“Wake your ass up,” James says, nudging me in the side with his foot.
“Go away,” I mumble.
He slips my plastic crown on top of his head. “I heard you were crowned Belle of the Ball last night.”
“Please don’t remind me of any of the stupid shenanigans I got myself into last night,” I groan as Lana walks out to join the conversation.
“I also heard the tall, cocky one went and got you. Helped get you home.”
“Oddly enough, as much as it pains me to admit it. Davis was actually pretty great last night. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still an asshole who gets on every nerve in my body. But he kept it in check last night.”
“Did y’all? Ya know…” Lana smirks.
“Ew, Lana! No! Of course not.”
“I wouldn’t blame you if you did. He’s a total babe,” she says, fanning her face.
“He is. But he’s way too vain. That’s a deal-breaker.”
He cringes. “Do y’all have to talk about this now? I’d rather not be a part of the who my sister’s banging conversation.”
“Oh my God! We didn’t hook up!”
Today is the 4th of July and after a slow-moving morning, we spend our last full day relaxing on the beach.
It’s a glorious, hot summer day, and the beach is packed.
A perfect breeze blows across the calm, crystal blue ocean. The thirty dollars we spent on the hotel beach loungers and umbrella has been worth every penny. I try to read the National Enquirer someone left in our hotel room, but I can’t seem to focus.
“Hello? Earth to Kate.”
“Huh?”
“I asked if you wanted a beer,” Lana repeats as she digs around the cooler.
“Yuck! No thanks. The mere thought of beer makes my stomach churn.”
“Please tell me you aren’t going to be a drag on our last day. We have the fireworks show tonight and Artie’s going to make a bonfire.”
“I won’t be. Promise,” I say, trying desperately to perk up. “Are we allowed to have fires on the beach here?”
“I doubt it. But when have I ever been a rule follower?”
“This is true.”
“We’ve hardly had a minute to ourselves since we got here. This whole Max thing... I know you’re disappointed he didn’t come.”
“I’m trying to not let it bother me, but I’m so confused by it all. Did Artie mention anything about it?”
She squirts sunscreen in her palm. “The only thing he said was Max had to CQ duty this weekend. And he highly doubted he was the one who had us ran off. Said he heard it was a big joke to mess with us. So who knows?”
“I guess it doesn’t matter either way. He didn’t come. That speaks volumes.”
She doesn’t respond as she rubs the last trace of white SPF 15 into her shoulder.
I slam the magazine in my lap. “What is CQ duty anyway?”
“Hell, I don’t know. I think it’s a ‘barracks bitch’ rotation or something.
Artie said he had it last weekend, and it was twenty-four hours of clock-watching, torture.”
The sun has set on our last day. After feasting on bar-b-que, the entire group has settled in for a low key night on the beach. I make a weak vodka cran, but it’s only to keep Lana off my back. Everyone gathers around the small fire to play “never have I ever.”
“Ugh! I hate this game!” Ashley chuckles. “It always reminds me of how inexperienced I actually am.”
“Never have I ever… had sex on the beach,” Artie asks as the entire group erupts in laughter.
We all turn and eye Davis and Jenn. “Well, we know two people who certainly gave it the ole college try!” Lana yells as Jenn, Davis, Artie, and I all drink.
“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” I admit.
Jenn grabs between her legs. “No shit! I’m still picking sand out of every orifice of my body.”
“I’ve drank a bunch of sex on the beach cocktails. Does that count?” Ash adds, making everyone laugh.
“Never have I ever… had a threesome,” Jenn asks.
Davis is the only one who drinks. “I’ll be more than happy to knock that one off the list for any of you bi-curious ladies.”
“Yes, volunteering your services is a true sacrifice,” Artie teases.
“It’s your turn, Kate,” Lana says as she snuggles in between Artie’s legs.
It takes me a few seconds to think of a good one. The group quiets in anticipation. A voice bellows in the darkness behind us. Our heads snap towards the top of the dunes.
