After three days at the beach, I’m sitting here on the porch overlooking one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, and I’m ready to go home. Well, maybe not go home, since the old man kicked me out, but anywhere but here. Getting wasted with my buddies every night, and listening to them through these paper-thin walls, getting it on with whoever they found to bring home that night, is getting old.

As much as I would love to forget about Julie and return to that kind of lifestyle, I just can’t. But Julie is not the real reason why … I just can’t get Jackie Winston off my mind. Something has changed or shifted, but I find myself attracted to her. Her smile is all I can see; her laugh is all I can hear, and those blue-green eyes of hers … damn they just get to me.

After we got our diplomas the other night, I wanted to go and officially congratulate her, but she was so surrounded by family and friends that it was impossible. I silently just stepped out and went home. Now, I wish I would have waited. Who knows where she is off to now. She could be on a trip around Europe or off to Hawaii. Her family is loaded, so no doubt that she is off on some awesome adventure.

I’m not sure why now, after all these years, I’m pining for her. Maybe it’s not her at all, maybe it’s the fact that she is surrounded by so many people who cheer her on and congratulate her. I would love to have that.

Then the thought of her crying, like her friends said she did, just guts me. Maybe I should just go back and try one more time to apologize to her in person this time.

“Mornin’, dude,” Josh says as he opens the glass patio doors and joins me on the balcony.

“Morning?” I laugh. “Don t you mean afternoon?”

“It’s almost noon so close enough. Let’s go grab some lunch,” Josh says as he kicks back in the lounge chair beside me.

“Not hungry,” I reply. Fact of the matter is, I’m starved but I’m thinking of grabbing something on my way back to Clover.

“What’s up?” Josh asks, kicking my foot to get my attention.

“I’m thinking about heading back to Clover or maybe going on up to Tuscaloosa to check out apartments.”

“Dude, you just got here. I thought you wanted a break?”

“I’m just not feelin’ it, man. I’m getting too old for this drinking every night shit.”

“Well, we don’t have to get wasted every night. We can do something just the guys, if you want.”

“Josh, it’s not you or being here, I promise. You guys have been great. It’s just me.”

“I hate that, man. I wish you would reconsider. At least come and have lunch with me today. When you head to the university, there’s no tellin’ how long it will be before I see you.”

“Fine, but just a quick lunch and not a liquid lunch either.”

Josh gets up and stretches before heading back inside. “I still think you are letting that Julie chick fuck with your head. You need to move on. Why you didn’t hook up with that gorgeous Jackie girl, is beyond me. I practically gave that girl to you, and all you did was end up pissing her and her friends off.”

I roll my eyes at the thought he ever stood a chance with Jackie. She made it pretty obvious that she wasn’t into him one damn bit.

We arrive at the Beach Pub where the guys immediately start scoping for girls. We’re told getting a table during lunch hour is going to be at least an hour wait. I’m about to say fuck it and head back to pack my shit, when a girl catches my eye. I’ll be damned if it isn’t Jackie Winston. She’s with her friends again, and before I have a chance to look away, she makes eye contact. Moment of truth time. She will either smile or give me a fuck off and die look.

Not only does she smile, but she waves us over to her table.

“Dude, it’s got to be our lucky day. Do me a favor and don’t piss them off,” Josh says.

“Hi, we have to stop meeting like this,” she says, scooting over to let us sit down.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“I’m spending the summer at my brother’s condo and you?”

“Spending the summer with Josh.” I nod at Josh, who is quickly reacquainting himself with Jackie’s friend Amber.

“Is it okay if we join you? It’s hard getting a table in this place, but we don’t want to crowd you,” I ask her, hoping she isn’t having pity on me.

“Of course, the booth is big enough for all of us,” she replies.

“So how about that graduation ceremony?” I ask her, feeling awkward as hell.

“Well, at least this time you didn’t ask about the weather.” She smiles, bumping my shoulder with hers to let me know she is just teasing. “The ceremony was great, except for one thing,” she says before taking a sip of her soda.

“Oh, yeah, what was that?”

“You didn’t come find me,” she says, giving me a small smile.

“But you were with your family. I didn’t want to intrude.”

“Are you sure? I thought maybe you were still mad at me for standing you up that night.”

“I wasn’t mad,” I lie once again.

She gives me a look that says she knows I’m lying.

“Okay, so I was a little mad. I just figured you were still pissed at me about that night at Oasis.”

“You know you could have asked me why I couldn’t make it, instead of assuming that I was mad,” she says.

“I suppose you’re right.”

“So, let’s start off with a clean slate. Hi, my name is Jackie Winston. I’m visiting here for the summer. I just got my AA degree in general education and I’m off to Alabama University next year, where I plan to become an elementary school teacher.”

