I look over, meeting Austin’s gaze.
“I waited for him,” he says with a tight smile and looks away, staring at the ocean instead. “Even after I found out he was in prison, I waited. Checked the mail every day. I don’t know how many times I looked at the stands during a game, hoping someday he’d show.”
The pain in his voice wraps around my heart and squeezes. Austin’s dad never came back. But what if Austin found him? Has he ever tried?
“Kyle started the fight in the grill, Sienna. He may have told you another story, but I swear he’s lying. I’ve never pretended to be something I’m not. Promise.”
My doubts melt little by little, but one uncertainty remains. “Why did you come to the beach house the other day? It’s pretty obvious you picked that fight with Kyle.”
Austin’s face is hard to read as he takes a deep breath. “He tried to kill Turbo.”
Every muscle in my face reacts to the shock of his words, and my mouth drops open. “What?”
“I ran into Kyle at The Westin yesterday. I was picking up a couple of things from the restaurant because I quit. I left Turbo outside.”
“Wait, you quit your job? Why?”
Austin’s lips pull into a half smile. “So I can spend more time with you. I should have thought twice about leaving Turbo out there with Kyle, though.”
“Whoa, you’re saying Kyle tried to kill Turbo while you were inside? How?”
“Nuts,” Austin replies.
“Nuts?”
“Yeah, nuts,” he says, and I vaguely remember him telling me how allergic Turbo is. “Kyle had this big thing of chocolate-covered nuts. Peanuts, cashews, whatever.”
“You think Kyle gave some to Turbo?”
“There were pieces of nuts and chocolate all over the cement when I got back, and Turbs was shaking. I found chocolate on his teeth. Took him to the emergency clinic. The vet kept him overnight.”
“Is he okay?” I ask, knowing what this dog means to Austin.
He runs his hands through his hair again, releasing tension from his shoulders as he breathes out. He smiles. “I got the call yesterday morning. He’s going to be okay.”
I exhale. “That’s so good. I’m so glad. But, Austin, how do you know Kyle did it on purpose? He’s never even had a dog. He probably has no idea chocolate or nuts are bad for dogs, and he doesn’t know Turbo is super allergic.”
“I told him.”
As hard as it is to believe that Turbo almost died, it’s far more difficult to believe what Austin is accusing Kyle of. I think about everything Kyle told me about Austin, wrestling with conflicting stories. “You told him Turbo was allergic to nuts?”
He nods. “Kyle was about to give some to Turbo, but I stopped him.” Austin makes a sound, a frustrated little laugh. “I actually told him Turbo was allergic enough to die. I practically handed him the recipe for how to kill my dog.”
My cell vibrates, accompanied by “Boom Boom Pow,” Kyle’s ringtone.
Austin glances at my pocket. “That’s him, isn’t it?”
I take my phone out and silence it. “I’ll talk to him about this later.”
Austin’s finger glides across my forehead to brush a stray hair away from my face, his touch soothing. Somehow we’ve drawn closer, his broad shoulder beckoning me to rest my head, his lips a breath away from mine. His closeness is intoxicating.
“I’m sorry I knocked you down on Saturday, babe. I swear, I never meant to hurt you.”
“I know you didn’t,” I say.
A dog barks, wrenching our gazes away from each other.
“Jesse,” Austin greets the old man, who is strolling along the beach with his dog. Seeing Maggie’s puppy-dog face turns my thoughts to Turbo and the possibility that Kyle could stoop that low.
Jesse glances at me with an upturned nose, looking me over with a scowl. I can imagine what he’s thinking: I don’t like your type none. It’s as if he’s waiting for me to mess up, watching for a flaw he can pounce on.
We make small talk, Austin pats Maggie on the head, and then Jesse leaves. At last.
“What are you doing today?” I ask.
“My mom’s taking me to the Lady and Sons restaurant for some early birthday lunch before she heads back to Virginia. She and my aunt are on their knees right now, praying they see Paula Deen so they can get their cookbooks signed.”
