Wildflower
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