Shrugging, I rinse of the last plate and set it in the strainer, and then grab the dish towel off the door of the oven to dry my hands. “All right. Thanks. I have a lot to get done before we head up to Endings on Monday, so I appreciate it.”
“No problem. Well, I’m going to jump in the shower. Try to wash the smell of campfire and stale beer from my body. Thanks again for breakfast. I feel better already.”
I give him a quick hug goodbye, pulling away I scrunch up my nose, “I second that idea. You reek,” I tease, before plucking my phone from the dock and grabbing my purse off the coffee table.
“Have fun on your trip! I can’t wait to see all the pics.”
Laughing, I toss my purse onto my shoulder and pull open the door to leave. “Believe me, my Facebook will be flooded with so many pictures you’ll be sick of seeing them by the time the end of the week rolls around.”
With that, I give him a small wave before bouncing down the stairs and out the back door and to my car.
I cannot wait for this trip!
When I get home I head to my room, I take Niko and Lisa out of their cage and bring them over to my bed for their daily exercise. I watch them as they try to run around and tackle each other. Once they’re tired, I pick them up, making sure not to touch their backs and carry them over to their cage and set them on their beds. I love them both so much because they’re just so innocent. They were one of the first things I bought with some of the leftover money from my old job. I’ve always wanted a pet but with my childhood being the way it was the closest thing to a pet I ever had was a stray cat that would wander around our yard. So when I moved in here and got settled, I talked to my aunt about it and she agreed that I deserved a pet. Later that day, she took me to a pet farm about an hour away and I picked out Niko and Lisa.
I walk back over to my bed and plop down, letting my body slowly sink into the mattress. I close my eyes and lay there for a while, just listening to the cars pass by. Twenty minutes later I hear the front door open and my aunt walk through the door. “Hartley, I’m home!” she yells to me from the kitchen. Getting up, I walk down the short narrow hall to the living room where I find my aunt sitting down on the couch.
“Hey Aunt August. How was work?” I ask, taking a seat next to her.
“It was fine nothing too exciting happened,” she says, leaning her head into the back of the couch.
“Well I guess that’s good,” I respond, giggling a little. “You’re not very good with small talk.”
“Yeah, well neither are you,” she says, looking at me and laughing. Standing up, she heads to the kitchen.
“What would you like for dinner? We can order a pizza, if you want,”
“Pizza sounds good,” I tell her, also standing up and heading over to the phone. I call the pizza place and order a buffalo chicken pizza and some wings. When we are done eating, we went straight to packing. I packed a couple outfits and toiletries, but my aunt literally packed the whole house.
Chapter Three
We loaded up the car and were on the road by 1:00 p.m. Being a Sunday, traffic is insane and a nightmare to deal with, especially on interstate 95, but we still make good time, arriving a little after four to Endings.
I can hardly contain my excitement as I turn onto the road leading to the resort. My legs shake at the realization that I’m about to see the Browns for the first time since moving to South Carolina really set.
We drove through winding dirt roads for what seemed like forever after taking the exit for Endings, South Carolina. The resort is nestled deep in the woods, right on a lake, about ten minutes from town and from the beach. I, for one, cannot wait to see the ocean finally.
I let out a shriek of excitement as a large sign appears ahead of us, which reads, ‘Welcome to The Happy Endings Resort.’ “We made it!” I giggle, my excitement bursting out of me, as I slowly pull up to the small welcome booth, with a sign that reads ‘Check in here.’
A middle-aged man named Edwin, who judging by his name tag is the Resort Manager, is sitting inside the tiny check-in booth, reading a wildlife magazine. He’s kind enough to point us into the right direction. Before we know it, we’re pulling up to a small, yet cozy-looking log cabin.
Right away I spot Mrs. Brown sitting on the porch in a wooden rocking chair, drinking a glass if sweet tea. Not wasting a single second, I put the car in park, jump out, and run up the stone filled driveway, climbing the steps up to the porch and meet Mrs. Brown on the top step.