A memory of Debbie telling me the date flashes back. “Oh, my gosh. Tomorrow is July seventh! Austin, your birthday is tomorrow.”
He smiles like he’s impressed I knew. “Yep.”
“And you quit your night job! That means you’re free tonight?”
“You got something in mind?”
“Brian’s throwing this party for no reason. I’ll tell him it’s your birthday, and—”
“Whoa.” Austin cuts me off. “Hold up. The day I go to Brian’s house for a party is the day I squeeze into a tutu and do a little dance.”
I give a wink. “Oh, there will be dancing. You had some serious moves on River Street, you know.”
“I only did it to get that kiss you promised me.”
“And I’m sure you’ll get another one tonight,” I say. Austin pulls a face, considering it. “So you’ll go then?”
He wraps his arms around my waist, sighing. “If it means being with you, babe, I’ll go.”
“Awesome. I’ll pick you up at eight.”
“Where are you running off to?” he asks as I snag my bag.
“I have a birthday present to get ready.”
“Don’t buy me anything.”
I smile, not about to make him any promises. At any rate, I have a birthday gift in mind that won’t cost a dime, but will take some time and effort. “I’ve gotta go,” I say, already walking away. “Tonight? Eight o’clock?”
“I can’t wait,” he says with a hint of sarcasm.
“Until next time,” I call as I head back to my house. Then I dial the most recently missed call on my cell.
“Hey, baby,” Kyle answers. “We’re at the airport waiting for—”
“Kyle.” I cut his useless chatter short. “We need to talk.”
CHAPTER 35
Sienna
“Talk about what?”
“You tried to kill his dog!” I say.
“You’re still talking to that loser? What—”
“So you did try to kill Turbo,” I fire back. “You knew right away I was talking about Austin’s dog.”
“Who else do I know who has a dog?”
“Your friends, Brad and Justin.”
“Brad’s dog practically lives at the doggy spa, and Justin’s mom has a French poodle.”
“The point is, you tried to kill Austin’s dog, Kyle.”
“What are you talking about? How?”
“Don’t ask me how. You fed him a bunch of nuts.”
He pauses like he’s confused. “Um, oh, yeah. I did spill a few on the ground. Why does that matter?”
“Turbo’s allergic, Kyle. You knew that.”
“How was I supposed to know?”
“Austin said he told you.”
“Seriously, Sienna. When have I cared to listen to some douche ramble on about his dog? If he mentioned it, it went in one ear and out the other.”
I consider this. “Turbo almost died, Kyle.”
Kyle heaves a sigh that could mean so many things. “He made it, huh?”
I can’t tell if Kyle is relieved or enraged at this news.
“Gosh, I’m really sorry,” he says, his tone so genuine, a flicker of belief challenges my accusation. “All I know is you’ve got to stay away from Austin. You saw him storm up to me on the beach, ready to throw down. He snapped, like I warned you he would.”
“Because you almost killed Turbo.”
“It’s a dog, Sienna!”
“And that dog means a lot to him! His dad gave Turbo to him.”
“Oh, and what, his dad died or something?”
“No, jerk, his d
ad went to prison, remember?”
“Sienna, listen to yourself!” he shoots back. “Austin is trouble. Stay away from him.”
“Don’t tell me what to do!”
Another deep sigh. I so wish I could see him right now, read his expression. On second thought, being with him would only make what I’m about to say a whole lot harder.
“Sienna,” he says softly. “When you left this summer, I didn’t imagine any of this could happen. I just can’t believe you’ve been cheating on me with Austin.”
“It’s nothing you haven’t done,” I say, remembering the reason I broke up with him last year. I found out I wasn’t Kyle’s one and only. Yet I forgave him.
“I said I’m sorry for that,” Kyle says.
“Yes, you did. But now I’m wondering if that and everything else you’ve said to me is a lie.”
“Austin. Is. Turning. You. Against. Me!” he says, halting after each word. “Sienna, don’t do this. Don’t throw everything we have away because of him.”
