The truth was most of his friends were hot, at least the ones I met last summer were. Since Aaron was only a year older than me, I had no problem hanging with his group.
“Come on,” he motioned for me to follow him toward a small group waiting at the gate to the pier.
I skipped along to keep up with him. Aaron was much taller than me, and even though I was an athlete, I was still on the smaller side. There were five other guys and two girls standing in the group when we reached them. They did a couple of weird handshakes as Aaron introduced me.
“This my cousin, Emma,” he pointed to me. “This is Brandon, Matt, Chuck, Xaiv, and Finn. This is Brit and Phil,” he pointed at the girls.
“Phil?” I wrinkled my nose as the girl laughed.
“My name is Erin too. They call me Phil because my last name is Phillips. It’s just easier,” she giggled again.
“Ah ok,” I nodded as I joined in with the crowd.
“You pussies ready to lose some money?” Aaron chortled as we headed toward the games.
“Just like old times,” I muttered as I followed along with the other girls.
It was a great night. I was having fun, and I had almost forgotten why I was back. Aaron’s friends accepted me into their group no questions asked. We laughed, played games, and stuffed ourselves with all sorts of junk. I knew my workouts were going to be needed if I kept eating like I was tonight.
“We’re going to go down on the beach and toss the football around. You staying here or coming with?” Aaron stepped up beside where I was leaning against the edge of the pier.
“I’ll be down in a minute, just don’t leave without me,” I teased.
“Nah. I like you too much to do that. Besides, Dad would kill me if I did that,” he chuckled before shoving back from the railing and heading toward the steps.
After Aaron left, I stood there in the quiet. I’d moved past the vendors and games, and walked to the end. It was dark, and the sounds of the pier seemed like a distant murmur. The waves crashed against the pilings underneath me, and the stars twinkled overhead. The laughter of my new friends could be heard on the beach, and it made me think of simpler times.
“Peaceful out here at night isn’t it?” a voice came from behind me, causing me to jump. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“That’s o...” I stopped mid-sentence when I turned around and was met with the most startling blue eyes. I swallowed as the man smiled back at me.
“I come out here to get away from the noise too,” he moved up beside me and mimicked my stance against the railing. “You don’t mind, do you?” he motioned to where he was standing.
“No,” the word came out so quiet it kinda sounded like a gasp.
“Do you come here a lot?” he asked as he stared out at the water. “God, that sounded so lame,” he muttered to himself and I couldn’t help but snicker.
My shoulders shook as I held it in and tried to gather my thoughts. “I just came home from school for the summer. I used to come here all the time. How ‘bout you?”
“Same, sort of. Went away to school. Graduated last year. Moved back for a job,” he sighed.
“Not happy about that I guess?” I grinned and turned my head to really look at him.
“I wasn’t,” he appraised me, “but things suddenly started looking up.”
“Why’s that?” I tipped my head to the side.
“I’m not sure yet. Only time will tell, but things are looking much better,” his eyes scanned me as one side of his mouth tipped up. “You got any plans for tomorrow?”
“Not yet,” I turned back to look at the water. Was he trying to ask me out? Did I want that? Could I even get involved with this guy? I didn’t know anything about him.
“Wanna meet up here? I’ll buy you some fried food and maybe win you a teddy bear,” he smiled and every nerve in my body went on high alert.
“Wow,” I placed my hand on my chest dramatically. “You’re a big spender.”
“I’d take you out, but we don’t really know each other yet,” he shuffled his feet.
Crap. He was right. The stretch of beach I lived on was small, but we weren’t there. My instincts were telling me he was a nice guy, but my brain kept saying ‘you’re nuts.’
“Okay,” I laughed just as Aaron came thundering down the pier. “Six o’clock right here.”
“Deal,” he held out his hand for me to shake. I turned around just as Aaron reached me.
“We’re leaving,” he panted. “Bonfire on the beach at my house. What are you doing way down here?”
“I was talking to someone,” I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
“Who?” he glanced around.
