The guys and I sleep in till noon, and once we get up, we hustle our asses to clean the condo for tonight. None of us want the place to look like animals live here. Josh designates me as the barbecue master tonight, so therefore, I have the distinct honor of running to the grocery store.

I am busy in the meat department, picking out some great steaks to impress the girls, when someone bumps my grocery cart. I look up to see Jackie’s gorgeous smile.

“Hey, what’s up?” I’m surprised but very happy to see her.

“Just a little shopping. Didn’t you get my text?”

“No, sorry. My phone was dead. I left it to charge back at the condo.”

“I thought maybe you were avoiding me.” She smiles.

“Why did you text me? You’re still coming over tonight, right?” I brush off her statement.

“Yes, of course. I just wanted to know what your favorite dessert was.” She smiles and comes off a little flirty.

“Well, I don’t know. Were you planning on making something?” I tease her a little.

“Maybe. As long as it isn’t too complicated to make.”

“I’m kidding. You don’t have to make anything. We’re treating you girls tonight, remember?”

“I know, but Mama taught me to never show up empty-handed. So, what will it be? Cake? A pie? Maybe a cobbler?”

Damn, something about the way she is listing off desserts has me thinking of things other than what you would find on a dessert tray. She is definitely acting flirty and I don’t mind one damn bit.

“Peach. Peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. My mama used to make it. It was the best peach cobbler around.” I challenge her.

“Good choice.” She smiles, walking away. “Be warned, I have my granny’s recipe and it’s the best peach cobbler in the tri-state area,” she calls out over her shoulder.

“I guess we’ll find out tonight,” I shout out to her as she turns back and smiles before heading down another aisle.

I turn back to the meat case and pick out the best steaks they have. Tonight is going to be interesting.

The condo is clean, the side dishes are made, the drinks are chilling, the pool is ready, the patio lights are turned on, music is softly playing in the background, and I’m at the grill, about to throw the steaks on.

The girls arrive on time, dressed casually this time since it is a backyard barbecue. They pair off, leaving Jackie to come over to me.

“Hi there,” she says as she comes up, giving me a side hug. My arm makes immediate contact with bare skin, and I look down to see she is wearing a flower print bikini top with a matching cover tied around her waist like a dress.

“Hi, stranger, long time no see,” I tease, holding her a little longer in the hug when I start to feel her pull away. Damn, she looks and smells so good. I don’t want to let her go. “How do you like your steak?” I ask her, finally releasing her.

“Medium rare.”

“My kind of girl. How about the other girls?”

“You better make them well done, they are not big meat eaters.”

“I’ll go ahead and throw theirs on now, then. Did you make me a peach cobbler?”

“I did. I hope it’s as good as your mama’s.” She looks away from me, suddenly seeming shy.

“I’m sure it will be delicious. Would you like a beer or some wine?” I head to the little bar we have set up for tonight.

“I would love a glass of wine.”

“White or red?” I ask her, showing the two bottles I have.

“The white, please.”

I open up the bottle and start pouring her a glass. I catch myself staring at how beautiful she looks tonight. With her long blonde hair flowing in spiral curls, she truly does look like a princess.

Princess—that name, that night … I remember now. She was pissed because I called her princess. She said I wasn’t worthy to call her that. Why the fuck would she say that? Is she testing me? Flirting with me, so I make a move, just so she can shoot me down again? I’m so sick and tired of girls and their games. This reminds me so much of Julie, always acting hot and cold … I like you, but I don’t. Let’s be friends. Hell, no. I’m not doing this again.

“Here.” I hand her the glass. “I better get back to the grill. Make yourself at home,” I say as I walk away from her.

I take a glance back at her and I can see she is stunned by my sudden mood change, but she doesn’t follow me to ask me what’s up. She just joins the others.

We all sit down and enjoy a quiet dinner. Everyone is talking back and forth except Jackie and me. We talk to the group, but not to each other. I guess she figured out that I’m on to her. Worthy? Who the hell does she think she is? Has being a beauty queen gone to her head? The more I think about that night, remembering what she said, the more pissed I become.

Josh, Todd, and I start cleaning up as the girls go off to the corner talking. When I bring the plates to the kitchen, Todd stops me before I can head outside to get more.

“What did you say to piss her off about now? I heard the girls whispering they are about to leave.”

“I didn’t say anything.” I defend myself.

“Exactly. You are giving that beautiful girl out there the silent treatment and now she wants to go home. You know damn well her friends will leave with her. What gives?”

“Look, I’ll decide who I want to hook up with.”

“No one said you had to hook up, but you don’t have to be a dick either.” Josh puts in his two cents. “Come on, Todd, let’s see if we can convince them to stay. Some wingman you are tonight.” Josh glares at me as he steps out onto the patio.

I look on the counter and see the beautiful peach cobbler sitting there. If it tastes as good as it looks and smells, I’m in for a treat. I haven’t had any since Mom died. Jackie was so excited to make this for me this afternoon. Would a girl really go to all that trouble, if she was just going to tease you? Are you being a dick?

