Chapter 14

We arrive at the beach, and just as I predicted, it's jam-packed. We get out in the hot sun and shield our eyes with a free hand as we scan for a open spot. We detect one right on the tide line, a little to the left of where we parked. I take a step out onto the sand and it sears my feet. A little, half-dressed girl runs over my burned feet with her screaming mother close behind. I nearly trip over them and Mia laughs at me. I give her a glare before continuing to walk to our spot before someone else claims it. We lay our blankets down, and Mia pulls out a book and some sunscreen. She hands the sunscreen to me. I put some on while looking around. Only in L.A. can you see five different families, all of different backgrounds and races, sitting right next to each other. I lay back and throw the sunscreen in Mia's direction, not looking to see wear it lands. I hear the smooth bottle make contact with a smack, on Mia's skin. Seconds later, I feel a shove on my arm. I just smile and slip on some shades. We just lay there, trying to relax, but all the commotion around us continues to get in the way. Children begging their parents to let them wade in the water. Couples arguing over where they're gonna have dinner. It's just not how I wanted to spend my day at the beach. I settle back in with the bright light beaming in through my eyelids. Suddenly, I remember the other day. I remember how I went too far down the beach. I sit up on my towel and look down the beach to my left. About a half-mile down, the crowd ends. I guess that's where the property starts and the public beach ends. He DID say to come back anytime. I bite my lip and think about it some more. I mean, why would he say that, to a complete stranger, if he didn't mean it? I was even being a total bitch and he was still nice. But, what if his parents or some security comes? Then Mia's words shoot through my mind.

"Live a little, Let," I repeat softly, staring at the empty stretch of coastline that seems to be calling my name. What the hell? If something happens, we'll just wing it. I jump up and grab my towel, causing Mia to sit up.

"Come on," I tell her never taking my eyes off the beautiful stretch. She just gets up with out even asking 'why'. I know she's game for whatever. We walk through all the people until we realize that we're alone.

"What are we doing?" she asks smiling. I don't speak for a moment, trudging through the sand that sinks at every footstep. I turn to face her walking backwards.

"Living," I tell her with a smirk. She grins back and continues to follow me. We finally get to the area I was at the other day. A flash of pain runs though me as I remember why I was there. I'm still glad we talked today, but it's always gonna hurt.......always. I push the thought out of my mind, intent on not getting back into my previous state of self-loathing. I take my towel and spread it out as Mia does the same. We lay back, taking in the bright sun. I start thinking about the races tonight and all the girls that are gonna be all over Dom. My stomach turns and nervousness sets in. I take a few deep breaths and try to get myself back in my "I can kick anyone's ass-No one messes with me-I'm gonna win-the world is mine" attitude. I try to gather back all the confidence that has seemed to just disappear these past few days. I take another deep breath and an amazing reassuring wave washes over me. I realize that I am here.....on the beach....with my sister, my Mia.........I'm gonna race tonight..........and Dom and I are speaking again. This is not the end of the world. I'm still alive, and it's about time I start realizing that. I'm okay, and things are already on their way to getting better. I'm tired of feeling sorry for myself and feeling like I can't control my life anymore. I'm in control. I've always been in control. I'm always gonna be in control. I determine what and who I am. I can sulk and be a crybaby about it, or I can deal. I choose the latter. It's not the end, Letty.......It's not the end......

Before, I know it, I feel a hand on my arm, and I'm waking up. I didn't even know I fell asleep. I open my eyes, expecting the sun to bombard them with light. A tall figure is squatted next to me and the sun has disappeared below the horizon. I quickly reach over and shake Mia to get up before acknowledging the figure. I open my eyes wider trying to focus my eyes.

"We meet again," he whispers. It's the guy. Troy, I think that's his name. I peer at him like a blind person seeing the ocean for the first time.

"Hey," I smile sitting up. Mia does the same.

"And, who is sleeping beauty number two?" he asks softly.

"Umm...Troy.....It's Troy right?" He nods. "Yeah, Troy....Mia.....Mia....Troy." They shake hands.

"You two know each other?" Mia asks rubbing her eyes. He smiles and for the first time, I get a good look at him. He has green eyes, soft, wavy, brown hair and teeth like a dentist. I actually think I just saw them gleam. I also notice how pink his lips are. They fit his mouth perfectly. He almost.....almost reminds me of that Andrew Keegan guy, the actor. Like, they could actually be far, far, far, far, far off relation. I blink hard to snap myself back into the situation.

