Page 24 of Tastes Like Summer

I wipe a bead of sweat from my forehead before laying out the blankets and beach towels. “Can you help with these, please? And she’s not a new woman in my life. I didn’t invite her. Yes, she’s become a sort of friend—kinda.” Maybe? “But it’s only because her daughters are Rachel’s best friends at the moment. I invited them. And considering everything Rachel’s been through this past year, I am super grateful for their existence.” The fact that Diana is their mom is just a bonus. A very hot one. “Last year was super difficult for Rach—it was a new school and she didn’t have many friends. This summer has been great for her.”

Lexi gives me a hesitant smile. “That’s great that they’ve gotten so close. Though aren’t you concerned about what it will do to her at the end of the summer when they go back home? Because they aren’t from around here, right? So, it’s not like these will be permanent friends.”

“Yeah, what happens when they leave?” Lauren asks.

I frown, readjusting the umbrellas for the millionth time now for maximum coverage. “I know. They’re from Denver.” I almost spit out the word like it’s a dirty one. “But I’m trying to focus on the now. If this is what makes Rachel happy, then I’m not going to stand in her way. Her well-being is my number one priority. We’ll deal with her friends leaving when it comes.” Lexi grins at me, so I groan. “What now?”

“Nothing.” She shakes her head with a smile on her face. “It’s just so nice to see you this way. Being a parent definitely suits you.”

My heart swells with pride, but I can’t help the bout of imposter syndrome I feel every day. “She’s an amazing kid. It’s all her. And hopefully, last year was just a fluke, and the kids at her new school will realize this, too.”

God, I hope so. I can’t stand the thought of my daughter hurting even more than she is. Though we haven’t spoken much about it. I’ve been patiently waiting for her to come to me—to talk to me about what’s been going on.

“I’m sure they will.” Lexi pats me on the back. “And I’m sure she’s excited you set up this party. And hopefully you’re also excited for it?” She smirks.

I roll my eyes. “I never should’ve told you guys about Diana. Admitting I found Rachel’s friends’ mom attractive was the worst mistake of my life.”

Lexi snorts. “Really? The worst mistake of your life? I’ve known you forever; are you sure you don’t want to include the ridiculous frosted tip hairstyle you had in high school?”

I cringe. Thank god I’ve gotten rid of all the photos from back then, all evidence of that horrible hair color gone from existence.

“Or that time you thought it would be a great idea to go rock climbing with absolutely no training whatsoever, and ended up with a broken arm and leg? Not to mention the stitches on your forehead!”

My fingers unconsciously reach for the scar just above my right eyebrow, barely visible to anyone but me. “Those were questionable choices, not mistakes.”

“Oh, buddy. Believe me when I say that hair was a serious mistake—far from questionable. The only questionable thing is whether or not we’re even related.”

“It was the aughts. Everyone was doing it. And I was going through my rebellious phase.”

Lexi scoffs. “And the rock climbing?”

“That was…” A cry for help? I almost say. Something I didn’t realize until well into adulthood. Maybe part of me wanted to see if my parents gave a shit about whether I hurt or not. What they really gave a shit about was the medical bill that stunt I pulled came with. “That was a stupid thing to do.”

“Understatement of the century,” she mutters, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

I hear Lauren gasp behind me. “Michael. Are… are those flowers sticking out of that beach tote? Did you bring flowers to a beach barbecue?”

I flush bright red, staring at the white daisy arrangement I picked up on my way here. “I… I wanted the set-up to look nice,” I say, trying to act cool but all too aware of the defensiveness in my tone.

“Oh, Michael. No,” Lexi says softly, shaking her head.

“Will you just help me finish setting up these umbrellas?” I ask with a huff.

“Pretty sure you’ve moved them in every statistically possible position, but okay.”

It’s not long after that the others begin to trickle in, joining me and the women. Vinny, the Castelli sibling closest to my age, helps me heat up the grill while Danielle, his wife, wrangles their children.

“You’re tense,” Matt, Vinny’s old college buddy and his little sister’s husband, whispers. When he slaps me on the back, I flinch a little. “And jumpy. What’s with you?”

I look nervously around us, making sure Lexi and Lauren are out of earshot, and therefore able to keep their noses out of my business. I’m not safe from them giving me shit. “I’m fine. Just trying to make sure everything is set for today and tonight. I want everyone to have a good time.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “You sure?”

“Of course I’m—” But my words turn to ash on my tongue when my eyes fall on Diana. She’s a vision—a fucking dream—walking toward us from the path between the dunes in denim shorts, a white tank, and with what looks like a red bikini underneath.

Lord, give me strength.

I try to swallow the rock in my throat once. Twice. Three fucking times. But fail miserably as my eyes stay fixed on Diana’s moving figure, her lithe, curvy body walking through the sand, beach tote in one hand, sandals dangling from her fingers on the other. My concentration only breaks when her girls come barreling toward us, screaming for my daughter.