by Jacob Chance
“I know that pink is your favorite color.”
“That’s an easy one.” She points to her pink hair, her pink tank top, and then she wiggles her pink-tipped fingers.
“I know that you like hot dogs, but you prefer to eat them with baked beans and no bun.”
She snorts. “Kind of weird, right?”
“No.” I shrug. “I also know that strawberry is your favorite flavor milkshake, and I have a feeling it’s because it’s pink.”
She laughs. “That’s not true. I just like the flavor, but it doesn’t hurt that it’s pink.”
“Tell me something you know about me,” I challenge.
“Hmm, I know you’re a great friend to Marshall.”
“You can do better than that.”
“I know you’re passionate about hockey. Maybe more than you let on.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I’ve seen the intensity on your face when you play. And I know you spend a lot of time training.”
“You’re right. I don’t talk about it too much because I know that most likely, college will be the end of the line for me and hockey. But I plan to play my heart out for the next three years and make the most of it.”
“Okay, your turn,” Maddie prompts.
“You’re a bit of an introvert, but at times you can be outgoing. It depends on the situation and how comfortable you are.”
“Wow, you can tell that about me?”
“Yep.” I nod. “I also know you’d rather sit quietly in the corner with your kindle and escape to another world than go to a party.”
“You saw that firsthand on more than one occasion. You guys used to always drag me to parties as your cover.”
“I think that blame falls on your brother, not me. And why do you go along with it if it bothers you so much?”
She shrugs. “I don’t want to disappoint Marshall.”
“He’d get over it.”
“We’ll all be leaving for college in a little under two months, so none of it really matters now anyway. I won’t be going to many more parties before then.”
I run a hand through my hair and fight back a grimace. Last year when I left for college I didn’t feel ready. It took me a little while to adjust to the change. But this year the thought of being in Maddie’s space more often than not has me excited about what’s to come.
“Tell me something else you know about me,” I say, hoping to get my mind in a better place.
“You’re a neat freak.”
“No, I’m not.” I grin.
“What teenage boy keeps his vehicle this clean?” I don’t want to tell her that I cleaned it in her honor.
“My dad reminds me every once in a while that I need to keep this clean, since he bought it for me.”
“Yeah, parents are good at that, aren’t they? Mine love to remind me of things I need to do, which is another reason I can’t wait for college. No one to order me around and remind me to make good decisions.”
“I don’t think making bad decisions is in your DNA.”
“Don’t be too sure. I’m related to Marshall.”
“Yeah, but you guys are polar opposites. He’s a little too reckless for his own good.”
“Yep, but I’m too cautious for mine. But I plan to change all that when I go off to college.”
My eyebrows lower, pressing together in a deep furrow. “I hope you don’t change. I happen to think you’re pretty great the way you are.” I turn and briefly meet her gaze.
“I’m not saying I’m going to turn into some wild woman, but I need to break out of my introverted state some.”
“Do a little at a time. Pace yourself.” I can’t stand the thought of her changing. She’s perfect as she is.
The rest of the ride passes quickly due to the lack of traffic, and we reach our destination with no real hiccups. I pull into a parking lot and pay the fee, even though Maddie is waving a twenty at me.
I wave my hand. “Put your money away.”
“But it’s my day, not yours.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re going to pay for anything.”
“Shaw, this isn’t a date.”
Maybe it should be.
I don’t reply. I can’t trust myself not to say something I shouldn’t. It would only make the rest of our day awkward.
Parking in a spot, I shut the truck off. I set about grabbing the cooler and a blanket from the extended cab, and Maddie meets me at the back of the truck.
“How do you want to do this?” she asks.
“Let’s find a place to set up, and then we can come back for the other stuff.”
She gives me a thumbs up and we step onto the sand. Both of us kick off our shoes and carry them so we can enjoy the hot, soft sand our feet are sinking into.
The tide is out and there’s a lot of open beach before us.
“This looks as good a spot as any,” I state.
“Works for me.” Maddie sets her bag and shoes down. “Let me help you with the blanket.” We spread the large blue square of material out, and then we retrieve the boards from my truck. Once we come back to the blanket, Maddie shucks off her cutoffs and peels her t-shirt over her head. Bending over, she pulls a bottle of sunscreen from her bag. Thankfully, it’s the spray kind. She coats the entire front of her body in the clear spray before holding the can out toward me.
“Can you get the back of me, please? And don’t miss any spots, or I’m sure to burn.”
Taking the blue can, I watch her spin to face the ocean. Closing my eyelids, I say a silent prayer asking for more strength than I’m currently capable of. I begin spraying the tops of her lightly freckled shoulders, and then moving down in a side to side motion. Gliding over every inch of her narrow back, my eyes follow the zig-zag path of the sunscreen all the way down to the edge of her tiny black bikini bottoms, where I abruptly stop.
“You’re all set,” I choke out.
She peers over her shoulder, and a quick shake of her head has the pink knotted hair on top of her head wobbling adorably. “I need the back of my legs done too.”
