The Natural History of Us

by Rachel Harris

  Friday’s a school holiday, a teacher in-service or some bullshit, so we have a three-day weekend once we pick up our babies from Coach Stasi. Which means I’ll have close to sixty hours with Peyton if she agrees. Anything can happen with that much time. This is my last shot, so I’m holding out for a miracle here, even if Cade does tag along.

  Besides, I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

  “What do you say?”

  Peyton hesitates. “Well… it would be easier if we’re both there with the baby.” She turns to Cade and explains. “We’re supposed to share responsibility. The babies will be programmed to shut down sometime Sunday, which leaves us just enough time to get over sleep deprivation before exams on Wednesday.” She sighs, like she’s already exhausted thinking of it, and adds, “If a bunch of us go through it together, it might suck less.”

  I try not to show how much this means to me, but it’s so damn hard.

  Then she says, “While we’re in Galveston, we can also stop by Pleasure Pier.”

  This is directed at Cade, and an underlying tone in her voice tempers my excitement. From the way he’s smiling, I know I’ll regret asking... but I do it anyway. “Pleasure Pier?”

  “It’s our spot,” he replies, tucking Peyton against his side. “It’s where I took her for our first official date.”

  Well fuck my life.

  Why can’t anything ever be easy? Just one small thing? I’m working my ass off here, trying to win back the girl I’m in love with and atone for my horrible mistakes of the past, and just when I think I’m finally catching a break, shit like this happens.

  Cade brushes a lock of Peyton’s golden hair aside and whispers something in her ear, looking like he thinks he’s won. But I hold tight to what I know:

  Cade Donovan may be a good guy, but he doesn’t know Peyton like I do. He doesn’t challenge her. He doesn’t see through the mask she shows the world that hides the scared yet resilient heart beneath. He couldn’t, or she wouldn’t be doubting herself so much. She’d know how amazing she is. That she can do anything because she’s strong, stronger than anyone I’ve ever met. And because she’d be hearing it every damn day.

  Everyone knows I’m not good for much, but I was made to love this girl. I’m good for her and I’m good with her. It may’ve taken me three years to fully realize that, but I know it now.

  Soon, she will, too.

  “I’ll have to rearrange some things back home,” Cade says, his cocky grin implying that this is over. That the weekend will be some kind of romantic weekend escape for two. He should know better than to doubt me by now. “But, sure. We’re in.”

  Peyton smiles, although it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. Those beautiful peepers are swirling with curiosity and a dash of apprehension. And rightly so.

  Horse boy has no clue what he’s up against.

  FRIDAY, MAY 30TH

  1 Week until Graduation

  ♥Senior Year

  PEYTON

  GALVESTON BEACH HOUSE 10:52 A.M.

  When we get to the Carters’ beach house, Cade makes a scoffing sound in his throat. It grates on my nerves, but I can’t really blame him. It’s the biggest one on the block, not that I expected any less, and of course it’s smack dab in the middle of the ritziest section of Galveston.

  But see, Cade is only looking at the surface.

  Sure, colorful flowers line the drive, providing the perfect contrast to the mansion’s stereotypical all-white façade. A wraparound terrace and fancy gazebo add that touch of southern sweetness and sophistication. The whole shebang screams money and entitlement and everything I’ve come to associate with Mitch and Annabeth Carter.

  But I’ve peeked behind their oh-so-perfect curtain. I know the danger of judging a book by its cover. So as I set my sandal on the flawless, paved driveway, and stare up, up, up to the top of the house, all I can think is that it feels lonely.

  How sad must it have been to vacation here as a kid? My parents never had a lot of money, even before my insane medical bills, but they always filled my summers with sticky treats and pure silliness. Justin’s beach house is the opposite of silly. It’s pristine, enormous, and lacking any trace of true comfort. It makes me hurt for the little boy he once was.

  “Nice place,” Cade says. Sea gulls squawk overhead and waves crash against the shore behind the house, but his sarcasm is unmistakable. “Think it’s big enough?”

  Somehow, I withhold my groan. Is it Sunday yet?

