for earlier."
I snort. "I'd take that bet. He's too controlled to let this go without thinking."
Gavin finally speaks, low and measured, walking closer. "You two are hopeless," he mutters. Not annoyed. Not teasing. Just… observing.
"Hopeless? Nah," I reply, smirking. "We're survivable."
He doesn't answer. Just keeps pace behind us, quiet but present, moving carefully so he doesn't slip on the wet boards. The subtle awareness of him there—it's familiar, steady, just enough to notice without saying anything.
Gemma laughs, shaking her hair like a wet dog. "Come on, Ari. Let's get back to the house before Eben and Josh start planning the next disaster."
I groan, shivering but grinning, and follow her. Gavin falls into step behind us, quiet, steady, and somehow… deliberate.
Mrs. Miller steps into the room, glancing at the wet footprints and dripping hair with an amused shake of her head. "Eben! Gavin! Do you two always have to turn the house into a swimming pool?"
Eben grins, hair plastered to his forehead, still dripping from the pier. "Mom! It's summer! Water equals fun. Clearly, we're just maximizing enjoyment."
Gavin, standing slightly apart, water still dripping from his board shorts, just shrugs. "It was… inevitable."
Mrs. Miller arches an eyebrow, glancing between them. "Inevitable? You could at least have some control. And Eben… helping Gavin into the water was necessary?"
Eben throws his hands up dramatically. "Absolutely! He needed to experience true chaos—don't deny him that, Mom!"
Gavin mutters under his breath, tone quiet but audible: "Needed? I think you mean coerced…"
Mrs. Miller laughs softly, shaking her head. "You boys are impossible. Absolutely impossible. And yet… somehow, still endearing."
Eben winks at Gavin. "See? Even Mom gets it. Chaos appreciation 101."
Gavin just rolls his eyes, a faint twitch at the corner of his mouth betraying his amusement. "Yeah… endearing," he mutters, voice low, dry, but with the tiniest spark of humor.
Mrs. Miller shakes her head again, smiling as she steps aside. "You two better not leave puddles everywhere when you dry off."
Eben salutes dramatically. "Aye-aye, Captain Mom!"
Gavin mutters something else under his breath that sounds suspiciously like, "Chaos captain."
As Mrs. Miller shakes her head and steps aside, Josh leans against the doorframe, water dripping from his hair, a grin spreading across his face.
"Man, I swear," he says, chuckling, "you two are ridiculous. Gavin, you let Eben drag you in like that and didn't even fight back properly. Classic."
Gavin glances at him, expression unreadable. "Classic? I call it… strategic patience."
Eben snickers, nudging Gavin. "Strategic patience? Bro, you were flailing like a fish for a solid ten seconds!"
Josh laughs, pointing at Gavin. "Exactly! Strategic patience my foot. You were soaked and you look like you almost died."
Gavin just rolls his eyes, water still dripping down his shoulders. "I survived."
Mrs. Miller sighs, shaking her head again. "You boys really are impossible."
Eben laughs. "Mom, we're just… helping summer reach its full potential."
Josh grins at me and Gemma, smirking. "And hey, at least we make sure the girls have front-row seats to the show."
I glance at Gemma, both of us stifling laughter as Gavin mutters quietly, his jaw tight, probably debating whether to strangle his brother or just wait for the next chaos moment.
Gavin's gaze flicks toward Josh, calm but sharp. "By the way," he says quietly, tone low but deliberate, "don't think I forgot your part in that little… two-against-one stunt."
Josh freezes for a split second, eyes widening in mock horror. "Me? What are you talking about? I was just… providing moral support!"
Eben snorts, clearly amused, splashing water lightly toward Josh's feet. "Moral support? Really? You shoved him in just as much as I did!"
Gavin tilts his head, lips pressed together, just enough to show he's teasing but also keeping Josh in check. "Yeah. Moral support. Right."
Josh laughs nervously, holding up his hands. "Okay, okay, maybe I helped a tiny bit. But you have to admit, it was totally fair. You were standing too close to the edge!"
Gavin groans, shaking his head. "Tiny bit? Two-against-one isn't tiny. And Eben… you're lucky I didn't drown you both."
Eben laughs, throwing his head back. "Lucky me? Nah, I'd call it thrilling!"
Josh smirks, elbowing Gavin lightly. "See? You survived. And admit it—you're secretly amused."
Gavin mutters something under his breath, still carefully controlled, but the twitch at the corner of his mouth betrays it. "Maybe… slightly."
Mrs. Miller watches the exchange, arms crossed, an amused shake of her head on her face. "Boys, you are incorrigible."
Eben winks at Gavin. "See? Chaos approved."
Gavin just rolls his eyes, the faintest smile tugging at his lips, letting it pass quietly without comment.
