Page 17 of Summer’s Echo

Summer

It was officially the first day of summer, though the weather in Brighton Falls had already been flirting with triple digits for weeks.

The heat wasn’t new, but today felt different…

special. It was a Saturday, which meant I could stay in bed just a little longer than usual.

I glanced over and saw Trinity still curled up under the covers, clearly taking full advantage of the lazy morning, too.

Stretching through a relaxed sigh, I rolled onto my side and looked out the window.

The sun was already high, its golden rays streaming in, brightening the room in a warm, happy glow.

Everything about today felt brighter and lighter.

Maybe that was because today wasn’t just any day. It was my seventeenth birthday.

In the Knight family, birthdays weren’t just days; they were events, practically holidays.

When we were younger, Mama would go all out—big parties with balloons, cakes, and all our family and friends running wild in the backyard.

But as we got older and decided we’d rather party with our friends instead of our parents, Mama came up with a new tradition.

Every year, she hosted one massive Memorial Day party to celebrate all four of her kids since our birthdays were packed into the months of May and June.

It was her way of keeping the tradition alive.

And for me, the Memorial Day party had an added significance: It was the perfect sendoff before I’d leave for camp.

So technically, I’d already celebrated my birthday back home, so I didn’t want to make a big deal out of my actual birthday today.

Still, I’d promised my parents I’d call around ten o’clock before the day got busy, so I needed to get moving.

“Okay. Stop daydreaming, Summer Sierra,” I whispered to myself, mimicking my mama’s voice perfectly.

“Happy birthday, best friend,” Trinity mumbled groggily, wiping the sleep from her eyes.

“Thank you,” I squealed.

Before I could say anything else, a knock at the door caught both of our attention. Trinity barely lifted her head before yelling, “Yeah.”

In burst Brooke and Neveah, our roommates, carrying a boom box blastingtheiconic hood birthday anthem—Uncle Luke’s “It’s Your Birthday.”

Brooke grinned and shouted over the music, “So, what’s that number one birthday month?”

I shot up in bed, already dancing to the beat. “June!” I yelled, throwing my hands in the air. Neveah followed with, “And what’s that number one zodiac sign?”

“Gemini!” I screamed, shimmying out of bed.

The room erupted as I perched my lips, bent low with my booty in the air and my hands on my knees, dancing like I didn’t have a care in the world.

My girls joined in, chanting and hyping me up.

“Go, Summer! It’s ya birthday! Go, Summer!

It’s ya birthday!” We collapsed into a fit of laughter, the kind that left my cheeks aching and my stomach sore.

My friends knew, even if I didn’t say it out loud, that as much as I complained about my family, I missed them on my birthday every summer.

The birthday chant was a tradition my sisters had always done with me, and while I missed them dearly, my girls at camp filled that void perfectly this year.

I rushed around the room, scrambling to get ready.

We’d had way too much birthday fun, and now I was running late.

Jumping in the shower, I lathered my thick curves in cucumber-scented body wash, the fresh, clean scent clinging to my skin as I hurried to rinse off.

Today was swim day for the campers, so I pulled on the blue camp-issued swimsuit, threw on a pair of denim shorts, and slipped into my thong sandals.

Rushing across the quad, I waved at campers and fellow counselors who shouted birthday wishes my way.

My heart swelled with every well wish, even as I checked the time and realized it was already a few minutes after ten.

I’d have to talk fast to make it to the lake in time for my shift.

“Hey, Daddy,” I said, my tone brightening instantly as the sound of his voice filled my ear.

“ Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, my baby, happy birthday to you,” he sang, completely offbeat but with so much love it didn’t matter.

I giggled like a little girl. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“Oli, give me the phone,” I heard my mother fuss in the background. “Hey, baby girl. Blessed birthday wishes to you,” Mama said.

“Thanks, Ma. How are you?” I asked, the sound of her voice soothing me.

“Good. I’m about to take your grandmother to the grocery store, so pray for me.” She chuckled.

I could already imagine the chaos that would ensue. “Oh, have fun with that,” I said, knowing full well how particular Granny could be.

“You have anything planned for today?” Mama asked.

I shook my head, forgetting for a moment that she couldn’t see me. “Not really. The kids are at the lake today, so my friends and I will hang out there, but no big plans.”

