Chasing Sunrise: A Sweet YA Enemies-to Lovers Romance (Inn for the Summer)

by Sara Jane Woodley

  The air rushed out of my lungs as my gaze flew to Kiara. She was chatting with the wedding party, heading towards the gazebo. I didn’t want her to worry, and I figured one dance with Isabella wouldn’t hurt.

  And then I remembered something. “Wait, aren’t you dating Lucas?”

  Isabella rolled her eyes as she fingered my tie. This time, I couldn’t hold back. I grabbed her hand and placed it firmly by her side.

  “It’s basically over,” she simpered. Then, she spoke loud enough for Mason to hear. “I’ll find you later, handsome. Then we can have that dance.”

  I stare at my tired face in the bathroom mirror as I brush my teeth. I’ll say one thing for our relationship — Isabella never failed to surprise me. Moving on from Lucas without letting him know? That’s a move straight out of her playbook.

  Should I email him? He deserves to know, doesn’t he?

  My heart sinks as I consider seeing him in person. The thought of spending the next year in the Eagles’ shadow sounds miserable. Troy is one of my best friends, but neither of us gets along with everyone on the team. In the past, we all hung out together because it was natural. It made sense. Everyone at school sees us as the ‘Edendale Eagles’, so of course we would spend all our time together.

  After a summer away, going back to that life seems tiresome. I don’t want to return to the confining cage that surrounds my MVP status — I got a glimpse of it with Isabella last night, and I didn’t like it.

  I leave the bathroom block and walk back to my cabin, my thoughts returning to Kiara.

  She disappeared at the wedding; I never saw her come back from the gazebo. I spent the night taking photos of the guests and then, when things were winding down, I did some dancing with the staff. But my mind was on her.

  At one point, I asked Randy and Nath if they’d seen her and Randy said that she wasn’t well. I returned to the cabins soon after and knocked on her door, but there was no answer.

  Something must be wrong. There’s an icy chill coming from her cabin, it feels like the first wind of fall, and I definitely don’t like it.

  As if on cue, Kiara exits her cabin and steps onto her balcony. She glances my way and a look of disdain crosses her face. She wants nothing to do with me. A shiver runs down my spine.

  “Kiara? Wait!”

  She pretends she can’t hear me, running down the gravel path.

  My heart sinks. Do I go after her?

  I climb the steps to my cabin and quickly change into work-appropriate clothes.

  Did something happen at the wedding last night? My thoughts churn as I hurry down the path towards the Inn, holding my camera anxiously.

  In the last few days since Delia’s announcement, instead of working together, Kiara has been slipping away.

  What if she decided that she doesn’t want to work with me? What if she’s thinking I’ll hold her back? Maybe the reason she’s been pulling away is because I haven’t been doing a good enough job?

  The world falls around me as the very same self-doubt that I usually feel about soccer creeps over me. But this time, it’s worse. Photography is something I want to do, not a pressure put on me by my parents and friends. If I’ve sacrificed my summer for photography and it doesn’t work out, what does that mean for my future?

  Maybe I read Kiara all wrong — maybe her excitement for me to go to photo school was because she thinks I’m not good enough to even be working here.

  Maybe I can’t do this.

  My chosen path crumbles before me. I turn away from the Inn, walking towards the lake. For the first time ever, I have absolutely no appetite.

  I hold my camera loosely in my hand as I walk along the path by the lake. I won’t be taking photos today.

  45

  Kiara

  I run all the way to the Inn, trying to put as much space as possible between Jonathan and I. I can’t bear to hear his voice or see his face after what happened last night.

  When I saw Jonathan dance with Isabella, I returned to my cabin and collapsed into a ball of tears. I was filled with regret, thinking about every wrong decision I made this summer. Not only did I forsake my photography and possibly ruin my chances at the future of my dreams, but I also fell for the one person I should never have even considered.

