Cruel Summer

by Lisa Cardwell

  I don’t remember much of the actual meal after that point. I’m sure I ate. Food disappeared off my plate. Dad talked about something, probably one of the stories he liked to tell about being my age and working on his first movie set. I pretty well had it memorized so I could nod at all the appropriate parts.

  After lunch, I handed him the card Rico had given me, and he dialed the number on the speakerphone. I curled up in the leather chair opposite his desk and twisted my hair nervously around my finger. I knew Dad said it was a go, but I couldn’t help thinking what Mom would say about all this; after all, her big speech on the ride to the airport had been to keep myself out of the whole L.A. scene.

  And here I was, about to throw myself straight in the center of it.

  Part of Rico’s pitch had been about me being seen out and about wearing the clothes so I could get his name out there. I knew I should have run it by Mom first, then Dad. But I was in L.A., and there was barely any chance that any of this would get out of the area, right? Mom seriously wasn’t about to step foot in California, so I was pretty safe on that front.

  “Rico Vanetti.”

  “Rico, it’s Sean Morrow, Chey’s dad. We’ve got you on speakerphone.”

  “Sean, Chey, hello. I hope you’re calling with good news.”

  Dad chuckled and looked at me. “I think you should ask her that.”

  “Okay. Then, do I have a new face for the line?”

  I tucked my foot tighter under me, glancing nervously at Dad. He just nodded. I leaned forward so Rico could hear me. “If you still want me—”

  “Welcome to the House of Vanetti, Chey. We’re glad to have you.”

  “What all do we have to do to make it official, Rico?” Dad asked.

  “I’ll start making plans. Chey, you’ll have to come down and pick the closet clean. I’ll see if I can get you and Sorche some invites to the hottest places in town.”

  “Sounds good,” I said, my excitement betraying me in my voice. I think it went up a couple octaves in just two words.

  “What about contracts?” Dad smiled at me.

  “I’ll fax it over this afternoon.”

  “Great. We’ll be in touch.”

  “Look forward to it. See you soon.”

  “Done deal.”

  I’m not ashamed to admit I squealed. For something I hadn’t exactly wanted when it had first been offered, I was beyond thrilled to be part of it now.

  “I’m happy for you, Chey. What if we went out tonight to celebrate?” He must have noticed my slightest hesitation. “You’ve already got something planned?”

  I didn’t, exactly; in fact, I wasn’t too sure what Sor had up her sleeve. “Sor mentioned something about a bonfire…” I shrugged. “But I can cancel, and we can—”

  “No, no, you go. Meet some new people. Celebrate your deal with Sorche. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled for you. We’ll go out another time. What do you say; you leave Thursday open for a date with your old Dad?”

  “Absolutely. Thursday is all yours.” I gave him a hug. “I’m going upstairs to call Sor, tell her it’s official.”

  “You girls have fun tonight.”

  “We will.”

  I shut the office door behind me, leaning against it for a moment as a rush of exhilaration ran through. I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face as I did a mini happy dance before running upstairs to tell Sor the good news.

  10

  “It’s some of the same crowd as the other night,” Sorche explained as we pulled into a parking spot at the beach. “We’ll put in a brief appearance and move on. We’ve got lots to celebrate.”

  It didn’t take long to find the party from the parking lot. A short trek down a well-worn path, and we found ourselves suddenly on the beach. A group of people milled around, sitting on blankets or lounge chairs. The crowd seemed in full party mode, laughing and talking, and truthfully, I hadn’t felt this much of an outsider since I’d parked my car at the first party. At least this time, I could put names to a handful of faces, and I had Sor beside me.

  I recognized Adam twenty feet away, adding some more fuel to the small fire started in the fire pit on the sand. The bonfire suddenly roared to life, the flames rising higher.

  “I’m going to grab us a spot over there…” Sor pointed to a nearby bench. “You want to get us a couple drinks? There should be coolers scattered all around here.”

  “Yeah, no problem.” I watched her head to the bench then looked around for one of those coolers she mentioned.

  “Hey, Chey.”

  I turned to see Adam beside me; he was taller than expected. “Adam, right?”

  He nodded, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile, obviously pleased I’d remembered him. “Good to see you out here.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Need help with anything?”

  “Sor said she’d stake claim on a bench spot if I could find us some drinks.”

  “The closest cooler is probably just behind where Sor’s headed…I’ll show you.”

  He started walking, and I played catch up.

  “Nice night for a beach party,” I said as we passed a group of guys carrying more wood towards the bonfire.

  “Yeah, it is.”

  Someone called his name, and he gave me an apologetic smile.

  “You okay from here?” he asked.