“Never have I ever… driven three hours to spend one night with an amazing girl.”
My mouth falls as butterflies explode. “Max!” Lana shouts.
He walks over and gently takes the vodka cran from my hand and takes a sip. The light from the fire flickers off his steel blue eyes as he leans over, dropping his helmet on the cooler.
I’m speechless as the shocked group welcomes him with hellos and hugs.
“Holy shit, Max! I can’t believe you’re here! Artie says as he raises his hand for a high five.
Ashley stands and introduces herself. “So you’re the Max I’ve heard so much about?”
“Did you really drive down here just for the night?” Lana asks in dismay.
“Yep! Had too. I felt terrible I wasn’t able to get out of CQ Duty. No one was willing to give up their holiday to watch the desk. So as soon as I got off, I made a mad dash here.” He eyes me as he finishes answering. “Thankfully, Artie had mentioned which hotel you were staying in or I might never have found you.”
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to be here sooner,” he says quietly, loud enough for only me to hear.
I glance at Davis, who appears as shocked as I am at the sight of Max.
“I thought you…” I can’t find the words. I’m so happy to see him it feels as if my heart might stop. But my head is spinning. All I do is stare.
Those beautiful eyes of his looking straight into my soul.
“We missed you so much, Max. It wasn’t the same without you here.” Lana pipes, breaking the intense gaze between us. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. We managed to stir up some trouble on our own.”
He laughs. “Do I dare ask?”
“Kate won a…”
I interrupt her. “It was nothing!” Finally finding my voice, I jump to my feet. “Up for a walk?”
“I’d love to,” he replies, but I can tell he senses something is wrong.
“Don’t be gone too long. The fireworks start at nine!” Lana yells as we head toward the shoreline.
The beach is packed as everyone awaits the fireworks show. The moon is hidden behind clouds and it makes the beach feel ominous. The only light comes from random snips of flashlights, as a clatter of music from different radios pollutes the air.
“You’re upset with me, aren’t you?” Max asks as we make it to the water. “I’m so sorry I’m late getting here, I promise I did everything I could to get out of work.”
I shake my head. “I can’t put into words how it felt to look up and see you. But I won’t lie… I’m super confused right now.”
“Confused?”
I sit in the sand and settle myself, hoping to find the right words. “They told me you weren’t coming.” Forcing myself not to look at him.
He sits next to me. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to when they left. The guy who was scheduled, conveniently ‘got sick’. I was the back-up.”
I process what he’s saying before I speak.
“Listen, Max. You driving here to spend a few hours with me might possibly be the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. But why are you here? Why come all the way down here knowing you’ve started things back up with Jody?”
“Wait. What? Who told you I was back with Jody?”
I’m embarrassed but answer him. “Well, the guys told me you two were seeing each other again.”
A vein on his forehead slowly protrudes as he shakes his h
ead. “Let me guess. Davis?”
I don’t respond, but he knows without me saying.
He rubs the nape of his neck. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to get here sooner and even sorrier you had to hear it from anyone but me. But I promise you, the things he knows are entirely misguided.”
I shrug one shoulder as I stare at the sand. “Well, it sounds to me like maybe there’s some truth to it.”
He looks out at the night sea and I can tell he’s trying to find the right words to say.
“Kate, from the moment I met you, my heart has been pulled in a hundred different directions…”
I interrupt. “Hold on now. I didn’t ask for anything from…”
“Wait,” he says, putting his hand on my arm. “Please, let me finish.”
He moves in front of me. Forcing me to look at him. I’m holding back tears and growing more uncomfortable by the minute. Don’t cry, Kate! Don’t you dare let him see you cry!
He throws his hands up, frustrated with himself. “I’ve had a hole in my heart for months that I didn’t think would ever heal. Bound and determined, I was either going to be alone or in a completely dysfunctional relationship for the rest of my life. I was in an absolute funk for months. Hell, the guys had to physically drag me here for Memorial Day.
