have an hour to get ready and meet him downstairs. I'm dressed and show

arker unlocks the front door after disabling the alarm and shows me around the back

, get familiar with everything and text me if you need anything, I'll

of the last time I was back here; tending to Emily's wound. For a second, I let the feelings wash over me, rem

front, breathing a sigh of relief when I see Summer strut through. She looks lik

she says, tossing her purse under the bar and taking a seat, pulling out a magazi

in warm water and soap, then start cleaning down the counter. Mind a

?" Summer asks. I look back to se

own. "What does

d rolls her eyes. "Look, you have to have been blind in order to n

t, " I mutter and turn back around, determined to drop

ause it's his cousin, so he has

ce. I remember Everett, but I wish I didn't. He was the annoying cousin who liv

cy private school. He flaunted his money and used it to try and get in with the cool kids, basica

him?" Su

ng to keep the gri

ow he was ba

he and Emily met back in high school. They bot

y, and I did realize that she had a slightly different accent

a boyfriend, who I

a little enraging secret, that's only a secret to no one but Emily." She

, since the day she said she didn't want to sleep w

toying with yet another girl, but for some reason it pains and anger

s a kid, and it shouldn't surpri

as a right to know, " I say, trying

her eyes, no matter what you try and tell her different. Even Parker has tried telling her what he was like as a kid, saying he knows his cous

said. I can't for the life of me being to understand this situation, n

of having her catch him in the act?" I find

e, seeming to cont

mean exactl

gainst the counter to maintain a good distance between us.

ning it might be easier to do it again if he is so careless about this. Stage

en't forcing him to cheat, rather making him make the ter

ling of loving and trusting someone, just to see all that crum

to yourself to doesn't want to do the same? Or living with

o be in love, or even love someone. I know I have love for Parker, but

doesn't have the same power over a per

members and there are a lot of good-looking girls who are constantly all over Everett whe

you doin

ting him know what we'r

inking when I made that decision, " I say, feeling the nerves kicking in again. I opened my mouth w

ob, Tr

" she cries, moving towards me. Without thinking

she doesn

ng about?" I ask, r

is revealed, and you're the knight in shining arm

met her briefly the other nigh

s like a child. I fight the urge to roll my eyes at her beha

, pointing to where things are when the rare customer comes up, but

e night. He gives me a ride home before that, and finally gives me the key to my apartment, saying it is officially mine, a

mething tells me I'm always going to

trudge over to my room and pa

club in the morning with Summer, and looking for more

Emily. Remind me of the way her touch made me feel, and how much I

y own, being alone, w

ut to ask Parker for a radio to put in my room, so there isn't complete silence at the ver

ery attempt Summer has made to convince me to pursue Emily. Even if she wasn

, and let's not even begin wit

eems like the girl who deserves better th

dly dressed in a bathing suit and muscle sh

thought you were working at

cause you and I are going to the beach. I already have a b

erious? You ditched work because

und weird. I just want to get you out of the house, you've been in

andlord at the end of next month, and maybe get a little more furniture in here

y better than a club, though it won't be as

t that many people. I promise, you will enjoy it, " Parker says, claspi

, I can't be out too lat

a couple hours at the beach to enjoy the sun before it goes down it's already late enough

oing to be more than just the two of us goi

shift slight

of as to why. I heave a sigh and turn

he door. Parker hands me the bathing suit, but I

d, anyway. Not go

one in the water and not too many people near it. There is a small clearing in the c

before I can ask what he's doing, I recognize one

il

sunglasses and exposing her gorgeous blue eyes. Compa

hroat and my pulse speed up ju

it was just us, "

't know they were

d. I knew from the beginning he was planning something, but even if

my fingers itching to reach out and brush her silky skin. I try and stop my eyes fr

king at her, her figure is remarkable, and will knock any guy off his feet. I can alrea

she wraps her arms around me. Her warmth engulfs me instantly, swarming

l Parker's piercing gaze, analyzing us, and I quickly pull away. I give her

ls and umbrellas are laid out, and I qui

ret

*

see his traditional smug smirk on his face, I instantly want to punch it off. In

ce I never thought I'd see again, " he s

he

p a newspaper. But that doesn't mean social media hasn't evolved since, and

matured over the years, and will at least keep whatever he does know to himself. I

n, it's been a long

, confused. "Wait, you

not looking the h

nts for a little while, " Everett says, moving his arm to snake around Emily's wais

shirt. I notice the way Parker shuffles uncomfortably, averting his gaze. I remember the way his eyes r

. He mutters something as he walks by, tossing his shirt on the ground

Emily and I s

n looks at my jean and t-shirt attire, and fro

been a fan of water, " I quickly lie, tucki

build a sand castle, " she offers and smiles, a small giggle escaping her lips. My heart be

do as a kid. They do say it's ne

l bathroom hut and duck inside to change into the shorts Parker gave me, surprised at

l for the countless hours I spent in the weight room, when I had the chanc

hed over a pile of sand with a few plastic molds next to her. I search the beach for everyone else,

he fleeting moment of jealousy he portrayed. However, she seems cont

I have no idea how long they have been together, but even then, ev

g touch and warm skin; it would be heaven. Does he not feel the same? How cou

the sand. I see her look up, and her eyes widen when she takes in my naked torso. I try and

me, as I am to her? Did

to slowly build up pressure from my overwhelming thoughts. My palms

ime you built a sand

eciding that it wouldn't be such a sho

cky day then. I happen to be a master sand castle builder, so you're going to learn from the best." She let

ing any excuse to even brush my skin against hers. She looks through them with me and pic

et in her way from time to time, so my hand brushes against hers, or my legs has to press into he

d not already be sitting a few feet away, not pay

ask, instantly regretting it when

of childish to some people. I guess I just never grew out of i

hands working precisely around the sand, remindi

ime to time, but I've dabbed a bit into sculpting and other forms of art. Building

areful and precise she is, like she is handling a priceless object, rather than a sa

ght?" she asks suddenly, leaning

mornings, s

right now I would say anything to keep that smile on her fa

done for the summer. I only have one year left after this, but Summer is

about staging a party, to catch Everett in the act. This has to be it, even just menti

tay far away fr

on parties, I don'

e shaken up, " she says. I hoped she wouldn't bring th

time, " I mutter, not sure of how to explain

queezes my hand, her warmth spreading through my skin instantly. I feel myself relax under her touch once

voice in the back of my head is screaming at me not to. Any mo

y time sp

, something about her keeps drawing

lking about the frat party again, as if she could hear us all the way

the first place. I didn't mean for a whole devious plan to com

art. I don't think

y look up from his phone. He looks over towards Emily and I, seein

his arms around her waist from behind. He sends me a fleeting snee

hispering something about 'not here' in his ear. Everett pout

s scene, right man?" Everett sp

de my distaste for him in the past, I'm not about to start now. I despise him e

because he has Emily,

eelings for her still haven't faded, as

wasn't expecting me to say that, and to be honest I'm not sure why I said it either.

succeeded

Parker intervenes, throwing me a nervous look. I'm not the one who i

, and one of them was determining which fights

Everett is ne

behind. I stopped when I saw her pause in her step and take out her

" she says and ge

ask, but slowly

t a picture, so we can remember the d

her face as she motions for me to stand next to the sand castle. I stand

a picture with it together." She motions for me to crouch down with he

o we can squeeze into the frame more. I can feel her heartbeat against my chest, and it'

the same eff

phone, which are distracted by smiling up at the top of the phone where the camera sits. She sna

ne and turned my gaze to admire her. Thankfully, she quickly tucks her phone aw

going to look at it, and realiz

aring

to be so