“YAHOO!”

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Slowly, I open my eyes and let the sunlight in. There’s another joyous scream coming from somewhere outside, and for some odd reason, I’m smiling. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I’m home with my family, and when I’m here, everything feels right in my life.

Sometime before dinner last night, Quinn showed up, making my parents beyond happy to have us all home. Our dad insisted on firing up the grill and building a bonfire, something we really haven’t done in awhile. With Peyton living in Chicago, it’s been hard for her to come here as often as we want, especially now that Noah lives with her as well. As a family, we needed these past hours to reconnect and just be the Powell-James clan we’re used to being.

I thought for sure once Peyton and I came back to the house after sitting on the beach, my parents would say something about my party habits. They didn’t. My dad pulled me into his arms though, and I broke down. Even though he didn’t utter a single word, I could feel the love pouring through him. I guess right now I need strong doses of hard love, and he’s going to give it to me. Mom, on the other hand, fussed over everything, asking if I was eating right, studying hard and sleeping at least eight hours. I think that was her subtle way of telling me she’s watching. Through Quinn, no less. Those two have been thick as thieves from day one.

The living room is empty, and the glass wall that leads to the beach is wide open, letting in a nice breeze, along with more laughter. I step out onto the patio and use my hand to block the sun to seek out the source of the noise. Not far from the house is my family, creating an early morning ruckus. I think about staying back and watching, or even slipping out to return home, but I want to be with them, at least for one more day. Tomorrow, reality can rear its ugly head and destroy what’s remaining of my life.

As soon as I touch the sand with my bare feet, I sigh. Normally, the sand is too hot to walk in without shoes, so this is nice. I stop and look down at my feet and wiggle my toes, giggling loudly. I find myself walking briskly toward my family. They’re sitting together, spread out on multiple blankets, not far from shore. This is my parents’ happy place, and honestly, I find solace here too. The beach is calm and perfect unless it’s storming. However, a good storm on the beach is a remarkable sight.

Noah’s the first one to see me. He’s standing there with only shorts on and a football in his hand and waves in my direction. “Morning.”

“Morning,” I say as I approach. I sit down next to my mom who puts her arm around me.

“There are breakfast burritos in the bag there.” Mom points to a line of bags filled with various foods and a few coolers.

Confusion clouds my face as I look at her. “We live at the beach.” I point to our house. “Are you not able to walk back and forth?”

Mom shrugs. Dad laughs. “No, she’s not. Your mother hates it, so she makes me bring as much out as possible.” Dad hands me a still wrapped burrito. “The food truck was down the way earlier this morning, so Quinn and I grabbed everyone something to eat and, by the way, good morning, princess,” he says, kissing me on the cheek. His wetsuit is hanging around his waist. One of the arms swings wildly, hitting me in the face.

“Morning, Daddy.” I don’t care how old I am he will always be “daddy” to me. There’s something about the way his eyes light up when either Peyton or I call him that, that I never want to see fade.

“Your wetsuit’s by your board,” he says.

When I came down yesterday, I had every intention of going back and didn’t bring a change of clothes with me. However, the thought of seeing Ben last night didn’t sit very well with me, and I kept procrastinating and finding reasons to stay. When Quinn showed up, it was just nice to be with my family, and I ended up staying, and while I do have a few things here, the essentials are at home.

“Maybe later.” I hold up the burrito even though I’m not sure I want to eat it.

“Come on, E.” Peyton stands and tugs on my hand.

“I don’t have a swimsuit with me.” It’s an excuse. I could always go in my bra and panties, but what an uncomfortable ride home that would be. It’s something Peyton, and I have done many times, and it’s not my favorite option.

“I bought you some new things the other day when I was shopping,” my mom says. I glance at her, but she doesn’t seem fazed. This is probably something she could’ve mentioned yesterday.

“What’s the occasion?”

“She was shopping with Peyton,” Quinn interjects. “And she feels guilty if she buys something for just one of us.”

I nod. “Score one for the guilt tripped parent.” Quinn and I bump fists and laugh.

“I feel like I’m losing out on getting new things,” Noah says, causing us all to laugh.

“I bought you the football,” Mom says, adding a smirk.

“I think that’s what we used to call a burn, babe,” Peyton says to Noah, who is standing there with his mouth wide open. He finally closes it and shakes his head.

“Thanks, Mom.” I lean into her and let her hold me. I have a feeling today is going to be one of those days I don’t want to end, and tomorrow’s going to be the day I never want to arrive because I have to go back to being Elle James, the party girl, and we all know the party girl doesn’t change overnight. Except this one wants to because she has an unsettling feeling she’s really screwed up with her best friend and doesn’t know how to fix things.

“Where’s the food?” I look up in time to see our uncle Jimmy walk across our blankets and head right toward the bags.

“Back at your house,” Dad says, pushing his friend and bandmate away from our stash.

“I tried to feed him at home, but he said your food is going to be better,” Jenna places a few bags down and shakes her head. She says hi to all of us before taking a seat next to my mom.

