Summer's Kiss (The Boys of Ocean Beach 1)

“I noticed you’re still hanging out with Justin and Nick.”

“I know you told me not to. It’s just a distraction—friends.”

“That talk the other day…that was all Maggie. I don’t agree with that she said at all.”

“Even so, there’s nothing going on. Justin—as you know—is a big flirt, and my mom invited Nick with us on the interview. I think they’re just being nice.” I can’t deny there’s not something between us though, and the comment Nick made to me about the boys and their pact seemed oddly directed.

“Eh, I love these guys but ‘nice’ isn’t usually a big priority of theirs. They’ve all been around a lot more than normal and Justin took you on the boat. For him that’s almost a commitment.”

I step into the water to cool my feet. I’m hoping the feeling will help the burn in my cheeks. “He was just showing me around or whatever. Nothing happened.”

“Yet.”

I wrinkle my nose. “Is he a player? Should I avoid him? I’m just here for the summer and I don’t know, just broke up with my…” I bite back the word ‘boyfriend.’

“Well, you’re right, Justin in particular is big flirt but he’s also a sweetheart. And smart. All of those boys are smart. Not to sound lame, but they’re probably just as attracted to you being a college girl than anything else. They have some crazy deal about getting out of here, but they’re not celibate or anything. God no.”

“I’m not sure I’m together enough for anyone right now. I’m kind of a walking disaster lately.”

“Honestly, if you want something fun, a little rebound from the other guy, one of those boys may be a good choice.”

I laugh.

“What?”

“How would I even pick!”

She smiles devilishly. “Who says you have to choose just one? It’s a summer fling, girl, no rules. No commitments. Play the field a little bit.”

“I don’t know,” I say. “I’m not sure I’m ready for the rebound yet or anything else.”

“Well, whatever you do, just be honest. They’re big on that.”

“Yeah, of course,” I say, thinking of all the lies and deceit I’ve stirred up in the last six months, which leads me to think of Mason again and the ticket stashed in my camper and suddenly I’m so tired.

Everything I think about leads to the downward spiral of my disastrous decisions.

But then I think of Justin and his eyes the color of the sky. And Whit’s lazy grin and muscular chest. Pete’s sweet smile and Nick’s quiet intensity. Thinking about them makes everything else vanish like a wave rolling across the sand.

Sibley takes a wobbly step away from us and back toward the water. Anita pretends to growl and chases her across the sand. Swooping the girl in her arms, she turns back to me and smiles. “I say go for it, Summer. I have a feeling any of those boys would be happy to share in your little summer adventure. What do you have to lose?”

* * *

“Jump!”

I ignore the other catcalls and demands from below.

I’m wearing my new bikini, more revealing than any other I’ve worn. I can’t help but feel self-conscious of my pale stomach and the way the halter lifts my boobs, making them round and full. The boy shorts are cute, although they’re not as covering as you’d think. My cheeks hang out the bottom and I keep tugging them down.

One thing’s for certain, the boys definitely noticed when I took off my sundress. Whit offered to rub sunscreen on my back and I accepted, terrified of boiling like a lobster. His hands were warm and thorough, gently slipping under the tie behind my neck and the strap across my back.

It was intimate but appropriate and I hoped he didn’t notice the heat across my cheeks when I thanked him.

“Jump, Summer!” Anita shouts again. She’s floating in the shade of the boat. Everyone else is either in the water, gliding along with the tide in life jackets, or swimming to the sand bar separating the waterway and the ocean.

“I think I’ll just stay here,” I say, pretending sweat isn’t pouring down my back and that the water doesn’t looking inviting and wonderful. And dangerous. I mean, this is basically the ocean and in the ocean there are sharks and other bite-y, pinch-y, stinging things.

“Lame,” Anita says and rolls her eyes at me before swimming off with Bobby. Her mother has Sibley for the day, the last thing she wants to do is babysit me on the boat.