The Summer of Lost Things

by Chantele Sedgwick

  No. No, she did not just say that.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Nelson.”

  “You’re headed to the beach then?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “You two be careful, okay?”

  “Mom, it’s not a date. There’s going to be a big group of us.”

  “Sure there is.” She turns and winks at me. Winks!

  I want to run back upstairs and hide under my bed.

  She turns to Jack again and studies him. He swallows, looking a bit uncomfortable. “You look so much like . . .” She trails off. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter.” She turns toward me and I’m sure my face is beet red. “Have fun, you two. Don’t be late. And please text me when you get there, Luce. Don’t forget.”

  “I won’t, Mom,” I say. I grab Jack’s arm and pull him toward the door to get him away from Mom as fast as I’m able.

  He’s laughing as the door shuts behind us. I quickly let go of him and fold my arms, my bag hanging from my elbow. “Your mom’s nice.”

  “Yeah, you’d think that,” I grumble.

  “You look like her.”

  I sigh. “I know.”

  “It’s not a bad thing.”

  He clears his throat as I glance at him and he looks away, embarrassed. Me? I’m flattered. He may be shy, but he knows how to give a compliment. I know Mom’s pretty. I’ve never thought of myself as that, but I get compared to her more than I realize.

  He’s quiet as we reach his old blue truck and opens the passenger door for me. “Thanks,” I say, surprised at the gesture since we aren’t on a date. We’re not. Even though I wouldn’t mind, actually.

  “You’re welcome,” he says with a small smile.

  I kind of like this shy, uncertain, boy. He’s real. He doesn’t do anything weird to try to impress me. He’s a gentleman, a hard worker, and just his quiet self. And I really like that.

  He looks different today. No cowboy hat. His dark hair is gelled and spiked. He’s also wearing board shorts and a T-shirt, instead of his usual jeans, button-up shirt, and boots.

  He looks . . . uh . . . hot, to put it bluntly. I’ve never really notice until now. Not that I’ll tell him or anyone else that fact.

  “I like your hair, by the way,” he says as he gets in and starts the truck. “It looks good. I like the purple.”

  “Thanks.” I pull my hair into a little ponytail, feeling self-conscious. “It’s weird to have it so short. I mean, it’s still long-ish, but it’s just different. Different for me, I guess.” I cringe. Why am I still talking?

  “It’s nice.”

  “And the color? That was Mira’s fault.” I pause. “She’s very convincing.”

  “No surprise there.”

  “I mean, I really like it, it’s just so not me. But I like it. It’s new and interesting and fun. Maybe it’ll grow on me.”

  I glance over at him, embarrassed at talking so much again, but he doesn’t seem annoyed at all.

  I glance at my phone to distract myself, frowning at how low the battery is. Obviously, I forgot to charge it last night. Hopefully it will last the day.

  There’s a text from Ashley, asking what I’m doing today, and I quickly text her back and tell her about the beach, then put my phone away. I don’t tell her about Jack. Or Mira. Or anything really. She hasn’t really asked, and I haven’t posted anything online but a picture of my bookshelves. I don’t want to lose Ashley as a friend, but long distance is really hard and she keeps posting things about Dayson and her new “besties.” It hurts more than I want to admit. Maybe I’ll ask her to come out to Oregon for a week before school starts again. Who knows if she’ll want to leave her new boyfriend, though.

  The drive is quiet. I thought I’d be a little more nervous riding in his truck with just him, but it’s not really awkward at all. It’s normal. Like we’ve been friends for a long time. “So, how long does it take to get to the beach?”

  “About an hour. Not too bad. We usually go about once a week in the summer. That or cliff jumping.”

  “Cliff jumping. So, you do this dangerous thing often then.” I’ve never done that before. “It sounds like an adrenaline rush.” Maybe I should do that. Take my mind off things and do something dangerous.

  “It is, but it’s actually really fun. I was a little nervous the first time I jumped off the cliffs we went to, but once you do it, it’s no big deal.” He smiles and glances at me. “You should try it. Mira told me about that list you’re working on.”

