Rewind to You

by Laura Johnston

“I’d rather talk to you in person.”

  This can’t be good. “Are you all right?”

  Another long pause. “Austin, we lost our house.”

  I have no idea what to say. I look up at the burned balcony, realizing I’ve stopped in the middle of the street. “Your house? In Virginia?”

  “Yes.”

  What do you say to that? “Wow, Sienna—”

  She exhales. “That’s only the beginning of it, too. I really need to talk to you.”

  “Sure. I was going to pick you up for lunch anyway.”

  “Austin, I should be the one taking you out. It’s your birthday.”

  “No way. I was planning on taking you to Jesse’s café, but you should see the place.”

  Sienna heaves an exhausted sigh. “It’s burned pretty bad, isn’t it?”

  “You heard?” I ask.

  “Spencer’s the one who did it.”

  “What? Spencer? Is he okay?”

  “Yeah, everyone’s fine. But I don’t know how much money the repairs will cost, and our finances aren’t so hot right now. Things are a little . . . on edge around here.”

  “Let me come get you,” I say. “I’ll buy you lunch, and then I’ll go talk to Jesse. Maybe we can work something out.”

  I hear a faint rustling sound on Sienna’s end, like she’s moving stuff around. “Actually, I can’t do lunch. My mom had to reschedule a lunch with Judy for today, and I’m watching Spencer. Besides, I told her I’d get things . . . cleaned up here while she’s gone.”

  “Can I help?”

  “That’s sweet of you, but I’m fine. I’ll meet you in an hour, okay? At the pier. I have a present for you.”

  “I told you not to get me anything.”

  I can picture her smiling as she replies, “I’ll see you at the pier.”

  “Okay.” I try not to let her hear my disappointment. With an hour to kill, I could go to Jesse’s, but I don’t want to talk to him before I get the details of last night. So I fire up my motorcycle and let my hungry stomach guide me down the street.

  When I reach a restaurant that looks good, I instantly regret that Sienna’s not with me. It’s nothing like the Aqua Star, but it’s as fancy as restaurants come on Tybee. I glance around as the waiter seats me, noticing almost everyone sitting in couples or groups.

  I order right away, anxious to split as soon as I eat. A candle-lit slice of cake is served to a table near me, and the group sings “Happy Birthday.” I catch myself smiling at the birthday kid, who is all eyes for the candle he’s about to wish on.

  My waiter returns with a glass of water and a Coke, slicing my trance.

  “Thanks,” I say. As my fingers touch the cold glass of Coke, I recall the unfinished soda I threw away after Sienna teased me about it killing me off early. I remember the first date I took her on, sitting across from her at the Pirate’s House restaurant. I told her I couldn’t see myself living long. I laugh now, because I honestly used to think that.

  I reach for the glass of water instead, smiling. Next thing I know I’ll be drinking kale juice. Pathetic. Oh well. It took meeting Sienna to realize I wasn’t heading anywhere, not really. She showed me that there is something more to life than football, independence, and big dreams. Maybe Sienna’s right. Perhaps I’ll miss my mom more than I thought.

  A glimpse of Sienna in my peripheral vision snaps my attention to the front door. Only it’s not Sienna. Two women walk through the door. It’s hard to miss Sienna’s mom. Looks just like her daughter, only older. And I recognize Brian’s mom from the party last night.

  Awkward.

  A waiter gestures them to follow him, and I quickly lean back, hiding behind the skimpy cover of a palm bush beside me as they draw near. I freeze. Brian’s mom plunks a shopping bag down at the table on the other side of the bush and chuckles.

  Just my luck.

  “Well, Nancy,” Brian’s mom says and picks up her menu, “if there’s one thing I don’t mind about a crummy economy, it’s all the cheap deals. I’ve never had so much fun shopping!”

  “Oh, I know,” Nancy agrees, and I hear the lie in her voice.

  I glance toward the kitchen, trying not to eavesdrop.

  “I appreciate your rescheduling this lunch, Judy.”

  “Oh, it’s no problem at all,” Judy replies. “I wouldn’t have missed our last chance to do lunch for the life of me! I’m only sad you’re leaving so soon.”

