AllFreeNovel
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“Cheers,” I reply, twisting the top off and taking a long pull after we clink bottles.
The cold beer tastes better than any other ever has. Something about the salt air and the moonlight and the smoke.
“Thanks for inviting me, dude,” I say, looking at the white bubbles working their way up and down the shore. “This has been great.”
“I didn’t think you’d come, to be honest,” Parker replies. “I know summers are insane for you. Almost as busy as fall, and winter, and spring…”
I roll my eyes but smile. “I don’t like to half-ass things.”
“Just your hatred for an Alleghany cheerleader?”
The smile falls off my face. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Pretty sure I do, Stevens. I’ve seen you around girls. I thought maybe were gay, up until I walked in on you and what was her name? Josie?”
“I think it was Jocelyn.”
“Jocelyn. Right.” He chuckles. “Anyway, point is, you barely give girls the time of day, even when they throw themselves at you. I mean, do you have any idea how many chicks came up to me last year and started asking aboutyou? They totally dig the silent, serious thing you do.”
“Is there a point to this conversation?” I ask, then take another pull of beer.
“Mypoint, Liam, is that you give Natalie the time of day. I saw you guys out on the back deck this morning. You like her, and you can lie to me about that all you want. Lie to yourself, even. I know you’ve got this rivalry thing. But this weekend is your shot. Based on how you and Matt talk, you’re not going to run into her when you’re back in Glenmont.”
“I don’t like her. I’m just trying to keep things civil. It would ruin the weekend for everyone if we were at each other’s throats this whole time.”
“Uh-huh.Sure.”
Music interrupts our conversation. I turn to see Audrey, Layla, and Gus, walking down the beach toward us. A screen door slams, and I hear Tessa’s voice, followed by Natalie’s. “I’ll be right back,” she shouts. “I forgot a sweatshirt.”
Tyler and Colin show up a few minutes later. We dig up the seaweed and food. Plates and drinks are passed around as the steaming food gets set on the table.
Everyone takes seats at the picnic table. Parker passes out bibs that sayLet’s get crackin, which I think is a joke until people actually start putting them on. I end up at one end, next to Gus.
Natalie reappears, slipping into the other side, directly across from me. I avoid looking at her as I cut open my potato and spread butter on the corn. Our eyes catch as I reach for my beer.
And hold.
I try to fight it. I really do. But I start laughing. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Me? Look at you!” She starts laughing too.
“This is literally the only sweatshirt I brought. Go check my luggage. And I knowyoubrought others.”
Gus is squinting at Natalie’s sweatshirt. “Alleghany Cheerleading? What’s wrong with that? Cheerleading is intense, man.”
“It’s not the cheerleading part I have a problem with,” I say, using one of the silver utensils on the table to tap at the bright red shell of the lobster.
Gus looks confused. Natalie reaches for the bib Parker offers her. “Not worried about your precious Glenmont apparel, Stevens?”
“Why would I be worried?”
She smiles as she ties the plastic. “I take it you’ve never had lobster before.”
“Why do people keep asking me that?”
“Well, I’m asking because you’re trying to use the cracker like a hammer and are under the mistaken impression you’re not about to be covered with lobster juice.”
Natalie takes the metal from me and squeezes it around one of the big claws of her lobster. Pulls out some pink and white flesh and pops it in her mouth with a smile, then reaches out and washes it down with a sip ofmybeer.
