LAURIE

“Are you okay?” Lo said as we rolled up our towels. “You know, after last night? I didn’t mean to go all Winston Churchill on you.”

“Who?”

“No one,” she said around a smile. “But are you sure you’re okay?”

“I think so. I mean, I want to go to USC with Kyle, so I guess that’s what I need to focus on. College, the future. I just don’t want to disappoint anyone.”

Or deal with a year of Mom and Dad’s attempts at talking me into Berkeley. I could just imagine it now. The family interventions. Dinners with the Nusacks and Marlsons, trying to ‘make me see USC was the wrong decision’. Or even worse, trying to fix me up with their sons. Their non-football playing, future lawyer or CEO sons.

“Laurie, no one is going to be disappointed as long as you make the right decision for you.”

Easy for her to say. She didn’t have Gabi and Mike Davison for parents. But that wasn’t fair because I knew things had been tough with her dad since they moved to Wicked Bay.

“Yeah.” I pursed my lips. “I guess. And what about you? Have you made any decisions?”

She looked out at the ocean, avoiding my eyes, and sighed softly. “Not yet.”

“You know he'll want you to go to Steinbeck, right?”

Her shoulder shrugged up and down. “Maybe. He isn’t pushing me to decide.”

Yet.

Maverick wasn’t pushing her yet. But he would because there was no way in hell he’d agree to Lo being at any college other than the one he was attending. It was going to be hard enough on him—on them both—when he left next month.

“You have time,” I said, not wanting to make her feel bad. She met my eyes and smiled weakly. “Yeah, I know. Come on.” Lo stuffed her sun lotion in her bag. “Let’s go find the boys.”

We walked in comfortable silence. It was one of the things I loved about Lo, not having to work at our friendship. In some ways, her arrival in Wicked Bay last fall had been fate. I saw the way Kyle was with her; protective and loyal, welcoming her into the family as if she’d always been there. It reminded me of all the things I loved about him. And I hadn’t told Lo or Kyle, but without her, I probably would never have given him another chance. Not because I didn’t love him. But because I couldn’t bear the thought of one day, losing him.

We reached The Shack, and Lo opened the door, letting me pass.  “Phew, it’s hot out there.” I laughed as she tilted her face under the A/C and let the cool air beat down on her.

“Let’s get drinks then find the boys.” I still felt a little hungover after mine and Lo’s epic drink-fest. Earlier, when I’d finally left Kyle’s shower and changed into some fresh clothes, I’d found the Stone-Prince kids—minus Macey—in the kitchen laughing and joking and eating more food than I’d ever seen in my life. I knew Kyle could cook but it wasn’t something he did often. There was no need when you had someone like Loretta on hand. He’d gone all out, though. Pancakes. Bacon. Waffles. But my stomach had only managed one pancake before I felt ready to hurl.

“Sounds good.”

We made our way to the service counter and ordered milkshakes. “Babe,” a voice called across the diner. “Get me one and some fries.”

I rolled my eyes at Kyle, and Lo snickered beside me. “Where does he put it all?”

“No idea. Did you see how much he ate at breakfast? Pig!”

“But he’s your pig.” She flashed me an amused grin, and I nodded.

“Yeah. Yeah, he is.”

A favorite with the local kids, The Shack was busy; the lunch rush all looking to get rehydrated before an afternoon of sun and surf. I scanned the crowd, waving at a couple of girls from school.

“Oh God, he’s here.” I whispered under my breath when my eyes landed on Jared. “And he’s with Devon.”

“Shit. Devon’s here?” Lo craned around me to see and I yanked her back, trying to be discreet. “Well, I guess it’s going to happen. We live in the same town. Go to the same school. I just hope Maverick plays nice.”

“He’s still really hung up on that, huh?” We moved up the line.

“It’s just a guy thing, isn’t it? Devon liked me and then he hurt me. I guess it makes sense he’s pretty high up on Maverick’s shit list.”

“Yeah, but you smoothed things over with Devon, didn’t you? And he did defend your honor against Caitlin.”

Lo shrugged handing the server a twenty. “Yeah,” she lowered her voice. “But it’s not like we’re going to be BFF’s anytime soon.”

Jared looked up as if he felt me watching and I turned away quickly, heat flooding my cheeks at being caught. “Come on,” I said tucking my hair behind my ears. “Let’s find the guys.”

“There’s my girl.” Kyle made a big scene of swaggering over to us and slinging his arm around my shoulder. I smiled up at him, aware of another set of eyes burning into my back. “I missed you.” He pecked my nose, and I leaned back, giggling at his PDA. This was the Kyle I was used to—the Kyle I wanted to go to college with.

“Dude, take your shot.” Trent flicked his head in greeting and I wiggled out of Kyle’s arm. “Finish your game,” I said, and he pouted before going back to the pool table.