  We were halfway to where Sor sat talking, and I could see the cooler just opposite of where they were. “I’m good, thanks.”

  He took off back towards the guys with the firewood with a last wave in my direction. I headed to the cooler to grab something for Sor and me. With a glance over, I saw her chatting with a couple people who’d joined her. Since I still didn’t feel comfortable enough to plop myself down and dive into whatever convo they were having, I dug through the assorted cans and bottles to grab a couple waters from one of the coolers for myself and made my way down the beach with my cell phone.

  I kicked off my flip flops once I found a great spot away from everyone, a nice secluded area down past the lifeguard stand where I could still hear the faint remnants of the party going on and I could dig my freshly painted toes into the sand. This felt more like what I pictured my California vacation would be—stretched out on the beach, surrounded by the sounds of the ocean. Just, this particular version exchanged a group of partying teenagers for my father.

  I slid one of the earphones into my ear and scrolled through my growing list of songs, trying to find something to suit my mood. Didn’t feel like Mom’s collection of eighties songs she’d given me for my birthday. Finally, I found a half-decent playlist I’d put together since I’d been in Cali and hit play, stretching my legs out on the sand, digging my toes into the warm coarseness.

  My solitude didn’t last five full songs before I saw someone approaching from the corner of my eye. Sorche must’ve realized I’d taken off and wanted to haul me back to the party.

  Imagine my surprise when I looked over and saw JT a few feet away.

  “Hey,” I greeted, trying not to look too startled.

  “Hey. Why'd you take off?” he asked, dropping unceremoniously—and more importantly, uninvited—on the sand next to me, a half-full bottle of something in his hand.

  I shrugged.

  For some reason, I was intensely aware of his presence. Of the sand that had dried to his bare arm at some point in the evening. I kept my gaze straight ahead as long as I could.

  “Just wanted a little space,” I said as I tried to figure out just what he was doing there—with me. I mean, there were tons of people around the bonfire, so why would he come after me?

  What was this, Fate? Or something a little more sinister, a little more engineered by a well-meaning friend who wanted to try and play matchmaker? I didn’t want to crane my neck to see if Sorche was peeking around the lifeguard stand or something, watching us.

  “Are you applying for the role of stalker or something?” I asked with a smile. He seemed to be everywhere I was. Almost en
ough to give a girl a complex.

  He burst out laughing and fell backwards on the sand, his eyes dancing as he peered at me.

  He stayed that way for a moment before sitting back up on the sand. He put the bottle down beside him and ran his fingers through his hair, before resting his elbows on his knees and looking out at the water.

  Great. I think I just totally humiliated myself. I must look like the biggest self-centered seventeen-year old this side of the L.A. city limits. I brought my attention back to my phone, turning down the volume and scrolling through the songs, trying to keep my attention anywhere but on his penetrating gaze.

  “I wouldn't quite say stalker,” he replied.

  “So you are following me.” I risked a sidelong glance at him.

  “What if I am?” he asked coyly, taking a gulp of his drink and studying me, the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

  “I'd have to wonder why,” I said honestly. I didn’t get this. Didn’t get...was this some sort of test? See how far he could push the new girl? Some sort of initiation or something?

  “You intrigue me, Chey.”

  Why, because I was an easy target? Being new and all, I barely had a clue what went on, and more importantly, I hadn't built immunity to his baby blues.

  “Really? Why?” I asked, trying not to sound as curious as I felt.

  “Seriously. You're different, and I kinda like that.”

  Different.

  That was supposed to be flattering? I turned away, though the tap-dancing butterflies in my stomach waited anxiously for him to elaborate.

  He didn't say anything, just stared out at the surf. I wasn't big on awkward silences, so I asked the first thing that came to mind.

  “Did Sorche send you?”

  She had done it before the night we met, but I couldn't have been gone long enough to warrant a search party, even of the JT variety.

  “No. Why?”

  “Just wondered.”

  Because as flattering as it was having the latest Hollywood bad boy under twenty following me around (a headline courtesy of my last Google search), it just wasn't something that ever happened to me. As much of a flirt as he was, I so wasn't his type. I wasn't falling at his feet. I wasn't one of the big players on the Hollywood scene, I was just...me. Plain old Chey Daniels, well Daniels-Morrow.

  “I hear you finally signed on with Rico.”

  I nodded, wrapping the cord for my earphones around my iPhone. So much for listening to any music with him around. “I did. Well, unofficially. I still need to do the paperwork.”

  “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks.”

  More silence between us, not quite awkward, yet not totally comfortable, either.