  Jonathan fricking Wright. I can’t believe I thought I loved him, I can’t believe I kissed him.

  As I tried to fall asleep, all I could see was Isabella’s smiling face, Jonathan dipping her, the two of them so close together. It was like watching a nightmare unfold. Did he tell her my secrets? Did he tell her it was all a big front?

  I was overcome by shame and embarrassment thinking about my confession about being rejected from Glacier Journal. It’s all ammo… He’s just going to use that against me next year, and he likely has already told Isabella.

  What nasty nickname will they come up with? Will they ditch “Kiara the Queen” for something far more shameful?

  I imagined an alternate universe where I did exactly what I should’ve done this summer. In that reality, I ignored Jonathan and avoided him at all costs. I would’ve hiked alone to see the sunrise and taken photos of the guests alone. I didn’t need him.

  I don’t need anyone.

  At one point, I thought I heard a knock on my door, but it was likely just my mind reminding me to get back on track. I hope it isn’t too late.

  On autopilot, I stroll into the staff room and say hi to Fernando. I’m lost in thought when he physically steps in to stop me as I spread relish on my bagel instead of avocado.

  “Is that a new recipe, mi bella?” Fernando looks at me skeptically.

  I clue into the bottle of relish I’m holding and force a laugh. “Just something I’m trying.”

  I meant to put avocado on it, but clearly my head isn’t on right.

  I give Bree, Stefi and Anaya a wave as I walk out of the staff room with my weird relish bagel, opting to sit on the balcony. The breezy morning air is far more welcoming than the thought of seeing Jonathan in the staff room.

  I gaze out at the lake absentmindedly. The surface is rippling and distorted this morning, and the peaks overhead are clouded and grey. It will be a cool day, the first hint of the end of summer. I wrap my cardigan tighter around my shoulders.

  Have I jeopardized my future by having fun this summer?

  As soon as I saw Jonathan and Isabella dancing together, I realized just how far off track I’ve gone. We only have a few weeks left at the Inn and I can’t waste another minute. Especially not with Edendale’s golden boy.

  Jonathan was using me. He’s here to win the competition and go back to Edendale High as a winner, just as he always does.

  My heart turns icy as a feeling of betrayal sets in. I was an idiot to think he was ever a nice guy. I won’t make that mistake again.

  46

  Jonathan

  It’s way past lunchtime when I finally make my way back to my cabin. I didn’t have much of an appetite this morning, but I am starved right now.

  I’m also filled with a stubborn determination.

  I spent a large part of the morning skipping rocks into the lake. The ripples of the water consumed the rocks as I threw them, an oddly mesmerizing sight. It’s a cooler day, and I regretted not grabbing my hoodie.

  I need to talk to Kiara and find out what happened. Does she really think I’m not good enough? It doesn’t sound like her. I never got the impression that she felt that way over the summer. But I could be wrong.

  It wouldn’t be the first time I disappointed someone.

  My parents’ and friends’ expectations press on my shoulders as I consider going back to school in a few weeks. But the thought of disappointing Kiara? That seems worse.

  The cabins loom gloomily in the distance as I jog over, ready to grab my hoodie and go straight to the Inn. As I approach, however, I spot Kiara walking towards the cabins.

  “Kiara!” I break into a run, trying to catch her before she can disappear. “Wait. Please.
”

  She does. But something is wrong. Her eyes burn and her face twists into a glare. “What now, golden boy?”

  Her voice hits me like a shard of ice and my stomach drops. The way she says ‘golden boy’ is no longer playful. Now, she says it like it leaves an awful taste in her mouth.

  “I just want to talk,” I say. “Did I do something wrong?”

  She rolls her eyes, keeping her distance. Her hair is pulled tight into a bun, her eyes vaguely swollen. I want to give her a hug, but that might set her off more.

  “I had a future before you distracted me,” she says. “A goal. A dream. We don’t all skate through life getting everything we want handed to us. Some of us have to work our entire lives to be a photographer. Not that you’d understand. Not that it’s something you’ll ever do.”

