Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“Ha. Ha.”
“Well, get home as soon as you can. I need to go to bed early. It’s been a long day. When did summer school kids get so bad?” A long yawn followed.
“I think that’s the definition of summer school kids…” I cast a quick glance up at Dash who stood like a giant over me, hands fisted at his waist. “I’ll be home soon.”
Dash’s brand of intimidation didn’t work, so he amped up the dramatic horror on his severe facial expressions. I had to laugh, my mom forgotten. He came closer, really close, and bent to whisper into my free ear. “Stay longer. I’ll take you home.”
With his lips against my ear, my initial visceral response sent all the feels washing over me. My brain blipped, knocking away thought for a few seconds. My heart went the other way, connecting hard with how badly he didn’t want me to leave. Honestly, I felt the same way, meaning I needed to gain perspective ASAP. We’d had enough time on our first date.
“Were you talking to me? I can’t hear you. The seagulls are loud…” My mom pulled me back into the here and now. I’d need to thank her for that someday.
“I’m here.” My voice was rough and ragged. “I’ll be home before dark. I’m hang-ing up now so I don’t use all my minutes.” Brilliant thinking on my part. I didn’t wait for her acknowledgement and ended the call.
A new, interesting finding about Dash? He didn’t take disappointment well. Dash was so dramatic. He stood to his full height, whipping his beach towel up with him. The sand landed all over me. He had to know.
Man, we fit well together, and I laughed, making matters worse.
I didn’t know why I’d thought we’d have the rest of the day and night to be together, but I had. And even if we didn’t set our itinerary in stone, I still wanted it to happen.
Whatever amount I’d been attracted to Beau last night, it soared off the charts today. I mean, in the deepest depths of outer space.
All that silly planning I’d done yesterday about our futures firmed into an impenetrable tapestry inside my head. I was so taken with him that a life of commitment and monogamy was something I was ready to sign up for, right that minute. Except I couldn’t very well sign along the dotted line if he wasn’t there to sign with me.
“Are you mad?” he asked.
Yeah, I was mad at the world. Screw that, I was mad at the universe. All the matter and space that played its role in allowing today to come to an end.
“No,” I lied. “Disappointed. I liked spending time with you.” I wadded up the towel and threw it toward the resort’s bin. We were isolated from the world on a small, private stretch of the beach my family negotiated into their deal. When I began to gather the rest of our things, Beau stood. “I get it. You have to be at orientation training early in the morning.”
“Can you come to my house tonight?” he asked. “Or we could meet somewhere.”
“No, I’ll come to you.” I instantly set my aim as if I was on the free throw line as I tossed the towel toward the bin. Alas, it fell short again. I guess basketball was harder than it looked.
Now, I’d have time to shower. Polish myself up to look my best when I saw my guy tonight.
Beau. The name echoed through me. I liked that he was tall, taller than me but not by much. I also grooved on being able to tilt my head this way or that to better read his expressions. “What time should I be there?”
“My mom’s goin’ to bed early. Probably any time after dark,” he said and bent to pick up his towel, wadding it between his fists. “There’s an alcove in the middle of the trees where we parked. We can hang out there.”
“Do I need to wear hiking boots or anything?” I asked, weary of the conditions. Hiking trails were one thing. Treading through forestry was quite another.
“No. It’s a simple walk, but we can hear anyone if they come out there, givin’ us time to escape.”
The sunshine in my heart was back. The smile I’d had all day returned to my lips. “Yeah, I’d like that. I liked today. I said that already, but I really did.”
“Me too,” Beau grinned and bent around me to toss his towel away. It made it inside the bin. No matter what his father said, his athletic talent had to be natural, I’d bet my car on it. We still had a ten-minute walk to reach his bike locked at the dock. I’d enjoy every last second.
Well past our agreed upon time of nightfall, I rolled to the edge of the road close to the trees and contemplated my next move. I assessed Beau’s house. All the lights on the third floor were turned off. Should I call it a night and meet up again with him tomorrow? A resounding no screamed through my head in an amped up stereophonic sound. We had agreed to meet, and he should be the one to turn me away.