by Keelan Storm
“Yeah?”
“He still flirts, babe. I’ve had a few shifts with him since they started dating, and he still checks out girls on the beach. I mean, should I say something to Izzy, or is that just a guy thing? It just feels off.”
“For some guys,” Jet started, “I mean, I’m not that type of guy, but if he’s just looking, he might not see anything wrong with it. He and Izzy haven’t been dating that long. You should tell her, though, if it bothers you.”
Annie nodded. “Now we just need to figure out what to do about Tucker,” she thought, wondering if there was any chance her sister might like him too.
* * *
“Thanks for helping me with the kids today, sis,” Isabel said as she and Annie set up chairs and umbrellas at the beach the next morning. All of their siblings were rooting around in the bags they had brought. “Y’all stay with each other and where I can see you,” Isabel called over her shoulder, “And you’re not spending the whole morning on your phone, today, Tabby.” Tabitha scowled, and Isabel braced herself for the pre-teen’s attitude.
“Come on, Tabby,” Victoria suddenly piped up. “You can help Chelsea and I make a sandcastle. Yours are always the best.”
Chelsea nodded, gathering the pails and shovels from one of the bags, “Yeah, they’re huge.”
“Fine…” Tabitha rolled her eyes and followed the younger girls. They found a spot a few feet away from the boys, where Chris was already busy burying Tyler’s legs in the sand.
“Good,” Annie murmured her approval. “They’ll be easier to keep an eye on,” she put her ear buds in, knowing Izzy wouldn’t be up for chatting right away.
Isabel nodded, rubbing some extra sunscreen on before she sat back to enjoy the sunshine. It was mornings like this that she loved. A slight breeze coming in from the ocean, paired with just the right warmth from the sun, the sound of the kids playing well in the background, and time with her sister.
She was checking on the kids when movement farther down the beach caught her attention. Jet waved a hello as he and Tucker paddled out to surf. She waved back as Annie looked up.
“Luckies,” she commented. “The waves look pretty decent today.”
“You can go,” Isabel offered. “I won’t mind.”
Annie shook her head. “No, I actually wanted to talk to you today. About Jet.”
“What about Jet?” Isabel asked, immediately giving her full attention. “Did something happen?”
“Yes…and no. That’s kind of the problem.”
“Ohhh…” she replied, catching on.
“Yeah. I mean, we’ve gone pretty far, but I keep chickening out before IT can happen.”
“Okay…Annie, not that I mind discussing your…non-sex life, but I’m at like nun-virgin status compared to you. What do you want me to tell you? When you and Jet…have sex…,” she whispered so the kids wouldn’t overhear, “that’s for y’all to decide. If you’re not ready, he’s just going to have to understand. Doesn’t he?”
“It’s Jet, Izzy. You know he’s patient to a fault. It just doesn’t seem fair to him. And it’s not like I don’t want to…”
Isabel looked out at the beach to check on the kids again and turned back to her sister, sensing there was more. Annie had pulled her feet up and was tracing her toes, the wind blowing the brown strands of her ponytail across her sun-darkened back. “Stop overthinking, sis,” Isabel eventually had to prompt.
Annie nodded, inhaling slowly to center herself. “That’s probably what I’ve been doing, actually. I’m like ninety-nine percent sure that I’m ready, but I can’t even tell Jet that.”
“Why?”
“It’s embarrassing. All I keep thinking is ‘What if I’m bad at it?’ ‘What if it hurts?’”
“Oh, Annie,” Isabel sighed sympathetically. “You need to tell Jet. He’ll understand.”
“I know,” she laughed to avoid a sob, “but it still scares me.”
“You shouldn’t let it. I mean, of course, there’s a good chance that physically it won’t be the most comfortable thing at first, but you’ll be with Jet. You know he’d do whatever he could to make you as comfortable as he can.”
Annie nodded as Isabel leaned back in her chair. “Besides,” she continued, “Jet is a guy, sis.”
“I’m very aware of that fact, Izzy,” she responded sarcastically.
