Edward

I was thinking about her when I pulled up to the boardwalk. The sun was still high and beating down, and I was hot. Hot and embarrassed. And like a fucking pussy, I was replaying everything that happened on a continuous loop in my mind since I'd left her house. At least it was still early. The one good thing about working when you're pissed is you work a lot harder and faster. And I'd been able to knock off ahead of

schedule.

I let down the gate on the bed of my truck, and I pulled the old cooler over to take out a beer. The ice was mostly melted, but the beer was cold. I took a long pull and looked over the wooden rails across the water.

This.

This is what I loved about living here. As much as I'd always thought it sucked being one of the have-nots in this town, living someplace so beautiful had always had its advantages. I loved the water. Hell, I loved everything about the beach. The salt smell, the ocean breeze. All of it was aces.

There weren't many people around. No one ever really came to this beach anymore. Back when I was a kid, it used to be the shit. There were a bunch of bars and restaurants that lined the other side of the drive. But over time, the area had run down. Businesses closed and relocated closer to the north shore where all the money was. But there were still a few places that locals patronized.

I didn't mind it though. I actually liked coming here. It was quiet. And right now, I needed some fucking quiet.

"I hope you have another one for me."

I turned around as soon as I heard his voice, then I was up on my feet and grabbing his hand and pulling him in for a hug.

"What? They don't have enough beer at the bar, man? You gotta come take mine?"

He laughed.

"But your beer tastes so much better because I don't have to pay for it."

"Fuck, Jacob. It's good to see you."

Jacob Black had been my best friend all through school. His dad owned one of the bars that still remained on this side of town. Unlike me, Jacob decided not to go away to college after high school. His mom died when we were sixteen, and his dad… Well, he never really recovered. So, Jacob stayed and helped him run the bar.

"Good to see you, too." He popped open the beer and took a drink as we both sat down on the open gate. "Your dad was in a couple nights ago. Said you'd be home for summer. If I'm being honest, I wasn't really sure you'd actually make it home again."

"Didn't have much of a choice."

"Man, I get that. I've been looking at the same driftwood walls my whole fucking life."

I nodded. "How's your dad?"

"Good. Better. Business has been good. I don't know if the North Shorers are trying to slum it, but the bar's been full pretty much every night since early May."

"That sucks," I said immediately. I couldn't think of anything worse than spending my nights catering to those drunk assholes.

"I don't mind it, man. I can shill five-dollar IPAs all night. But I've had to learn to make some fruity ass cocktails to appease the ladies. But hell, I've always been good at doing that." His insinuation was lost on me.

"Subtle."

"Don't be jealous because women have always loved me."

It was true. They had. Pretty sure Jacob's first hookup was in middle school. Rumor was that he fingered Jessica Stanley, the mayor's daughter, in the back of health class while the teacher showed a sex-ed video. He never confirmed it. Not even to me, and I was his best friend. But he never denied it either.

"They loved you because you had access to all the beer."

He laughed before elbowing my side.

"Seriously, though. They come in and drink all night, and tip like they're goddamn rockstars. What's to complain about?"

"Nothing, I guess."

"We need a night out. There's gonna be a bonfire over by the causeway later. Dad's working the bar tonight, and I'm going. You should come with."

"I don't know, man," I told him, taking another drink. "I think I'm gonna be low-key this summer. Just try to make it through, you know? Plus, I'm a little tired from today."

"Bullshit," he exclaimed. "You're twenty-one, Edward. Not sixty-five. I'll pick you up later, and I'm not taking no for an answer. It's been a long time, man. And we are gonna start the summer off right."

A bonfire at the causeway meant we'd definitely be hanging out with some of the assholes from the north shore. And I wasn't sure I wanted to do that. Especially after today.

"I can drive." I conceded.

"Why? So you can leave as soon as you get there? Or not come at all? Fuck that. I'm picking you up. You know what you need?" He looked at me expectantly. "To get laid."

"And the best way to do that is by riding with you?" I laughed. "And getting laid is your answer to everything. Not mine."

"No. Getting laid is God's answer to everything. There's not a single fucking thing you can complain about when your dick's wet."

"Dude. You're an asshole."

"I'm fucking right is what I am."

I sighed, looking out at the water, as I leaned back on my elbows.

"Fine."

We sat there in silence for just a few minutes and finished off our beers. I closed my eyes, and her face popped into my mind. I didn't know if it was Jacob talking about sex, or just her. Her infuriating indifference, her gorgeous, naked tits, or her perfect fucking mouth. And the idea of that mouth being the thing that got my dick wet… Jesus. This was gonna be a long summer if I couldn't get her out of my head.

"Hey," I said, snapping myself out of a train of thought I had no right to have. "Who built the new house over on Ocean Drive?"

"The really fucking huge one?"

"Yeah."

"Phil Dwyer."

"The baseball player? Get the fuck out."

"No, man. He started building it in the fall. They moved in a couple months ago. He and his wife come into the bar sometimes. Dad got a picture with him and hung it on the wall and everything. Why?"

And there was her face again. And the memory of everything that happened earlier. God, why was I such a dumb fuck? And why did she have to be all but naked, acting like she wanted me to look at her? And why – why the fuck couldn't I stop thinking of her?

And how the hell was she related to Phil fucking Dwyer?

"No reason," I said as calmly as I could. "I just cleaned their pool today."

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A/N

Thank you for reading.

And leave me some love, if you're so inclined.

xoxo

cosmo