“Hi, sweetie!” Mrs. Brown’s voice comes out soft, and filled with the same loving tone she’s always had with me. I’ve missed her so much. I’m pulled in for a big bear hug that causes the air to leave my lungs in whoosh.
A smile spreads across her face as her arms wrap around me, makes my entire body relax, from tension and stress of the car ride. The sound of a screen door creaking open before slamming shut, pulls my attention toward Mr. Brown, who walks up to us and joins in on the hug session going on in the middle of his porch.
They both look exactly how I remember them, only slightly older, with Mr. Brown sporting a little less hair than before, and Mrs. Brown looking like a brand new woman, now that she’s thirty pounds lighter. She told me that since moving here she’s been trying to eat healthier, and hikes daily, along with taking the small row boats that are for rent here out with Mr. Brown to do some fishing.
South Carolina is most definitely agreeing with them. They look happier than I’ve ever seen them, which in turn makes me happier than they will ever know. I care about them so much, hope to have them in my life for many years to come.
We spend the day catching up and hanging out around the cabin. It’s so peaceful being able to sit outside on the porch, watching the water as small waves gently roll into the shore, and seagulls fly about looking for their next meal.
Mrs. Brown whips us up a quick dinner, which is so delicious by the way I forgot how good Mrs. Brown was at cooking, before leaving us to go to Bingo with some friends at the Rec center. We were going to walk around and explore the resort, but decided instead to put that off until later. The humidity tonight is awful, so instead we opt to test out the lake and wait until the sun goes down a little before exploring the resort.
After spending a little over an hour down at the lake, we head back inside the cabin to unpack.
We’re unloading our last few items when Mr. and Mrs. Brown come strolling into the cabin, laughing loudly as they continue a conversation about Bess and Herbert, the couple they were going to bingo with tonight.
“So how’d you guys do? Win anything?” I ask, coming out of the small guest room.
“Not a thing. But we had fun. That’s all that matters,” Mrs. Brown says, dropping her purse onto the stand beside the front door, before padding across the wooden floor over to me. She pulls me in for another hug, “I can’t tell you enough how happy I am to have you here.”
Smiling, I give her a gentle squeeze back. “I’m happy you invited me. I’ve missed you two so much.
Patting my back, she pulls away slightly to look me in my eyes. “I am beyond proud of the young woman you’re becoming. To see you in college, having friends, and building a life for yourself. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for you and Mr. Brown. You two gave me the strength and courage to pick up the pieces and try to rebuild a better life for myself.”
Releasing me from her embrace, Mrs. Brown moves around me and toward the tiny kitchen beside the living room. “I don’t know about you, but I, for one, could go for a bedtime snack.” Opening the fridge, she pulls out a tray of homemade cream puffs.
We spend the next half hour eating cream puffs and listening to Mrs. Brown fill us in on all the juicy gossip she got from Bess while at bingo. This resort seems small, but like any place, it has its fair share of gossip and drama.
“I’m sorry to do this to you ladies, but we’re going to call it a night,” Mrs. Brown sa
ys while covering her third yawn in the last five minutes.
Saying goodnight, I give them both hugs, and watch as they disappear into their bedroom before shutting their door softly. I glance at the time on my phone and see it’s only 8:30 p.m. I have a few texts from Jordan, asking how things are going and a few from Laikynn wondering if there are any hotties at the resort.
I text Laikynn back quick.
Me: No hotties yet. But, in my defense I haven’t ventured away from the cabin yet.
Laikynn: Well what the hell are you waiting for? Get your butt out of that cabin and go explore this resort. There has to be some hotties around somewhere. They don’t have all these summer romance songs and movies for nothing. Your summer fling is out there waiting for you to find him. ;)
God. Rolling my eyes at her craziness, I text her back one more time.
Me: I doubt I’m going to have some epic summer love romance here at a campsite full of kids and old people. But, if you’d like to know I’m going to go out for a walk. I’ll keep you updated on the hotties tho, promise.