I look outside to see the girls pairing off with the guys. For their sake, I’m glad it looks like they are staying, but where’s Jackie? She is nowhere in sight. She didn’t come inside to leave, otherwise I would have seen her. The only place left she could go is down on the beach to walk home. That’s a long walk. It is almost dark, and she will not make it back before it will be completely dark.

I walk out onto the patio and over to the stairs. She must have a good head start, because I can’t see her. “Did she leave?” I look over at the other girls.

“Yes, she said she was tired of being ignored. She’s headed to her sister’s,” Amber says.

I don’t try to defend myself, because the truth is, I did ignore her. I quickly head down to the beach to see if I can catch up with her and apologize. If she’s crying when she gets to her sister’s place, no way will I be invited in.

Once I hit the sand, I start heading to Maggie’s condo. I walk a few yards when I spot her off in the distance. “Jackie, wait,” I yell out to her.

She stops and turns to look at me, but shakes her head and starts walking again, only this time, faster.

If I keep at my normal pace, I will never catch up with her in time. Damn it, I was once one of the fastest guys alive. My nickname was Flash on the football team. I rub my knee and start dashing after her, hoping my knee doesn’t fail me. That day of the injury that cost me so much was the day I really looked at Jackie Winston for the first time.

We have a time-out and the score is tied. We have made it to the championships and it is the last quarter and we have the ball. The Panthers are strong competition and I know that I have the four-year degree in the bag now. Jason was my only competition and he turned it down, wanting to enlist into the Marine Corps instead.

Jason is on the sidelines talking to the coach. I know he is Coach’s favorite, although he still has no idea that Jason is dating his daughter. I wonder if I let it slip, would I be Coach’s favorite instead? It’s just a thought, I would never betray my buddy’s trust.

Jason runs back to the huddle to talk the game plan. It is a play we have done once before, and it won us a tough game last year. Hopefully, the Panthers won’t be on to it. We get in position as I prepare to run like hell. Jason and I have this down, and we got this. Jason has the ball, pretends he is about to run with it, before throwing it to me. I run faster and harder than I ever have before. The crowds are screaming as I run, with the end zone in sight. That’s the last thing I remember before the sharp pain throws me to the ground.

I have never felt pain like this before in my life. Soon, instead of being surrounding by players, it is coaches helping me. I turn my head to see Jackie Winston right in front of me. Her eyes catch mine and hold me there as the paramedics get me loaded on to the stretcher. It’s a guy’s worst nightmare—a girl seeing him cry—but looking at her, I’m not ashamed. She doesn’t look away like the others; she keeps eye contact with me, mouthing, “I’m sorry,” to me as I am being wheeled off the field. I realize at that moment that I have never looked at her eyes. They have to be the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.

I start my sprint and it feels good to run. I’ve never dared try since my knee surgery. The doctors never said that I couldn’t once I healed, but nightmares of the injury, the tackle, and the pain have kept me from trying.

I may not be as fast as I was in high school, but I make good time and finally catch up to Jackie. I quickly step in front of her, blocking her way to the stairs of her sister’s condo.

“Tyler, I don’t want to talk to you,” she cries and I see the tears she has been shedding probably since the moment she left. She tries to dodge past me, but I block her way. “Tyler, please,” she cries and instinctually I pull her into my arms.

“Shh, I’m sorry. Don’t cry. I’m sorry, I was being a jerk.” I feel her trying to push me away at first before giving in and hugging me too.

“I don’t know what I said to make you mad,” she cries. “Whatever it was, I’m sorry.”

That’s when I realize I have made a horrible mistake. This girl is not playing games with me. She genuinely likes me and wants to be my friend and I keep hurting her. Is Josh right? Did my fiasco with Julie fuck me up? Jackie deserves better than this. Better than me.

“Do you want to take a walk and talk for a while?” I ask her as her crying slows down. “Or I’ll walk you upstairs to your sister’s. Whatever you want.”

“I’d like to talk,” she says, pulling away from me and wiping her face.

“Come on, then.” I slide my sandals off, grabbing them in one hand, and she slips off hers and does the same. Taking her other hand, we start heading toward the water. The sun is setting on the water, creating a beautiful backdrop for us to calm down to. The tide hitting our bare feet soothes us both.

“I want to clear the air about some things,” I say to her as we walk the shoreline.

“I’m listening,” she says.

“There have been many misunderstandings between the two of us, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes, I would say that is true.”

“I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that we have known each other for a long time, but yet we really don’t know each other. Does that make sense?”

“Yes, it does.”

“If you remember in high school, I was not a good guy. I used girls, tossing them to the side when I was done. I wasn’t better about that even after graduation, in fact, I was worse. The one time I decide I want to try being a good guy—someone’s boyfriend—well, I don’t have to tell you how that turned out.”

Jackie stops and turns to me. Her eyes are still glistening from the tears—tears that I caused. “Julie?” she asks.

“Yeah.”

She nods and continues to walk.