I sigh, a painful breath of air that crushes my lungs on the way out.
“This isn’t happening,” he says, holding back no grief from his voice. And it only makes this worse. Much worse. “Tell me you’re not with him, Sienna. Come on.”
The crash of waves along the beach echoes in one ear while the bustle of the airport whispers in the other. I can almost picture him sitting at his gate. Listening. Waiting.
“I love him.”
Yes. I said it.
“Please, Sienna,” Kyle says, his voice breaking on those words.
I feel a knot inside my throat.
“He’s only going to hurt you,” Kyle says, begging now. “People with that messed up of a past can’t be trusted. Someday you’ll push just the right button, and he’ll blow.”
Memories attack my resolve, every treasured moment Kyle and I spent together during the last three years clambering to the surface: our first date to a baseball game and fondue afterward, our junior prom, and the many cookouts our families shared. Kyle is a part of my past, and my past holds memories of a time when my dad was still alive and my family was still somewhat functional. Kyle knew my dad, and saying good-bye to him feels like closing yet another door to days gone by that I can’t help but want to crawl back through sometimes.
“I love you,” Kyle says, breaking the strangling silence.
But I’ve made my choice, and it feels good. Better than any decision has felt in a long time. Truthfully, I’ve been so unable to move forward since Dad died that I haven’t really made any decisions at all. Blinded to the future by always looking at the past. Memories of Austin step back into place, warm and reassuring. When I look at Austin, life, despite all of its pain and chaos, falls into place. When I look at him, I can see tomorrow.
Kyle and I both know what this is, what this means. It’s over. We’re over. This is good-bye, and I can’t let him convince me otherwise. “Good-bye, Kyle.”
Then I hang up the phone before he has a chance.
CHAPTER 36
Sienna
I don’t even care if my mom knows. I’m past hiding this.
For now I pretend the last day of July will never come, the day Austin and I will go our separate ways for college. Now I’m wishing Kyle’s sister wasn’t getting married so I could stay on Tybee longer. Brittney has been like a sister to me, though, and regardless of my relationship with Kyle (or lack thereof) I’m sure she’ll still want me as her maid of honor.
I go all out tonight, teasing my hair endlessly until it’s just right. Makeup. Skinny jeans. A quick spritz of perfume. I pick out one of my favorite shirts, a coral scoop neck with ruffles, and check the mirror on my way out.
“Are you off to Brian’s party?” Mom asks as I jog down the stairs.
“Yeah,” I reply. I take a deep breath, but before I can admit that I’m going with Austin, something rams me from behind. I hardly saw Spencer coming down the stairs, he was running so fast. “Where are you going?” I ask as he throws the front door open.
He does a quick spin to face me and strikes a superhero pose. “Going to find Two-Face, and no one’s going to stop me.”
I glance at my mom, who’s wearing an expression I imagine mirrors my own. Spencer has been like this lately, entering one of his manic phases where he spontaneously bursts into song, rhymes off the tip of his tongue, and starts way too many projects all at once, thinking he’s invincible. I guess Mom’s breakup with Gary did the trick.
Still, Spencer and Mom exploded into an argument the other day when she caught him spitting out his medications after she thought he’d swallowed them. He’s getting good at it—evading her attempts to help him—and he does it just to annoy her.
“He’s going to Bobby’s party,” Mom explains with forced composure, no doubt attempting to help mend their relationship.
“Bobby?” I protest, but Mom shushes me. Seriously, Bobby is the craziest kid I know, which is saying something. Ahem. And his craziness doesn’t bode well with Spencer’s present mood. Not to mention he’s plain rude.
“There once was a hero, and his name was Batman!” Spencer starts in his hallmark poetic voice. “He set out to find Two-Face and found him in a trash can. He tossed in some dynamite, trapping Two-Face and soon . . . the trash can exploded. Two-Face went kaBOOM!”
I shake my head. “Be careful, Spencer. Don’t go looking too hard for Two-Face, okay?”
