In the morning, a loud buzzing sound wakes me after a restless night. Dreams of Vanessa are still fresh on my mind. My eyes are hard to open. My phone vibrates on the table. Who’s calling? I pick up the phone and hit the talk button. My father’s voice assaults my ears.

“Trace, were you sleeping?” he asks.

“No, no. What’s up?” I yawn.

“I just wanted to see if you received my message about your summer internship,” he says with a grunt into the phone. One thing about my father, he’s all business. No “Hello son, how are you?” Nope. Just short and direct. Sports, weather, normal things normal people talk about have never been topics of choice with him.

“No, I didn’t get any message.”

“Well, I left it on your voicemail. I have set up an internship this summer for you with the company. You will work with Roberts. Report to him the moment classes’ end,” he barks.

“Okay, sounds good, Dad.” There’s no point in arguing with him. I tried once and regretted it. He has a rough exterior and an even rougher interior. He hates arguing when he thinks he’s right, and with him, he is always right.

The call is finished by his giving me details about the summer internship, which I don’t fucking want. As he talks, I pull up my shorts.

After washing up in the bathroom, I head down the hall. Darren and Tony are chatting as I walk in the kitchen.

“Hey,” I say, rubbing a hand across my neck.

“Hey. So what happened last night? Why didn’t you meet Vanessa?” Tony asks.

He doesn’t know that Vanessa and I did meet up after the party, but no way I’m giving him the satisfaction of that story.

“Sorry, I was busy,” I say, grabbing a mug from the cupboard. I move towards the coffee maker, pour a cup, and sit down at the counter.

“Well, lucky for you, I know where she’ll be today.”

“Oh yeah? Where’s that?” I stir my coffee as I look to both Darren and Tony.

“Maxine is having a party at the beach,” Darren says, rubbing a hand down his face.

“Who’s she?”

“You know, that girl I fool around with—long dark hair, sexy eyes and legs.”

Without a clue, I smile. Vanessa mentioned a Maxine the night before—must be the same chick.

“Anyways, beach party. You in?” Tony asks, reaching for a mug. He pours the coffee, takes a sip and then lifts his head, waiting for my answer.

Vanessa in a bikini? Oh, I’d be there.

Partygoers pack Juno Beach, right off Marcinski Road, where anyone who is anyone hangs out, while the sun is high in the sky. My shirt melts to my skin as I retrieve my surfboard and scan the shore, searching for the blonde I can’t erase from my mind. Darren and Tony grab the beach towels from the back of the Cobra as I head towards the shore.

I hope there’s plenty of alcohol here; awesome to drink legally now. For a quick moment, I wonder if Vanessa is here, too.

Down the coast, I spot her and head towards the party. A tall brunette with long hair comes galloping over. She flings herself at Darren as he sidesteps just out of reach.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” she says, running her fingers through his straw hair.

“Cool, babe. Where’s the beer?” he utters, laughing and slapping Tony’s hand.

My mind races in anticipation of seeing Vanessa again. I head in her direction, where she is lounging on the beach. As I approach, I can see that idiot from last night is there too, hanging on her every word. They seem to have made up from fighting. I already wish he’d go away.

She laughs at something he says, which sends a chill through me on this all-too-hot day.

“Hi there,” I greet. Jordan just glares. I can tell he doesn’t like me. Hey, feeling’s mutual, kid.

Vanessa strains her neck up to see who’s speaking, and suddenly her face lightens into a smile. She’s wearing a tiny pink two-piece swimsuit with white hearts all over, and as she looks up with her blowjob eyes, I get lost in their depths of blue.

“Hey, you.” She reaches an arm overhead.

I take a seat next to her, noticing her long, luscious, tanned legs that seem to be begging me to part them.

“Hey,” Jordan grunts, then pops up and brushes the sand off. “I’m gonna get us a drink, okay, Ness?”

“Sure,” she replies.

“Want a beer?”

“I’m not twenty-one yet,” she answers.

“So? I’ll get you one.” He takes off running, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Phew. I thought he’d never leave,” I joke—somewhat.

She smiles wide as she lowers an arm back down to her lap.

“Jordan’s all right. I can tell you two don’t like each other.”

“That obvious, huh?” Our eyes meet, and I give her my best smile. I need to ask her out again.

“So you never answered me. Can I take you out?” I ask.

“I didn’t answer you? Hmm, thought I did.” She smirks as her blonde tresses blow in the wind.

“No, you didn’t. I’d remember.”

She lifts to her feet and walks towards the shoreline. I watch her body sway as she glances back over a shoulder.

“You wanna go swimming?” she asks.

Is she serious? What? In a daze, I follow as she wiggles her toes in the surf.

I race back to get my surfboard as she wades out into the ocean.

I push my body through the waves as she gets further away. She continues heading out as I try to catch up to her. There are a few swimmers closer to the shore, but none where we are headed.

