The Tipping Point

                                    

                                          
As we speed down the highway, Mina fumbles through her bag in the passenger seat. She haphazardly dumps its contents into her lap before letting out a frustrated sigh.
"Do you think I left my sunglasses at home?" she asks, pouting.
"It's nearly winter, Mina. I doubt you'll need sunglasses," I reply, giving her a quick glance before turning my eyes back to the road.
"So what? It can still get sunny," she frets. "Shit, I definitely left them."
"It's no big deal. You can just borrow mine."
"Yeah, I guess so," she sulks, leaning back in her seat. Pop music floats through the speakers, making me feel more upbeat than I actually am. I tap my thumbs against the steering wheel in time to the beat.
"Just another 30 minutes before we reach the cottage. As soon as we get there, I'm heading straight for the hot tub," I tell Mina, trying to distract her from the missing sunglasses.
As expected, she perks up a bit. "Same! It's going to be awesome. After surviving midterms, a weekend with the guys is just what I need."
Just then, my phone buzzes with a message from Adrian, lighting up the screen.
"Could you tell him we're almost there?" I ask. She nods, unlocking my phone to send him a quick response.
"You know, Lyra, a whole weekend with Adrian might be just what you need, too," Mina comments, tossing my phone back into the cup holder.
"Maybe it is," I murmur, my voice thoughtful. Since Kian's not-so-subtle threat over dinner,  the idea of spending more time with Adrian has taken on a new appeal. I can't deny that my growing interest is driven by equal parts spite and genuine curiosity. Stepping out from the shadow of my rivalry with Kian to see what lies beneath Adrian's charming exterior doesn't sound half bad. Maybe this weekend is my chance to find out.
Before long, the crunch of gravel under the tires announces our arrival as we make our way up the long driveway. When the house finally comes into view through the trees, I decide that calling it a cottage feels too modest. What greets us is a charming two-story Cape Cod-style home, nestled right on the banks of Candlewood Lake. Its pristine white clapboard exterior is accented by soaring windows that reflect the serene surroundings. A grand portico marks the entrance, with stately columns framing a solid mahogany door.
To the side of the house, a path leads toward a private dock that stretches out into the lake. The late autumn sun hangs low on the horizon, washing the four-bedroom home in watercolor shades of pink and purple. Against the deepening dusk this place was nothing short of picturesque.
I text Adrian to let him know we've arrived and sit back, watching the last rays of sunlight color the sky. Minutes later, he steps through that impressive front door, with Kian following close behind. Mina practically bounces out of the car the moment she spots them, but I linger behind the wheel for just a little longer. Drawing in a deep breath, I ready myself for a weekend of tolerating Kian's presence.
"Sorry we're late," Mina says, walking over to wrap an arm around Kian in greeting. "Lyra's tutorial didn't finish until 4 p.m."
"No problem. We just cracked open a few beers while we waited," Adrian chimes in, approaching me with a big smile. "How was the drive?"
"Scenic. Is anyone else coming?" I ask, stretching my stiff limbs.
"Nah, it'll just be us this weekend." Adrian runs a hand through his mop of brown hair. "After that last party, I've put a hard stop on throwing any more for a while."
I snicker at the memory, eliciting a frown from Kian.
"Let's get your bags inside; no use standing out in the cold," Kian says to Mina, completely ignoring me. That's fine by me; the less I interact with Kian this weekend, the better. Adrian grabs my duffle bag from the car while Kian hoists Mina's rolling suitcase.