“Well, anyway, I guess I’m confused about what I even want anymore. I’m no good at this dating thing. I’m not what you girls call boyfriend material.”

“Tyler, I’m not trying to pressure you to be my boyfriend,” she says, looking a little pissed off now.

“I know, that’s why I’m confused.”

“I don’t understand. Why can’t we just be friends?”

“I’m not sure I know how to be friends with a girl, Jackie.”

“You were doing fine yesterday.” She smiles. “I tell you what, why don’t we quit trying to define what we are and just enjoy each other’s company?” she says as we continue to walk.

“You make it sounds so simple,” I respond, causing her to stop again.

“And you keep trying to make it difficult. Just let it be what it’s going to be. I’m not looking for a commitment from you. I’ve been hurt too. I’m not sure if I’m ready to be in a serious relationship, but I don’t want to be alone.”

“Neither do I.”

“Then stop pushing me away. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not a little girl anymore. I don’t need a hero, just a friend.”

“Just a friend?” I step up closer to her, touching her cheek. Our eyes connect again as I push some strands of hair off her cheek. I cup her face with my hand, dropping my shoes on the sand, before placing my other hand to her face. Her eyes are still shimmering from the tears I caused.

“A very special friend.” She smiles as she places her arms around my waist, inviting me in.

I smile before leaning in and softly touching her lips. It is a gentle kiss at first, to apologize for making her cry the first time the other night. I pause and lean in for another gentle kiss, longer this time to apologize for making her cry again tonight. I stop once more, just to make sure she is okay with what I’m about to do as I let go of her face and pull her to me, finally giving her a real kiss. A friendly kiss. A special friendly kiss. A kiss filled with pent-up emotion, where we both are equal participants.

I have no idea how long we stand here on the beach making out, and frankly, I don’t even care. The tension has been building for weeks now. It feels good to finally release it in a kiss. If we were at the condo, I would probably be carrying her to my room, right about now. I’m thankful we’re not. I don’t want to scare her away. This is good, actually better than good, and that’s good enough for now.

I finally release her, waiting for the slap that never comes. She smiles, touching my cheek. “See? I told you it didn’t have to be difficult.”

I grin and look up to find the patio lights are on at her sister’s condo. Did they hear crying and come out to investigate? Am I about to be hauled off by eight brothers ready to whoop my ass? “I think we have an audience,” I say as Jackie quickly turns to see the patio lights on.

“Maybe it was the timer. I don’t see my brothers running out here to break us up, yet.”

“That’s not funny.” I look at her picking up our shoes. “Come on, little girl, I better take you home.”

“You’re probably right. Knowing Amber, I’m sure she called Maggie and told her I was on my way. Will you walk me to the stairs?”

“You bet.” I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her next to me as we head back up the sand dunes.

We make it to the stairs where I follow her up. If they did see us, I don’t want them thinking I wouldn’t see her safely inside. When we reach the patio, Maggie is lounging by the pool, along with a man I assume is her husband and another couple. I don’t recognize the woman, but the man I know. Unfortunately, I know him too well. It’s Jackie’s brother John Winston. Officer John Winston of the Clover police department.

“Tyler McCandless?” he says when he recognizes me too.

“Officer Winston.” I walk over to shake his hand while remembering that the last time he touched my hand was to slap a set of cuffs on.

“You know Tyler, Johnny?” Jackie asks, looking over at me. I watch Officer Winston’s eyes go from me to my hand that is holding his baby sister’s hand. I’m a fucking dead man.

“Who doesn’t know Tyler McCandless, Clover High’s best running back on record yet?” he says as I softly let go of Jackie’s hand.

I wonder how long I will be gone before he tells her about our past.

“Tyler, you remember my sister Maggie, and this is her husband Tom.”

“Hi, Tom, nice to meet you.” I extend a handshake to the other man on the patio, who could probably crush me with his pinky by the size of his arms. I really need to work out. “Maggie, it’s good to see you again.”

“Tyler.” She smiles, probably amused by my predicament.

“This is my sister-in-law, Nancy, my brother Johnny’s wife.” Jackie finishes the introductions.

“Nice to meet you.” I nod to her.

“What’s wrong with your face, Jackie? Have you been crying?” Nancy asks. I hope my knee can hold out to run for my life.

“I just got some sand in my eyes earlier. It’s no big deal. Tyler helped me get it out,” Jackie says, looking over at me.

“So, that’s what you were doing on the beach?” John laughs. “I could have sworn that you were kissing her, not getting sand out of her eyes.” He slaps my shoulder, gripping it and giving me a message loud and clear—if you made her cry, I will kill you.

“Leave the kids alone, John.” His wife Nancy comes to my rescue. John releases the grip on my shoulder.

“Well, I better get going,” I announce, walking over to Jackie and giving her a friendly and brotherly approved hug. “I’ll talk to you later,” I whisper before softly kissing her cheek.

“I’ll call you.” She smiles.

I make the trek back to the condo, this time slowly. A beautiful ending to the night completely shot to hell. I wonder if she will ever call me again once her brother tells her how he really knows me.