As he slowly made his way along the beach, Bradin felt like kicking
himself. He had certainly packed well. Or so he thought. And after
lugging the heavy duffle, not to mention his board, for the better part
of the morning, he was sure he hadn't exactly packed light. So how, in
all his careful planning, had he managed to forget the sunscreen?
Despite the immunity he had been slowly building against the California heat since he had moved in with his aunt, spending the entire day under the blazing summer sun was certainly taking it's toll on him. Not being out in it at all over the past three weeks definitely hadn't helped his tolerance, either.
Sighing deeply, the teen found himself wishing it was Monday. At least then he would be able to spend the day in the surf shop. Despite his desire to avoid Jay and Erica, he was more than willing to overlook that bit of uneasiness for the cool comfort of a shady roof. When Jay had told him to use the weekend to 'take advantage of being a free man', he had been grateful. He had thought it would be good to have at least a full day to adjust to being on his own without running in to anyone in the family. It would give him time to adjust. Now all he wanted was to go home.
He actually laughed out loud at that thought. The first time he thought of it as home was the day he had to leave it behind. Trudging down the beach, he searched out a cool, shady spot. Good God, the sun was tiring him out.
Passing the potato salad over to Susanna, Ava looked out at the beach curiously. "Has anyone seen Bradin today?"
"He left early." Derrick said quietly, ignoring the slight kick Nikki gave him. He didn't care what Bradin had said. Or that they had promised not to hold a grudge. No matter what Bradin did, he didn't think his older brother should have had to leave.
"Guess he was more anxious for his freedom than he let on." Johnny replied, sharing a knowing smile with Jay.
Ava sighed quietly. "I guess. It's not like him to miss meals, though."
Missing the puzzled look exchanged between Nikki and Derrick, Jay piped up. "I'm sure he'll turn up for dinner."
After his fifth wipeout in a row on a more than mellow wave, Bradin finally decided to give up. Despite how cool the water felt; he was getting way too woozy to be on a board. At some point, he was going to have to break down and find somewhere to eat. Flopping down on the beach, he began to dig through his bag. Adding up everything he had, he found himself staring out at the ocean once more.
He could hold off until dinnertime. He was going to have to stretch it thin until Jay paid him on Friday. One thing was certain: it was going to be one long week.
Despite the immunity he had been slowly building against the California heat since he had moved in with his aunt, spending the entire day under the blazing summer sun was certainly taking it's toll on him. Not being out in it at all over the past three weeks definitely hadn't helped his tolerance, either.
Sighing deeply, the teen found himself wishing it was Monday. At least then he would be able to spend the day in the surf shop. Despite his desire to avoid Jay and Erica, he was more than willing to overlook that bit of uneasiness for the cool comfort of a shady roof. When Jay had told him to use the weekend to 'take advantage of being a free man', he had been grateful. He had thought it would be good to have at least a full day to adjust to being on his own without running in to anyone in the family. It would give him time to adjust. Now all he wanted was to go home.
He actually laughed out loud at that thought. The first time he thought of it as home was the day he had to leave it behind. Trudging down the beach, he searched out a cool, shady spot. Good God, the sun was tiring him out.
Passing the potato salad over to Susanna, Ava looked out at the beach curiously. "Has anyone seen Bradin today?"
"He left early." Derrick said quietly, ignoring the slight kick Nikki gave him. He didn't care what Bradin had said. Or that they had promised not to hold a grudge. No matter what Bradin did, he didn't think his older brother should have had to leave.
"Guess he was more anxious for his freedom than he let on." Johnny replied, sharing a knowing smile with Jay.
Ava sighed quietly. "I guess. It's not like him to miss meals, though."
Missing the puzzled look exchanged between Nikki and Derrick, Jay piped up. "I'm sure he'll turn up for dinner."
After his fifth wipeout in a row on a more than mellow wave, Bradin finally decided to give up. Despite how cool the water felt; he was getting way too woozy to be on a board. At some point, he was going to have to break down and find somewhere to eat. Flopping down on the beach, he began to dig through his bag. Adding up everything he had, he found himself staring out at the ocean once more.
He could hold off until dinnertime. He was going to have to stretch it thin until Jay paid him on Friday. One thing was certain: it was going to be one long week.