The pale twin rolled her eyes at her sister’s attitude. “I’m sure you are, but what I’m trying to point out is that he’ll probably be so excited that he’s actually having sex for the first time that it won’t matter if you’re good at it.”
“That sounds terrible!”
“Well, it’s true. Besides, if you’re that bad at it, you know what they say… Practice makes perfect…and I’m sure that that’s one thing Jet won’t mind practicing,” Izzy said with a wink as she pulled out her trusty SPF 50 sunscreen from her tote. The sun’s rays were really starting to pack a punch, and she refused to risk getting another sunburn. “Talk to him, sis.”
“I will. Thanks.”
“No problem. You want to return the favor?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Wesley.”
“Please tell me you’ve decided you don’t like him anymore,” Annie thought. It would make things so much easier. “What about Wesley?”
“I want you to like him. He’s really sweet.”
“Ugh…” she groaned mentally, “Of course it’s not that easy.” “You can tell I don’t like him?”
“Well, yeah, Annie. You make a face every time I bring him up lately, and you wouldn’t even talk to me about the concert he took me to the other night. I had a great time with him. I wanted to come home and gush about it with my sister, my best friend, but I couldn’t, and I can’t figure out why. I’ve always listened to your stories about Jet.”
“I’m sorry,” Annie conceded. “I was trying not to say anything because I didn’t want to make a big deal out of nothing, but I’m not sure that I trust him.”
“What do you mean you don’t trust him?” Isabel asked, confused. “He’s one of the sweetest guys I’ve ever met.”
Annie groaned. This wasn’t how she’d wanted to bring it up. “Fine… He’s a real jerk when he’s not around you. He flirts with girls while we’re at work, like it doesn’t even matter that I’m your sister and I’m sitting right there. If he’s not flirting with them, he’s checking them out. I know some guys apparently think it’s okay, but I just don’t think it’s very respectful. You deserve better.”
Isabel flushed in aggravation. “That’s ridiculous, Annie. Wesley’s a gentleman when we go out. He’s funny and easy to talk to. I just can’t see him doing that.” Maybe at first, she considered, but not now that they were so close to being official.
“Why would I lie to you? I’ve seen him. Tucker doesn’t like him either,” she threw in for good measure, “You saw how he reacted when Wesley asked you out at Nachos Ole. He freaking growled.”
Isabel frowned, remembering how he’d flirted with the waitress right afterwards. But what right did Tucker have to comment on who she dated when he was hooking up with any girl that moved lately.
Annie watched as her sister flushed an even deeper shade of red, wishing she knew why. Was she just that pissed about Wesley? Was it the Tucker comment?
“Just forget it, Annie,” Izzy bit out. “I’ll just keep my dates to myself if Wesley bothers you that much.”
Annie’s jaw clenched in frustration. “I didn’t want to make you mad, Izzy, but if you thought Jet was doing something I’d be upset about, I’d want you to tell me. I was just trying to return the favor.”
“Well, maybe you should trust me to make my own choices instead,” Isabel fumed. “I like Wesley. That’s that.”
“That’s what?” Jet asked as they approached the girls.
“Don’t worry about it,” Izzy replied, dialing back her irritation for the guys. “Y’all
are done surfing already?”
“Hungry,” Jet grinned, rubbing his stomach.
“Crap! It’s almost lunch already?” Izzy jumped up and grabbed one of the nearby bags. “Guys! Come get something to eat!” she called out.
“Don’t stare. Don’t stare. Don’t stare.” Tucker repeated to himself as their siblings ran up for juice packs and sandwiches. Izzy was in her little, purple bikini with the pink polka dots and the strings. It had been a few weeks since he’d had a normal reaction around her. There was no telling how he might react with her wearing that.
“You want one, Tucker?” she held out a sandwich. He shook his head, trying desperately not to look. Looking would involve wrestling those unwanted, confusing feelings, the ones he just couldn’t shake. “Because you want her.” He froze at the thought.
“So Izzy, when are you and Wesley leaving for the movies?” Annie asked, meeting Tucker’s shocked gaze. A jolt of anger surged through his chest, and he gripped the back of his neck. Annie smirked.