"Sorta.....um Troy.....I'm sorry........we should've asked first.....we'll just get going...." I stand a little to quickly and sorta stumble. Troy grabs my waist and stops me from falling.

"Whoa....you okay?" he smiles. I look back at him.

"Yeah," I say nervously, hypnotized by his sparkling eyes. What the hell? What is wrong with me? I can't believe I'm actually nervous around this guy I've only met twice in my entire life. I just got in the habit of not looking at other guys since I got with Dom.....which has been most of my life. Mia stands.

"You guys don't have to leave," he says casually, grinning. He stands back form me and I can feel his eyes on me. I'm almost glad I wore this bathing suit. I'm not getting that creepy feeling I usually get when other guys look at me. I actually feel flattered and....well, sexy. I bite my lip unconsciously, and I'm at a lost on what to say. I can tell he's one of those laid back guys, that's cool with everyone.........one of those guys that stays with his high school sweet heart well after graduation.........one of those guys I used to wish Dom was. My breathing increases as I feel his eyes grinding holes in the side of my head. It's like I've never been around a cute guy before. What the hell is wrong with me?

"Well, we should be getting home.........the guys are probably wondering why we're gone so long," I finally respond. Mia nudges me in the arm.

"I'm sure they don't care," she cuts in grinning, looking at Troy like he's the last caramel apple at the carnival. I give her a look.

"If it make you feel any better....I'll go to the car, call them, and let them know where we are," she says, and quickly walks off before I can respond. I look at Troy and we both laugh.

"Friend of yours?" he ask grinning with those immaculate teeth.

"Yeah, actually.....my best friend.....closest thing I'll ever have to a sister..." we both look at her running to the car.

"A little....quirky....but she's mine," I smile as she waves back at us, reaching the car and getting inside. I lay my towel back down and sit. Troy sits next to me. We begin talking. We just started talking about the water. I ask him about is family and he tells me about his dad being a producer. He asks about mine and I tell him about my mom and the team. His eyes light up when he hears that we're street racers. He asks about our cars and listens intensely as I tell him about the modifications. He smiles the entire time. He's really easy to open up to. I mean I'm not telling him my life story, and I'm pretty sure he's not going to alert the police of our activities, but opening up..........about anything.......is new to me, and it's just not difficult with him. I tell him about myself and I find out a few things about him too. He's 21, and going to USC's film school. He tells me about all his friends get annoyed that he films everything. He tells me that the reason he took so long to come down was because he was filming us sleeping. I ask him 'why?', and he says that it was amazing to see the light from the setting sun play off our skin. He says the colors were perfect and the breeze was blowing our hair. Then he tells me it was also because it's not everyday that two beautiful women just lay out on the beach in front of your house. I softly punch him in the arm and he laughs. He tells me that he didn't want us to think that he's a perv for doing that, he just really thought we were amazingly beautiful just sleeping. I blush at that comment and he just smiles at me again softly. I tell him that it's his beach and that he could do whatever he wanted. He just nods and laughs some more. It's just really great to talk to someone new, not thinking about all my problems, just talking. We sit and talk forever before I start worrying that something happened to Mia. It's so dark now that we can't see the car. I get up and ask him if we can go find Mia. He tells me yeah, but he wants to go get a flashlight first. He unexpectedly grabs my hand and begins to lead me towards the two porch lights coming from his house, telling me to be careful where I step. Holding his hand feels weird. I know he's only doing it so that I don't trip or loose him in the darkness, but it makes me feel.........cared for.......or important enough for him to not want me to get hurt. We reach the house and it takes my breath away. He slips his sandals off and leaves the on the enormous porch/deck. I walk in the house looking up with my mouth wide open. It's huge. I can't even begin to describe it. It's like a museum or something. All the wide-open space is crazy. He leads me to the living room and flips on the enormous flat screen TV.

"I'll be right back," he tells me handing me what looks like a palm pilot. I look at the little screen and figure out that it's a remote control. I take one look at all the buttons and options and decide that what's on right now will be just fine. He runs up the stairs case that I saw when we came in and runs back down seconds later.

