Us at the Beach

by Stephanie Street

  I offered her my trademark smirk, the one that had gotten me as many slaps as it had dates. “You were all stiff and scared.” I shrugged and jumped into the next wave. “I was just easing the tension.”

  “By almost drowning me?” she yelled.

  “Well, you aren’t worried about the waves anymore, are you?” She glared. I leaned in close to her ear. “Or about me holding you?” I couldn’t help but tease. She stiffened in my arms again making me laugh. “None of that or I’m dunking you again.”

  Her eyes widened. “You wouldn’t! Take me back.”

  I tightened my grip on her waist. “No way! We just go out here. Come on, Bly, I’ll stop. I promise.”

  “You promised before we got out here and then the first thing you did was try to drown me.”

  “You might be exaggerating just a little bit, don’tcha think?” I jumped us through another wave. We’d drifted further into shore and I moved us out further again. Blythe didn’t even notice.

  Success.

  She rolled her eyes. “Fine, but no more surprise dunking.”

  “So, if I warn you first it’s okay?” I asked as I moved out even more, the waves almost reached her chin. I hiked her up further in my arms. She braced her hands on my shoulders. I wasn’t at all surprised by how good she felt against me.

  “No! It is not okay, warning or not,” she admonished me with narrowed eyes.

  I laughed again. Blythe is more fun than I expected. We stayed out there for hours. I asked her about school and friends I knew from before. She told me about teachers I’d have and how all the sports teams were doing.

  “Are you going to play football?” she asked.

  I hesitated. I played football in California and I’m pretty good. I didn’t want to admit to her though, how nervous I am about starting a new team my senior year. These guys have been playing together for a while now and I know how it is to have a new guy come in and change things. And I know there is no way I won’t get the starting position. I’ve already had scouts from universities in California at my games, talking to me and my parents about my options for after high school. I also know, because I’d done my research when I found out we were moving back, that Ridge High needs a quarterback with my skills. And while the coaches may be excited about me moving back, I know I’ll have to work hard on and off the field to earn the trust and respect of my teammates.

  So, I gave her the short answer. “Yes, I’ll play.”

  Her brows furrowed as she studied me. “You sound, I don’t know, something.”

  I shrugged under her hands, surprised she picked up on my hesitancy. “It’s just moving. I know I went to school here before, but moving back-” I let my voice trail off and shrugged again.

  “You’re worried about going back to school?” She sounded shocked and looked it, too.

  “Well, not really, but, yeah, a little. I guess.” She looked so surprised I began to feel a little self-conscious. “Hey-”

  “No, I’m sorry. I’m just surprised. What could you possibly have to be nervous about?” Her eyes roved over my face and what she could see of my body above the water. As secure as I am with myself, I was still thankful for the sun on my cheeks that hopefully hid the hint of a blush that rose in them at her implication. She continued. “I mean, you know practically everyone still and not that much has changed since middle school.” She paused. “Okay, some things have changed, but not for you. Look at you. You’ll be the most popular guy in school within minutes of walking in the door.”

  Now, I’m really blushing. What is she talking about? “Okay, yeah, right.” I rolled my eyes.

  “Are you kidding me? I’ll make you a bet,” she challenged, a teasing glint in her eye.

  “What bet?” I knew I’d regret asking.

  “I bet you,” she poked me in the chest with her finger. “I bet you, that within minutes of walking into school, ummm, let’s say five minutes-”

  “Really. That long?” My brow rose.

  Her eyes narrowed at my interruption. “Fine. Three minutes. Within three minutes of walking into school, you will be touched by no less than five of the popular girls at school.”

  “Touched?” I almost shouted, not even attempting to hide the horror in my voice.

  Blythe started giggling. She giggled and giggled. In fact, she laughed so much and for so long, I dunked her again.

  As soon as her head dipped under, her body clung to me like a freaking leech. Her arms clutched at my neck and her legs came up to wrap around my waist. I straightened and brought her back up above the water.

  “Walker!” she cried once she’d caught her breath. She let go of my neck, only holding on with one arm, so she could wipe the water out of her eyes.