  The trip only just began, yet it already seems to be dragging. The ride down felt like it took days instead of a couple hours. Cade’s constant snide little digs at Justin made my molars ache.

  News flash? I don’t need reminders of how badly he hurt me in the past. Every second I spent with Justin, every up and down, is seared into my memory. Cade’s the one that doesn’t know all the details.

  But, I understand.

  Even before my ex steamrolled his way into my relationship, Cade and I hadn’t clicked in a while. Not like we did in the beginning. The very things I loved and found refreshing in the beginning now started to irk. His response to the honeymoon question was a perfect example of that. But, that’s Cade. It’s not fair to suddenly change the rules on him when he’s been consistent and loyal the whole time.

  That’s why we’re here, or at least it’s one of the reasons. My hope was that if we got away from the stress of the ranch, snuggled on the beach, and reconnected at the Pier, that we’d rekindle the feelings of last summer. Relive the incredible memories we made together.

  Unfortunately, my stellar plan isn’t turning out so stellar.

  “It’s gorgeous,” I agree with a tight smile, choosing to take his words at face value. New plan? Distract, distract, distract. Lowering my voice to a flirtatious level, I bump my shoulder against his and ask, “You know what the best part is?”

  Cade shifts his gaze from the four-story home. “What’s that?”

  “Pleasure Pier is right down the road.” I extend a finger in the opposite direction we came, knowing from my Google Maps check that it’s about a ten-minute walk from where we stand. Technology is my new bestie.

  Dark lenses shield Cade’s expressive eyes, but a small smile plays upon his lips. Finally.

  “Is that right?” he asks, casually leaning against his truck. “Huh. You know, if I remember correctly, I still owe you a funnel cake.”

  “With extra sugar,” I confirm. “I won that puppy fair and square, and just because I was too stuffed to eat it then doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.” Playfully, I poke him in the arm and say, “I always collect my debts, Mr. Donovan.”

  A tiny dimple pops in his cheek as his entire smile ignites. “And I always honor my promises, Miss Williams.” He covers my hand with his, and hope fills my chest.

  This is what I wanted. Cade literally swept me off my feet on our first trip to the pier. He was romantic and sweet—well, up until he tossed me in the waves, but even that was fun. He made me laugh, something I did far too little up until then, and was everything my stupid heart once wanted Justin to be.

  We splashed in the waves, napped on the beach, and rode every single ride they had. Cade won me a stuffed elephant at ring toss, and later bet me a funnel cake over free throws at Big Shot Hoops. The silly boy really should’ve known better. I do have two older brothers, after all, and one seriously athletics-crazed dad. But he completely charmed me.

  That trip marked a turning point for us. For three years, he’d been one of my best friends. We’d known each other even longer than that. I’d sworn off dating after Justin, having lost all interest in the prospect, but that day, touched by Cade’s affection and sweet attention, I let him kiss me in the back row of the Sea Dragon. When my tummy dipped, it had nothing to do with the freefall and everything to do with taking another chance.

  Cade’s patient tenderness healed my scarred, battered heart, and under a full moon, accompanied by childish giggles, excited screams, and the hypnotic lull of the waves,
he promised he’d never break it. Trusting him that he wouldn’t, I took a leap.

  That’s why we’re here.

  “The pier’s not the only thing this place has going for it,” he says, gently brushing his thumb across the pulse point in my wrist. It jumps in response… even as a weird sinking feeling enters my stomach.

  “It’s not?”

  “Nope.” He shakes his head with a slow grin then lifts his chin toward the house. “As huge as this place is, I’m betting there’s lots of space for privacy. Hidden corners, doors with locks. Even with your baby project and a full house of guests, we should get plenty alone time.” The edge of his nail rasps the tender skin of my wrist and his teeth sink into his lower lip. “Especially at night.”

  My breath catches, and my heart loses its rhythm for a beat. Feeling the change beneath his fingertips, Cade’s eyes sharpen.

  He doesn’t know about… before.