“Where’s Eden?” I ask. Jenna points toward the surf, where Eden is standing with her surfboard under her arm. “Who’s the guy?”

“Some bloke who’s not worth the time of day,” Jimmy says through gritted teeth.

My eyes go from Jimmy to Jenna, who is shaking her head, and then back to Eden, whose head is thrown back in what I’m gathering is flirtatious laughter. I glance at Noah, who has finally sat down next to my sister. “Are your parents coming?”

He shakes his head. “Nah. I didn’t really think this was turning into a family reunion.”

“When isn’t it?” I ask.

“She has a point,” Quinn says.

Jimmy sits down next to Jenna. I lean forward and say, “So the kid… not a fan, Jimmy?”

He pauses mid-bite and shakes his head. If I’m not mistaken, I believe he’s let out a growl. I try not to laugh, but can’t hold back.

“This is payback for all the womanizing he did before we got married,” Jenna says.

“You’re not helping, sweet lips.”

“Just saying, Jimmy. What comes around goes around.” Jenna shrugs and turns toward my mom, hiding the massive smile on her face.

“Jenna’s right, JD. Think about all those tours—”

“Flying burrito,” Quinn yells just as Jimmy’s half-eaten breakfast lands on our dad’s bare chest.

Every single one of us starts to laugh. Peyton snorts, which makes us all roar. And over all of our noise, Jimmy is yelling at our dad in some unintelligible British language, though I definitely picked up a few curse words.

“What’s so funny?”

We all stop and straighten up as Eden stares at us.

“Come eat, honey,” Jenna says, reaching for her daughter. Eden slams her board into the sand and ignores her mother’s hand. Jenna frowns but looks down at the ground so no one sees it. Ah, the teenage years of thinking you don’t need either of your parents only to lie awake at night, wishing you could tell them all your secrets because the burden is too much. I remember those days well.

As soon as everyone’s done with breakfast, I run back to the house and change into one of my older swimsuits. I don’t care how many times it’s been through the wash, it still smells like sun and sand. Back outside, I look at my family, wishing Ben was with us, but I’ve ruined things there. I have a feeling my family knows something is up because no one has asked where he is this weekend. Normally, he’d be with me and be part of my family.

Down in the water, everyone but my mom and Jenna are hitting the waves. I stand back and watch Eden, who is better than any of us. “Wow, she’s amazing.”

“She wants to go professional,” Jenna says. “Jimmy and I aren’t sure because of the time she’d have to devote.”

“You’d have to travel a lot, I’m sure,” my mom adds.

Jenna nods. “Hawaii and Australia, mostly. There’s plenty of competitions here, but she would have to train year around. I don’t know. I think she should wait. Jimmy doesn’t say much because either I’m the one who moves with her or he has to quit the band. Eden hates us right now because we can’t make a decision.”

My mom pulls Jenna into her arms, consoling her. I have a hard enough time with the life-changing decision I’m trying to make. I can’t imagine being faced with one that changes your entire family.

I give the rest of my family my attention, watching as they ride the waves. My dad, Quinn, and Eden ride flawlessly, while Noah and Jimmy fall off, and Peyton never stands on her board, choosing to paddle back in.

“You coming out, princess?” my dad asks as soon as he’s back on the shore.

“I don’t know. Watching Eden, I feel like I’m not very good.”

Eden laughs but doesn’t say anything. She drops her board in the water and paddles back out.

I’m on the cusp of making my decision when I’m picked up from behind. I scream, my arms flail and I try to hang out, but to no avail. I’m dropped into the ocean with barely enough time to hold my breath. I come up, sputtering with my hair covering my face. When I finally move the rat’s nest from my eyes, my brother is standing in front of me with his board.

“Bet you can’t catch me,” he says before tossing his board onto the water and paddling away.

“Ugh!” I groan, much to the delight of my family, who are laughing again.

After hours of surfing, playing volleyball, laying in the sun, eating and napping every chance we can, Quinn and Noah have started up the bonfire again, and the parental units cook dinner. Peyton and I are sitting side by side, watching the guys.

“I thought you had to fly home today?”

“We did,” Peyton says. “But Noah thought we could use another day. We’ll leave in the morning. Private jet and all.”

“The perks.” I sigh as if it’s so bad to have a private jet at our disposal. Peyton and I start laughing, likely thinking the same thing, which causes Noah and Quinn to look over at us. “He loves you, you know.”

“How can you tell?” she asks.

“It’s the way he looks at you, the way he watches you. He’s always smiling. And he knows where you are at all times. While everyone was on the beach today, you walked up behind him. I thought for sure he was going to scream, but it’s like he knew you were there the whole time. He didn’t even flinch.”

“He’s my dream come true, Elle.”

“Your fairy tale?”

“My happily ever after. He’s my best friend. He’s part of my soul, and without him, I don’t feel complete. Noah’s my forever.”

I reach for my sister’s hand, holding it tightly. It wasn’t too long ago that I begged the man who she’s about to marry to let her go, to tell my sister goodbye. Every day I thank God he never listened to me.