  “Look, Blythe, that’s what you get for freaking me out,” I told her.

  “I freaked you out! You are holding my life in your hands!” Her hazel eyes were wide and scolding.

  “For heaven’s sake, Bly, it’s not that dangerous.”

  “It is if you can’t swim!”

  “Okay, okay. It’s dangerous. But I told you, I got you.” And to reassure her, I tightened my arms around her, bringing our bodies even closer than they already were. Her breath caught and she tucked her lower lip behind her teeth. I suddenly became almost embarrassingly aware of her legs wrapped around my waist and without even thinking about it, let one hand drift over her bare thigh at my hip.

  Her eyes got impossibly wide. “Oh, sorry. I just- when you dunked me-” she started to lower her legs.

  “No!” I shouted, my hand holding her leg where it was. “No, it’s okay. It’s actually easier to hold you that way.”

  She didn’t move, but she didn’t look convinced, either. And she wasn’t comfortable. I knew I’d regret it, but I didn’t want her to stop hanging out with me and I didn’t want her to move, so I brought up her bet.

  “So, you think five girls will touch me,” I shuddered, “within three minutes of walking into school.”

  “Well, don’t get too creeped out. I don’t mean anyone will assault you, for heaven’s sake. Just casual. Like flirting.” She rolled her eyes.

  “For example,” I asked.

  She gave me a look and then huffed when I raised a brow at her. “Okay, like this.” She put a hand on my chest and spoke with a high-pitched voice. “Oh, Walker, I just can’t believe you’re back.” Her fake smile dropped from her lips and she lifted her hand from my chest and placed it back on my shoulder.

  “Well, when you put it like that, it doesn’t seem so bad.”

  She rolled her eyes again. “Of course, you would think that.”

  I grinned. “Look, babe, I’m a guy. If some hot girl wants to touch me like that, I’ll let her.”

  She huffed. “Boys.”

  I laughed. “But, I still think you’re crazy. No way will five girls do that in three minutes on the first day of school.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “How much you want to bet?”

  She was serious. I thought about it for a minute. Maybe I could use this to my advantage. “How much? How about we make a wager? You think of something you want if you win and I think of something I want if I win?”

  She thought about it for a second. “Deal.” She held out her hand for me to shake.

  “Don’t you want to know the stakes first?” I asked, waggling my brow at her.

  “Uh-” she looked unsure for a moment and I had to fight a grin. Blythe really was entertaining. In fact, I was having more fun with her than I’ve had in a long time- with anybody.

  Chapter Four

  Blythe

  To be honest, I was having a tough time thinking. I mean, seriously, what girl wouldn’t be struggling right now? No lie, I’d been held in Walker freaking Thomas’s arms for over an hour and now, oh my gosh, I’d wrapped my legs around his waist. Forget the fact that my fingers and toes were so pruny my skin was likely to fall off at any minute, there was no way I was going to be the first one to suggest getting out of th
e water. This was just too incredible of an experience for a nobody like me.

  But, seriously, back to the matter at hand. “What were you thinking?”

  His brows furrowed as he considered. “Do you go to the football games?”

  What? Not what I was expecting. “Um, sometimes.” The thing is, I actually really like football. I watch games with my dad all the time. And Ridge High has a halfway decent team. But, I am not at all popular. And my best friend wouldn’t be caught dead at a high school football game. So, usually I skipped the games in favor of watching a college game with my dad on a Friday night. Lame, huh? It’s better than the alternative, though, I promise, which is to sit with a bunch of kids that hardly notice I exist during the school day, so why would it be any different at the games? That’s right. It wouldn’t.

  “Okay, if I win the bet, and less than five girls flirt by way of touching my body,” his blue eye winked at me, “then you have to come to all of my football games and cheer for me in the stands.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Cheer for you? You mean, like with a Walker is awesome poster or something?”

  He barked out a laugh. “As embarrassing as that would be, likely for both of us, no. That’s not quite what I meant.” He shook his head. “Although, instead of a poster, you could wear a cheerleader uniform with my number on it.”