“Him,” I turned to where the mystery guy had appeared from and he was nowhere in sight.
“There’s no one here,” Aaron scanned the pier.
“He was right here. I’m meeting him back here tomorrow,” I looked around some more before giving up. Had I imagined him? Was he even real, or was my broken heart playing tricks on me?
“Come on,” Aaron motioned toward the stairs. “Brandon’s getting us beer. You can hang or go home... I don’t care, but we are leaving.”
“You gotta hot date?” I giggled.
“Yep, two actually,” he wagged his brows.
“Eww. I don’t even want to know,” I shook my head as we made our way out to the Jeep.
I scanned the area looking for the guy I met on the pier but he had disappeared as mysteriously as he’d shown up. I didn’t even know his name, but something about those blue eyes told me we’d met somewhere before. I didn’t know where, how, or when, but we’d met. I just knew it.
Chapter 3
Emma
I stayed up way too late with Aaron and his friends, and when I went for my morning run it was proven. A few of them were still out on the beach sleeping in the chairs we’d dragged out the night before, and I found Aaron curled up on a lounger by the pool with Brit tucked next to him.
“I really hope you aren’t naked under there,” I kicked at the leg of the lounger, causing him to startle awake. The towel that was hanging over him slipped a little revealing his bare chest, and Brit grumbled in her sleep.
“Shit Em!” his hissed as the morning sun shone in his eyes. “My head is pounding way too much for this.”
“Don’t you have to work today?” I laughed.
“Crap, yes,” he sighed as he started pushing against Brit. “Babe, you gotta get up. I have to go,” he nudged her as he flung the towel off and sat up. I was surprised that they were in fact dressed, and Aaron gave me a quizzical look. “What? I told you l like beds.” He shrugged as he stretched and stood up before offering Brit a hand.
“Later,” she mumbled as she slid her flip-flops on and shuffled out of the pool area.
“Later,” I waved as I turned back to Aaron. “I’m going for a run. You better kick all of them out before my dad wakes up. He won’t be as nice as me,” I shook my head before sticking my earbuds in and jogging over to the path that led to the beach.
When I got down to the packed sand, I stretched a little, jumped up and down to loosen my muscles, and then took off down the beach in a light jog. I wanted to try and go farther than I had the day before with Mom. I trained for endurance whereas Mom was a sprinter. Don’t get me wrong, she could go pretty far, but if I was setting pace we’d have made it twice the distance.
It took me a bit, but I made it past the pier that Mom and I had jogged to. I turned, and began making my way back, but was suddenly hit with déjà vu about halfway home. The way the sun was hitting the sand made the reflection fairly harsh, almost blinding me, but I’d know that gait anywhere. Off in the distance I could see him and it was as if I was thirteen again. His silhouette was small, but the hair and broad shoulders were the same. My feet faltered as he grew closer, and I began walking in lieu of jogging. I stood, rooted in place when he got to be about twenty feet away, and that’s when it hit me.
“I thought that was you,” he removed an earbud and paused. His eyes scanned me as his mouth turned up on one side.
“Huh?” I felt like an idiot standing there, but the fact that he recognized me threw me a little.
“From last night. Don’t tell me you forgot me already,” he placed a palm over his chest as if I’d wounded him. “From the pier, remember?”
“Oh, yeah,” I giggled as a nervous rush came over me. That’s where I knew him from. It wasn’t who I thought it was after all. My brain must have been playing tricks on me since I was back. Too many memories were all running together.
“Ouch!” he laughed as he wiped at his forehead with the back of his hand. “Do you run here every day?”
“For the summer I will,” I shifted on my feet. Gotta go back to school in the fall. I live that way a few miles,” I pointed down the beach and he turned to follow my finger.
“Huh,” he smirked. “I’ll have to remember that. So, are we still on for tonight?” he grinned as he watched me.
