AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You do it.”
"I drove, you clean up," I say before I toss the garbage back to him and jog up the steps to the back porch of our home away from home, a six-bedroom ocean-front cottage at the end of Buxley Lane.
I open the door, knowing it’s not locked, and call out hello, knowing my mom is in the kitchen cooking up a storm for her boys. A second later, she comes around the corner, arms out for a hug, dish towel slung over her skinny-bones shoulder. “There you are! I was starting to get worried.”
She pulls me in and I tower over her as we hug.
“Where’s your brother? Getting rid of the junk food wrappers?” She pulls back and puts one hand on her hip.
I burst out laughing. “Who? Us? Never.”
Shaking her head, she says, “All right, but that’s it for the junk until Independence Day. Now, come on. Lunch is on the deck.”
I follow her through the house, admiring the
view of the ocean out the wall of windows along the living room and kitchen. It’s a perfect day to start summer vacation—hot and sunny.
As I step through the sliding glass doors to the feast of salads, brown rice, and chicken breasts waiting, I grin, happy to be here and wondering what the summer has in store for me. There’s really only one thing missing from my life, and that’s the right girl to spend it with. Maybe she’s here this year.
Three
Jess
I’m almost five hours into my shift and it’s been a steady stream of boats since eight in the morning, not that I’m surprised. It is the Friday of the long weekend and all the rich kids are in a big rush to get over to Party Bay before all the spots next to the beach are taken.
I watch as a big, shiny white speedboat pulls up. I get ready to catch the rope from the driver and when I do, I'm blinded by the most gorgeous smile I've ever seen.
“Hey, there,” he says, his voice confident and low.
My knees go a little weak and I blush with embarrassment at having to serve this insanely hot guy. He tosses the rope to me and I miss.
"Whoops," he says, hopping down from the boat in one graceful move. He grabs the rope himself, then ties it to the post.
“Sorry, I’m a bit of a butterfingers today,” I say, feeling my cheeks heat up now that he’s standing right in front of me.
“My fault. It was a bad pass.” He holds out his hand. “Ethan Harris.”
“Jess.” I take his hand and warmth flows through me as he grips my fingers. I risk a glance at his perfect face and almost melt at the look in his eyes.
“Hi, Jess. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” I pull my hand back, remembering who I am and who he is. “Fill up?”
“No, Ethan.”
I look up and he laughs a little. “Sorry, my jokes are really lame when I’m around pretty girls.”
I glance up onto the boat, assuming there are some pretty girls on it, but I only see a slightly smaller version of him in the passenger seat.
“Yes, fill her up please.”
I nod and get to work, feeling incredibly self-conscious with his eyes on me.
“So, Jess. Are you from around here?”
I nod. “Born and raised here in beautiful Cape Williams.”
“I’m from Philly.”