  From the look in his eyes, he has his theories, and I’m sure they’re not that far from the truth. But he’s never asked and I’ve never told him. I don’t know, that’s probably pretty telling in itself—couples share things, solid couples at least, and part of me wants to tell him some of it. But it’s not that easy.

  Sometimes… sometimes things happen that are too painful. The very thought of putting them into words, speaking them out into the universe, tears a piece of your soul.

  My secret with Justin is one of those.

  Cade’s seductive grin slips and he releases my hand. I wrap it against my chest, guarding against a sudden chill, and watch him grab our bags from the truck.

  “Who else is coming?” He shoulders his duffle and lifts the handle on my rolling case, then takes off for the tall staircase. Feeling a headache mounting, I fall into step behind him.

  “I assume some of the guys from the team,” I say, scoping out the cars and trucks already parked on the driveway and in the street. An F150 with huge tires tells me Dad’s pitcher is here. “Brandon, Drew, and Carlos are in our FACS class, plus they’re Justin’s best friends. They met up at school this morning to pick up our robot babies. Also my friend Mi-Mi should be here since she’s Brandon’s partner for the project.”

  His girlfriend Aly is in our class, too, so she’s a definite. That makes me happy. We only ever shared a class or two but she’s super sweet and Dad adores her. Plus, her baking skills are legendary. I admit I was a tad jealous when she hooked up with Justin last year; she was the first girl who made him smile like he used to—not the fake one he wears in the halls, but the real one that reaches his eyes.

  Unfortunately for Justin, they never had a chance. Anyone with eyes knew Aly and Brandon were inevitable.

  “And what do you see?”

  “Inevitability.”

  I lose my footing on the stairs and grab hold of the railing.

  In the barn, Justin seemed so sure that we belonged together. That I’ll forgive the past, drop my boyfriend, and run back into his open arms.

  Why is he so confident? Will what he’s hiding really make that much of a difference?

  I honestly don’t know what I hope for more—that it will, or that it won’t. That scares me.

  We reach the top of the staircase, where the large terrace overlooks the Gulf, and Cade pops his neck, rolling it like he does whenever he’s nervous. Not the best start to our weekend.

  “Hey.” Reaching up, I slide off his sunglasses and find his dark eyes troubled. “Thank you. I know you don’t want to be here, but you came anyway... for me. I appreciate it.”

  I lean up on my toes and press a kiss across his mouth.

  Cade exhales against my lips and presses his forehead to mine. “You’re worth it.”

  The way he’s looking at me says he means much more than just this weekend. I nod, unsure of what to say, and he touches his lips to my nose. With a sigh, he turns and knocks on the door.

  Considering how many people are here, I expected the door to instantly fly open. When it doesn’t, he raps again, then tries the knob only to find it locked.

  “Maybe try the bell?” I suggest, rocking back on my heels.

  He presses it, sending a series of twinkling sounds into the air, and a nervous flutter tickles my belly. I always hate being late to a party. People stare and they whisper. It reminds me too much of my illness.

  From inside, a female voice screams, “Coming!” and my heart jumps into my throat.

  A BMW is parked below. It was the first car I spotted when we arrived, my eyes trained to seek out Lauren before I could be ambushed. Justin told me she was invited, so I knew about it coming here. She’s Carlos’s wife for the project, after all. But my plan is to avoid her at all costs. If she answers the door, that won’t be avoiding. It’ll be in my face. And nothing screams bad omen like an awkward door greeting by the other woman.

  Thankfully, when it opens, a cute, tiny redhead appears.

  “Awesome!” Aly pulls the door wider and waves us in eagerly. “Peyton, your timing rocks.”

  “Uh, okay.” At Cade’s questioning glance, I lift a shoulder and say, “You’re welcome?”

  Aly laughs as I step inside what suddenly feels like a cloud—or a home for the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Everywhere I look: white, white, white, white, white. The sofas—white. The walls—white. The rugs—you guessed it—white. I shake my head, wondering who would invite a bunch of crazy teenagers to a place so painstakingly immaculate, but then roll my eyes as I answer my own question.

  This is Annabeth we’re talking about. If things get messy, she’ll just refurnish the place.

