Exposure

SOPHIA’S POV

The whole weekend thing actually happened even though I tried so hard to mess it up. I ‘forgot’ to double-check Emily’s flight like I was supposed to. 

I even thought about sending her a fake text saying the cabin was canceled because of bugs or something dumb. But Darcy being Darcy, she called her mom like three times to make sure everything was good. So yeah, Emily showed up anyway. 

All four of us pulled up to this old wooden cabin by the lake at the same time. The place looked exactly like it did in Darcy’s old pictures.

Darcy was bouncing like a kid on Christmas. “This is gonna be amazing!” She squealed, grabbing bags out of the trunk. “Okay, room rules! Me and Sophia in the little bedroom with the bunk beds, and Mom and Dad—you guys get the big one with the lake view. To spark old flames, right?” She winked at them like it was the cutest idea ever.

I felt like I was gonna throw up. Eric’s eyes met mine across the hood of the car. Just one second, but it was enough to make my stomach flip. 

He looked tired but still so freaking hot in his dark sweater and jeans. Emily smiled softly and said, “sounds perfect, sweetie.” But her eyes flicked to me too long. Like she was watching.

We carried stuff inside. The cabin smelled like old wood and memories. There were photo albums stacked on the coffee table, dusty ones with pictures of Eric and Emily when they were young and happy.

Darcy kept pointing at them going, “Look! You guys were so in love!” I wanted to disappear.

While Darcy and Eric were unloading the cooler, Emily grabbed my arm super gentle and pulled me out to the dock. 

I stood there staring at the water, my legs shaky. Part of me was scared she was gonna tell Darcy everything. The other part?

The other part remembered Eric’s hands on me at the picnic. The way he kissed me like he couldn’t breathe without it. My body got all hot just thinking about it. I hated myself for that.

Later we went on this hike around the lake. Darcy was in front, skipping almost, telling us stories about when she was little and used to fish here with her dad. 

Eric and Emily started laughing about old stuff. “Remember when you tried to teach me how to row and we both fell in?” Emily said, making Eric chuckle. “You screamed so loud the fish probably swam to Canada.”

Darcy beamed. “See? You guys are still cute together!”

I wanted to puke. Every time they laughed, jealousy burned in my chest like fire. I walked slower on purpose so I was behind them. Eric dropped back too. “You okay?” he whispered.

“Fine,” I muttered.

The path got rocky. His hand brushed my lower back ‘to steady me.’

His fingers stayed there a second too long. Then later he pointed at a bird and leaned close—his breath warm on my neck. “Look, red-tailed hawk.” I shivered. 

Not from the cold. My skin felt electric everywhere he touched. I hated how much I wanted more.

Back at the cabin we made dinner together. Spaghetti and garlic bread. Emily and Darcy were in the kitchen giggling over sauce, so me and Eric ended up chopping veggies at the counter alone.

He stepped behind me to grab a knife and his whole body pressed against mine for a second. I froze. “I can’t take this anymore,” he whispered right in my ear. “Meet me tonight by the dock. After everyone’s asleep.”

My heart was hammering so loud I thought he could hear it. I didn’t say anything, just gave the tiniest nod. He squeezed my hip once before stepping away.

Darcy came in right then with plates. She looked at me funny. “Your cheeks are super red. You hot or something?”

“Yeah,” I lied. “Stove’s making me sweat.”

Dinner was awkward. Everyone tried to act normal but you could feel the tension. After we ate, Darcy yelled, “Charades time!” We sat in a circle on the living room rug. It started fun—Darcy acting out movies, Emily doing animals. Then it got bad.

Emily picked Eric for her team. She acted out something and he guessed wrong on purpose maybe. She laughed but it sounded sharp. “You never paid attention back then either.”

Eric’s face changed. “Maybe if you hadn’t left without a word—”

Darcy’s eyes got big. “Guys, stop.”

But Emily kept going. “You were always so distant. Emotionally checked out.”

“And you ran,” he shot back. “Didn’t even try to fix it.”

Darcy started crying. Quiet at first, then harder. Her breathing got fast and wheezy. Asthma. Shit.

I jumped up, grabbed her inhaler from her bag. “Here, breathe, baby.” She took puffs, shaking. Eric and Emily both rushed over, looking guilty. 

We got her calmed down but the game was dead. Everyone went quiet.

Later in our room Darcy wanted to cuddle. She wrapped her arms around me tight, her hand sliding under my shirt a little. “I love you,” she whispered, kissing my neck.

I felt sick. “I’m so tired, Darce. Long day.”

She pouted but snuggled closer. “Okay. Night.”

I waited forever until her breathing got slow and even. Then I slipped out of bed super quiet. My heart was pounding as I crept through the dark cabin, past the creaky floors, out the back door.

Eric was already at the dock. He saw me and pulled me into his arms so fast. “God, Sophia,” he breathed against my hair. “Seeing you with her every second kills me. But I need you. Right now.”

I tried to push back. “We shouldn’t—”

But then his mouth was on mine. Hard. Desperate. And I melted. All the fighting inside me just… stopped. I kissed him back like I was starving.

He backed me up against one of the wooden posts. His hands were everywhere—sliding down my neck, over my collarbone, cupping my boobs through my thin shirt. I moaned into his mouth. Couldn’t help it. He pinched my nipples and I gasped.

He lifted my shirt fast, cold air hitting my skin, then his hot mouth was on me. Kissing, sucking, teeth grazing. I grabbed his hair, pulling him closer. “Eric…”

His fingers fumbled with my jeans, popping the button, sliding them down just enough. He dropped to his knees on the dock. 

Kissed my thighs, slow, teasing. Then his tongue was there—right between my legs. Flicking my clit, circling, sucking soft then harder. I bucked against his face, whispering his name over and over. 

I came so hard my legs shook. Stars behind my eyes.

He stood up quick, kissing me so I could taste myself on him. Then he freed himself—hard and ready. He lifted my leg a little, pushed inside slow at first. We both groaned. 

Then faster and deeper. His thrusts were possessive, like he was claiming me. I clawed his back under his shirt, biting my lip so I wouldn’t scream. Sweat on our skin, cool night air making it feel even hotter.

I came again, clenching around him. He buried his face in my neck and groaned low, finishing inside me. We stayed like that, panting, tangled up.

We dressed fast after. Hands shaking.

“This changes nothing,” I whispered. “I can’t leave Darcy.”

Eric cupped my face. “It changes everything. You know we belong together.”

I didn’t answer. Just ran back inside.

The cabin was quiet. I slipped into bed. Darcy rolled over in her sleep and mumbled, “Love you…”

My heart was still racing. Then I saw a shadow move outside the window. Just for a second. Someone watching?

I froze under the blanket, staring at the dark glass.

Who saw us? Oh God!