Dirty Summer 6

“I’m not going to mention a peep to Reid or Justyn. Don’t worry so much. They’re going to be thrilled when you come back with some high-dollar money for them. It’s going to be awesome.”

“Still. I want to keep it top secret for now. I don’t know what my dad’s going to say, or how Reid’s going to feel about the whole thing. I need to make sure it’s all worked out before we tell them.”

“Ok. Ok. Just go and tell your dad I said hello and happy birthday. Text me when you get there.”

Maggie hugged her friend then slipped into the tattered seat of the car. She was glad her father had insisted on paying for her quick trip home. The car service out of Beaufort was $200, and a roundtrip ticket from New Bern to Charlotte was $400. Her college funds had dwindled to nothing, and she couldn’t afford that kind of travel expense right now. It seemed a little ridiculous that a puddle jumper from one North Carolina town to another could be so pricey. As much as she was enjoying the summer, she couldn’t wait to start making her own steady income in the fall.

She waved good-bye to Blair as the car eased onto Island Road and toward the mainland. As much as Maggie was going to miss her friend and Reid, she couldn’t help but embrace the excitement that was building at the idea of taking the Strait cousins’ business to the next level. She was so sure everything would work out perfectly, just as the summer had.

Three

Justyn

Justyn listened to the waves lap the side of the boat. The water was calm tonight. Blair’s head was nestled against his chest and the softness of his T-shirt. Every time the boat rocked, she exhaled and he thought he could feel her heartbeat pulse against him. His hand was tucked in by her hip, giving him the feeling that everything between them was familiar. He always knew where to move so that their bodies fit together like smooth puzzle pieces. He caught the tail of a shooting star as the wisps of its light sliced through the coal-black sky.

She pushed against Justyn and sat up. “Maybe it’s time we get back to the marina.”

Justyn’s eyes were half-closed. He was stretched across the bow of his nameless boat and almost lulled into sleep by the low rocking. After painting all day with Reid, he was tired. But Maggie was still out of town, and there was no way he was going to turn down a night alone with Blair when they had the house to themselves.

“What time is it? I might have drifted off. Sorry.” He looked for his phone and then at his date. “You mad?”

“No. I’m not mad. It’s just late and maybe we should get back. You’re tired.” Blair sounded ticked to him.

Justyn eyed the pretty blonde. Something was off with her all of a sudden, but he had learned that part of being with Blair was accepting that the tide could change quickly.

“All right. Let me pull anchor and I’ll take you back.” He shoved his beer into the cup holder, and leaned over the bow to haul the rope and anchor onto the boat. He maneuvered around Blair, careful not to splash her. The stern anchor was much smaller and only took a few seconds to retrieve.

Justyn gave the cove one last look before turning the key and starting the engine. This was by far his favorite place on the sound, and it had become his special place to take Blair. It wasn’t just because it was the first place they had sex. There were moments when they were alone, and he could feel her shed all of the stress and tightness that she kept bottled up. He had discovered the softer side, the cute side that not everyone else saw.

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; Like tonight, he had planned on cruising to the Dock House to hear the Fin Notes, but Blair had another idea.

“Can’t we just go to the cove, drop anchor, and float?” She had asked so sweetly that he knew then he would pretty much do anything she ever asked of him. Her eyes were full of mischief, but she kissed him on the cheek before letting him answer They had spent the night listening to music and floating under the stars. She continued to surprise him with her unexpected ideas.

It was hard to believe that in two weeks she would be gone. They didn’t talk about it. She never brought it up, and he definitely wasn’t going to mention the fact that the summer was almost over. They had an understanding.

The wind whipped through Blair’s hair as Justyn steered the watercraft along the shoreline. He couldn’t stop wondering what had made her request that he take her home. Before he had drifted off to an in-between sleep, he had felt her entire body relax into his, as if she belonged against him. It was harder to fight the feeling that he wanted her there next to him all the time. He had never known any girl the way he knew Blair. It had only been one summer, but everything was already completely different.

He took a swig of his beer as the engine slowed into the marina entrance. None of that mattered. Whatever his feelings were, they weren’t going to change the plans Blair had for her future, and he wasn’t about to change his.

“Let me help you. Hold on a second.” Justyn cut the engine and reached for the dock rope to secure the boat, but Blair was already five paces down the pier. “Blair, wait up!”

She spun around once, before taking off in a full sprint.

“Blair!”

Her figure blended into the shadows as she ran farther from the marina.

“Dammit. What did I do now?” Justyn watched as Blair turned the corner of the island road and disappeared in the dark.

Four

Blair

“I just need to run. I just need space,” she whispered as she ran farther from the marina.

Blair didn’t know where she was going when her feet hit the pavement. The end of the island was at least a mile’s distance, but the trees and low-lying shrubs whizzed past in a blur. How did I end up at Shell Point? Blair walked to a shabby picnic table and climbed on top, letting her feet dangle toward the bench.