  Her words are a punch to my gut. My heart plummets and I have trouble catching my breath. After everything we did this summer, all the time we spent together, the truth about what she really thinks of me is revealed. Being a professional photographer is not something I’ll ever do unless it gets handed to me.

  How long has she felt like this?

  Are my photos actually good, or am I lying to myself?

  Maybe everyone was trying to appease me. Maybe no one thought my work was any good. Maybe they wanted to fire me but it was too late.

  My biggest fear has always been that, when the game is on the line, I’ll fail to deliver. But now something bigger — my entire future — is on the line, and the person I love doesn’t think I can do it. It’s a worse pain than I could have imagined.

  “I really hope you and Isabella are happy. You’re so perfect together.”

  Her words blur. What does Isabella have to do with this? I open my mouth to ask what she means, but before I can, she closes it with a figurative uppercut.

  “Leave me alone, golden boy. You’ve ruined enough.”

  Kiara storms into her cabin and the lock clicks shut.

  47

  Kiara

  Tears sting my eyes as I slam the door and disappear into the comforting darkness of my cabin.

  Crying over a boy twice in 24 hours is way too much. I sit on my bed, fingering the blanket as my pitiful tears fall. I told myself to be strong, to face Jonathan bravely. I don’t know whether that came across. I ran away before I broke down.

  Every word I said was true. When I came to Legacy Inn, my path was so clear — take photos, build my portfolio, get out of Edendale.

  But now, it might be too late. I can’t imagine a world where this summer was a step back instead of a step forward.

  The thought of having to stay in Edendale past my graduation next year feels like a stab to the gut, especially now. My dream has always been to leave right after senior year. If my portfolio isn’t good enough, can I get a job? Sticking around Edendale to add to my portfolio before I’m able to move to California or Barbados or Brazil is not part of the plan.

  Bitterness fills me as I think of Edendale High’s golden boy. Jonathan has had everything given to him. Including me. I sold out and handed myself to him on a silver platter. I taught him everything he needs to know to create a solid portfolio. All the advice and tips I gave him, that’s all he needed me for. All he wanted me for.

  Because of me, he’ll continue living his golden life without having to lift a finger. I was right about that too — he’ll never have to work hard. His life is easy and his dreams come true, no sweat involved.

  An unwelcome whisper reminds me that my photos improved, too, through our collaboration, but I can’t wrap my mind around that right now. I only know one thing to be true at this moment.

  “I was right. Jonathan Wright can’t be trusted.” My voice breaks along with my heart.

  How could I have thought I loved him? How could I have been so stupid as to think that maybe he loved me?

  My tears dry on my face and my anger fuels determination. I have three weeks left here. I wipe away the memory and reapply some mascara with my goal set in my mind.

  I will win this competition, and I will build a portfolio that secures my future. Jonathan was a detour, a small bump in the road. There’s no time for love if you’re not doing what you love.

  And it’s not too late until I decide it’s too late.

  48

  Kiara

  “Kiara?”

  A distant voice calls, but I can’t register the words. I’m lost in thought and in the distorted image of the world outside.

  The rain falls hard onto the windows of the event room. The droplets gather in rivulets on the glass, creating a magical running image. The fog hangs low over the trees, swallowing the peaks at the far end of the lake.

  I should get outside and take some photos. Back home, I loved this weather. The moody scenery creates the most emotional pictures.

  “Kiara?” The voice is clearer, closer now. It snaps me out of my thoughts. “Earth to Kiara! Can you please take some pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Van Nispen?”

  I whirl around to face Bree and the two Van Nispens. They’re an elderly couple, very stately and nicely groomed. Well-traveled, probably.

  “It’s their 45th anniversary today. How about some photos to commemorate it?” Bree’s voice is light, but her face is concerned.

  “On it,” I respond, embarrassed. I set up my camera as Bree strides off.