“Like your mom?” I ask, remembering Mrs. Winston being one of the coolest sixth grade teachers. Everyone wanted to be in her class.

“Yep, and who might you be?” she asks.

“Tyler McCandless. I too just got my degree. I’m also off to AU in the fall. Right now, I’m studying health sciences and plan to one day become a licensed physical therapist.”

The table starts getting louder with chatter and laughter from my buddy Josh putting his best moves on Amber.

“What were you girls planning on doing after lunch?” Josh asks out of the blue.

“I’m not sure. Did you have something in mind?” Amber asks.

“How would you girls like to go parasailing? My brother owns a parasailing business.”

I look at Jackie, whose eyes grow big.

“Sounds like fun. What do you say, Jackie?” Amber asks.

“I supposed we can.” Jackie’s voice is barely audible as she agrees.

“Ever been parasailing?” I whisper in her ear.

“No,” she whispers back.

“Don’t worry, you’ll love it.”

“Tyler, I’m not sure about this. Is it safe?”

We are already on the boat, heading for the middle of the gulf when she grips my arm with the force of a prized arm wrestler, yelling in my ear to speak louder than the sound of the boat making a wake across the water.

“It’s perfectly safe. Mitch knows what he’s doing.”

We finally come to stop as Mitch hands us both a ski vest. “So, which couple is going first?” he asks.

Jackie still has a death grip on my arm. “Y’all go first. Jackie and I will wait,” I answer, letting her off the hook for now.

Josh helps Amber get set up as Jackie finally releases my arm.

“Which is it, water or heights?” I finally ask her.

“Heights,” she answers, looking stunned at my question.

“It’s really fun once you go up. Haven’t you ever been on a Ferris wheel or roller-coaster?”

She shakes her head no.

“You don’t know what you’re missing.” I smile at her.

We watch Josh and Amber enjoy their ride. Amber is smiling and laughing the whole time and Jackie starts to relax.

Soon Mitch is reeling them back, where they safely land on the back deck of the boat. They quickly get out of the harness and it’s our turn.

Jackie looks at me unsure as I raise my eyebrows, waiting for her to chicken out. But then she does the unexpected as she strips away her T-shirt and jean shorts to reveal one very sexy pink bikini. I doubt she wears this swimsuit in her pageant competitions.

Even Mitch raises his sunglasses to appreciate the view.

She grabs her vest and buckles up. “Are you going to stand there and gawk or are we parasailing?” she says with a look of determination. At least I think that’s what the look is. I don’t have the heart to tell her that she could have left on her shirt and shorts, because there is no way we are getting wet, but with the sight of her in that pink bikini, I don’t dare.

Without another word, I slip on my vest as Mitch gets us set up in the harness on the back of the boat. When he heads back to the driver’s seat, I suddenly feel Jackie grab my hand with a tight grip once more. I look over at her and smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll catch you if we fall.” I wink at her, and her grip relaxes. It’s almost as if she trusts me.

After a couple of screams as we are lifted into the air, I look over at Jackie who can’t stop smiling and laughing.

Mitch gives us a wonderful ride over the Gulf of Mexico as the blue-green waters once again remind me of her eyes as they opened wide when the sail brought us up. Her smile is contagious and I can’t help but be captivated by it.

Soon, we are being reeled in by the hoist and safely return to the back platform of the boat, where Mitch is waiting to help us out. He goes to help Jackie but I block him. “I got it, Mitch,” I say, looking over at him as he gives me a smirk.

I help Jackie out of the harness and she still has a large smile on her face. “That was so friggin awesome,” she exclaims.

“See? I told you, you would like it,” I say when I have the last hook unsnapped.

We sit back down next to Josh and Amber, who by now are getting really cozy with one another. It’s so bad I want to shout, get a room.

“We have to do this again sometime, but we will leave the lovebirds behind,” Jackie whispers in my ear. Her hot breath is turning me on something fierce.

Mitch starts heading us back to the dock but treats us to a couple of runs around the beachline.

“I love the beach, don’t you?” She smiles.

“Yeah, I do,” I answer, but in fact, it’s her warm smile that I would rather look at right now.

“How long are you staying?” she asks, catching me off guard.

I don’t have the heart to tell her that I plan to leave tomorrow. That is, if I still decide to leave at all now. “I’m not sure, why?” I ask.

“Just curious.” She looks out at the water once more.

“How long are you staying?” I ask her.

“All summer. It was my graduation present from my brother.”

“Nice present,” I say to her, hoping I don’t sound as jealous as I feel.

“Honestly, I think he did it because it would keep me local. I wanted to go overseas, but he said no. He’s basically taken over ever since Daddy died. I figured it was best for Mom’s sake to not argue. Besides, I do love it here.”

Watching the wind blow her golden blonde hair around as she leans her head back and enjoys the boat road, I can’t help but want to thank her brother too.