“Drop it, sis,” Izzy snapped. “Where’s Tyler?”
“Over here!” Tyler called out. “I can’t get out!”
They looked over to see him buried from neck to toe, the sand molded into a mermaid’s tail from the waist down, a seashell bra sculpted at the top. Tucker tilted his head back and laughed uproariously.
“Oh yeah, sorry; I forgot,” Chris said sheepishly.
“Don’t worry; we’ll get him,” Jet said to the twins. He and Tucker laid their surfboards down and rushed over.
“Alright, little man, let’s get you out of this,” Jet said to Tyler as they started digging away at the sand that was pinning the youngest Dearly down. Tyler continued to wiggle furiously until he broke free.
“Woo! Finally! Thanks, guys.”
“No problem, Ty. Now, let’s go get your lunch,” Tucker clapped his shoulder as they headed back.
“Thanks,” Izzy said as she handed her brother his food.
“No prob; we’re gonna head out,” Jet replied, grabbing his board.
“Hang on!” Annie jumped up to give Jet a kiss. “See ya later, babe.”
“Ewww!” Chris and Tyler groaned.
“Shut it,” Annie replied, leaning in again.
“Come on, man,” Tucker urged Jet away from his girlfriend. He needed to get away from Izzy and fast. “Let’s get to the diner before it’s packed.”
* * *
Tucker’s wave of relief was short when they left, noticing the weird looks Jet started sending his way as they drove. He kept his eyes firmly on the road, his hands alternating between gripping his neck and the wheel. He needed food first if Jet was going to start digging. They pulled up to Bob’s Diner a few minutes later; a cross between coastal and early 90’s theme, it had the best burgers in town. Tucker’s stomach rumbled at the smells flowing from the kitchen as they headed inside.
He nodded ‘hey’ when he spotted Wesley with a couple of friends near the counter but was thankful when Jet turned down the invite to join, spotting a group of friends in the large corner booth for them to eat with instead.
Jet took the last booth seat, so Tucker pulled up and straddled a chair at the end, running his hand through the sun-bleached strands that fell over his forehead. “Sup, guys?”
“Dudes,” Corey Peters greeted them with a fist bump. “Just telling everyone about my party next weekend. My dad’s gonna be out of town, so the beach house is free.”
“If it’s anything like the one you had spring break, count me in,” Kyle O’Brian grinned, his freckles stark against his pale skin and bright red hair. “Epic,” he praised.
“Yeah, tourist girls can’t resist a good beach party, huh, Patterson?” Noah Reynolds nodded, waggling his brow in insinuation. He ran his comb through his already perfectly styled hair. “How you passed up that one chick for Lisa, man, I’ll never get. But hey, your loss, my gain.”
“Don’t mention it,” Tucker groaned. “Lesson learned.”
“But funny as hell for the rest of us. She followed you around like a puppy for weeks…classic,” Hector Gonzales laughed, “Sweet, food’s here.”
Conversation stalled as the six guys gobbled down their food. They were heading out and clearing the table when Hector asked if they were up for basketball.
“Can’t,” Tucker replied, “I’ve got a shift in an hour.”
“Bummer, catch y’all later then.”
“Later.” He stepped outside and stopped in his tracks, watching Wesley flirt with some random chick by his car. The girl giggled and ran her fingers through her hair, giving him that hopeful, promising, look Tucker knew all too well.
“What the fuck?” He glared, his hands twitching at his sides as his stomach turned. Izzy would be devastated. He barely moved a step when Jet caught his arm.
“No. Not here.” His expression spoke volumes compared to the calm in his voice.
Tucker nodded, still seething as they climbed in his truck.
“Drive,” Jet instructed from the passenger side. Tucker fumed, not understanding why his friend wasn’t as pissed as he was, but he jammed his key in anyway, tearing out of the parking lot, and turned at the first light so he could race down a back road out of town.
“That’s bullshit!” He finally exploded. “Half the guys in this town bust their balls for years wanting to date Izzy, and he fucking goes and pulls that?”
“Yeah, it’s fucked up,” Jet agreed.
