The ride from the campground to the beach is quick. I thought we would park at the public access but Bobby passes the community entrance. A mile or so down the road, he pulls into an oceanfront beachhouse driveway and parks the truck under the house.
“Whose house is this?” I ask. It’s not one of the big modern houses but it has a wide screened-in porch and I can hear the waves the second the door opens.
“Our friend’s parents own the house. They don’t rent so we’re welcome to use the outdoor showers and boardwalk when they aren’t here.”
“That’s awesome,” I say, hopping out of the truck. The warm breeze hits my face and I’m engulfed by the roar of the ocean. I’m not exactly knocking my water-front home but this…this is heaven.
I volunteer to take Sibley out to the beach while Anita and Bobby unpack the truck. I hold her chubby fingers and I laugh at her running down the boardwalk on wobbly legs toward the ocean. She’s faster than I predict and dashes out of reach beforeI realize it. Afraid I won’t catch her before she reaches the steps at the end, I yell, “Sibley!”
She turns and smiles a goofy baby smile but takes one step back toppling off the step.
“No, no no,” I say, thinking about how the first time Anita lets me loose with her baby, I’ve damaged her. I race to the edge and stop.
“Thank god,” I breathe with a sigh of relief. Sibley sits one step below, laughing and clapping her hands at a man who cradles her in his lap. He looks up and flashes me a grin before holding her under the arms and tossing her into the air.
“It’s you,” I say, because it’s him. The guy who shut my water off.
“It’s me.”
“What are you doing here?” I ask. He’s shaved his beard, which makes him even more handsome.
“Playing with Sibley. Making sure she doesn’t fall to her death,” he gives me an accusatory look.
“She ran off!” I argue. “And she’s really fast!”
“It’s all good,” he says, rubbing his nose against Sibley’s. “Uncle Justin caught you.”
“Wait,” I say, eyeing his light brown hair, blowing out of its quasi-faux–hawk. “You’re Bobby’s brother?”
“Yep,” he nods. “And you’re the girl from the shower with all the shampoo and the robe and all that.” He winks, gesturing to my hair and staring at my chest with those crazy blue eyes, making me squirm. He sticks out his hand. “Nice to meet you—formally.”
“I haven’t told you my name.”
“Summer, right? It’s about time you realize there are few secrets in Ocean Beach.”
I ignore his hand and grab the baby. She squeals in protest, but when she sees we’re walking toward the shore, she stops. “Come on, Sibley, let’s go see the water.”
I don’t look back until I’ve reached the edge of the beach and the cool June water rushes over my toes. Still on the steps, Justin pulls Anita in a bear hug and then grabs the cooler out of Bobby’s hands. They head to an already-forming group down from where I’m standing all alone.
“Can you believe I came down here with all these people that I don’t know?” I ask Sibley. “People that have known one another all their lives. That have kids and families and careers all mapped out.”
She stands up and water drips down her legs and she laughs.
“I mean I don’t even know these people. Your mom is cool. And your dad, but your uncle? He’s kind of a jerk.” I bend down to pick up a shell to show her. “He totally turned off my water on purpose.”
“Wa-ter,” Sibley says.
“I know,” I say, still basically talking to myself. “He did offer me and Mom a ride that day. And he’s your uncle and he goes to Clemson, so he can’t be an idiot.”
The little girl claps her hands and moves to the ocean.
“You know who’s an idiot?” I put my hands on my hips and she mimics me. “I am. Sitting down here while there’s a whole group of people up there waiting to hang out with me. I’m being stupid. Don’t you think?” She doesn’t reply, thankfully, but I take her hand and lead her back down the beach to the others. It’s time to move on.
5
The sun burns hot on my already tender skin and my hair feels like straw from the wind and sea air. Once I got over my weirdness with Justin, I relaxed enough to enjoy the day, watching everyone surf and swim. I stay out of the water though, only going up to my knees to cool off.
“You ever going to get in?” a girl named Ivy asks. She has a huge surfboard under her arm. Her parents own the house we’ve occupied for the afternoon. Even though the house itself is off limits we have access to an outside shower and bathroom. There’s also the porch so there isn’t much else necessary. I kind of like the townie way of doing the beach.