  I try not to look their way, but I can’t help it. Her words replay in my mind.

  Leaving so soon.

  Nancy places one of those women’s magazines on the table and scans her menu. “Me too.”

  “But I understand you need to get back, what with Sienna starting college and this . . . incident with Spencer.”

  I peer through the palm leaves to see Nancy shaking her head. “Impulsive child. I love that boy, Judy, I really do. But mark my words, he is going to be the death of me.”

  “Excuse my big mouth,” Judy drawls. “I’m sorry I even brought it up. We don’t need to talk about that.” She waves off the subject with a flick of her hand. “You know, if things don’t work out between Sienna and Kyle, Brian’s only an airplane flight away. We’ll send him anytime.”

  This is unreal. What could possibly be taking my waiter so long?

  Nancy smiles. “Wouldn’t that be fun?”

  “Well, I hate to count my chickens before the eggs hatch, but can you imagine those two together?”

  Nancy laughs, and her giggle fuels something hot inside me. “Brian is the picture of perfection, Judy, really. So charismatic and gracious. Think of how much fun we’d have planning their wedding.”

  “Too much fun, I’m afraid.”

  “But actually, Sienna and Kyle are quite ideal for each other.”

  “Aww,” Judy sighs, the noise making me sick. “They’re two peas in a pod, aren’t they?”

  “And he comes from a good family,” Nancy goes on.

  “Oh, I agree,” Judy says. “I’m so glad I got to meet them. Kyle’s dad has made quite a name for himself, partner at that big accounting firm and all. And his mom is the neatest lady.”

  Nancy smiles. “Yes, Sienna and Kyle will continue dating, of course. They’ll be so close, going to the same college. Aaand . . .” She draws out the word as though she’s holding back a dirty secret.

  “One thing will lead to another,” Judy chimes in.

  “Precisely,” Nancy says, and both women laugh.

  My waiter returns, finally, placing my order on the table. I stare down at the Philly cheesesteak sandwich and fries, my appetite gone.

  “Now, what about that other boy?” Judy asks, and my ears perk. “You know, the one she brought to the party last night. Brian told me his name, but I—”

  Nancy grunts. “Dallas,” she spits out. “Or Houston, or whatever it is.”

  “That’s right!” Judy says. “Austin is his name.”

  I glance at Brian’s mom, impressed she remembered.

  Nancy nods. “Who knows what Sienna sees in him?”

  “Actually, he is quite a dreamboat, you’ve got to admit.”

  Nancy exhales. “Yes, I’m sure he has a herd of teeny boppers drooling over him, but he’ll never get someone like Sienna.”

  I scan the room for the nearest exit.

  “His friends did give me the heebies,” Judy admits. “But Austin seemed like a nice young man.”

  I glance at Judy, reluctantly appreciative.

  Nancy sighs. “Oh, Judy. Please. Their worlds are poles apart. Really, he doesn’t deserve her. Why it’s taking her so long to realize it, I have no idea. I have to remind myself that Sienna will be in college soon. This little fling under the Georgia sun will seem a lifetime away, and she’ll move on.”

  A drop of condensation slithers down my glass of Coke. I stare at it, glued to my seat now, my mind captured by the image her words paint.

  “So when exactly are you leaving?”

  “First
thing tomorrow morning,” Nancy answers, pulling me out of my trance.

  “So soon!” Judy pouts. “Does Gary know?”

  “Mm-hm,” Nancy says. “I told him this morning.”

  “And?” Judy prods. “How did he take it?”

  “He wasn’t happy.”

  Judy lets out a victorious squeal, elated by the poor guy’s misery. “I always knew he still had a thing for you, Nancy. Even before his divorce, I just knew it. Did Gary say he’d stay in touch?”

  “Yes,” Nancy replies, “but who knows if anything will come of it. Either way, we really need to get home. Naomi needs my help with Brittney’s wedding. You should see the dress they have for Sienna!”

  “I’ll bet Kyle will be in a tux, too,” Judy says. “You’ll have to send me a picture of them together.”