“You don’t seem surprised.”
“Annie mentioned some stuff the other day.”
“And you didn’t think to say something?!” he accused, his knuckles turning white against the wheel. The truck pulled at a sharp curve, and Jet shot him a look.
“Annie talked to her, and if you hadn’t been so busy trying to avoid what’s going on, you might have noticed. That’s what they were arguing about when we walked up today.”
“What?” He frowned. “And I’m not avoiding anything.”
Jet rolled his eyes, knowing he’d have to force his friend to talk about it. “Dude…I know this is new for you, but you seriously can’t be this slow. It’s so obvious.”
Tucker paled, slowing to a normal speed. “Does Izzy know?”
Relieved that he was going to admit it, Jet replied, “I don’t think so, but your timing is seriously off, man. Now, we have to convince her to break things off with Wesley before you can do anything.”
“No!” Tucker snapped, dragging a hand across his face in frustration, “I don’t need this. I don’t want this. I don’t want her with that jerk either, but I don’t want to want to have sex with her. Biggest dumb ass plan for ruining our friendship.” He growled under his breath, white-knuckling the wheel again as he turned at the loop to head back to town. “I can’t. But I can’t stop thinking about her either. Those legs, man, her chest, her skin… All I have to do is look at her now. I’m fucked man, and fucking isn’t helping.” He sagged in his seat, winded at the admission.
Jet stared at him in shock. “That’s what you’ve been doing about this? That’s what you think is going on?”
“Yes,” Tucker muttered, disgusted with himself. “It’s the only thing that makes sense. It’s like I, suddenly, out of nowhere, noticed how incredibly hot she is. All she has to do is breathe, and my body reacts. How could I let this happen?”
“Wow,” Jet thought in disbelief, “he’s got it worse than I thought.” He’d have to try this a different way. “Remember last Christmas when my car was leaking oil? We kept messing with the oil pan, we changed out the gasket, we changed the lower cover, but it ended up being an internal routing tube causing all the problems? I think this might be one of those internal things.”
Tucker gave him a doubtful look.
“I’m not saying you don’t want her like that. She’s hot. I’m dating her twin; I would know, but isn’t it possible that there’s more to it? I mean, couldn’t you actually really like her?”
<
br /> Tucker’s brow furrowed as he considered the idea. “I did notice her smile. And her laugh. God, her laugh is beautiful.” But no, it had to be about sex. It was always about sex with him. Wasn’t it?
“Dude, fill me in; what are you thinking?”
“I don’t know, man.”
“Well, would you rather her be with Wesley instead?”
A flash of anger tore through his middle, and he scowled. “Hell no, something’s been bugging me about that for weeks, but after seeing that today...I get it now. He still flirts with other girls when he should be fucking thrilled that he gets Izzy. He doesn’t even really know her. If he did, he’d know she’d never put up with that. He doesn’t deserve her. She deserves someone who…”
“Someone who…” Jet encouraged, trying to drag Tucker into what he needed to see.
“Someone…better,” Tucker exhaled finally, giving in. “Someone who knows she loves kids almost as much as dancing. That her favorite food is bean and cheese nachos, but with the queso sauce. That she sleeps with a nightlight because she’s afraid of the dark. She loves purple, but only the right shades. Her regrets. Her fears. That lightning scares her, but she thinks it’s the most beautiful thing in nature.” Tucker gripped his neck, exhausted from warring with himself. “Who else would get that, man?”
“No one.”
They rode in silence for a few minutes as they came back into town. Tucker processing and Jet knowing to wait. They pulled up in front of the Patterson’s large house, the sounds of their siblings playing coming from his yard.
Tucker paused before opening his door, realization finally washing over him. “I like Izzy.”
Jet nodded. “Now, what are you going to do about it?”
6
Ruined Intentions
“Crap,” Isabel muttered when she heard the doorbell ring. “I’ll never be on time for anything. Mom!” she called out, “Can you answer the door?! I think it’s Wesley, and I’m not quite ready yet!”
“No surprise there!” Tyler called out from his room down the hall.