  I froze, eyes wide. “Uh-uh. No way. Absolutely not.”

  Walker grinned. “Why not? I think you’d look hot in a short cheerleader skirt.” And then he winked.

  “Oh, puh-lease.” My eyes rolled back so far, I swear I could see my brain. Walker laughed.

  “So, no skirt?” he asked, still grinning.

  “Yeah, that’s gonna be a no for me on the skirt.”

  “Damn.” He shook his head as though he were truly disappointed. “Actually, I just meant for you to show up. You don’t even have to outwardly show that you are cheering for me beyond maybe clapping or shouting at a good play, should I have any.”

  I pretended to think about it. “Deal.” I stuck out my hand. This time he shook it.

  “Deal. Now, what about you? Any ideas what you want from me if you win.”

  I could think of a lot of things I might want from Walker Thomas at that moment as I hung from his body in the ocean, but there was no way I was going to say anything like that so instead I thought of the next best thing. “You got a car, Walker?”

  His brow lowered. “Yeah.”

  I grinned. “Okay, here it is. If I win our little wager, you give me a ride to school every day this year.”

  Walker smirked. “Bly, I’ll give you a ride either way.”

  My heart leapt. Really?

  “Really?”

  “Of course. We’re friends, aren’t we?” He said this as though it were fact.

  “Are we?” I asked.

  He raised his brows. “Seriously, have I not been keeping you from certain death all afternoon?”

  “For heaven’s sake, Walker.” I shook my head.

  He smiled, a mischievous glint in his blue eyes. His face lowered until I could feel his breath on my ear as he whispered into it. “You’ve been pretty much wrapped around me all day, Blythe, I think we’re pretty good friends now, don’t you?”

  My breath caught in my throat at his closeness and his words. “Yeah, I guess,” I choked out.

  “Good,” he said, and leaned away from me as though nothing had happened. As though he hadn’t just jump started my heart with his soft voice in my ear. “So, do you want to think of something else?”

  I tried to collect my scrambled thoughts. “Um-” What could I say? “Um, okay, how bout this? If I’m right on the first day of school, and I will be,” he grinned at me, “then after every win the football team has, you owe me a chocolate shake.”

  Walker held out his hand between us. “Deal.”

  I hesitated just for a second before clasping his hand in mine. “Deal.”

  Walker nodded, his intense gaze holding mine. “Okay, Bly, we’ll see.”

  “Yeah,” I breathed.

  “Walker! Bly! Mom says it’s time for dinner!”

  Both of our heads snapped in the direction of the young voice hollering at us from the beach. Walker’s little brother, Pete, stood at the water’s edge, waving his hands frantically to get our attention.

  “Okay, bud,” Walker shouted back. “We’re getting out!”

  We watched for a second as Pete took off running back up to the beach house our parents had rented for the week.

  “Thanks for swimming with me, Bly.” His voice was soft.

  “Thanks for keeping me from drowning, Walker,” I replied with a smile.

  “I still don’t think you were in any real danger.” Walker shook his head with a grin.

  As he moved closer to the beach, I dropped my legs from around his waist, immediately regretting the distance between our bodies as my feet touched the sand and I let him go completely.

  “I had fun,” I admitted, shyly, suddenly feeling extremely self-conscious around this incredibly good-looking guy.

  He flashed me a heart-stopping grin. “Me, too.” He glanced at the house where our families had gathered on the huge deck facing the ocean. “We better get up there.”

  “Yeah.”

  And just like that, the spell was broken. My afternoon with Walker was over. I bent down to retrieve my towel from the sand where I’d left it. I shook out the sand and wrapped it around my waist, knowing I’d be mostly dry by the time I got up to the house. Walker did the same and then slung the tote carrying my sunscreen and a romance novel over his shoulder.

  I sighed, the closer we got, the louder the voices of our siblings became.

  Walker smirked. “Back to reality.”

  Exactly.

