Page 55 of Coastal Runaway

“Did you get crab rangoons?” I put my hands together and peered at him hopefully.

“I’m not new here. I got two orders.”

I squealed and launched myself into him. He laughed and put his hands under my knees positioning me to straddle him.

He peered down at the Hartford Prep Football hoodie that I was currently swimming in. He lifted the right arm looking for the small tear in the elbow, “This is mine… Wait, I haven’t seen this hoodie in years.”

That's because I took it. Well, I didn’t take it, but I found it in the trunk of Baby Blue when I unpacked the car after getting to Malibu. I would take the secret to my grave, but on some of my loneliest nights here, I would put it on and get lost in my memories.

I gave him a sheepish smile, “is this yours? I thought it was Nolan’s.” I lied.

He started tickling my ribs, causing me to squirm in his lap, “you're such a dirty liar! You know that I ripped that sleeve while chasing you through the backyard that time you ambushed me and Nolan with a water gun filled with fish oil.”

“Good times,” I laughed uncontrollably until he finally stopped. I was huffing deep breaths as he stared directly into my eyes.

“You had it all this time?” He whispered.

“It’s always been you,” I whispered back.

In this moment, hidden from the world in our little bubble, I meant it.

The doorbell rang declaring our food had arrived so we headed down to get it. I knew how terrible I looked: red rimmed eyes, puffy nose, and a rat’s nest for a bun on the top of my head. But, I didn’t care. Nolan spotted me and came running, scooping me up and spinning me in a hug.

“She’s alive!” He yelled dramatically. He placed me back on my feet and looked me over as if I just sustained life threatening injuries.

“You're literally so dramatic.” I rolled my eyes.

Luke came sauntering back into the kitchen with enough Chinese food that we could feed the entire football team. He started laying it out on the counter and called over his shoulder for Alexa to play my favorite playlist, Songs That Make College Girls Dance.

Nolan grabbed my hand and started twirling me to the sound of Teenage Dream by Katy Perry. We all laughed and sang our hearts out in the middle of the kitchen until we settled in with plates piled high with food. As I looked over at the two boys who I loved more than anything in the world, my distress felt like a distant memory.

twenty-four

Luke

“So how are we going to handle this?” Nolan sat across from me, placing a steaming mug of coffee onto the kitchen island.

Startled, I looked up, “handle what?”

“What do you mean, handle what?” He sipped his coffee, “how are we going to get revenge on Sinclair?”

I let out the breath that I had been holding in. For a second I thought that the secret Keegan and I had been hiding from the world had gotten out. Not that it would have been the worst thing. I was trying to give her the space to process her feelings, but it's starting to settle in just how comfortable she was keeping our feelings a secret, not that she had directly admitted her feelings. The girl kept it close to the chest.

“I think we should just let your dad’s lawyers handle it.” I shrugged.

“Boring,” He smiled and looked around, “I swear ever since you started seeing this mystery girl you never want to have fun with me.”

“Aw, baby, do you miss me?” I clutched my chest.

He barked a laugh, “I do. But, seriously, I’m happy for you dude. When do I get to meet her?”

It was such an innocent question that he had no idea was so complicated. I despised lying to Nolan. I didn’t feel bad for dating Keegan, I knew he would get over the idea. But I hated that he had actually given me the shirt off of his back and I was lying to his face while his sister blew me under the table.

Literally.

I knew Keegan and I had to have a serious conversation soon, but I was worried that once I opened up about my true feelings that she would disappear again.

“Soon, hopefully,” I said.