  “Oh, I will. Here’s a picture of the wedding cake Brittney picked out.” Nancy opens the magazine, but I tune out the rest of the conversation. I’ve heard enough.

  I stand with my back to them and fish a twenty from my wallet. Sienna’s leaving tomorrow, on her way home to Kyle. A fling? Is that all this was? A month of messing around with a guy who could never deserve her?

  I toss the cash on the table beside the sandwich and cold fries. I pick up the Coke, fighting off images of Sienna at that wedding, in Kyle’s arms once again. I should have known. I down the Coke in three gulps, slam the empty glass on the table, and start for the door.

  CHAPTER 40

  Sienna

  I push on the patio door, the sound of it creaking open causing a pang in my heart. It used to remind me of my dad, this and the other distant sounds of our family as it used to be. But from now on, it will remind me of sunny days during the summer after my senior year, running out the door to meet Austin by the pier.

  With a heavy heart, I set out across the beach, glancing down at the wrapped present in my hands. The thought of telling Austin that I’m leaving tomorrow has been eating away at me. I tossed and turned in bed all night, hoping he will understand. I’ve played it out in my mind a hundred times. He’ll wrap his arms around me. He’ll tell me everything between us will be okay. Breaking the bad news surrounded by a crowd of swimmers and surfers at the pier will lighten the situation, make it easier somehow.

  Then I see him.

  He’s standing beside the beach house, his motorcycle parked behind him.

  “Austin,” I say, surprised. As I draw near, I note the way he stands, his hands jammed in his pockets. His gaze holds mine with an intensity that puts my pulse on hold. In his eyes, I see pain. And something else. I stop at the invisible barrier that keeps us apart.

  “Is it true?” he asks, his expression firm. “You’re leaving tomorrow?”

  I glance away, my voice trapped inside my throat. The wind picks up, a gentle breeze that sweeps up the scent of the ocean. I take in a slow breath, realizing how much I’ll miss things like this: sunrises on Tybee, the call of a blue heron in the morning, and even the muggy summer air. But most of all I’ll miss Austin, his voice, his smell, his touch, even simply looking at him like I am now.

  My throat swells. “Yeah, it’s true.” I don’t bother asking how he already knows I’m leaving; it will only prolong the inevitable.

  He looks away, the muscles in his jaw flexing.

  “We have to move everything out of our house by the first week of August,” I explain.

  “Where will you live?”

  “The Prices have a second home they usually rent out.”

  He exhales behind tight lips. “The Prices, huh?”

  “Come on, Austin, my mom has nowhere to go.”

  “Was any of this real?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Us,” he says. “Was any of this real, or was it just a summer fling?”

  “Austin, of course it was real.” I breach the unseen barrier, lifting my arm to hold his face in my hand. “It is real,” I assure him, his reaction tearing at something within me. He rests his head ever so slightly against my palm and takes in a deep breath. He exhales, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into a tight hug.

  I hang on, don’t want to let go.

  “Here, I’ve got something for you,” I say. I hand the present to him as well as the T-shirt I’ve worn every night for the past month.

  A smile tugs at the corners of his lips. “You didn’t wash it, did you?”

  I laugh. “No, actually, I didn’t have time.”

  “Good. You know you can keep it, right?”

  “It’s yours, and so is this.” I gesture to the present. We sit down side by side on the sand, and he peels away the wrapping. Watching him closely, I find the look on his face I was hoping for when he sees the baseball cap.

  “You know me well,” he says with an unbearably cute smile. He turns the blue and orange hat over in his hands.

  “If you’re going to be a Florida Gator, I figure you ought to look like one.” I snag the cap and pull it on his head, draw him in, and kiss him.

  “Thank you,” he whispers against my lips and kisses me back. I note the taste of his lips, the feel of his breath against mine. How do you say good-bye?

  I reach into my pocket and pull out a slip of paper. “I wrote my home and college addresses down for you. I’ll be at our home in Richmond for the rest of July. After that I’ll be at my college address.” I leave out the part about Brittney’s wedding on August first, because now is definitely not the time to bring that up.

  Austin takes the paper and stares at it, his expression unreadable.