“Hey, Laurie.”

“Maverick.” He already had Lo wrapped in his arms, his chin resting on her shoulder as they watched the guys’ game. “How are you feeling?”

“A little delicate still.”

“Lo insists she’s okay, but I’m not buying it. You two drank a lot.” He gave Lo a pointed look and she pinched Maverick’s arm.

“I told you, we just needed to let loose. It’s not like I do it often.” She shrugged dismissively but I saw the tension around her eyes.

“Please can we change the subject?” I groaned, clutching my stomach as it lurched at the mention of alcohol.

“Is that Lions?” Maverick’s voice turned cold. “What’s he doing here?”

“It’s a public diner. He can be here, Maverick.” Lo turned in his arms, gripping his jaw with her fingers. “Chill.”

“I’m chill. I just don’t like that fucker.”

She met my eyes, rolling hers with a heavy sigh.

“Let’s all just be thankful Caitlin is gone for the summer,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. But Maverick glanced at Lo who shot me a ‘what the hell’ expression. And it was my turn to sigh.

Who said being a teenager was easy?

~

WE HUNG OUT AT THE Shack all afternoon. Jared and Devon left, and the mood instantly lifted. The sun was brutal today, and although I wouldn’t admit it to anyone, I still felt a little green. But it had been nice, hanging out with Lo and the guys.

Until I spotted someone watching us from the other side of the diner. “See that girl?” I whispered to Lo, and she craned her head in my direction.

“You'll have to be a little more specific, the place is crawling with girls.”

“Her, with the boots.” I narrowed my eyes and gave a little flick of my head in the girl’s direction. I’d tried to ignore her. Tried to tell myself she was no one. But there she was. Again. Turning to Lo, I said, “She keeps looking over here.”

“Do you recognize her?”

“No.” But I had seen her before. More than once. “She doesn’t look like she’s local.”

“An out-of-towner looking at us, scandalous.” Lo mocked, and I narrowed my eyes, blowing out an exasperated breath.

“She isn’t watching us, Lo,” I said unable to disguise my irritation. “She’s watching Kyle.”

“Oh.” Realization hit, and she widened her eyes. “Oh. Well, has he noticed? Maybe we should tell him?”

“What? No! We need to figure out who she is and what she wants.”

Although my mind had already conjured up various different scenarios... none of them good.

“Laurie.” Lo looked at me with a sympathy and understanding that made me want to claw off my own skin. She’d always been so certain he wouldn’t cheat—that Kyle Stone couldn’t possibly be that guy. But the clouds in her eyes made me wonder if she was having a change of heart. “Don’t you think honesty is the best policy?”

“Babe.” Kyle appeared out of nowhere and I smiled over at him. His gaze misted with something but then his easy grin slid into place. “You want anything?” He flicked his head to the service counter.

“Nah, I’m good.” I held up my shake, flashing him a tight smile.

“Cous?”

“I’m good too, thanks though.” Lo gave me a pointed look, but I mouthed ‘no’ at her. Her nostrils flared, and then she broke every friend code known to man. “Kyle,” she said before I could stop her. “Do you know that girl?”

“Which girl?” Calm. Smooth. Not even a hint of panic in his reply. Maybe I had it all wrong... maybe I was the one being paranoid.

“The one with the don’t-mess-with-me boots? She keeps looking over here and to be honest, it’s freaking me out.”

“Lo,” I hissed under my breath, but my best friend ignored me as she casually pointed her head in the direction of our fan club.

“Nope.” He shrugged. “Never seen her before in my life. But can’t say I blame her, I’m looking pretty damn fine today, even if I do say so myself.”

“Kyle!” we shrieked in unison, but his name rolled off his back as he made his way across the diner, shoulders heaving with laughter.

“See, you have nothing to worry about. She’s probably just lusting after something she can never have.” Lo eyed the girl sideways. She wasn’t looking anymore, focused on the menu in her hands. “She looks kind of... sad.”

“Don’t tell me you want to go befriend the girl,” I said, eyes wide with disbelief.

“What? No! I just... oh, forget it. She’s leaving anyway.”

“Good.” Me and Kyle were finally in a better place. Weren’t we? I didn’t want anything else to rock the boat.

Lo levelled me with a bemused look. “Your claws are as sharp as Macey’s right about now, you do know that, right?” There was a hint of amusement in her voice, but it was lost on me.

“Did you honestly just compare me to Macey Prince?” Lo arched her brow but didn’t reply. “Bitch,” I murmured, and she smirked.

“Yeah, but you love me.”

And I did. Like the sister I never had. Which only made all this harder. Because if anything went wrong with me and Kyle, I didn’t only stand to lose him.

I stood to lose everything.