“Don’t worry,” Spencer says, pulling out one of his homemade tinfoil Batman weapons. “I have batarangs, I’m bulletproof, and I have x-ray vision. I know because I can see through your clothes right now, and you’re wearing pink underwear.”
“Spencer—” I try to snag him, but he bolts out the door.
“Stay at Bobby’s house,” Mom reminds Spencer as he runs away, “and be back by ten thirty.”
Ten thirty? Wow, Mom really is trying to boost their relationship. Usually she keeps closer tabs on him. And Bobby’s family, one of the few locals down the street, operates on “Tybee time,” which means they run about an hour behind the rest of the world.
I follow him out the door and watch him run down the street. I open the car door but hesitate, something nagging at me. As Spencer disappears around the corner, that feeling only twists tighter, churning deep inside my gut.
“Have fun!” Mom shouts, calling my attention to the fact that I’m late picking up Austin. I jump in and close the door, and as I put the gravel road behind me, I leave my gut instinct behind, too.
CHAPTER 37
Austin
When I open the front door, I instinctively take a step back.
“Ready to go?” she asks.
“Y-yeah,” I finally croak out, pretending to check my back pocket for my wallet. Anything to distract my gaze from blatantly taking in every inch of her. Again. Dang, she looks good.
As we drive, I watch the way her hair falls around her shoulders, the way her earrings swing with every bounce of the car, and I decide three more weeks won’t be enough.
Brian’s house shouldn’t surprise me. Nonetheless, I find myself staring up at a columned porch that makes the place look like a plantation. Lights flash, the floor shakes with the bass, and people are dancing inside.
I glance around the room. A fountain serves every flavor of soda, a DJ spins the music, and a table displays enough food to feed a party at the White House. No beer, of course. Brian is only twenty, and I can already tell his family is the by-the-book type. His parents are even chaperoning from their cushioned rockers on the back porch.
Brian’s the first to greet us, squeezing through the crowded room to reach us. A song from back in the day plays on the speakers, reminding me of my gangly junior high years, and I wonder what on earth I’m doing here.
Sienna starts dancing, blending in with the crowd like she was born on the dance floor. And me? Let’s not go there. Sienna spins by me, her hair whipping around. I catch a waft of her perfume and think maybe this party wasn’t such a
bad idea after all. She smiles with a wink and slides into my arms as a slow song begins.
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close. She rests her head against me, and I close my eyes, imagining how amazing it would be to hold her like this on starlit nights to come this fall.
Heads turn, eyes stealing glances at the front door. My subconscious picks up these details, sensing something going on.
“Austin, m’man!”
Leo’s voice lassos my attention and yanks it toward the front door.
He walks in, all smiles, with Reggie and Lindsay in tow.
CHAPTER 38
Sienna
“What’s goin’ on, ace?” Leo says. “Your new man Brian over there has to invite us to a party for us to hang with you anymore.”
“Hey, guys.” Austin laughs it off, clearly not expecting this and maybe not exactly happy about it either. He returns Leo’s high five. “This is a surprise.”
The first sounds of firecrackers split the air. Simultaneously, everyone glances to Brian’s backyard where a crowd is gathering. Austin’s fingers slip between mine, and I can see Lindsay notices.
“We’re heading out back,” Austin says, but Leo beats him to it.
“Sweet. C’mon, man.” Leo yanks him toward the patio, the motion pulling Austin’s hand from mine. We file out, a mass of sweaty bodies, and before I know it, I’ve lost Austin. I stand by the hedge, searching the crowd.
“Bet you got that gum from Austin.” I hear the voice behind me and turn. Lindsay. “Austin always has gum,” she says, as though I’m interested.
I offer a little grin but look away. I remind myself that I don’t care what she says. But in reality, her comment drives my jealous curiosity. I never noticed Austin always has gum, probably because my mom keeps my purse stocked with all kinds of gum and breath mints. Petty resentment settles in at the thought that Lindsay might know more about Austin than I do.
“Kinda nice,” she says. “Never had to buy gum when we were together. You want to know what I miss the most, though?”
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