The beach stretched out in front of Isabel "Belly" Conklin, the waves rolling in rhythm with her thoughts. Summer was supposed to be her season, but this one had been filled with more chaos than she could handle. The golden glow of Cousins Beach felt dulled, as though the magic of the past had been swept away with the tide.
Belly sat on the porch swing of the Fisher house, her arms crossed as she replayed her latest argument with Conrad Fisher in her head. He was infuriating, distant, and cryptic, yet somehow he always managed to occupy her thoughts. And then there was Jeremiah Fisher—bright, easy-going, and always there when Conrad wasn't.
The lyrics of Taylor Swift's "Forever & Always" ran through her head like a loop:
"Was I out of line? Did I say something way too honest, made you run and hide like a scared little boy?"
"Belly!" Jeremiah's cheerful voice broke her reverie as he walked up the porch steps, a popsicle in hand. "You've got that 'Conrad just got under my skin again' face."
"I do not," she retorted, though her flushed cheeks betrayed her.
Jeremiah sat beside her, offering her a bite of his popsicle. "Let me guess. He said something cryptic and broody, then walked away before you could get a straight answer?"
Belly sighed, grabbing the popsicle. "How do you know him so well?"
Jeremiah smirked. "He's my brother, remember? It's basically his brand."
They sat in companionable silence for a moment before Jeremiah nudged her with his elbow. "So, what are you going to do about it?"
"I don't know," Belly admitted. "Sometimes I feel like I should just give up. But then… I don't."
Jeremiah's expression softened. "You've got a thing for making life harder than it has to be, huh?"
She shoved him lightly. "Not helping."
Later that evening, the Fisher house was buzzing with activity as Laurel and Susannah prepared dinner. Belly was in the kitchen, chopping vegetables when Conrad walked in, his expression unreadable.
"Hey," he said, his voice low.
"Hey," Belly replied, not looking up.
He leaned against the counter, watching her for a moment. "About earlier…"
Belly's knife paused mid-chop. "What about it?"
Conrad shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't mean to make you upset."
Belly set the knife down and crossed her arms. "Then maybe stop saying things that make me upset."
Conrad opened his mouth to respond but closed it again, running a hand through his hair. "It's not that simple."
"It never is with you," Belly shot back, her frustration bubbling over. "You push me away, then you pull me back in. I don't know what you want, Conrad."
"I don't know either," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Belly's heart clenched, but she didn't let it show. "Well, maybe figure it out before you talk to me next."
The next day, Belly decided to distract herself by joining Jeremiah on a trip into town. They wandered through the shops, laughing and joking as they browsed through Cousins' eclectic offerings.
"You need this," Jeremiah said, holding up a bright pink bucket hat.
Belly laughed. "I absolutely do not."
"Come on," he teased, placing it on her head. "It screams 'Belly Conklin, life of the party.'"
She spun to look at her reflection in a mirror, giggling. "Okay, it's kind of cute."
Jeremiah grinned. "See? I know you better than you think."
As they left the shop, Belly felt lighter, the tension of the past few days fading away—at least for now.
Back at the house, Conrad watched from the porch as Belly and Jeremiah returned, their laughter carrying on the breeze. A pang of jealousy tightened in his chest, though he had no right to feel it. Belly deserved to be happy, even if it wasn't with him.
Susannah joined him, her knowing smile softening the sharp edges of his thoughts.
"She's good for you, you know," Susannah said gently.
Conrad sighed. "I'm not sure I'm good for her."
Susannah placed a hand on his arm. "You don't have to be perfect, Conrad. You just have to try."
That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Belly sat on the dock, her feet dangling above the water. Conrad approached hesitantly, his hands shoved into his pockets.
"Mind if I sit?" he asked.
She glanced at him, then nodded.
For a while, they sat in silence, the sound of the waves filling the space between them. Finally, Conrad spoke.
"I've been thinking about what you said," he began, his voice steady but quiet. "And you're right. I've been unfair to you."
Belly turned to him, surprised by the admission.
"I don't know how to do this," he continued. "Letting people in, being honest about how I feel—it's not something I'm good at."
"You could start by trying," Belly said softly.
He nodded, his eyes meeting hers. "I care about you, Belly. More than I've let on. And I'm sorry if I've made you doubt that."
Her heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to stay grounded. "Words are easy, Conrad. Actions matter more."
"I know," he said, his voice filled with determination. "And I'm ready to prove it."
The rest of the summer was a mix of lighthearted moments and heartfelt conversations. Conrad began to let his guard down, showing Belly the vulnerability he'd always hidden. Jeremiah, ever the optimist, took on the role of their biggest supporter, though he couldn't resist teasing them along the way.
One evening, as they all gathered around the fire pit, Jeremiah raised a toast. "To a summer of chaos, confusion, and, somehow, figuring it all out."
They laughed, clinking their glasses together.
As the summer drew to a close, Belly stood on the beach, the wind tangling her hair as she looked out at the horizon. Conrad joined her, slipping his hand into hers.
"This feels different," she said, her voice barely audible over the waves.
"It is," he replied. "Because this time, I'm not going to let go."
The lyrics of "Forever & Always" played softly in her mind as she leaned into him, a mix of hope and certainty filling her heart:
"I stare at the phone, he still hasn't called, and you feel so low, you can't feel nothing at all."
But this time, she didn't feel low. She felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be—with someone who was finally ready to meet her halfway.