by Jordan Ford
“Totally. I feel better every time I see the ocean.”
We grin at each other, and Aidan’s gaze lingers on my face. “I didn’t feel it as deep until you showed me how. Thank you for teaching me.”
I swallow, giddy nerves attacking me, making it hard to speak. In the end, I manage to rasp, “You’re welcome.”
My body is tingling, my stomach doing flips and jumping jacks. Those green eyes of his are way more powerful than he realizes.
“So, when did you move here? Tell me your story.” Aidan takes a sip from his water glass.
I’m kind of loath to do it. I hate telling my story because it’s always so sad and pathetic. How do you spruce up being raised by a single mother who could take or leave you?
“I, um…” I press my lips together and try to think of the glossy bits. “My grandfather lived here for… well, I don’t know how long for, but when he died, he left my mom his house, so she took it. We arrived when I was fourteen, and I can’t imagine us leaving anytime soon.”
He keeps staring at me, waiting for more. I focus on the sound of the chip crunching between his teeth. What more does he want me to say?
He licks the salt off his lips. “So, it’s just you and your mom?”
“Yep.” My head starts bobbing and I keep my eyes on the table.
“Where’s your dad?”
I shrug and for some reason admit, “I don’t know who he is. I’ve never met him.”
“I’m sorry.”
He sounds genuine, so I glance up and give him a swift smile. “I don’t know any different, so… you know. It’s not like I have anything to compare to. I didn’t even get to meet my grandfather, and other than like one or two of my mom’s half-decent boyfriends, my view on older guys is pretty tainted.”
“Have you ever just once wanted to find him? Or is your mom against that?”
I scoff and start dipping my chip in and out of the guacamole. “I don’t think my mom knows who he is, either. There’s been a lot of guys in her life.”
“Ouch.” He winces.
I raise my eyebrows and bite my lips together. Looking at him is impossible right now. There’s a certain amount of humiliation in admitting your mom’s a skank.
“I don’t need a dad. I’m fine on my own.”
I don’t think he believes me, and I suddenly wish I’d never said it. There’s a sad sympathy in his gaze, which is bugging me. Focusing back on my chip, I scrape some green dip off the edge of the bowl and shove the chip into my mouth.
“My life must seem so squeaky clean and perfect to you.” Aidan shifts back in his seat. His leg brushes mine as he moves around, and I flinch away from it. The tiny hairs on his leg leave a tingling tickle that my body wants more of.
I tuck my feet back against the booth seat and start bobbing my head again. “It’s pretty shiny.”
He snickers. “I know I’m lucky, but it’s not perfect. I mean yes, I have two parents and they love each other. I don’t want for anything. I get that, and I know I probably take it for granted sometimes. But the hard part about living in a home like that is the expectations. They’re so high, you know? Like I have no excuse to screw up, ever. So when I do, I just…” He swallows, his lips pulling into a tight frown. “I don’t know.”
“I can imagine it’s hard.” My voice has gone quiet all of a sudden. It seems appropriate somehow. For once, I don’t feel the urge to tease him. His pretty boy speech, although a little “first-world problems” mockable, seems 100 percent genuine. He looks kind of torn up, and I wish I could fix it for him.
He glances at me, his bright green eyes tinged with desperation. “I just wish I could break free sometimes, you know?”
“I totally know.” I bulge my eyes at him. “I want to break free all the time, which is why I go to the water. Surfing has saved my life on more than one occasion.” I grin.
He matches my smile and we sit there for a few minutes, silently sharing our common ground. We may come from different worlds, but we seem to understand each other. Rich or poor, north or south, none of that matters right now. We’re just two people who want to catch the next ride out of home. Away from the pressure, away from the great divide, away from…
Her.
My throat instantly swells as a brunette with fiery green eyes and a scary-ass frown storms up to our table.
Who the hell is she?
And why is she about to shit all over my moment with Aidan?