Gemma and I drift a few steps back from the chaos, leaning against the counter, both of us dripping wet but laughing anyway.
"Okay," Gemma says, shaking her head, "I officially forgot how relentless they are. Josh and Eben are unstoppable."
I grin, wiping water from my face. "Tell me about it. And Gavin… he's just quietly letting them run the show."
Gemma nods, eyes flicking toward him. "He's… observant, isn't he? Always just a step back, letting everyone else do the chaos, but still noticing every single thing."
I laugh softly. "Yeah… exactly. And somehow, it annoys me that I notice it too."
She nudges me with her elbow. "Admit it, Ari, it's kind of fun. You're not the only one entertained by all this nonsense."
I roll my eyes but can't help smiling. "Fun is one word for it. Exhausting is another."
Gemma laughs, tugging at her soaked hair. "Exhausting, chaotic, slightly terrifying… welcome back to summer, Ari. You're officially in the thick of it now."
I glance over at Gavin again. He's standing near Eben and Josh, arms crossed, watching them with a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Quiet, controlled, almost impossible to read—yet somehow, he's entirely part of the chaos without being in it.
"Do you think he's secretly enjoying it?" I whisper to Gemma.
She grins, eyes sparkling. "Oh, absolutely. But he'll never admit it. That's Gavin's thing—he lets the world think he's brooding while quietly enjoying the chaos anyway."
I smirk, leaning back against the counter. "Figures. Classic Gavin."
"And Eben?" Gemma adds, smirking at the couch, where he's still laughing and plotting the next stunt. "Totally thrives on this. Loves every second."
I nod. "Yep. And Josh… well, he's chaos incarnate."
We both laugh softly, glancing at the boys and then back at Gavin, noticing the subtle way he shifts his weight, always quietly aware, letting the antics play out around him.
"And that," Gemma whispers, grinning, "is why summer will never be boring with this crew."
I chuckle, letting the thought settle in. "Never boring… definitely not."
Eben stretches dramatically, still dripping, and grins. "By the way… bonfire tonight. Full-on chaos. Fire, drinks, music—the works. Don't worry, it's going to be wild."
Josh's eyes light up instantly. "Wild? Now that I'm in for."
Gavin groans, running a hand through his wet hair. "Wild… of course." His tone is dry, but there's that faint twitch at the corner of his mouth that betrays the tiniest spark of curiosity.
I glance at Gemma, raising an eyebrow. "Wild, huh? Sounds… unpredictable."
Gemma laughs, shoving me lightly. "Unpredictable? That's putting it lightly. With Eben and Josh, 'wild' is basically guaranteed."
Eben claps his hands together, soaking wet but radiating energy. "Exactly! Drinks, fire, music, chaos—everything you want from a night on the beach. Trust me, you won't forget it."
Josh nudges Gavin. "See? No excuses. You have to come. Chaos, drinks, fire—it's mandatory."
Gavin mutters under his breath, still calmly observing, "Mandatory chaos… wonderful," but the twitch of a smirk at the corner of his mouth tells a different story.
I glance at Gemma, grinning. "Well… if we're doing this, at least it's going to be memorable."
Gemma nods, laughing. "Memorable and chaotic. Perfect combo."
We reach the beach house, and Josh flops dramatically onto the couch, dripping water everywhere. "Alright, fine. Quick change… then full chaos mode engaged. No holding back tonight."
I smirk, grabbing my towel. "Full chaos mode? Josh, this isn't even the bonfire yet."
He grins wickedly, shaking out his wet hoodie. "Exactly. Practice makes perfect. By the time we get to the fire, I'll be unstoppable."
Gemma laughs, tugging at her hair. "Do I even want to know what that means?"
"Oh, you'll see," Josh says, winking at her. "Trust me, nothing about tonight is going to be boring."
I roll my eyes but can't help smiling. "I should've known better than to underestimate you."
Gemma nudges me. "At least he's predictable."
I glance at her, raising an eyebrow. "Predictable chaos?"
She shrugs, grinning. "Exactly. You know it's coming, but you won't survive it anyway."
Josh bursts out laughing, tossing a wet towel onto the floor. "Finally, someone gets it! We're going to make tonight unforgettable."
I shake my head, laughing. "Or completely catastrophic."
Gemma smirks. "Either way, we're in for a show. Let's just hope Gavin's ready for it too."
I glance back toward the Miller house, picturing Gavin quietly observing Eben's chaos, already planning how to survive it. "He'll survive… somehow. Broody ocean god and all that."
Josh jumps to his feet. "Enough talk! Time to change, gear up, and get back out there. Chaos waits for no one."
I l
augh, grabbing my dry clothes. "Yeah, yeah, let's just hope the fire's ready for what we're about to bring."