I honestly wanted no part of it. But once I got here, I figured, dammit! I should at least attempt to have a good time. So when the first night, this funny, Southern beauty comes walking into my life. It was like fate.” He grabs my hands and my heart flutters. “Do you realize the second you stepped out of your dad’s car that night and said ‘hi’, with your sweet accent and infectious smile of yours, I’ve been hooked. It’s like you put a spell on me or something.” He laughs.
I smile, appreciative of his kind words. “But they said you were back with...,” I pull my hands from his as I trail off.
“I know what they said. And for about five minutes I thought we were too.” He rolls up on his knees. “See, when you and Lana took off that morning, I was a total mess. I had no idea how I was going to get a hold of you. Then I found out you had the number but hadn’t called. I thought maybe the connection we felt was only in my head. So I tried to force you out of my mind. Next thing I know, Jody’s standing in my doorway, filling my head with the ‘we’re meant to be’ bullshit. I went through the motions for about a week, knowing deep down it wasn’t going to work. Then I saw you again. The second I laid eyes on you I knew I had made a huge mistake.”
My lips purse as Father’s Day weekend flashes in my mind.
“I also know Davis told you where I was. I saw it in your eyes and it about killed me.”
I fidget with a stray thread on the bottom of my shirt. “So you didn’t stay home because of her?”
“Of course not, ya goof! I ended things the same night. I promise there is nowhere else more I wanted to be. But I got stuck working last minute and made the dumb mistake of asking Davis to tell you.”
I drum my fingers against my lip. Confusion rattling my brain.
“So he lied?”
“It appears so because he knew I broke things off a couple of weeks ago.”
“But it doesn’t make any sense.”
He flips his hands over. “I know. Unless maybe he’s got a thing for you.”
I shake my head hard. “Oh, that’s absolutely not it. He knows I can’t fucking stand him.”
I turn towards the group. Davis is watching us but glances off when he sees us both looking. “It makes sense, come to think of it. You don’t put up with his bullshit. It probably drives him nuts.”
I close my eyes and dig deep for the courage to ask the question that’s tormented me for weeks. “So you weren’t the one who called your boss on us that morning?”
Max throws his head back and puffs out an exhausted breath. “Oh my God! Did he tell you that too?”
I grimace, feeling bad for believing it so easily.
“He told me he heard it was you or Drew.”
Max jumps to his feet, pulling me up with him. He places his hands on both my cheeks and looks straight into my eyes.
“Listen to me. I would never… and I mean never...do that to you.”
Tears I was fighting begin to fall. He wipes one away. “I know it sounds crazy because it was only one weekend. But I’m completely head over heels for you, Kate.”
He pulls me into his arms and I cry. Between the lack of sleep, our talk, and his admission. I could no longer hold back.
“I’m crazy about you too, Max.”
He kisses me as the first round of fireworks light up the night sky. The clatter of the radio stations shifting to synchronized music.
Not wanting to waste a single minute of the few short hours we have left. We sit in silence, holding each other and kissing through the show. Under the fire-lit sky, he pulls me close and whispers in my ear, “I’m going to marry you one day, Kate Carpenter. Standing right here, on this very beach.”
And just like that, he held my heart in the palm of his hand.
Max scowls as we join back up with the group. “Where’s Davis?”
Artie’s smile fades when sees the scowl on Max’s face. “He said he was meeting up with some girl he met on the last trip.”
“It’s probably the waitress from the Waffle House,” clueless Lana says, trying to get a laugh out of us.
Hoping to diffuse their impending argument, I slide my arms around his waist. “It’s not worth worrying about, Max. You know how he is.”
He takes a deep breath. “Ya know what? You’re right. Tonight is about you and me. I can deal with him later.”
“Well! You two officially have twelve hours to catch up on five weeks. Better make the most of it!” Lana says.
