My Life Coaches are the Seven Deadly Sins

I sat between Jake and Jack as we pulled up to the lake. Three bags of chips in my lap as I glanced around. The dirt path had to be a solid mile through forest before we saw anything, so getting lost was a real possibility.

"Relax, no one's gotten lost out here in decades." Jack said as we started to hear music playing.

I saw us take a turn I would have missed ten out of ten times, even knowing it was here. Suddenly there were barbeques, picnic benches, coolers, smoke pits… it looked like a giant beach party.

"Welcome to the Lake Max." Jake said with a grin, then slid out of the car. I slid out to help them carry the four coolers of ice they'd picked up. There had to be… over a hundred people here already! Toddlers were running around in bathing suits.

"Thanks Jake, Jack, uh, isn't it… too cold to swim in the lake?" I asked as I pulled out my shopping bag of chips, and one bag of ice. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when Jake lifted a fifteen gallon cooler onto his shoulder. If I wasn't mistaken… all the coolers were already full of ice, soda, or meat…

Jack did the same with the second of the four coolers. "Kiddie pools for the pups." He said nodding toward the shoreline.

I followed his line of sight, there were a dozen little pools with kids of all ages. One kiddie pool had ice and sodas. "Oh, makes sense."

"Two heads!" Jake bellowed before he started walking off. I followed because… well… I didn't know anyone else. As I chased after Jake, two guys around our age trotted over to grab the last two coolers. I glanced at the one bag of ice that was already slipping out of my grasp.

Each cooler easily had five bags of ice… no wonder they all went to the same gym… I was led to over a dozen tables with all manner of food. Everything from steaks, to brownies, rice, salad, talk about a buffet pot luck!

"Ma! Max is gonna need to borrow Tupperware!" Jack bellowed as he practically threw the cooler down beside half a dozen others. "Meat!" He added a moment later. Soon three men who could all pass for Jack's father, or at least uncles came to check the new coolers out.

"It's fine Jack! I barely brought anything," I added in a whisper as the men gave me quick glances. One of them stepped forward to clap a hand on my shoulder. It almost sent me to my knees.

"Nonsense, you come hungry, leave full, and with enough left overs for at least two meals. Otherwise, we'll take offense. Max right?" The middle aged man with a wide grin. "Mellie was right, your eyes are striking.

"Yes sir." I said despite my aching shoulder. Were they all body builders??? Jesus Christ…

"Only sir around here is the old man, but don't let him scare you off son, come, eat." He said steering me toward the tables and tables of food as he took the bag of ice.

"Max! You made it!" Rusty called as she ran over. Two other girls weren't far behind. All three sporting animal ears and tails.

I blushed, "Yeah, thanks for inviting me." I would have waved back but I was suddenly holding a plate, napkin, and fork… when did that happen?

"Oh my gosh! He's such a cutie! Oh, Max! Lookie here!" The second girl called pushing past Rusty as she thrust her face practically into mine. I had to lean back otherwise we might have made contact.

"No way! Look at his eyes! Hey Max, I'm Rose! I heard you're single, why don't I show you around?" the third girl said shoving the second girl out of the way.

This time I took a full step back… the heck… I wasn't ugly, but this level of attention… "I'm, uh, not exactly in the market…" I tried to explain.

Jake and Jack lifted the second and third girl away by their overalls. "Stop drooling over him like he's a meaty bone," Jack growled dropping them a few steps back.

Rusty had her hands in her pocket as she stepped forward, "As if either of you had a chance, hey Max. Crazy family am I right?" She asked rolling her eyes at the other two.

"Hey Rusty…" I felt a little awkward because… even though I was single, I wasn't really in a place to start a relationship. I still have Arianna's ring.

"Like you're any better Rusty," Jack snorted as he grabbed his own plate.

Rusty dramatically flipped her hair at Jack, "I never said he was mine, I'm just saying we have a crazy family. Let's eat! We have games and fireworks starting soon."

I new my smile had to be a bit forced, "That sounds… nyce, thanks. I'm starving. Anything, I can help with?" I asked as I loaded my plate up with grilled chicken, chips, vegetables on kabobs, and a few shrimp. As I was waiting for the others… their plates were stacked so high I was sure there would be a food avalanche.

As I glanced over the drinks, I realized there wasn't a single alcoholic drink. I was sure… with so many people… there'd be alcohol. Not that I wanted any, I just found it… strange.

As we sat down, I decided to ask, "Is there a no alcohol rule at the Lake?" The chicken was amazing! I might have to go back for seconds… no wonder they all ate so much!

Rusty glanced up confused, then as if a light bulb went off she answered after swallowing down a fork of mac n cheese, "Oh! Half the family is allergic to alcohol, so we just don't bring it around. One of the pups accidentally got into some and it was a whole hassle!"

"Pups?" I asked glancing around. All three girls gave knowing smiles… clearly it was some kind of inside joke.

"Kids, ankle biters, munchkins, its an ongoing joke. You'll probably see some later." Rose added with a playful smile as she glanced around the table.

"Oh, cool," I agreed as we ate, we chatted, got seconds. Jake had thirds. If I ate that much they'd have to roll me out of here.

For the first two hours we mostly chatted, well they told embarrassing stories about each other while I laughed. Food was thrown, threats were made, occasionally others would stop in to chat for a bit. Jason even showed up with a girl on his arm. He was much nicer than at the gym.

"This is Ally, we're engaged. It'll be here at the lake this summer if you want to come Max." Jason introduced the stunningly beautiful girl. She was model pretty, platinum blonde hair, crystal blue eyes.

"Hi Max, nice to meet you! I do wicked cosplay if you ever want to join us! The girls only ever want wolf outfits, but I think you'd look amazing! All the guys around here are so burly its hard to do anything but super buff types." Ally said brushing her hair behind her ears.

Jason grinned as he lifted Ally up, sitting her on his arm. "You like em burly. But yeah, Max, her group was actually looking for someone with your build for some event in like a month or so."

I was kind of getting whiplash… "Oh, uh, that might be cool, what kind of event?" Five minutes, I had to have five conversations with people I'd never met, all at least five minutes. I could do this!