I grunt my consent and bend over, aiming the nozzle at the bottom of one of her cheeks. I pause, gulping when I notice the black material of her suit wedging between the two slightly rounded globes of her ass. Lust punches me, and I depress the button too hard. She jumps and giggles as the jet of cold spray lands, but then like a statue, remains perfectly still.
By the time I’m done covering every inch of her legs, my forehead is damp with sweat and my cock is semi-hard.
“I’m done.” I practically throw the can at her and think about the last hockey game I played in. The rink was freezing cold and we won by three goals.
“Not so fast, mister. You need some too,” Maddie’s sweet voice penetrates my memories. Thankfully, my libido is once more under control.
“I never burn.”
“It’s not about burning. It’s about protecting your skin. Now strip,” she orders with a mischievous grin.
I drag my t-shirt over my head and drop it on the blanket before extending my arms straight out at my sides. “Go for it.”
Stepping closer until only inches separate us, she covers each of my arms and shoulders before moving onto my chest and stomach.
Watching her hand moving lower and lower until she reaches the edge of my board shorts has me ready to pop another boner, and there’s no way she won’t notice. Abruptly, I turn away. “Can you get my back, please?”
“Sure. But what about the front of your legs?” she asks.
I shake my head. If I have to see her bending over to coat my legs, I’m sure to embarrass myself. “No. My legs will be underwater most of the time.”
“Suit yourself. But don’t whine to me if you burn.”
A sunburn would be much less painful to deal with than my attraction for Maddie is. Closing my eyes, I concentrate on the soothing sound of the waves rolling in to shore and dragging back out to sea.
Today was supp
osed to be fun, but it’s already shaping up to be a massive test in restraint. What did I think would happen? I can’t get enough of her. How did I think I’d be able to be alone with her and not want to do all the things that I shouldn’t want to do with her?
Chapter Five
Maddie
Hands on my hips, I stare out at the ocean, watching the waves, paying close attention to where they’re breaking. “How do you feel about surfing first?”
Shaw shifts his weight from one foot to the other as he studies the sea. “Waves look decent today. Let’s do this.” He beams a devastating smile at me and my knees turn to Jell-O. Every time he looks my way, I feel our connection. I don’t want to be overly optimistic, but this feels like a date to me. We’re in another state where we don’t know anyone. It’s like we’re in our own little bubble.
We each grab our surfboards and head toward the shoreline. Shaw easily holds his with one arm, and I carry mine upside down, with both hands gripping the sides, balancing the bulk of the board’s weight on top of my head.
I inhale a gasp when my feet enter the frigid water. “Crap, I’m regretting not bringing my wetsuit,” I say.
“Yeah, I have a feeling I'll be having the same regret when I get a little deeper,” he jokes, moving forward. “Jayzus,” he yells as he moves waist deep.
I giggle, but the amused sound quickly becomes a squeal as the icy water hits my bare stomach. Placing my board down during a lull between the waves, I inhale a deep breath and dunk completely under the water. I pop back to my feet, sputtering with my teeth chattering.
Shaw chuckles and my head snaps in his direction.
I shrug. “It’s just a little chilly.” Gripping my board, I climb on. Lying on my stomach, I start paddling, my hands cupping their way through the water.
In my periphery I notice Shaw doing the same.
When we’ve progressed far enough out we straddle our boards. Sitting, we watch the waves, the salty, tangy scent of the ocean teasing our nostrils. The coast of New England is not known for having large waves except during storms, and then it’s usually too rough to surf. And sometimes, if you’re lucky, the day after the storms, the surf is still impressive. This particular beach has some of the best swells I’ve seen.
“It’s so peaceful out here,” Shaw breaks the silence.
“I know. I love this beach. It’s never too crowded. Have you been here before?”
He shakes his head. “No. Your brother and I usually head up to Hampton Beach or down the cape.”
“Right. I remember.” Hampton is well known and a place that a lot of the younger crowd flocks to. But not me. I prefer less populated beaches where I can relax and not have people crowded all around me. I like to listen to the sound of the waves and read a good book.
I squint off into the distance as the sun’s bright rays reflect painfully into my light blue eyes. It’s funny how I’ve never been invited on any of their beach excursions. I guess I’m only good enough when there’s a party Marshall needs to attend.
Shaw lies on his board, turning toward the shore, and paddles as fast as he can. I watch as he pops up onto his feet in one cat-like motion. Knees bent, his feet are solidly positioned in place. He doesn’t lose his balance for a second as his board is propelled into shore.
While I’m enjoying watching him, my head absentmindedly tics from side to side in a motion of awe as I admire his natural athleticism. Shaw’s one of those annoying people who’s good at all sports. He’d deny it, but it’s true.
With each year that passes, I’ve watched him excel at everything he does. He’s even a good student. It doesn’t seem fair that one boy should be blessed with all that talent, good looks, and brains too.
Removing my focus from Shaw, I look toward the approaching waves and wait for the right one. Lying on my stomach, the board is cold against my skin as I paddle toward shore. My wave rapidly approaches, and I say a quick prayer that I won’t embarrass myself in front of Shaw. Maneuvering successfully to my feet, although not as gracefully as I’d like, I bend my knees and let my muscle memory kick in. I’ve got enough experience on a surfboard to decently ride a wave in. I just can’t let myself overthink everything.