I slip out of Max’s arms and take a sip of my watered down vodka cran. “It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve pulled an all-nighter. Maybe this time we can make it through the night without getting run off by the police.”
“Or get into a fight and forced to steal a car!” Max adds.
Everyone laughs, but we can both see Artie doesn’t find it quite as funny as we do. So Max sits and tries to quickly pull the subject off of our previous adventure weekend and on to the current one.
“So Lana, what were you saying Kate won?”
I stare in desperation for her not to spill the beans.
“Please don’t….” I beg with pleading eyes.
“Oh, she got her drunk ass on stage at Spinnaker’s and danced her way into winning a hot body contest.”
“… And she does.” I cringe, completely mortified.
Max turns to me in dramatic animation. “Ohhhhh, Really?”
“Yes,” I admit. “But! In my defense, I was dared to do it and you know me, it’s hard to turn down a challenge.”
“It was hilarious, Max. She ran off with Ash and by the time we found her, she was so inebriated Davis had to throw her over his shoulder and tote her out.”
Unfortunately, the mere mention of Davis’s name brings immediate irritation back to his face.
“So he played Prince Charming this weekend, I see,” he groans, quietly.
“Oh, it was nothing. He happened to be around during his downtime between conquests,” I whisper back, trying desperately to downplay the night.
“Well, if we’re telling on each other. How about this one… Lana farted in her sleep this morning and Artie was AWAKE!” I shout.
Lana gasps, turning ten shades of red. “Please tell me you’re lying!”
“Nope!” I fan my nose. “It stunk up the room too!” It didn’t, but I add it for theatrics.
She buries her head in her hands, too embarrassed to look at Artie as everyone breaks into hysterics. Even Max’s furrowed brow falters in laughter. Nothing like a good ole fart joke to help ease the tension! I think. And quickly take advantage of the mood shift to get the hell out of dodge, before anything more can be said.
Looking for any excuse to leave, I ask Max if he’s hungry
. “Have you had dinner yet?”
He rubs his perfectly toned stomach. “Now that you mention it, I am pretty hungry. Want to go grab something?”
“There’s a Taco Bell across the street. We could make a Run for the Border.” I say, grabbing his hand to pull him up from the sand.
He raises his voice loud enough for the group. “I gotta go get filled up on bean burritos, so Lana and I can have a farting contest later.”
Lana shouts, “Oh my God! I hate y’all!” as laughter explodes through the group again.
It’s going on eleven and The Strip is as wild as ever. Max and I take our time walking to the restaurant. Enjoying all the craziness that makes Panama City Beach so infamous. But with the celebration of the holiday added in, it appears everyone’s in particularly rare form. A calm comradery tonight. American flags wave as people shoot off bottle rockets, sporting their patriotic red, white and blue attire.
Max takes my hand as we jog across the busy parkway. “I guess the Fourth has everyone in the mood for country music, because ‘Family Tradition,’ was playing from almost every car that passed by.”
“I’m never going to get that damn song out of my head now,” I groan as we make it inside the packed Taco Bell.
I pull sweaty hair off my neck as we file into the ridiculously long order line. Max belts out the lyrics to the famous Hank Williams Jr. song and sounds surprisingly good.
“I’m impressed, Max! If this whole Army thing doesn’t work out, maybe you should try singing as your next career.”
He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, right!”
I give a sly grin. “You’re certainly hot enough to be a singer.”
He cocks his head and smiles. “You think I’m hot, huh?” Poking his finger into my side.
“Take a look around.” I throw my gaze across the dining room. “Every one of these girls has been staring at you since we walked in the building. You’d think I was splitting tacos with the President.”
He nudges me with his hip. “Oh, come on now. That’s not true.”
We step up to the register. “Whatever you say, Mr. President.”
The lady taking our order is frazzled by Max’s presence and makes a terrible attempt at hiding it. She throws in an order of cinnamon twist to make up for the long wait, although no one else is given the same freebie.
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