“Okay, well, I know you have to go. Happy birthday, Summer. We love you,” Mama said.

“Love you, baby!” Daddy called out from the background.

“I love you, too,” I said, ending the call, a brief wave of sadness coming over me. Dashing out of the main building, I caught up with my friends just as they were heading to the lake. The sun was shining, my heart was full, and everything felt perfect.

The campers were having the time of their lives at the lake.

Activities had been planned for everyone, whether they wanted to swim in the cool water or stay on land.

And with the heat so brutal, the lake was practically a necessity.

Not much of a swimmer myself, I stuck to helping with the other activities.

A couple of hours of volleyball and double Dutch later, I was both hot and completely exhausted.

Grabbing an ice-cold water and chips from the lunch area, I made my way toward where the girls were.

They were sprawled out on blankets like they were at some glamorous beach.

Some of them were even wearing oversized sunglasses and shiny lip gloss, giving off major wannabe Hollywood vibes.

“Damn, he’s fine,” I heard Madison say, her tone dripping with admiration. I followed her gaze toward the lake, and of course, it landed right on Echo. There he was, water dripping down his chest, his shorts slung low on his hips. I hated how easy it was to agree with her.

“I thought you were checking for Maxell,” Trinity said, as she sat up, clearly unimpressed by Madison’s ever-changing interests.

I plopped down on Trinity’s blanket, shooting her a knowing look, which she returned, equally irritated.

Madison Harvey was the camp hoe—there was no other way to say it.

We’d been coming to camp together for years, and a few summers ago, her body had developed to match her quickly growing ego.

Her light skin, hazel eyes, and easy-access demeanor had every boy at camp smitten.

She didn’t have to try; they flocked to her like dogs to bones.

And as much as I hated to admit it, she was probably exactly the type of girl Echo would call sexy.

“Maxell is so last year, girl. There’s new meat to be devoured,” Madison said, her voice dripping with innuendo as she bit her bottom lip, never tearing her eyes from Echo. “You know what they say about tall, lanky boys.” She shared a high five with her roommate, Iris, who was lounging next to her.

Confusion swirled in my head, but I wouldn’t dare let it show on my face.

Whatdothey say about tall, lanky boys?

I had no clue. My traitorous eyes wandered back to Echo despite my better judgment.

He was shirtless, wearing only the camp-branded swim trunks.

He was playing water basketball with some of the campers, and the grin that lit up his face when our favorite camper, David, made a basket sent a strange, unexpected surge through my center.

I swallowed hard, suddenly aware of the sensation I hadn’t paid much attention to before.

Something hot simmered low in my stomach, my thighs pressing together instinctively.

I took a long sip of water, desperate for any type of distraction, but it was useless.

I clung to his every move like a magnet.

“No. What do they say?” Leah, another counselor, asked, her expression mirroring my own confusion. I was thankful her question interrupted where my mind had just wandered. A harmless daydream, right? The funny feeling in my panties said it was something a little less innocent.

Madison spun around so fast, like Leah had just asked the dumbest question imaginable. Leah, unfazed, cocked her head, clearly waiting for an answer.

Madison’s voice lowered like she was sharing a scandalous secret. “Let’s just say, their third leg is as long as they are tall.”

Leah’s brow furrowed.“Can you stop talking in riddles?What does that even mean?” she demanded, her voice sharp, cutting through the tension.

I watched, silently thankful for hercuriosity and boldness because I wouldn’t dare ask for clarity myself, even though Iwanted to know more than anything.

“That their dicks are big, girl, damn,” Iris whispered through gritted teeth.

My eyes ballooned, right along with Leah’s and a few other girls.

Our reactions were identical and almost comical.

Against my better judgment, my gaze flicked back to Echo.

And now I couldn’t help it, I was staring…

down there . Mama said curiosity kills the cat.

And right now, I was dangerously close to understanding why.

Echo

That One Summer in 2004

“Yo, you see them?” Kyle asked, standing waist-deep in the water, his voice just low enough to sound like he thought he was slick.

“Yep,” Maxell replied, tossing the basketball to a camper but not even pretending to look anywhere but toward the group of girl counselors.