“Sure,” I lifted a shoulder, “but you have to shower first.” I curled my lip in disgust as he looked down at his sweaty chest. A small sweat droplet ran between his defined pecs and I couldn’t help but follow it with my gaze. It stopped at his waistband, and I couldn’t help but wonder how far it would have gone had it not been stopped.
“See something you like?” he flirted.
“It’s ok,” I shifted on my feet and tried to look away. I had no business getting involved with anyone at the moment. Jordan had really screwed me up, and my heart just wasn’t available, but the rest of me sure wanted to see what this guy had to offer.
“Just ok?” he stepped closer, pulled the sunglasses he was wearing down on his nose lower, and peered over them. “Nothing about me is just ok,” his voice lowered.
I swallowed before glancing around him. “I beg to differ,” I chided. We stood almost touching for a few beats before he backed up and broke the moment.
“Maybe we can run together in the mornings. I’ve been running this stretch of beach since high school,” he pointed in each direction, and that’s when all the pieces clicked together.
“High school?” I swallowed. “Where did you go to school?”
“Marsh View,” his brow scrunched together as if I should know this. He kept staring at me as if I were the only one who didn’t know what was going on here.
“Me too,” I murmured as I looked away, trying to figure out why I couldn’t place this guy. The eyes caught my attention last night, and looking at him standing here... it’s crime I can’t remember the rest of him. “We had to have been there at the same time. What’s your name?” I felt like an idiot, but I hadn’t gotten it last night, and he’d yet to say anything today.
His lips turned up in a grin as he stared at me. “You don’t remember me; that hurts. I thought for sure you’d remember me,” he chuckled as he put his earbuds back in place. He started to jog away and leave me there, but after a few steps he turned and began running backwards. “I’ll see you at six tonight. My name’s Brock,” he shouted before turning back around and running in the direction I had come, leaving me standing there in shock.
Brock
I knew when I saw her last night that she looked familiar. I didn’t put two and two together until this morning, but those eyes. I could never forget the eyes. She used to stare at me daily. I thought it was cute in a ‘little kid’ sort of way. Now, it was so much better. Those dark chocolate orbs pierced my soul and sent a zing right to my dick. Emma Sutter grew up, and she was hot!
It was a little bit of blow to my ego that she didn’t remember me, but I had changed quite a bit since she’d last seen me. I mean, after I graduated I went away to school in California. I would have stayed out there if I hadn’t blown out my shoulder. USC doesn’t want you when they find out you’re not going to make it back from an injury. I finished my last year without my scholarship, and it pretty much depleted my savings. When I came back here, I had no intention of staying but I got a job I just couldn’t say no to.
This town never really felt like home to me. When my parents moved us here, I couldn’t wait to go back to my friends. When USC had offered me a full ride, I was on the first plane out there. Wilmington didn’t have anything to offer, or so I thought. When I ran into her last night I thought maybe my life here was finally taking a turn in the direction I wanted. She was beautiful as she stood there with the wind whipping her hair around her shoulders. She looked sad as she stared out at the moon reflecting on the ocean. I couldn’t help the draw that I felt to her.
When we ran into each other this morning, I knew it was fate. It was as if the universe was telling me to get my head out of my ass. She was finally old enough to be more, and if part of her still held onto the feelings that she’d had back then, I knew I stood a chance. I had a few logistics to work out, but it was something I was willing to do. I just hoped she'd let me explain, and that I could tell her before someone else did.
Emma
Brock Foster? Holy crap, that was Brock Foster. I couldn’t believe that he could get any more good looking. He had muscles for days, his hair was much shorter, and the tattoo. Oh my god! I didn’t know what it was exactly, but I wanted to find out. The script was small, and the way it curled out of his waistband made me want to tug his shorts off and go exploring. What the hell was I thinking? I had no business getting involved with him, but crap he seemed to really wanna get to know me. He’d never looked at me the way he did just now on the beach, and the thrill that raced through me really made me want to explore that. What harm could come from it anyway, right? I was leaving at the end of the summer to go back to school. He’d find some other girl, and I’d finally know what it felt like to kiss him. I’d fantasized for so long about that that I lost count of how many nights I’d pretended to make out with my pillow. At thirteen you never really think about getting a chance with your dream man. I always thought he’d live in my head, but here he was and I was meeting him at the pier for a date tonight... I think.
