“Good morning. Seb and Nick are on their way. They should arrive soon. Did you eat breakfast?”
“We did,” I nod. Once inside, I take my bag upstairs to my room, opening the doors to the deck to allow the warm, salty air inside.
Back in the kitchen, Alex is eating some eggs along with a coffee at the island, and Bay is putting the food away. “So, what do we want to do this weekend?”
“The water will be warm, so I would like to spend some time in it,” Alex replies. “I am not sure whether we will get another chance to return before the weather changes.”
“Then lets spend as much time as possible at the beach,” I smile.
Once Seb and Nick arrive, we gather supplies from under the house and head to the beach. I help them set up the canopy and chairs before we lather up and hit the water. Alex was right; the water feels warmer than it has all summer, and it’s wonderful. Seb gets goofy, throwing me around in the water while Nick swims laps like he's in a pool. Alex and Bay practice staying underwater as long as possible to increase their lung capacity. It's something they do every time we stay here.
We swim and vegetate most of the day. Alex and I make sandwiches for lunch, and we eat at the beach. After sunning for a while, Nick, Alex, and Bay go back into the water while Seb and I relax on towels in the sun. “How was last night, Sunshine? Were things awkward with Bay? What did you do after we got off the phone?”
“Good. No. Tv,” I smile. “He told me he was asking a girl to homecoming next weekend, though.”
“Oh shit. I’m sorry, Sunshine. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. It hurts, but I want him happy. It is what it is,” I shrug. “I’m not looking forward to seeing them together, but he’s my friend, so I’ll suck it up.”
“This sucks,” Seb grumbles. “Our senior year was supposed to be awesome, and it’s all messed up already.”
“I know. Don’t lose hope yet, though. We’re just getting started,” I say, reaching over to plant a kiss on his cheek.
For dinner, we cook meat over the bonfire, followed by s’mores. It’s a wonderful, relaxing evening.
The next morning, we all go for a run, with Nick and me quickly outpacing the rest of the guys. We practice self defense at the end of the beach once the guys have caught their breath. With four on one, we manage to tackle Nick a few times. Working out always relaxes Nick, and he's smiling by the time we finish.
We make our way back towards the house at a slow jog, all of us deciding to plunge into the small waves to cool off. I end up floating on my back beside Nick and Seb while Alex and Bay bob in and out of the deeper water.
The guys decide to set up the volleyball net after lunch, and we play a few rounds of three on two before some teenagers join us for two more games. The guys and I form one team, and we have a few laughs. I have no idea who won or what the score was, but the others are friendly and nice, so it works out well.
We gather our stuff and lock up the house to head home late afternoon.
Chapter 17
Summer
The following Friday, classes end at lunch for the homecoming pep rally. Seb and E are tied up with the team, but the rest of us decide to get lunch at the diner, and we all pile into Alex’s SUV for the drive. The diner is busy, but we don’t have to wait long before being seated. “So, who are the guys playing today?” I ask everyone.
“We play the same team each year from Charleston because it’s their homecoming, too. We switch schools every year. This year it’s here,” Bay tells me.
“Oh nice. And where is the party tonight?”
“One of the other seniors on the team. It is not far from where E is staying,” Alex responds.
We chat about the carnival and dance throughout lunch. I’m going with Seb and E to the dance tomorrow night. Holly, Gabby, and I went shopping on Sunday evening and bought dresses. It’s only semi-formal this time, so I had more to choose from. Nick volunteered to go to the dance with me if I wanted him to, but I knew it wasn’t something he enjoyed, so I told him to stay home. It was sweet of him to offer, but I reminded him I don’t want him to change for me.
Once we’re back at school, I follow the guys into the gym. It’s my first time inside the building since last year, but I hold myhead up and look around despite the uncomfortable feeling in my gut. Nick walks beside me, and Alex and Bay are in front. The inside is identical to my memory—unblemished, a stark contrast to the atrocities it witnessed. My eyes meet Nick's, who raises an eyebrow at me, a silent question hanging in the air, before I give a subtle nod.
It’s crowded once we get inside the gym, so Nick moves in front of me and I hold the back of his shirt. People move out of his way when they see him coming, so I’m guessing his typical scowl is on his face. Alex steps behind me to prevent anyone from bumping me while Bay says he’ll return in a few minutes.
We climb to the top row and sit down. I notice Reesa heading up to us, but don’t see Bay anywhere. Looking around, I finally see him climbing the bleachers with a pretty girl following. My heart lurches in my chest, but I tell it to settle down. After Reesa takes a seat beside Alex, Bay and the girl sit in the row in front of us. “Guys, this is Penny. Penny, everyone,” Bay says.
Penny smiles and waves at us. “It’s nice to meet y’all.” She’s super cute, with wavy brown hair falling just below her shoulders. A slim nose with freckles sprinkled over the bridge and across her cheeks. Blue eyes, arched brows, high cheekbones, and a beautiful smile.
Alex says hello while Nick grunts and Reesa nods. “Nice to meet you too, Penny,” I smile. “Are you a sports fan?”
“I am, but I don’t play. My extracurricular is piano.”