Shaw’s waiting on the sand when I hop off into the shallow water and lean over to grab my board.
“Nice ride, Maddie.” He smiles his approval.
My stomach flutters as waves of attraction roll through. “Thanks. Want to keep going?” I tip my head toward the endless expanse of blue-green.
“Absolutely.”
“So, have you talked to Marshall since he left?” Shaw asks, reclining back on his elbows.
Lying on my back, I place a hand above my eyes like a visor and glance over at his sharp profile. “I haven’t, but he called my parents last night. Did you hear from him?”
“Yeah. We texted some.”
“You didn’t mention our plans, did you?” I ask, the smallest sliver of hope in my voice. I don’t know if I want him to tell my brother, because we both know he’ll overreact. But if he did mention it to him, then maybe whatever this is means something to him.
He turns his head, looking down at me. “No. Besides, I didn’t know what we were doing.”
“If you talk to him later, are you going to mention hanging out with me?”
He thoughtfully rakes his teeth over his bottom lip. “I’m not going to tell him. He’d be pissed.”
“You’d think he’d be happy that I’m with you instead of some jerk-off.”
“Yeah, he should be, but he’s a hothead. He’s going to react first and think later.”
I hear his unspoken message. Enjoy today, Maddie, because whatever this is has an expiration date. Closing my eyes, I let my hand fall back to my side.
I hear the sound of Shaw opening the cooler.
“What have we got here?” he questions. “Did you make turkey sandwiches?” He sounds excited.
“I did. There are potato chips in my bag if you want some.”
He grabs two packages and sets one down next to me. “I can’t believe you made us lunch.”
“Someone had to,” I state. “I knew it wouldn’t be you.” I sit up and hold out my hand for him to place one of the sandwiches in. There’s no way I’m going to let him have all of them.
“Damn right. Anything I could make would barely be edible, so thank you.” He raises half his sandwich before biting off a big chunk. “Mmm, bacon,” he mumbles around the half-chewed food. “And extra mayo too.” He chews the remainder of his bite with his eyes closed. They pop open when he swallows. “When can we do this again?” he asks, taking another bite.
“I think you mean when am I going to make food for you again.”
His grin is crooked. “As good as this sandwich is, I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m actually enjoying your company even more.”
I place a palm on my chest. “Wow. Lucky me.”
“No, Maddie, lucky me.” He winks.
We finish our lunch and take some time to lie around digesting. With the sun warming our skin, we relax and listen to one of Shaw’s favorite playlists on his iPhone. Knowing he’s next to me is comforting, and my eyelids, heavy from the bright sun, drift closed.
I let the sun wrap its warmth around me and imagine what it would be like to kiss Shaw. I catch brief glimpses like blurry snapshots of his face hovering over mine and moving closer. I imagine I can feel the softness of his hair slipping between my fingers.
“Maddie.” His hand slides along my arm. “Wake up, Maddie.”
My lids slowly flutter before opening. Shaw is leaning over me, a gentle smile arcing his mouth as he stares down at me. “Wake up, sleeping beauty.” He cups my face in his palm, his thumb whisking along my cheekbone.
Still lost in that hazy space between sleep and complete lucidity, I grip his arm and slide my hand up to caress his muscular shoulder.
His face shifts, the gentle smile disappearing as a darker, needier expression takes over. Closing
the distance between us, he claims my mouth in a kiss like nothing I’d imagined. It’s so much better. His full, masculine lips are soft against mine, but his barely restrained hunger is there vibrating beneath the surface ready to break free. And I want to be the one to unleash that part of him. I want him to feel as out of control as he makes me feel.
Humming as his tongue whirls around mine, my fingertips dig into his shoulders, urging him closer. He responds by plastering our chests together. I feel his solid length pressing against my hip, and I barely refrain from urging him between my legs. I want him grinding down on me, easing this persistent ache he’s created.
He groans, hungrily devouring my mouth like he can’t get enough—like this moment has been building for as long of a time for him as it has for me.
Pushing my feet against the blanket beneath me, I raise my hips, bucking upward, looking for any relief I can get.
Growling, he tears his mouth free, staring down at me, aroused and bewildered. We both struggle to catch our breath. Before I can say anything, he jumps to his feet and heads for the water.
I’m up almost as quickly, hurrying after him. He dives under a wave before I can catch him, and then keeps heading toward deeper water. Darn it.
What’s wrong? Confused at what’s going on inside his head, I stop in the ankle deep surf and try to get my thoughts in some semblance of order.
Does he regret kissing me?
Did he dislike kissing me?
He seemed to enjoy it. His body sure reacted like he did. But who knows? Ugh. Guys are so fucking complicated.
I run a hand over my hair, slicking back the flyaway strands the salt air has tugged free. Pacing back and forth through the shallow water, I chastise myself for encouraging his kiss.
What was I thinking?
I should’ve known better. That kiss never should’ve happened. Shaw is my brother’s best friend, which means that nothing can happen between us. I need to take his reaction as a sign that spending time with him is a bad idea. Lines can get clouded and crossed if we’re together. And if we’re not, then we’ll have nothing to be concerned about.