  I wished Sorche would text me or something. There existed some sort of intangible with JT that I needed time to figure out. And I thought the best way to do that would be with some actual distance. More than a few inches, I realized when I glanced down and saw a lot less sand between us than before. When had he moved closer? I could have sworn when he first sat down that there’d been at least a foot of space between us.

  “So you wanna head back?” he asked.

  Before I could answer, he stood, stretched a hand out, and yanked me to my feet. I was so surprised and unprepared for the jolt, I toppled into him. And judging by the subsequent grin on his face, I'm sure the sneak planned it that way. I stayed close just a millisecond longer than necessary before I stepped back.

  “Yeah, let's go,” I suggested quickly. Only because I didn't want Sorche to worry about where I'd disappeared to—absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I really wasn't sure I wanted to be alone with JT much longer.

  But by the time we headed back to the bonfire, I doubted my new best bud had even noticed I'd ever walked away. She still sat in the same spot, talking away as she texted something on her cell phone.

  Just then, mine buzzed, and I caught her glancing our way before she slid her cell away and went back to her convo. Guess I was the lucky recipient of a new text message. Maybe she had noticed my little disappearance, after all. ’Course, it seemed more likely she’d noticed my reappearance with JT at my side.

  I looked up at my new—er, bodyguard? Shadow? Stalker? Friend? None of those seemed all that likely, though stalker could have a slight tinge of possibility.

  “I think I can handle things from here,” I told him, noticing how the light from the fire changed the intensity in his blue eyes, making them almost the same violet-blue that burned at the hottest part of a flame.

  “You sure?” He looked amused, the slight breeze playing with his hair, and he lifted a hand to brush it back.

  I forced my eyes not to follow the movement.

  “Hundred percent.” Couldn't be more sure if I tried.

  “Okay, then. There's something I wanted to ask you...”

  His lips were moving, and I'm pretty sure I was hearing things, because he totally didn't ask me out, did he?

  I grew well-aware he was staring, the rich blue flecks in his eyes darkening while he stood there, patiently waiting for my...answer?

  “Uh...” Me, eloquent as always.

  “It's okay,” he said, obviously thinking I was brushing him off.

  My hand instantly reached out, grabbing for his sleeve to stop him from moving.

  “No, wait. You surprised me, that's all,” I rattled on quickly, before I lost my nerve. I kept my hand on his arm to keep him from walking away. “’Course, I'd love to.”

  Love to what, I'm not sure. I really hoped it didn't involve an extreme sport of some kind since I enjoyed keeping my body all in one piece. It functioned better that way.

  “Cool.” He nodded as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Looking forward to our date. Talk to you soon, Daniels.”

  Date?

  He’d seriously asked me out?

  I watched him walk away back towards the rest of the guys around the bonfire before I pulled open my cell phone to read Sor's text.

  What's up?

  At that point, I sure wished I knew.

  11

  “Are you free this afternoon?” Dad asked as he came outside with his morning cup of coffee.

  Dressed in his jeans and a faded black T-shirt, he had cleaned up from the first glimpse I'd had of him heading out for his morning run when I’d opened up my balcony doors.

  I stopped pouring the mini box of cereal into my bowl.

  “Absolutely.” I scooped a couple Lucky Charms marshmallows into my mouth. “What do you have in mind?”

  I was hoping for the beach; I couldn't wait to go back to the ocean and feel the warm sand between my toes. After one night, I seemed to have become horribly addicted.

  The water. The sand. The sound of the waves hitting the shore.

  It was just perfect.

  Dad smiled and handed me a white envelope from his pocket.

  I looked at it a moment. “What's this?”

  “Open it.”

  I ripped open the flap and peeked inside. It looked like tickets. Tickets could be promising. I pulled them out, gasping in surprise. Baseball.

  “Uh, wow...” I mumbled, staring in disbelief. He wanted to take me to a baseball game?

  “Not bad, huh?” He sounded excited. Really excited.

  I managed a smile as I looked up at him, tapping the tickets against my palm. “Great. I've never been to a pro baseball game before.”

  So not exactly my perfect idea of father-daughter bonding, but I'd take what I could get. Especially when who knew when there could be another urgent business trip in his future. Although, hopefully now that I had Sorche and this whole ‘Face of Vanetti’ thing going on, I wouldn't notice the absence so much.

  “The game's today.”

  I peeked back at the tickets. I hadn't even bothered to read the date and time when I'd first seen them.

  “It’s a late start. So if we want to beat traffic and everything, we could leave here early, say around four. O
r earlier.”

  “I have to drop off the signed contracts at Rico's this morning, but I should be back in time,” I assured him. Rico had asked if I could drop them by in person, and I’d said I’d be happy to.