  Chapter Five

  Blythe

  The next day our families took the ferry to Ocracoke Island. It was a lot of fun. The little kids stood at the back of the ferry and threw bread crumbs to the seagulls that followed the ferry while our parents chatted on the benches lining the edge. Walker and I fed the seagulls for a while before wandering off to explore the rest of the boat.

  “So, do you play any sports,” he asked when we stopped to lean against the railing and watch the ferry break through the water.

  “I run,” I answered.

  “Like cross country?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I like to be fit, but I’m not very skilled at sports. So, I run.” I shrugged.

  Walker nodded. “That makes sense.” He grinned at me. “I knew you had to do something to look like that.” His eyes skimmed over me and I suddenly felt very exposed in my short shorts and tank top.

  “What?” I smacked his bicep with the back of my hand making him laugh.

  “You’re fit, Bly,” he said and turned his back to lean on the railing.

  “It’s all this nervous energy I have. My mom threatened to lock me up somewhere if I didn’t find a way to get rid of it, so I started running.” I shook my head. “I never thought I’d run for the team, but Coach saw me out running one day and next thing I knew I was roped into practice.”

  “That’s cool.” Walker watched the people wandering the ferry for a moment. “I hate running,” he said, laughing.

  I smiled. “Yeah, it’s not for everyone.”

  “Ugh, for me. I’m just think if I’m going to use all that energy it better be fun.” He tipped his head toward me. “And running is not fun.”

  “Hey! I like running,” I defended my sport with a playful punch to his shoulder. He rubbed it like I’d actually hurt him.

  “What’s with all the hitting?” he demanded.

  “You’re always teasing me! I can’t help it. Besides, look at you. You’re huge. You can totally take it.”

  He let his hands hang down by his sides. “Yeah, that’s true. Your hits are kind of like a fly landing on me anyway. A little pesky, but not painful.”

  “Oh my gosh! Did you just compare me to a fly?” I flew at him,
swatting him with both hands.

  “Hey,” he cried out, throwing his hands up to deflect mine. “That’s it.” Walker lowered his shoulder and charged.

  “Ahhh,” I screamed as his shoulder plowed into my middle. “Walker!” I yelled when my feet lifted off the ground. Walker twirled in a circle, me hanging like a sack of flour over his shoulder. My hair fanned out around my head as he spun. “Put me down!”

  “Are you done, you little fly?” he asked, stopping abruptly, jarring my intestines.

  “Yes. Yes. Put me down before I puke on your shoes.” I sailed through the air until my feet landed on the ferry deck with a thud.

  Walker’s grin was a little wary. “You aren’t really gonna puke, are you?”

  “It would serve you right!” I squeaked, pulling back my arm to swat at him again only stopping myself just in time when I caught his brow raised in silent warning. I dropped my hand to my side. “Fine. I’ll behave.”

  “Good girl.” He patted the top of my head.

  “Not helping!” I shouted, ducking away from him. “I’m gonna go see what the kids are doing,” I called over my shoulder as I skipped away.

  Walker

  I watched Blythe scamper away from me with amusement and a little chagrin. I didn’t want to push her away, I was just getting her to feel more comfortable around me. The last thing I wanted was for her to feel awkward. This vacation was just starting to get interesting.

  Ocracoke Island had a pleasant beach, too. The sand was fine and the waves were calm. We spent the day making sand castles and playing catch with the football I’d brought. Pete and Leo suggested a game, boys against girls.

  “I don’t know, guys. That might not be fair.” I glanced at the Richardson girls. There were four of them to our three- but still.

  Blythe narrowed her eyes at me and I knew I was walking a tight edge. “How about we chose teams. Bly and I will be captains and she gets the extra man, er, or girl,” I amended. My plan was met with equal parts groaning- from my brothers, and cheering- from the girls.

  “Can I be on your team, Walk? Can I be on your team?” I looked down to see Joy, Blythe’s six-year-old sister, tugging on my shorts to get my attention. She was stinking adorable with her two front teeth missing and her sparkly, hot pink one-piece swimsuit with ballerinas dancing across it.