My eyebrows dip to mirror her frown until she stops by our table and I suddenly recognize her—the sugar-free gum goblin from Freshmart.
“Can I help you?” I snap, my eyes narrowing to match hers.
Aidan flinches and looks over just as she stops by the table.
“Oh, shit,” he murmurs under his breath.
“Why are you having dinner with my cousin?” Miss Snark rests her hand on her hip, then juts it out like she’s posing for the cover of Vogue.
I’d usually roll my eyes at this point, but I’m too surprised by her statement to do anything other than gape at Aidan. “Your cousin?”
He gapes back at me. “You know each other?”
My teeth slam together. He’s not denying it.
Shit.
That bitch is his family?
I can barely grit out my reply. “We haven’t been formally introduced.”
“Uh, okay.” Aidan shifts in the booth, looking like an awkward giant as he points between us. “Harley, this is Skylar. Skylar this—”
“Oh, save it,” she interrupts him, then looks back to me. “We’re done here. I’ll cover your tab, although I’m sure you can afford a shithole like this.”
I blink, shocked, but not surprised at the way she’s talking. Bitch just must run through her veins.
“Hey.” Aidan tugs on Skylar’s wrist. “What the hell are you doing? You can’t talk to her like that.”
“I’m fine.” I stand from the table and go eye-to-eye with her. She may look fierce, but I bet I could kick her ass. Those skinny arms of hers could be snapped like chicken bones.
“Harley?” Aidan’s voice has a nervous, confused edge to it.
I glance at him, his gorgeous face wrinkled with embarrassment. Pulling some cash from my back pocket, I dump it on the table.
“I can drive you home.” Aidan goes to stand, but Skylar blocks his way. “Skylar!”
“Don’t worry about it. I’d rather walk anyway.” I give Skylar a pointed glare before glancing back at her cousin. “I’ll catch you later.”
He looks like he’s going to argue with me, so I shoot away from the table, glancing back just once to mouth, “Good luck!” behind Skylar’s back.
His lips twitch with a grin, which morphs into an apologetic smile.
I brush my hand through the air as Skylar takes my seat.
I don’t know what the hell her problem is, but I’m not hanging around to find out.
As soon as the evening air hits my skin, I take off at a sprint. The more distance I can create between me and that witch, the better.
19
Whiplash
AIDAN
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I glare at Skylar, who is gazing at the tortilla chips in disgust. God forbid she have anything as vulgar as deep-fried food. I huff and push the bowl away from her. “You can’t throw shade like that. You basically ran her out of here, and dammit, I shouldn’t have let you do it!”
Slapping my hands on the table, I go to rise, but Skylar jumps up and shoves my shoulder. “Sit down.”
I thump into my seat and glare at her.
“Oh, get over it. She’s tough. She’s fine. She said she’d see you later, didn’t she?”
“You can be such a b—”
“That’s not the point.” Skylar cuts me off. She’s always been good at doing that. “The point is what the hell, Aidan!”
Anger and confusion are roiling inside of me. I can’t decide whether to ditch my cousin and run after Harley or stick around
to figure out why she’s so pissed off with me.
“I’m trying to get you back together with Savvy and you’re off getting tight with another girl! In case you’re stupid and I have to spell it out for you, that looks really bad.”
I let out a heavy sigh and slump back against the booth. “It wasn’t a romantic thing, okay? She’s my…friend.”
“Friend, my ass,” Skylar scoffs. “My source says you were getting pretty flirty over dinner.”
“Who the hell is your source?”
“That’s not the point.”
“Skylar.” My voice drops low with warning.
She rolls her eyes and flicks a lock of dark hair over her shoulder. “Okay, fine. It’s Wyatt.”
“Wyatt?” My voice practically cracks over the word. “Wyatt Mattley?”
What. The hell.
“He saw you showering at the beach and told me about it, so I asked him to follow you after school today.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal.
“You what?”
Her triumphant smirk is slightly sickening. “You know the guy will do anything for me.”
