But this swing has a special meaning for me. I'll always remember those long and lazy afternoons when Daddy and I would sit here together, our noses stuck in books.
"Thank you, pumpkin," Dad smiles as I hand him a cold glass, taking a long sip of the drink. I settle next to him, and he puts an arm around me. We just stay like that for a good long while, watching the scorching sun while safely enclosed in the shadows.
"Are you having fun, Cassidy?" Dad asks me hesitantly, and I look at him with questions in my eyes. "It's just that I don't think you're getting along very well with Dom," he explains, sighing.
I blush, thinking of all the ways I am getting along with Dom. "Daddy, there's a difference between us in age, y'know." I do try to be believable with my excuses.
"I guess all the banter makes you two brother and sister," Daddy chuckles. My blood curdles in my veins, because I most definitely do not want to be Dom's sister.
"I guess so," I mumble.
"You know, I always hoped you'd get a brother," Dad sighs. "And now here's another family for us. I think we'll be very happy together… Valerie and me, and the two of you."
I feel so sick, I have to get up. "I'll go set the table," I say, feeling the waves of nausea riding my body.
"Oh, okay." Daddy sounds surprised, downing his drink. "I'll be right in there, honey."
I rush inside, leaning against the cool whitewashed wall and waiting for the sickness to pass. But it doesn't seem to be going anywhere as I realize Daddy thinks of Dom and me as brother and sister.
Because I'm now realizing, I want much more than that.
Shit.
I refused to speak to Susie when she called for days on end, but as the doorbell rings on a Monday, I know it has to be her. Today I'm alone, with Dom God knows where and Valerie and Dad both out taking care of some errands.
I've not been to the beach in days, both because of my sunburn and because I don't want to face Susie. Truth be told, I'm bitter about what happened, and I'm afraid I'll expose myself if we talk, and she'll know I like Dom.
I've been thinking about Adrian a lot, too. I barely remember him from when we lived here permanently. He seems to have taken an interest in me, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't attracted to him.
He's pretty much the exact opposite of Dom with his surfer boy looks – curly blond hair, blue eyes and super tanned skin. I feel like he'd be good for me.
At the same time, I'm well aware of the fact that my body wants Dom, not Adrian.
I get up from my bed groggily, despite the fact it's past lunch, heading downstairs to open the front door. Just as I suspected, Susie is standing on my doorstep, glaring at me as she barges right past me into the beach house.
"What the hell, Cass?" she asks angrily. "You have a reason for ignoring me?"
I follow her tiredly into the living room. The house is deserted, and I feel so very lonely, knowing there's not a person in the world I can talk to about my real feelings.
"Well?" Susie asks, crossing her arms in front of her body and glaring at me accusingly. "Why are you so angry? Did I do something wrong?"
I shake my head, unable to tell her how I feel, even though I want to confide in someone. But I'm so afraid of what she'll think if I confess that the reason behind my coldness is her snuggling up to my stepbrother. It's so sick.
"I'm not leaving until you tell me,” she threatens as I walk away towards the kitchen. I busy myself by making iced tea, and on second thought, I prepare a glass for Susie as well.
She looks at me with confusion as I prepare our drinks, and I decide to speak up.
"This might take a while," I say, "and you might hate me afterwards."
"Well, babe," Susie is quick to respond, "then we better make those iced teas a bit more fun."
I snicker, and we rummage through the liquor cabinet together. Dad used to have quite a collection of bottles, but now it's down to just a few. We settle on rum and pour some into our frosted glasses. Susie has a heavy hand, and we giggle as I try to stop her from putting too much in.
Finally, we head outside to the pool area and settle on the lounge chairs; our drinks cool in our hands. I pull down my sunglasses, hoping that being masked by mirrored shades will make this a little easier.
No such luck, though.
"Spit it out," Susie encourages me, slurping her drink through a striped straw.