Aunt August is out on the porch enjoying the nice evening and reading a book. It’s a beautiful night; too nice for me to be sitting inside before nine o’clock.
Climbing to my feet, I pocket my phone, deciding to text Jordan when I get back, and push open the screen door, walking out onto the porch. The warm night air feels thick and hot, but there’s a slight breeze coming off the lake making it comfortable.
“I’m going to go for a walk around the resort, okay?” I tell Aunt August, as I flash her a smile and bounce down the stairs.
“Okay, just don’t stay out too long. I’m probably going to stay out here a while longer,” she says, glancing up the star-filled sky before bringing her attention back to the book resting on her lap.
“Okay, text me if you need me,” I tell her, walking toward the road.
After wandering around for a few minutes, I find my way to the pool. No one’s there except for a lifeguard, who looks around my age, sitting on the edge of the pool, looking at their phone. I open the gate and walk over to a lounge chair and I take my phone out of my back pocket to set it on the chair. I slip off my sandals, removing my tank top and shorts, revealing my sky-blue bikini. I throw my hair up into a ponytail and make my way over to the pool.
The lifeguard looks up at me, giving me a quick wave before looking back at his phone. Walking down the steps, I slowly submerge my body into the cool water. I do a lap across the pool, pushing off the wall, and swimming back to where I started from. Then I stop in the middle of the pool and roll onto my back, allowing my body to float on top of the water. The sun is almost completely set now, casting the horizon in an array of colors, while filing the sky with a blanket of twinkling stars. In the dark like this, the trees seem to be a hundred feet taller, almost touching the sky, blurring the line between where the sky stars and the trees end.
I love the feeling of being weightless. There’s something so relaxing about floating in a pool on a hot summer night. The hot humid air hitting my exposed skin, while the warm pool water laps against my body, cooling me at the same time as the summer air warms me up. I get lost in the sound of the water lapping up against the side of the pool, and the sounds of crickets in the woods, as I continue to float and connect constellations. I’m so lost in my own little world, that I practically jump out of my skin the second I feel someone dive into the pool, and float up beside me.
Flipping onto my stomach, I let out a startled gasp, as my eyes connect with the same eyes I met a few moments earlier.
“Hey, sorry if I startled you. I was melting up there and needed to cool off,” he says breathlessly, as he kicks his feet beneath him, trying to stay afloat beside me. “I’m Milo.”
“No biggy, at least now I know I have a strong heart,” I joke, before flashing him a shy smile. “I’m Hartley.” I swim backward toward the steps, trying to get myself to a safer location rather than the middle of a pool with a strange boy I don’t know.
Following me, he swims up beside me, climbs up onto the first step that is submerged under water, and sits on it.
“I haven’t seen you around before. Did you just move here or are you just staying for vacation?”
“I’m here visiting my grandparents with my aunt,” I tell him, half honestly. They are like grandparents to me. I really don’t feel like giving him my entire messed up life story.
Climbing to his feet, Milo stands in front of me, making me tilt my head up to look at him. I have to admit he’s pretty cute. Especially with the moon-lit sky illuminating him as he runs his hands through his wet, shaggy hair. I find myself growing more nervous every second I sit here with his eyes on mine.
“That’s cool,” he says, propping his hip against the metal railing along the stairs. “Who’s the old couple you’re staying with? I know just about everyone here. Besides any new campers checking in, but I just give it a day and I’m sure to know them by first name. With this weather, people can’t resist the pool, and everyone seems to be extra chatty when lying around the pool on a hot afternoon.”
“The Browns. They haven’t been living here that long. Maybe about a month or so,” I answer him.
“Oh, cool. I’ve seen them walking around here, but I’ve never formally met them. They’re not pool people.” He laughs.
We sit there for a couple seconds in awkward silence until I finally break it. “Well, I better get going before my aunt thinks I’ve been eaten by a bobcat or mountain lion,” I say, laughing a little.
