Prologue
Logan
Six feet tall, broad shoulders, trim waist, abs of steel...
Logan remembered when he looked like that. He looked down at his own body. The abs of steel might still be there technically, but they were covered by a thick layer of flesh now, the muscle definition was long gone. His pectorals were more like man boobs, and even his arms and legs had lost their definition.
“When did I get so old?” he asked aloud, looking back at the group of young men goofing off in the roped-off swimming area of the lake. Though it was September, it still felt like summer, only slightly less humid than August. The young men, who looked to be in their early twenties, splashed and wrestled. Four of them were playing chicken, the same way he'd done years ago with his three best friends.
“We're not old, we're just well-aged,” Faris said quietly, slapping him on the shoulder. He was also looking at the group of young men. It was kind of hard not to since their campsite was just above the lake's beach. The nostalgic expression on his face said he also remembered their days of playing chicken. Now, there was no way anyone was getting on anyone else's shoulders, even in the water. Logan's back ached just thinking about it. “Like fine wine.”
“Speak for yourself,” Ray Stewart grumbled behind them. Rather than watch the beachgoers, he was sitting next to the fire pit, feet propped up on a stump, watching a video on his phone. “I feel more like lumpy cheese.”
On the other side of Faris, Henry just grunted. He tended to be the most taciturn of the four of them. They'd all been friends since their twenties after meeting at a BDSM munch. Since then, their camping trips had become a yearly tradition at this campground.
They knew the trails like the back of their hands—not that they hiked them much anymore—and had spent so much time in the lake, Logan was surprised they hadn't turned into fish. The water was still warm from the summer's heat, and the sandy beach was well maintained. They still spent plenty of time in the lake, though they didn't run around anymore. They floated on inner tubes or lazily stroked across the deeper portion of the swimming area. Logan was the youngest of the four of them, although this year, he felt old, so he could only imagine how the rest of them felt.
“Maybe if you ate less cheese, you'd feel less lumpy,” Faris teased, turning back to join Ray at the campfire. “Didn't your doctor say something about your cholesterol?”
“Oh God.” Head flopping back on his shoulders, phone flopping just as dramatically into his lap, Ray groaned. “Not you, too…”
Chuckling, Logan turned to join his other two friends, Henry following him. They each grabbed a beer before sitting down.
“To another year, gentlemen.” Ray raised his bottle, and they all leaned forward to clink before taking a long drink.
“So,” Logan said after a moment. “How’s everyone doing?”
They all avoided his gaze, looking at their drinks or the surrounding trees. Logan really didn’t want to be the first to talk either, but he had been hoping someone else would have some good news to share this year.
“Well,” he sighed. “Don’t everybody speak at once. Are we just going to keep talking about Ray’s high cholesterol?”
Ray looked down at his stomach, which was admittedly the biggest out of their group, and Logan immediately felt like a piece of shit, but before he could apologize, Ray was already talking.
“Why not? It feels like that’s all I talk about lately. No fat, no meat, no flavor, or substance… exercise… I feel like I’m back in the Army.” Looking down at his rounded belly, Ray took hold of his stomach with both hands, regarding it silently for a moment. “Truth be told, maybe I ought to do something about this. I took Ally shopping the other day. I remember when guys used to look at her and see that look on their face. You know, that look. The one that says, ‘I’d love to tap that ass.’ Then they’d look at me, and they’d immediately walk the other way. I used to be big, buff. Strong enough to wipe the floor with anyone who stepped out of line.”
He gave his stomach a jiggle, then let go of it. “Now, I’m just big. They still look at Ally, though. They still get that ‘I’d love to tap that’ look, only now when they look