A look of terror crosses her face as I paddle my board closer. She flails her arms in desperation to keep her head above water. The waves continue to crash down, and I panic. Shit, she’s drowning, and I can’t get to her. I take one glance back to the beach and no one notices. I release my board and stroke my arms to get closer. A wave takes her under as the undertow current sweeps her further away. Oh, please let her be okay, please.

Her head bobs up near me, and I wrap my arms around her. One thing I had always learned about riptides is you don’t fight them. Just swim sideways along the shore. Good advice proves difficult when you add hauling a thrashing body.

“Vanessa, I’ve got you. You need to calm down,” I say to reassure her.

With one arm around her neck, I loop the other under her arm as I swim parallel to the coast. Strong undertows and crashing waves heighten my fear, and I try not to explode with anxiety. Please let her need C.P.R. Brushing her lips with mine flashes into my head. Bad time to think this! Let’s get her safe first. The eddy current drags me under, but I drive our bodies further. The more I dog-paddle through the water the easier it becomes. Exertion leaves my body throbbing with pain as I swim closer to the sand.

“Are you okay?” I shout, letting go of her in the shallow ocean. Concern rides through me, and I glance at her body to make sure she isn’t hurt.

“Yes, I think so.” She chokes, spilling salty water from her mouth.

“You scared the hell outta me.” My breathing is hard, and I try to catch it.

“Wasn’t my intention, believe me.” She lifts her body and walks out of the tide. She raises a hand to her chest and takes a deep breath.

“I’m just glad I got to you in time,” I say, retrieving my board as it washes ashore.

“Thank you for saving me. I owe you one.” She half-smiles.

Yes, my opening. Should I take advantage of a near-death experience? Absolutely.

My mouth turns up into a wide grin as I chuckle.

“Well, you could owe me that date now.”

She’s sopping wet and looks tired. The sun radiates off her now-soaked frame, and I feel like a jackass for asking her out right now. I cross my fingers and hold my breath.

“I guess I kinda have to—you having saved my life and all.” She is still shaky, and I place my hand on the small of her back to steady her. Score! My smile gets bigger as Jordan comes rushing over to us.

“Are you okay? You looked like you were drowning,” he cries, putting his paws all over her wet arms, trying to dry her off.

“I’m okay. I just need to sit down,” she answers, pushing his hands away.

Her leggy friend has a look of uneasiness in her hazel eyes as she comes running over with Darren and Tony in tow.

“Are you okay?” Darren asks Vanessa.

“It’s okay, Maxine, Darren… I’m okay,” she says.

Tony saunters over as she cringes into my side and pulls her from me, then helps her to a seat in the sand.

“Girls from Ohio should stay out of the ocean.” His failed attempt at a joke leaves us all gawking at him.

“I guess I’m not the greatest swimmer.” She reaches a hand to me, and I grab it.

How does everyone know Vanessa, yet I have never met her? Not paying attention, I guess. I glance sideways at her, to make sure she doesn’t drown on dry land. Everyone is treating her like a vampire, afraid she may combust in the sunlight.

The ocean waves smash into the Juno Beach sands near our feet, and we try to enjoy the rest of the party.

The sun casts a warm soft glow along the horizon, and Vanessa looks to Maxine. “Well, this has been fun, but I need to get to work. Can I still borrow your car, Max?”

She rises with a hint of seduction, and I bounce to my feet.

“Sure, I’ll see ya later, love,” Maxine says, tossing her keys to Vanessa.

“I’ll walk you to the car,” I say.

Saying my goodbyes to everyone, I watch Vanessa lean in and give Jordan a hug. Jealous emotions shoot through me, which is absurd because I never get jealous. Yet, there is something I don’t trust about him.

“Where do you work?” I ask, following her to the parking area.

“A little Italian restaurant. It’s in that same shopping plaza as the coffee shop.”

“I’m suddenly in the mood for carbonara,” I joke, smiling at her.

“Oh yeah, right. You’re not coming to my job.” She smiles.

“Are you going to deny me food?”

She considers this for a moment as I smile widely.

“I’m kidding. I’m not gonna stalk you.” I laugh. The setting sun glistens off her perfect features, and I catch myself staring a little too long. She has a perfect spot behind her ear that calls to my lips. I lean forward, mesmerized by her skin and she tilts back.

“So I guess you’ll need my number,” she says.

I shake my head, trying to rid myself of the fantasies popping into my head.

“Guess so.”

She takes out her phone as we exchange numbers. Yearning for more, I step closer. I can almost smell the salty surf in her hair. I take a deep breath. She stiffens and the cosmos lines up perfectly.

“Have a good day at work. I’ll be thinking about you.” I lean in a little closer and squeeze her body tight. We stand in this perfect hold for a while until she finally breaks away.

“Oh, by the way, I’m off tomorrow. If you’re not busy we can go on our date.” She turns, getting in the car as I hold the door open.

“I’m all free.”