Climbing out of the pool, he holds his hand out to help me. I stare at his hand for a few seconds before taking it awkwardly. I hurry out of the pool before yanking my hand away from his.
“It was nice meeting you, Hartley. I hope to see ya around,” he drawls, before giving me a playful smile.
“You too….” I stammer out, as a shiver slides down my spine with the air that hits my wet skin.
Grabbing a towel and wrapping it around myself, I pad across the wet tiles over to the bench where I left my things. Quickly drying myself off, I slip my shorts and sandals back on. I’m rubbing the towel over the ends of my hair, when I spot Milo approaching me out of the corner of my eye.
Turning to face him, I finally allow myself to really look at him for the first time. I mean really look at him. In the pool, I was so caught off guard, and felt so awkward in the dark with a guy I don’t know. I tried to avoid looking at him, but now standing under the pool lights, there’s no way I cannot see him. My eyes are drawn to him like a damn moth to the beautiful flickering flame of a camp fire.
I notice that he has a perfect body; its muscular, but not scary body builder muscular. More nicely toned in all the right places. Like his biceps and perfectly flat stomach, which is sporting a fantastic six pack that is glistening at the moment under the lights, thanks to his quick dip in the pool with me a few moments ago.
His skin is a dark tan color, which I’m guessing is from sitting poolside everyday lifeguarding. His hair looks brown in this lighting, but I think I see little streaks of blonde all over his head, which I’m guessing is once again from being around the water and sun all day.
His eyes are a vibrant color of green. I noticed them in the pool when he startled the life out of me. I was momentarily lost in his gaze, just like I am right now.
I snap out of my trance when I hear my name being yelled. “Hartley! Are you okay? You’ve been staring at me, not hearing a single thing I’ve said, all while looking like you were somewhere else completely,” he says laughing.
“I was not staring at you!” I say in my defense, even though I was clearly staring at him.
“It’s fine, I know I have an awesome body. It’s been known to leave more than a few girls speechless.” He flashes a flirty smirk my way, before lifting his arms to flex.
“Oh my God.” I can’t help but roll my eyes and laugh.
“I’ll ask you again, since it seems you were having trouble hearing me the last t
ime,” he teases, before continuing. “Do you want me to walk you back to your cabin? I wouldn’t want any bobcats eating you,” he asks me, mocking my aunt.
“Sure,” I answer, leaning my body against the metal fencing surrounding the pool area.
He dries off his legs and upper body before throwing on a skin-tight t-shirt and sandals. As he walks toward me, he passes the lifeguard stand and jumps up, grabbing another piece of clothing. He hands it to me, as we start to walk down the road that leads to the cabins. Glancing down at the item he placed in my hand, I notice that the item he gave me is a black and white Endings high school sweatshirt.
Glancing at me, he nods toward the sweater in my hand. “I gave it to you to put on, your whole body is shaking,” he tells me, turning his head to look back at the path in front of us.
I forgot how cold I was thanks to Mr. Muscles over here short-circuiting my brain. Slipping the sweater over my head, I feel my body warming up.
Once we reach the cabin, I stop at the bottom of the stairs, and stare awkwardly up at him while hugging my arms to my chest. “Well, this is it. Thanks again for walking with me.”
“No problem. Have a good night. I’ll see you around.”
We say goodnight, and I hurry up the stairs and inside. Needing to wash the pool water and chlorine from my hair and skin, I decide to take a quick shower before bed. As I undress, I realize I never gave Milo his hoodie back. Hugging it to my chest, I inhale deeply, the scent of his cologne and sunscreen filling my nose, and I close my eyes letting the last half hour replay in my mind.
I guess I answered Laikynn back too soon earlier, because there most certainly was a hottie at this resort. Judging by the butterflies in the pit of my stomach as I breathe in the scent of his sweater, I think it’s safe to say, I have a slight crush on this mysterious lifeguard.
The Art of Letting Go: A Happy Endings Resort Series Novella (Happy Endings Resort #15) (The Happy Endings Resort) Page 3