Being at Gabe’s camp had been one of the best vacations I’d ever had and I hated that it was almost over.
But, before we all headed home and left Gabe here for most of the summer, we were about to embark on Family Sports Day, and I was stoked. With a ropes course, zip line, repel, obstacle course, and game of footy, plus a barbecue to welcome all the counselors, it was sure to be a fantastic day.
We were all at the fields, decked out in our workout gear and stretching our bodies to get them ready.
The Lewises were a competitive lot, but so were Jed and I, so we were all laughing … taking the piss. Basically, talking mad shit.
“I just want to remind everyone that I am the reigning champion, and let you know that I plan on keeping the title,” Reardon said as he stretched his arms.
“Zoey’s not participating this year, so I’m coming for ya,” Gabe replied. He was bent at the waist, wearing only running shorts and shoes. Dude had been retired from the NFL for years now, but he was still built like a brick shithouse.
It was a little intimidating, but there’s no way I’d let him know that.
“I’m gonna have to bet on beginner’s luck on this one, lads,” I chimed in.
“And, while you guys are off measuring your cocks, Rena and I will waste no time smokin’ all y’all,” Jasmine said cheekily as she rubbed sunblock all over her fair skin.
I shot her a grin and she rolled her eyes.
Fuck, but she was awesome. I loved how she could hold her own and be tough as hell, plus be funny, sexy, and often times vulnerable when we were alone.
The only thing this week with Jazzy had done was prove to me that she was definitely the woman for me.
“Uh, Jazzy, you and Rena haven’t won once in all the years we’ve been coming here,” Reardon taunted.
“Stuff it, Ass, your reign ends today,” Jazzy snarled.
Dillon chuckled but kept silent while he dipped into a deep lunge. I was thinking he’d be the one I needed to watch out for … silent but deadly.
There were spotters on hand at each course and a medical team on standby just in case anything happened. The kids would do this course every week at the end of camp and then a new round of kids would come in. Gabe took the safety of everyone very seriously, and took every precaution.
Some of the counselors had already arrived, and the rest would come throughout the day, but for now, it was just us about to start the competition.
As the only two who had never done the course, Jed and I were at a disadvantage, but I was confident in our physical strength and abilities, and knew not only would we finish, but we’d be close to the top.
“Good luck, mate,” I told Jed, slapping him on the ass.
“You, too, brother,” Jed replied with an easy grin.
“You boys are gonna need it,” Serena drawled.
Jed grabbed her and lifted her off her feet, spinning her around while she squealed.
“Save some of that fire for tonight,” I heard him say and let out a laugh.
“Take your places everyone,” Jeremy, one of the counselors I’d met earlier, called.
We all lined up and, when he gave the signal, we were off.
The ropes course was first, and after our initial sprint there, Gabe, Jed, Reardon, and I were neck and neck, with Dillon, Jazzy, and Serena close behind. Being new mothers, Chloe and Zoey had opted to stay back and prep for tonight’s barbecue.
I was harnessed and up the tree quickly. I crossed the rope and rounded the tree to see Gabe shooting down the zipline.
I let out a whoop as I zipped through the trees and hustled as I repelled down the wall on the other side.
Reardon was behind me now, and Gabe and Jed were a few feet ahead.
I kicked the lead out and gained on them, which only made them run faster. Next up was the obstacle course. The three of us dropped in unison and began low crawling. When I popped up on the other side, I turned back and grinned as Jasmine reached the course.
“Good work, babe,” I called back, then took off to the swinging rope, hot on Jed’s heels. I landed on the other side of the pool and ran through the tires, meeting Jed at the ladder of logs and pulling myself over and under.
“Fuck,” Jed said as he lost his grip.
I didn’t pause, just took off at a sprint toward the wall. Once there, I grabbed the rope and started pulling as I walked my way up.
“Gonna have to be faster than that, Dundee,” Gabe’s voice said from too close behind me.
“Bugger off, old man,” I replied, because seriously, a fuckin’ Crocodile Dundee reference? What year was this?
I swung my legs over the top of the wall and jumped, doing my best to bend my knees when I hit, then I popped back up and hit a dead sprint. I could practically feel Gabe breathing down my neck as I ran, and that gave me the last boost I needed to push it over the finish line.
Gabe came in barely a foot behind me.
I slowed down to a walk, hands on my hips as I worked on cooling down.
“Fuck, yeah,” I said, turning to Gabe with a shit-eating grin. “I thought you had me, mate.”
“I tried, you took off fuckin’ fast, like the devil was on your heels. Great job,” he said, clapping me on the back.
I looked past him to see Jed, Dillon, and Reardon running along side each other, all of them finishing hard. They crossed together.
“Good on ya,” I called out to my friends, then took off at a jog to find Jasmine.
When I reached the wall, she had just come over and was jumpin off.
“Come on, babe,” I called out as I came up next to her. “You’re almost done.”
Her cheeks were red with exertion and her brow was covered in sweat, but her face was set with determination.
We passed Jed going back for Serena, and sprinted to the finish.