“Don’t wait up!” I shouted as I waved at my parents. They were sitting around the pool talking, and my mom offered a wave when I breezed past.
“Freeze!” Dad yelled. He hadn’t done this in over a year, and I think he still thought I was sixteen. I stopped mid stride and paused. “Where are you going?” he sounded amused, but I wasn’t falling for it. He was trying to trick me into telling him what I was up to. I wasn’t doing anything wrong, but I think as my father he thought he needed to know everything. Wrong.
“Out,” I shrugged without turning around.
“With who?”
I sighed as I slowly turned to look at him. “Just some friends. I won’t be out late. Promise,” I held my hand up.
“Have I met these friends?” he continued to stare at me.
“Daaaadddd,” I whined. “I’m not a little kid anymore. I come and go as I please at school. You need to trust me.”
“Leave her alone, Nick,” Mom tugged at his hand to get him to sit back down beside her.
“She’s dressed up, Leah. She’s meeting someone. I want to know who that someone is,” he gestured wildly to my mom in annoyance.
“She’s never gonna tell you if you treat her like she’s ten,” Mom rolled her eyes and I finally saw Dad break.
“Fine,” he huffed as he tossed his hands in the air. “Have fun and no drinking.”
“Un huh!” I shouted as I rushed to the car. I could hear Mom giggling and I’m sure she was reminding Daddy of how they were when they were my age.
It was busy when I got to Windy Dunes. I parked my car, and almost tripped over my own feet climbing out. I’d gone simple for the night. A pair of cutoff jean shorts and a tank paired with my flip-flops. If I hadn’t done my hair and makeup my dad never would have known this was anything special. I was never ‘that girl’. I was no fuss, no frills. Did I appreciate a nice shoe or a pretty dress? Of course, but I also liked to be comfortable, and
Brock put me on edge. I knew I’d spend most of the night in knots around him.
When I reached the gate to the pier, he was leaning against it with his ankles crossed. A pair of khaki shorts hung low on his hips and a red t-shirt stretched tight across his chest. He’d shaved since I’d seen him this morning, and his hands were stuffed in his pockets.
“Hi,” he smiled as he stood up straight and peered at me over the rims of his sunglasses.
I paused and placed my hands on my hips as I glared at him. “Why didn’t you tell me you knew who I was last night?” I wasn’t really mad, and I had a hard time not nervously laughing, but I was confused.
“I didn’t know it was you until I saw Aaron,” he shrugged.
“You know Aaron?” I wrinkled my forehead.
“Sort of, I guess. You ready?” he stepped to the side and motioned for me to go ahead of him through the gate, effectively ending all talk of my cousin. I didn’t really question him though. I didn’t want to talk about Aaron either. I wanted to talk about him, and what he’d been doing the last five years.
Chapter 4
Emma
“So you live here now?” I was swinging my arms as we began walking down the pier, and accidently smacked him in the side.
“Yeah, for now,” he nodded and then stepped to the side. “You’re dangerous,” he chuckled and I froze.
“Sorry,” I swallowed. I was so nervous. I’d dreamed about this for years... going on a date with him. Now my nerves were royally screwing it up.
“Relax,” he soothed as he reached down and grabbed my hand. He threaded his fingers with mine and whispered, “It’s just me.”
“That’s part of the problem,” I murmured. I didn’t think he’d heard me; at least I’d hoped he hadn’t. It wasn’t the plan to tell him how much I’d wanted this all those years ago, but I think he already knew. He’d been smiling at me like he could read my mind, and when he led me over to the softball throw, I almost squealed in delight.
Catching Raindrops (The Sutter Family #1) Page 3