  “And I have one more surprise for you,” I add, finally coming to the part I’ve been looking forward to the most. I’m so nervous, I suddenly wonder if this is a good idea.

  “What is it?” he asks.

  At last, I hand it to him, a second piece of paper with a different name and address on it. My nerves rattle as I wait. He holds the paper, his face folding as he reads it. I wait for what feels like forever, unable to suppress the smile on my face.

  “Hyrum Dobbs?” he finally says—part question, part statement.

  “I found him, Austin,” I say, unable to contain it any longer. “I found your dad!”

  Another silent pause suffocates the air between us. “You—wait a minute—you what?”

  “I found him.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, I thought we could meet him. I mean, I really wanted to. Austin, he lives on St. Simons Island, that little town where we met with that professor! I wish I could go with you. I thought we’d have more time. But I wanted to give this to you anyway.”

  “You thought I could meet back up with him, huh?” he says, staring at the paper with a cold glare. The look on his face brings my enthusiasm to a halt.

  I swallow. “It’s been so long since you’ve seen him. I just feel bad for you.”

  “Well, don’t.”

  “Austin—”

  “I don’t need your pity.”

  “Austin, I—”

  “You what?” His sharp voice paralyzes me. “You thought he and I could be friends again, and all my problems would be solved? Is that what this is about? Maybe if I reconnected with my past, I’d become the good boy I never was, and then I’d fit into your perfect little mold?”

  “I don’t have a perfect mold!”

  “Your mom does! We both know that.”

  “Austin, I was just trying to help.”

  “Help what? Erase everything that happened? Well, you know what? Life happened, Sienna, and it made me who I am.”

  He stands, sand kicking up as he turns to leave.

  “And I like who you are,” I insist, standing and yanking him around to look at me. “Austin, you don’t need to change a thing. That’s not what this is about. I’m sorry I even did this. I was just trying to do something nice.”

  His expression softens a little. “I’m sorry. It’s just . . . How did you even find him?”

  “Brian’s super good with computers and looking stuff up,
” I begin.

  Austin rolls his eyes. “Is that what you did every day while I was at work, hang out with Brian, your future fiancé? Or is that Kyle?”

  “What?” My voice spikes. “Where is this coming from?”

  “Did you break up with Kyle?”

  Yes, I’m about to say, but I hesitate, remembering my last words to Kyle over the phone. I said good-bye and hung up, envisioning that as the end. But now I see that it wasn’t exactly a clean break. Kyle could easily have misinterpreted my intentions.

  Austin watches my contemplation and takes it as my answer. “That’s great.” Sarcasm saturates his remark.

  “Austin, I—I mean, Kyle knows—”

  “Right,” Austin says and turns to leave.

  I snag his arm, pulling him around again. “Wait.”

  “Why?” the word roars past his lips. “Why do you stay with him? Do you love him?”

  I’m so taken aback at Austin’s raised voice, I’m speechless. I dig for the answers to his questions, but I come up short on a reply, and it occurs to me what an insufferable people pleaser I am. Always doing exactly what will make everyone else happy, never wanting to hurt anyone. But there’s one major problem with that: I can’t please my mom, Kyle, and Austin all at the same time. Let alone myself.

  I still don’t want to hurt any of them, and I never will. However, now I realize doing the right thing means following your heart regardless of what others think.

  My cell phone vibrates to life in my pocket, and “Boom Boom Pow” rings out, Kyle’s ringtone, snatching my thoughts back to the disastrous reality of what’s happening. My heart drops when I look up at Austin.

  “You’re still with him,” Austin says. A statement, not a question.

  I’m about to shake my head, but Austin’s hand touches mine, and I realize he’s twisting Kyle’s ring around my finger.

  I see everything play out in my mind in broken fragments I’ll never be able to mend. I can’t turn back the clock and break it off for good with Kyle, just as I can’t go back and change something as simple as remembering to take Kyle’s ring off my finger. I see it in Austin’s eyes. It’s too late.

  “No, Austin. No.”

  “He’s calling you right now, Sienna.”

  “I won’t answer.”