“At what price?”
Her cheeks tinge pink as she starts fiddling with her left earring. “I told him I’d give him seven minutes in heaven.”
I can’t even form a response. Seriously! Does she have no depth to how low she’ll go?
“Get that look off your face.” She points at me. “What Craig doesn’t know won’t hurt him, so you can just shut up. It’s for a good cause. Savannah’s my best friend and she’s miserable. She doesn’t have the guts to confront you, so I have to step in and do what I must.” Her long, manicured nails start tapping the shiny tabletop, and she looks away from me, a guilty flush tinging her cheeks.
“What are you not telling me?” I nudge her foot with mine.
She rolls her eyes and sighs, “You’ll be pissed, so I don’t want to say.”
I nudge her a little harder until she gives me an indignant “Ouch!”
“Say,” I demand with a pointed look that could rival hers.
“Okay, fine,” she mutters, crossing her arms and trying to look justified in whatever shit she’s about to spill. “A couple of days before prom, Savannah admitted that she wasn’t into you anymore. She was finding your relationship…boring. So I encouraged her to…” She spins her fingers in the air.
“You told her to dump me?” I jerk up in my seat.
“I thought I was being helpful!” she quickly retorts. “At least she waited until after prom, and now she totally regrets it, so I’m trying to make things right.”
I let out a disgusted scoff and am two seconds away from telling my cousin exactly what I think of her meddling.
“Now can we stay on point here, please?” She snaps her fingers. “You shouldn’t be off with that blonde bitch while Savannah is pining for you.”
Anger rises up my throat swift and sharp. “Harley’s not a bitch. She’s a very nice person, and she’s helping me out.”
“Explain.” Skylar’s nostrils flare. “Because right now, all I see is you losing the best thing that has ever happened to you.”
“No thanks to you,” I mutter darkly.
She splays her hands on the table and leans towards me. “I am trying to make it right. Savannah had a moment of doubt, which I thought was legit, but we were both wrong. Let me fix this, please. You and Savannah should be together.”
Shit, is she right?
Savannah was the best thing that had ever happened to me. I have this chance to get her back and…
I roll my eyes, wishing Skylar and Savannah weren’t BFFs.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me. Savannah is perfect. You guys come from the same worlds. Your parents adore her, which is why I promised not to tell them, or mine, that you and Sav are over. Shit, I don’t even think her dad knows. So don’t screw this up, and the lie can end this weekend!”
I let out a heavy sigh, my shoulders slumping forwards as I decide it’s in my best interest to be honest with my cousin. “Harley’s teaching me how to surf, okay? I was trying to figure out a way to impress Savannah, or maybe get over her. Just anything to distract me from the dull ache in my chest.”
Skylar blinks, her expression morphing to one of sympathy and regret. Like, genuine sympathy and regret. The kind she rarely shows anyone, but when she does, you know she means it.
I swallow and keep going. “Surfing is a good use of my time. It’s fun. It’s distracting. Harley’s been teaching me how.”
And Skylar’s expression morphs again. It always feels like whiplash when she does this to me. Skylar is this weird, confusing combination of bitch with a beating heart. When she lets that heart show itself, she’s amazing. I wish she wouldn’t hide it away all the time.
Her manicured eyebrows slowly rise on her forehead and she nods in approval. “That’s pretty cool.”
“It’s very cool, so you can just take back your savage teardown.” I scowl at her. “I can’t believe you…” I shake my head and growl. “Having me followed and then coming in here and treating Harley like total shit.” Skylar dips her head, looking at least a little reprimanded. I take advantage of her remorse and point my finger at her. “Next time you see her, you’re apologizing.”
She gasps, and the she-devil is back in full force. “Are you insane? That girl called me a bitch. To my face.”
A chuckle bursts out of me before I can stop it. I love how brave Harley is. I don’t know anyone else willing to stand up to Skylar that way.
