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I laugh, shaking my head, and make my way to one of the empty cabanas nearby. I get into my red bikini, making sure I’m comfortable before heading back outside so I can find Carter.
I don’t see him, so I decide to lay in one of the hammocks while I wait. I lean my head back and take in more of the beautiful view, but the colors in the sky are turning darker as the sun goes lower and lower beyond the water.
There truly is no better view in my opinion. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of looking at this.
After about five minutes, I look around again to see if I can find Carter. I don’t know where he ran off to, but it couldn’t have been far.
Just as I’m debating going to look for him, he comes back out with a pair of swim shorts from one of the gift shops inside. A cartoon shark swims across them with the words “Life’s a Beach… At Clearwater Resort”
I can’t help it. I burst out laughing as he makes his way down to me in his new, ridiculous swim trunks.
“What’s so funny?” Carter questions when he’s closer. He holds his arms outstretched. “It couldn’t possibly be the fact that I’m wearing thisstylingswim suit to join you in the water, could it?”
I shake my head, but don’t stop laughing. “You’re ridiculous, Carter. You really are.”
Before he can say anything, I push Carter backwards and begin gunning it towards the water. “Last one in buys drinks!”
He stumbles back but he recovers quickly, and he’s almost made it to my side by the time I splash into the water and dive under.
“That wasnotcool!” he remarks, splashing me with water.
“Then get faster legs!” I chide back.
He grabs me before I have a chance to realize what is about to happen, and starts spinning in circles while he holds me tight.
“Apologize!” he calls over the sounds of the water. “You pushed me so you could win!”
“Never apologize for greatness!” I tell him, squirming to get out of his arms. “I am the champion! You must buy me drinks, loser!”
“That’s it!”
I am so busy laughing that I don’t realize what’s about to happen before it’s too late. Carter, still holding me tight, throws me a few feet away, where I land with a noisysplash.
I come back up from the water, pushing my braids out of my face and rubbing my eyes to get rid of the salt water sting. “You asshole!” I gasp teasingly, splashing water at my fake boyfriend. “How dare you!”
He narrows his eyes. “Next time maybe apologize for being a no-good cheat.”
“I’ll never apologize for being superior, Carter. When are you going to learn?”
He splashes me back and we both begin a water fight, not being able to stop laughing.
After a while we both begin to actually swim and enjoy ourselves in the water. It’s nice, knowing Carter likes my terrible jokes. He’s gotten better at his retorts with me, and something about that feels special.
I don’t think anyone has ever understood me like Carter does.
15
CARTER
Iflash Jada a warm smile as we stand outside my mom’s door and ring the bell. As soon as the door opens though, my smile falters.
“Come in you two,” my mom says, stepping aside to let us in.
I have to try hard not to stare though. She’s looking noticeably worse than she did just a few days ago. I had let myself believe that me being with Jada would somehow fix things, but I’m realizing it might not be so easy. Her cheeks are sunken and there are bags under her eyes, looking puffy and dark against the otherwise thin, pale skin of her face. She looks tired, and I can see it’s getting harder for her to walk.
Despite my shock, Jada doesn’t miss a beat.
“It’s so good to see you, Honey,” she says, giving my mom a gentle hug as she steps inside.