  I don’t know what to say, so I just sit there as my face turns red.

  “Try something scary was on that list, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

  “Oh, I’m not uncomfortable. I’m just embarrassed about my list.”

  He laughs. “What’s there to be embarrassed about? I think it’s great!”

  “Thanks.” I feel a little better. “But I’m still going to kill Mira for telling you anyway.”

  “She actually didn’t mean to tell me. She was writing up a list of her own and told me she got the idea from you. Then I pressed her a little. She didn’t tell me everything on it. Just the ‘do something scary’ thing because I like to cliff jump and she thought I could maybe take you. Nothing else. Promise.”

  “Good.” If he knew about the summer romance thing? Yikes. That would be embarrassing. And it’s not like I told her about that one, either. I’m just being paranoid.

  “You inspired her, and me, if I’m being honest. I think it’s great.”

  “Well, if that’s the case then she’s forgiven. I guess.” We’re quiet for a moment. “Speaking of lists, why don’t you make one?”

  He laughs, then glances at me with a grin. “Maybe I will.”

  “You’ll have to add ‘read a book’ to it.”

  He looks thoughtful. “Can I pick said book?”

  I shrug. “Sure! I don’t care what you read. Just that you read something.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  I chuckle. “Deal. And I won’t even be mad if you still don’t like reading. Promise. We can watch a movie instead!”

  “Perfect. And really. If you want to go cliff jumping, I can take you. There’s a place about a half hour from here. It’s fun. We really do go all the time.”

  “I may just take you up on that. That definitely fits the ‘do something scary’ bill.”

  “That sounds great. Besides, you’ll be having fun with friends while you do it. I’ll make sure you’re safe. Our friends, they just like to have fun, hang out, and try new things.” He shrugs. “We don’t have all the time in the world, you know? After high school, we have to grow up.”

  “You can still have fun as adults,” I say.

  “Yeah, probably.”

  “You’re a pretty deep thinker, aren’t you?”

  He chuckles. “Not really. Sometimes, I guess. My mom is really getting on me about picking a college to apply for once school starts. And of course I want to go to college. I just want to enjoy my last year of high school. You know?”

  “I’d like to meet your mom. She sounds great.”

  “You’d like her. She’ll probably map out your whole future too once you get to know her. She loves helping people. And she’s good at getting people excited about things they never thought they wanted to do.”

  I’ve thought about my future but not to that extent. I’ll worry about it when it gets here. Which is probably the wrong approach. Maybe if Dad would have planned, he wouldn’t have gotten into trouble. But he didn’t get into trouble until later, so maybe that wouldn’t have mattered.

  He was the provider when I was little, went to school and loved his job. Then he began his downward spiral after he had a steady, yet stressful job. Mom had to step up then. She worked hard and still works hard to give us what we need. “I’m planning on going to college. I want to be an English teacher.” That much I know. Other than that, it’s a big fat que
stion mark.

  “Because of the books?” He grins.

  “Because of the books. And words. And the English language. It can be so beautiful and I want to teach my students that they can find beauty in words.” I smile to myself. “Even the ones who don’t like to read.” I glance at him, and the corner of his mouth turns up.

  “There’s Mira,” he says as he turns into a random driveway. She’s standing next to her car, a group of her friends gathered around.

  “You ready?” he asks as he puts the truck in park.

  “I think so?”

  He takes my hand, surprising me, and squeezes it. “You’ll be fine. Just be yourself.” He lets go, and I watch as he gets out of the truck, my hand still tingling.

  Be myself. Everything will be fine. I’ve got this.

  I hope.

  “Lucy!” Mira yells as I step outside. “Get over here and meet our friends!”

  I take a deep breath, grab my bag off of my seat, and shut the truck door.

  This should be interesting.

  Mira, Ashton, and four people I don’t recognize watch me walk across the driveway. I don’t love being the center of attention, so I’m relieved when Jack falls into step next to me.