  “I just finished a batch of brownies,” Aly says, wrapping her arm around my elbow like we’ve been friends forever. “The two of you are my new taste testers. Since the guys took the first baby shift, they’re all down by the beach. Already we’ve had diaper changes, feedings, and burping. Plus, these things breathe, Peyton. I’m calling it now, y’all. They’re gonna drive us crazy by tomorrow.”

  Then to Cade she says, “Just leave those bags there for now, because dessert awaits!”

  He gives her an amused smile and does as she says, sending me a subtle wink. Already things feel lighter between us… and I have Aly to thank for it. Releasing a relieved breath, I smile at my new friend and follow my nose into the kitchen.

  Of course, it’s beyond ridiculous. Marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, and more snacks than I’ve ever seen at one time. Aly’s mom is a caterer, so I shouldn’t be surprised, and as I said, the girl is known for her snacks. I spy the tray of brownies in question on the stovetop and my stomach grumbles.

  Dropping my arm, Aly slides over to the goods. “Justin put me in charge of all things snackage this weekend since it’s my thing, and I want you both to give me your honest opinion.” She selects two giant squares and sets them each on a napkin. “Tell me if they’re too bold or too much.”

  “I feel like those two words will never apply to chocolate anything,” I confess and accept the gift of fudgy goodness.

  The brownie is moist, that’s obvious just from looking at it, and when I lift it to my mouth my fingers sink into the soft texture. My taste buds prep themselves for a happy dance. Then the rich scent of cocoa hits my senses and I close my eyes in bliss.

  “Holy crap!”

  A surprising burst of orange hits my tongue and I moan, taking another bite, hoping my sprung-open eyes tell Aly everything she needs to know, because I refuse to stop eating for something as silly as words. Seriously. Roll out a sleeping bag, call it a day, I’m good to go camping in the kitchen.

  “You like it?”

  I exaggerate a head nod, and Aly bounces on her sneakers. “Really? See, normally, I’m a brownie purist. Cookies, cupcakes, tarts; I go wild with those, but brownies are my religion. But the other day I saw a recipe on Pinterest and it sparked my imagination.” She raises an eyebrow and says, “That site is addictive… for realz.”

  “They’re incredible,” I mumble, mouth filled with orange-flavo
red chocolate. “What’s in here? How did you get it to taste like this? I swear it looks like a normal brownie.”

  Aly leans in with wide eyes. “The secret is orange marmalade. Fun, right?”

  I nod my agreement and gather every possible crumb, pressing my fingertip into the moist morsels and licking without shame. I consider tonguing my napkin, too, but decide that may be too weird, so instead I break the edge off Cade’s remaining sliver and smile around my bite. He laughs and hands the whole thing over, blowing me a kiss.

  He’s good people.

  Aly watches our exchange with happy yet curious eyes, and I can’t help wondering how much she knows. She and Justin parted as friends, surprising since other than me, I never knew him to have friends who are girls.

  “These are delicious,” Cade tells her, and she smiles in gratitude.

  “Thanks. When you have a wicked sweet tooth, you learn how to bake pretty quickly.”

  Male laughter floats through the open window and Aly glances outside. She pushes off the marble counter and says, “We better get y’all settled. Girls take over parenting duty in thirty minutes. You ready to be a mommy, Peyton?”

  No. No, I’m not… “I can barely contain my joy.”

  Cade links our fingers as we follow Aly back toward the door to get our bags.

  “Is your baby-daddy here for the weekend?” he asks her, shocking me with his teasing. I’m almost positive if Justin referred to himself as my “baby-daddy¬,” Cade would go ballistic.

  “Yep,” she says. “Drew’s on the team with the guys.”

  Catching her smirk I ask, “How’s Brandon handling you being married to his best friend?”

  “About as well as Gabi’s handling Lauren,” Aly replies with a snort. “He knows nothing is going on, but sometimes, hmm, how do I put this…” She scrunches her nose and squints one eye. “Brandon’s jealous tendencies tend to overrule his common sense.”