“Stop laughing,” she snaps. “It was humiliating.”
“Well, you no doubt deserved it.”
Skylar glares at me but doesn’t argue. I take that as a good sign and pull my lips into line, wiping my smile away with a swipe of my knuckles. “You have to promise me, Sky. Next time you see her, you—”
“All right, fine!” She flicks her hands in the air. “If I ever see her again, I’ll apologize, okay?”
I give her a stiff nod, suddenly swamped again by the guilt of just letting Harley walk out of here. I should have ditched my cousin and driven Harley home.
“Look, I am sorry for screwing things up with you and Savvy. I’m glad you still want her. You guys are good together.” Skylar pulls reality back into place, reminding me where my priorities should be.
Taking Harley out for dinner was probably a bad idea. Even though it was innocent enough, it was still fun. Really fun, and maybe I shouldn’t be enjoying myself so much in her company.
The whole guy-girl just-friends thing is so damn confusing.
“So, we’re good?” Skylar nudges my foot under the table.
I bob my head and catch her eye. “As long as you apologize to Harley as well, we’re good.”
She smirks at me, rolls her eyes, and then pulls in a breath. “Now, can you please follow me home?” Skylar glances past my shoulder and I turn to see Wyatt hovering near the entrance. “I want to make sure Wyatt turns off onto his street, not mine. I know the guy is going to make me pay up on those seven minutes, and I want to hold him off for as long as I can.”
“You are unbelievable.” I pull my wallet out and grab Harley’s money. I wanted to treat her tonight, but that would probably make it feel like a date. I hate that Skylar’s right.
“I’m gonna take that as a compliment.” She winks at me, and it’s hard to keep my lips in line.
“Please don’t,” I mutter, inching towards the edge of the booth. “Now let’s get out of here, Miss Sassy Pants.”
“After you, Ace.” She grins as we both stand up.
I give her a scathing glare and mutter, “I really hate you sometimes.”
“You love me.” She threads her arm around my waist, and I can’t help but put my arm over her shoulders.
We’ve spent our whole lives growing up together, and although I wish I could hate her, I never seem capable.
She can be annoying as hell.
But she’ll always be my stupid cousin, and for t
hat, I love her.
20
It’s All About Self-Defense
HARLEY
I’m standing at the end of the pier.
Alone.
People don’t venture down this far anymore. During the day you get the odd fisherman, but the pier can be spooky at night. The light at the end has been smashed in and never replaced, creating a pitch-black abyss that you have to carefully negotiate like a blind person.
The boards are old and no doubt rotting in sections. I sometimes wonder if the pier was a hive of activity when my grandpa surfed around here. It’s hard to believe it now.
This crooked finger pointing out to the ocean has been forgotten about.
But it’s the only place I want to be right now.
The salty air tickles my nostrils as I grip the railing and stare out at the dark sky. The stars are twinkling above me, the new moon making them bright diamonds on a black canvas. I should be in awe of them, but tonight they don’t even touch me.
I’m too upset to feel anything other than anger. And maybe a little despair. That word seems too strong and depressing, but it’s real.
The way our Mexican dinner ended tonight was just another reminder that people suck. No matter how much you want to believe in them, you can’t, because they can turn on you like a flash flood.
Aidan is good, but with people like Skylar in his life, there’s nothing to stop him from becoming everything I don’t want to be around.
“That guy” scratches the back of my brain. It’s not a pleasant tickle, more of a scar-inducing reminder of the things I can’t change.
All the good, sweet memories I have of him are tainted. The colorful moments in the water where he taught me how to surf, told me how amazing I was, swung me around in the salty spray and kissed me in the setting sunlight. The first time he smiled at me. The first time we spoke. He was the older guy with a crush on the freshman girl. And it was all so perfect.
I practically worshipped the ground he walked on. He was my king, and his friends were my family. But now…all of those images have turned to black and gray. Made muddy with shadows from the way he ruined it all. The way he ended it.