  “Guys, this is Lucy Nelson. She’s new here.” She turns toward the group. “This is Summer,” she gestures to a girl with red hair and really light skin. She gives me a happy wave. “This is Brody,” she continues, gesturing to a guy who looks like he stepped out of a K-Drama. He’s gorgeous.

  “Hey, Lucy,” he says.

  I give him a small wave.

  “Kay’s already sitting in Brody’s car, it looks like.”

  We look over to see a dark-haired girl waving from the passenger seat of a silver Honda. The windows are down, so she can hear us. I didn’t notice her until then, though.

  Brody shrugs. “She wanted shotgun and was determined to get it, I guess.”

  “I always get what I want,” she yells.

  Mira shakes her head. “Whatever. And this is Tiffany and Alex.”

  I smile at the couple leaning against Mira’s car. They both smile back, their hands entwined. “They’ve been dating forever.”

  They’re super cute, I decide. Opposites in just about every way. She’s short and petite and he’s quite tall. Her blond hair is cropped short and she’s wearing a bandana over it. He’s super muscular with dark skin and curly hair.

  “Dibs on Brody’s car,” Alex says. He gives Tiffany a squeeze, then goes over to the car Kay is already sitting in and puts two bags in the back seat.

  Mira rolls her eyes. “Him and Brody are besties.”

  I nod and smile, though it’s shaky. Everyone is still studying me and I feel a bit out of place. All these people know each other and I’m the odd man out. Or woman. For the first time, I feel like a charity case. Like they invited me just to be nice.

  Mira puts her arm around me. I don’t know if she senses my distress or what, but she gives my shoulder a squeeze. “You’re riding with me.” She glances at everyone else. “Brody’s car has one more seat, and I have three more. Pick a car.”

  She steers me toward the passenger door while everyone starts talking and pretty much pushes me inside. “You’re gonna have fun,” she says, like I’m a little kid. “Everyone is super nice. You’ll be fine.”

  “Okay?”

  She frowns at me. “I can tell you’re freaking out on the inside.”

  “I am not!”

  I am.

  “Sure,” she says, the sarcasm thick. “You’ll be fine. Promise. We don’t bite. They don’t either. Well, maybe Brody does, but that’s besides the point.”

  I stare at her, my eyes wide.

  She chuckles. “I’m joking. Calm down and breathe.”

  “I am calm!” I like to tell myself that.

  I cringe as she gives me a look and shuts the door.

  CHAPTER 14

  “Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.”

  —Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea

  Jack, Ashton, and Summer are crammed in the back of the car and chat away as Mira and I take turns picking radio stations.

  Two things I’ve learned about Summer in the first ten minutes I’ve been with her: First, she’s super nice and really positive, kind of like Mira, but not as sarcastic or funny. Second? She has a thing for Jack.

  How do I know this? Her body language tells me everything I need to know. The way she leans more to his side of the car. The way she touches his shoulder when she’s teasing him. And how she’s been talking to just him and giggling the entire time we’ve been in the car.

  It makes my eye want to twitch.

  “What do you want to listen to?” Mira asks.

  “Anything but country,” I say.

  She puts on some rap.

  Not my first choice, but I deal.

  “So, where are you from, Lucy?” Summer asks.

  I glance back as Summer scoots closer to Jack, who’s sitting right behind me.

  “Idaho, originally. Then we lived in Wyoming for a few years before moving here.”

  “And you’re a senior?”

  “Yep.”

  “Oh, that’s so awesome! And so hard. I can’t imagine moving my senior year. You must be so lonely.” She pauses. “Why’d you move here during one of the most important school years of your life?”

  Her choice of words is interesting, but I ignore it. “My mom’s from here. We’re actually living in her childhood home. Her mom died and left it to her.”

  “Ooooh, that’s so cool! I’ve only lived here for three years now, so I don’t know a lot of the original residents.” She giggles. “Well, besides the Kelly family. Everyone knows them.” She bumps Jack’s shoulder with her own and I turn back to face the front of the car. A wave of jealousy crashes into me, and I stare out the window trying to shake it off.