  “Where are you two from?” I ask, a habit left over from my days spent with Jonathan. I paste a smile onto my face as I direct them to the front of the room where the lighting is better.

  “The Netherlands.” Mr. Van Nispen answers with a hint of an accent.

  Now, a genuine smile crosses my face as I ask them questions about the Netherlands. It’s one of my top spots to visit when I finally travel the world.

  Mr. and Mrs. Van Nispen stand together comfortably, looking peaceful. They’re like the quintessential happy couple, two puzzle pieces that fit together perfectly.

  “So, 45 years.” I line up the photo. “That’s awesome, congratulations! What’s your secret?”

  Mr. Van Nispen’s rather stern expression softens as he looks at his wife. I quietly capture another photo as they gaze at each other with loving expressions.

  “I can’t leave her now. She knows too many secrets. She’d turn me in.”

  “Don’t worry, dear, your secrets aren’t that interesting.”

  He laughs. “And that’s why I married her — she’s never afraid to tell me the truth. Even when I don’t want to hear it.”

  Mrs. Van Nispen blushes, laughing easily.

  “And I would never dare leave him. He makes me laugh. It keeps me young!”

  I laugh along with the couple, capturing every moment of their loving expressions.

  We finish, and my mind wanders back to Jonathan. Something about their answers stuck with me. Jonathan never failed to make me laugh. He showed me a side of myself that could be young and carefree.

  Mr. and Mrs. Van Nispen have been together for 45 years. The number seems impossible, so hard to imagine. I wish that Jonathan and I could’ve talked to them together. He’s always got the best questions and the funniest jokes.

  My heart sinks. It’s been six days since we spoke to each other, and we’ve done an outstanding job of separating ourselves.

  At the beginning of the week, my sense of betrayal was raw, my anger potent. I wanted nothing to do with him, so we reached an uncomfortable equilibrium. The games room and gazebo would be his work domain, while I took charge of the event room and other rooms upstairs.

  Since that time, my anger has flared and dissipated while my sadness has only grown. To my surprise, I miss him. A lot. I miss his laugh and his banter and his warm presence. He puts everyone around him at ease, including me.

  Sometimes, I forget that we’re apart and I turn around to share a funny story with him, only to realize that he’s nowhere to be found.

  This isn’t fun without him.

  But then, why do I care if something is fun or not?
Past Kiara from last year, or even last spring, would not have cared. Fun was for people who didn’t have purpose.

  The past week has felt like my old life, before the summer started. I’ve even stayed away from Bree, Anaya and Stefi. I’ve just been so focused on getting the right shot.

  I step onto the balcony. The rain has let up, coming down as soft droplets instead of a torrential downpour. I stroll mindlessly to the edge of the railing and look towards the trees.

  Now, I can see the gazebo through the trees. I spot Jonathan lining up a photo from outside the gazebo, looking in.

  He’s laughing, and a smile comes to my face. The question burning at the back of my mind will no longer be ignored.

  Why do I miss him so much if it was all just a lie?

  49

  Jonathan

  “Okay wait, let me adjust this.” One of the girls tugs the bottom of her dress. “How’s that?”

  She turns to her two friends and they nod and fiddle with their own dresses. I tune them out as they try to figure out the perfect pose for their social media platforms.

  “Hey, what was your name again? Jacob?”

  “Jonathan.”

  “Right.” It’s obvious she didn’t register my name the second time around. “Can you stand over there, outside the gazebo, and we’ll be on the stairs?”

  I shrug and step out of the gazebo, standing under the trees. Thankfully, the rain has stopped for a moment.

  “How’s this?” one girl asks, making a goofy face.

  I laugh and the other girls roll their eyes.

  As I snap photos and follow their abrupt orders to move for better angles, it occurs to me that, last year, Troy and I would’ve been trying to pick up girls like them. They’re smoking hot and they look to be only a year or two older than us.