Oh, it's summer time

 

"Hornee means bake in Spanish?" Declan couldn't stop laughing as he was reading the back of the brownie box while Brandon stirred up the brownie mix to top the chocolate-chip dough to make the Brookies he was taking for tonight's cookout at the apartments where Koda and Vanna lived.

Brandon shook his head after he put the pan in the oven. Oh, Declan really was such a kid at heart. 

"Look, don't even think of telling any of them it was a brownie mix." Declan looked at him ever so sweetly. Even the cookie dough was a Bisquick recipe. "It's OK to take shortcuts you know."

"Most definitely," Brandon smiled at him. After all, they'd been busy at home. Mostly organizing the place. Although, they'd have a late-night run at the park and come back eager for other cardio exercises which lead to sleeping in. Still, Brandon hoped the cookie bars cooled off nicely for the evening. He'd made egg salad with cream cheese. He'd promised Vanna. Really, life was right on track. They did a lot of cooking together and most nights they stayed in. But this was the Fourth and fireworks.

"Remember only a three drink maximum," Brandon hoped that wasn't too harsh, but Declan hadn't been drinking at all lately. Brandon would hate for him to get totally tipsy. Even three drinks might put him in hangover mode.

"I know, " Declan shrugged with a smile. "You're just like Jennifer Lopez. You like your men fit."

They both laughed.

Harley thought she'd worked her legs off for weeks, learning all those dance steps in Brick's grandmother's livingroom. Not that she had minded. Honestly, she enjoyed every minute with Brick. Oh, it was a clumsy beginning, and he smelled so cinnamon and sandalwood when he would practically fall on her, or was it that she fell on him? She couldn't help but smile. As the weeks wore on, they got better and better and finally, they didn't need any guidance from Grand Betty. Even if Harley thought maybe the woman was trying to be a teacher from Dance Academy. 

Oh, it had worked out. And the night was finally arriving at the River Fest. There would be fireworks at ten in the evening. It would be so exciting. Except, Harley decided to change her hair color. She was going for red, but it went orange.

She tensed thinking she hadn't a thing to wear with orange hair. But she managed as she fought through her bulging wardrobe. There had to be something or she might have gone in her undies. Of course, there was time to think what she really wanted to accomplish tonight. Somehow, she wanted to show up that Caden Brown. Oh, he wouldn't know her with orange hair (It was a revenge plot she hadn't really thought about until now.) Just like she didn't really know him. But of course, after a while, she knew he was no Rafe Brown. And she hated him for it. 

But at the moment she was incognito and Brick was all hers. Still, she wanted to kick Caden where it hurt. And maybe she would.

Of course, Brick took a step back once he arrived. He looked a little puzzled. as if he wanted to know What did you do?

"Don't you like it?" She grinned as if she was ready to win the watermelon contest all by herself.

"Of course, I do." In spite of a weak smile, she thought he'd get used to it. She was afraid to take another look in the mirror or she might not want to go to this dance. He took her hand as if he knew the show must go on. Harley put on her best smile. It was the Fourth, after all.

Cade was not in a good way. He might as well have been a lost boy. Ever since Mercer got out of the hospital, they never spent any time together. After all, he didn't need Cade when he had a support group. And suddenly he was doing everything with Brooklyn. He was even going to that stupid dance with Brick and his girlfriend, no less. It was as if they'd parted ways and Cade just didn't know it.

"Well, I dunno what the big deal is," Mercer had texted back. He wanted to go to the Riverfest with his new friend from the support group. Mercer made quick friends while he was in the hospital. Evidently.

"You know, you don't like parties." Cade texted back.

"But I do." Mercer let him know.

It was a shock to Cade. It hurt that Mercer preferred his chatty friend Brooklyn with the annoying laugh over him. 

Naturally, he wailed about it to Rafe as he stomped around the house. He almost busted his controller to his gaming system.

"What the hell is wrong with you," Rafe wanted to know. Of course, he had plans with Lily. He always had plans with Lily.

"Nothing," Cade was bitter. "I'll just stay home." He hugged himself.

"If you'd get a job like the rest of us, maybe you wouldn't have so much time to be all by your lonesome," Rafe's advice didn't sit well with Cade. It left him in a huff. He was going to the Riverfest or else.