  Summer doesn’t stop talking.

  “So, it’s just you and your mom then?”

  I glance back at her, curious how she knows that.

  She shrugs. “Mira told me she saw you and a woman she thought was your mom the day you moved in.”

  “Oh. Yes. Just me and my mom.”

  “Where’s your dad then?”

  I suck in a breath. The silence is deafening. I don’t want to say anything about him. I don’t want to lie again. I don’t know what to say.

  So, I sit there, the silence dragging on, until I feel a gentle tap on my shoulder.

  “Lucy? Could you change the station? This song sucks.” Jack says, breaking the silence.

  Grateful for the interruption, I start flipping radio stations.

  Summer doesn’t repeat the question and starts singing to the song I stop on instead.

  “Oh, this song is the best!”

  She has a nice voice. Which makes my eye want to twitch again.

  “I hope y’all like turkey sandwiches,” Mira says. “That’s what I brought for lunch.”

  I turn toward her. “You didn’t have to bring lunch for me.”

  Mira waves me away. “We always trade off. And I wasn’t gonna let you starve. What kind of friend would I be?”

  “I’ll pay you back,” I insist.

  “Nope.”

  “Seriously, Mira. I will.”

  “Lucy. It’s a sandwich and a bag of chips. It’s no big deal. Promise.” She smiles. “But if you feel like I need a shake or smoothie or something, I won’t protest. Today or any other day.”

  I chuckle. “Deal.”

  “How long have you two been hanging out?” Summer asks.

  “A few days,” I say.

  “Forever,” Mira says at the same time.

  We both laugh, and I hear Jack’s low chuckle behind me.

  Summer doesn’t say anything else.

  “Is there a reason Ashton hasn’t said anything?” Mira asks. “He asleep?”

  I look back at him, his head slumped against the
window and eyes closed. “He’s asleep,” I confirm.

  She rolls her eyes. “Not surprised. That kid isn’t a morning person. And he can fall asleep anywhere. And I mean anywhere. Sitting up, standing up, riding a horse. I think he needs to go see a sleep specialist. That’s one reason I wouldn’t let him drive.”

  “My mom can sleep anywhere, too. Just not while driving, thankfully,” I say.

  “Lucky,” she says. “I have a hard time sleeping.”

  “It takes me at least an hour to fall asleep every night.”

  “Me too!”

  “You two have a lot in common,” Summer says, not mean, but there’s a tiny edge to her voice. “Should I wake up Ashton then?”

  “No. Let him sleep. He’ll be more fun when we get there,” Mira says. “Trust me.”

  I wonder if Mira really does have a thing for Ashton, but I decide to ask her later. When Summer isn’t in the car.

  We reach the beach about an hour later.

  As soon as I step out of the car, the cool, salty air hits me in the face. I walk over to the edge of the road and stare down the hill at the blue water. There are rocks jutting out of the ocean, some covered in green, others just rocks. The whole scene is beautiful, and I pull out my phone to take a picture.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Jack says, startling me.

  “It really is.”

  “You’ve never seen the ocean?”

  “I’ve seen California’s beaches, but this is different,” I breathe, watching the foamy waves come in and taking in the pretty cliffs surrounding our little cove. A lighthouse sits on one of the cliffs, a calming light on a dark night, I imagine.

  The world is a beautiful place even when it’s filled with so much darkness.

  A shout makes us turn. The other car pulls up next to ours, and Mira and Jack’s other friends jump out.

  Mira takes charge. “Everyone, this is Lucy’s first time at the beach. Well, our beach, I guess. Don’t ruin it for her, m-kay?”

  “Mira . . .” I start. “I’m fine!”

  “Sure,” she says. I laugh at the look she gives me. “Lunch is in the cooler. We’ll eat in a bit.”

  Ashton, who finally woke up, grabs her attention then.

  “Well, what are we waiting for?” Summer says. “Let’s go!”