"That was quick," I remark. He smiles and turns the TV. back off. We head back outside with the flashlight in hand. We walk towards the public side of the beach and up to the parking lot. I spot Mia's car and Troy shines the light inside. I'm relieved when I see Mia's hands come up to shield her eyes. I walk to the car as she lets the window down.

"You get lost?" I ask annoyed.

"No.....I just had to make a few more phone calls," she tells me, with the phone to her ear.

"Well, I got worried," I retort meanly. Her face drops.

"Let, I'm sorry....I was just giving you guys time to talk....I'm..." she begins apologizing.

"It's okay....I was just worried that's all," I soothe her, realizing how harsh I sounded.

"Well, it was nice talking to you....thanks for....letting us trespass," I giggle facing Troy. He smiles.

"Don't mention it....any time," he smiles.

"And good luck tonight," he tilts his head to the side and smiles. He looks so cute like that.

"Thanks," I smile back, getting in the passenger side of the car. Mia, now off the phone, cranks the car. Troy comes over to my window and squats beside the car.

"I had fun.....and....umm.........if you don't mind....and if you're not involved with anyone.......I'd like to see you again?" he looks up at me wincing. Poor guy. I can't get into this with him. It's too early.......I'm still hurting, but he's a great guy and I don't want to just shoot him down.

"Look, Troy.........you're a great guy....but.......I have a lot on my plate right now......so it wouldn't really be fair to start something, that I know I can't.......you know?" I look at him. I can see that he's crushed, and I hate myself for crushing him.

"It's not that I don't want to, it's just that.........now's not the best time," I try to recover. His face gets a little happier.

"Well, I just want to see you again......we don't have to start anything....just hang out.....you know?" he proposes. I sit for a minute looking at his hair blowing in the breeze. I take a deep breath in and smile.

"Okay.....just to hang out, though," I tell him rolling my eyes a little. When did I become so easily persuaded?

"Okay, when?" he asks grinning. I shake my head smiling. I can't believe I just agreed to see another guy. Dom's gonna freak. Oh my God, I haven't even thought about that. If Dom sees me with this guy, he'll definitely freak...........just like I did the night I caught him. A devious smile creeps across my face, as Mia bores a hole in the side of my head.

"How about tonight?...........around three?" I ask as I can actually hear Mia's jaw hit the floorboard.

"Great....where?" Troy nods. I pull out a pen and some paper from the glove compartment, and write down the address to the strip in the desert where we'll be racing tonight. He takes the paper and stares at it confused.

"Just be there....tonight....at three....I'll find you," I grin wildly, almost laughing, as I motion for Mia to go.

"You'll find me?" he yells to us confused, standing up, as we pull back.

"I'll find you!" I yell back at the confused Troy as we pull off. I settle back in my seat, not believing what I just did. Mia shifts into third, we look at each other and burst into laughter.

"Do you know what you just did !?" she asks me with her mouth gaping open. I just nod laughing. She shakes her head and shifts into fourth as we merge onto the freeway.

"Dom is gonna shit a brick," she says her eyes getting wider like she just discovered something amazing. I start to bite my nails in nervousness.

"I know," I nod, with the reality setting in.

"You got balls, chica," she glances at me. I laugh at the thought of me having actual balls and Dom shitting an actual brick.

"I know," I laugh.

"Well, he hasn't been stingy with his surprises lately.......why shouldn't I return the favor?" I grin. We laugh.

"Well I'm all for it, but I just hope somebody's there to pull him off that guy," she remarks dryly. I secretly know that she's telling the truth. Dom doesn't have a high tolerance for people messing with me.

"Well...........I'm not his girl anymore, and if he touches Troy, I'll never speak to him again," I tell her losing the amusement in my voice.

"But, Letty, you gotta expect him to be a little upset.....he still loves you......and....." she starts, not defending him, but stating the obvious.

"Yeah, but I love him too, and I didn't expect him to be fucking another girl when I came home, either," I stop her. she just sits silently, taking my point, knowing what I mean. We just sit in silence for a moment until the image of someone shitting a brick comes back into my mind and I begin laughing.

"Shit a brick?" I laugh. She laughs too. I sigh and settle back into my seat as the wind from the open windows rip through my hair. Yeah, I definitely lived today.