Summer Rush (Because of Hope)

by Ashley Wilcox

  “No, you’re our guest tonight. Go relax,” she says, taking the dish out of my hand.

  “Really, I don’t mind.”

  “No, no. Go on,” she shoos me away with a wave of her hand.

  Just as I start to look for Joey, he walks out of the laundry room carrying a blanket.

  “Sunset?” he asks, holding it up to me.

  Watching the sunset has become one of our favorite things to do every chance we get. Loving the idea, I nod my head in approval.

  “Have fun!” Marie yells as we walk out the door.

  “Let’s go this way,” Joey says grabbing my hand and walking towards the end of the beach that I’ve never been to. It is covered in overgrown brush and there are no houses built on it. Eager to see what’s down that way, I happily agree.

  We walk in silence, hand in hand, taking in the beauty of the ocean, the sand sliding in between our toes, and listening to the waves crashing next to us, enjoying our heaven on earth, together.

  We pass the last house and it’s like we are stepping into our own private oasis. The beach bends, and it looks like you have reached the end, but instead you’re just nearing a corner. It’s unbelievable and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Standing at the edge of the fold, you have the ocean on both sides of you, waves crashing in from both directions.

  “What do ‘ya think?” Joey asks, coming up behind me and resting his hands on my shoulders.

  “Oh my god, Joey. This is amazing,” I answer, mesmerized by the view.

  “I’m assuming this,” he says nodding to the sun that’s beginning to set, “is why they named this beach Sunset Beach.”

  Seeing the sun reflecting in the water and the sky spread with beautiful pastel colors, I can understand why it’s called that. It’s unlike any sunset I’ve ever seen.

  Removing his hands from my shoulders, he spreads the blanket out on the sand.

  “Here, sit,” he says, patting the vacant spot next to him.

  “I found this spot the night after my mishap last summer,” Joey says, resting back on his elbows. “I needed to get away, so I just started walking. I was so taken back by the view that I sat here for hours. I did a lot of thinking that night,” he continues, looking deep into my eyes. “I sat in this very spot almost exactly a year ago, contemplating my future and deciding how to make a fresh start. I needed to become someone that you’d want to be with.”

  Reaching up, he tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I told myself that if I was ever given the chance to be with you, I’d bring you here and show you where I was given my second chance in life.”

  I have no words. Between my heart and stomach, I’m a fluttering mess. All I can do is stare at this beautiful person in front of me and take in the moment and the night. However, the more I stare the more deep my feelings go, and before I know it the tears that have been welling in my eyes are trickling down my face.

  Just as he’s about to say something more, I interrupt him by covering his mouth with mine. Up until today we’ve only exchanged sweet kisses and moved slowly, but right now slow is not an option. My body reacts to Joey in ways I never knew possible, and the thought of wasting one more minute without feeling, touching, and tasting him is enough to make my insides ache. I want Joey more than words can express and I’m done waiting. I need him now more than I have ever needed anything.

  Feeling the urgency behind my kiss, Joey cups my face and pulls me in closer to him until we’re laying on our sides, facing one another. Our mouths and tongues move in sync and not before long I can feel a strong pulse in between my legs, eager for Joey’s touch. Joey gently pushes me onto my back and just when I think he is going to remove the space between us with his body, he leans back, removing his mouth from mine.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he says, running a single finger down my stomach and leaving a warm trail behind it, stopping just below my navel.

  Smiling up at him, I hold his face with my hands and bring his lips back down to mine. Our tongues wrap smoothly and gently around each other’s with such ease. The urgency has been replaced with warmth and emotion; passion covered by bliss.

  Running my hands along his sides, I reach down and pull his shirt up over his head. Instead of returning his lips to mine Joey slides his mouth down my neck, sending a wave of passion down my body with each kiss. I moan with pleasure, loving the way his mouth feels on my skin, so warm and passionate. Skimming my body with his hand he stops on my breast, tweaking my already erect nipple through my dress with his fingers. My back arches, overwhelmed by the sensation. Joey covers my breast with his mouth as he slides his hand down my body, gently grabbing my inner thigh.

  Having his hand only inches from the warm area that craves him the most, my desire to have him inside me speeds into overdrive. Guiding his face back up to mine, I kiss him hard, showing him how fiercely I want him. Joey moans with pleasure as he slides his hand up under my dress and inside my panties. My body offers no resistance as his fingers slide inside me with ease. Letting out a sigh of relief, I rock my hips to the rhythm he has set, moving his fingers in and out of me. Running my hand down his chest, I slip my hand inside his pants, wanting to feel his arousal.

  “No, baby. Just you,” Joey whispers heavily against my lips.

  Putting my needs before his own, finding more pleasure in pleasuring me, sends the overwhelming sensation building inside me over the edge, making my body unravel under his touch and finding my sweet release.

  Kissing me on the forehead, Joey slowly removes his fingers from inside me as I lie there feeling numb and fulfilled. My mind is going in a million different directions, trying to wrap my head around the way Joey makes me feel inside and out; it’s not only amazing, but incredibly frightening, too.

  Only months ago, I was trying to wash any fantasies and emotions that I may feel for Joey out of my mind, and now I’m not only acting on them, but enjoying it. It’s a lot to take in at once, and the fear of the unknown makes me want to run for the hills. But the way my heart flutters at the sight of Joey, the way my breathing accelerates at his touch, and the overwhelming surge of desire I get from his kiss makes me stick around and ride out the wave, looking forward to what lies ahead.

  “You sure you don’t need some help with that?” I ask with a grin, sitting up and kneeling next to him, nodding at the large bulge in his shorts.

  Falling onto his back, Joey throws his hands behind his head with a huge smile on his face, like he has no a clue what I’m talking about. “What can I possibly need help with?” he jokes, even though he looks like he could be hosting a camping trip with the tent he’s sporting.

  With a sexy grin, I slide my hand down his chest. “Oh, I don’t know,” I say, slipping my fingers slowly under his waistband. Joey’s face quickly changes from a sarcastic grin to pure desire. Taking a deep breath, he closes his eyes when my hand finally reaches his shaft. “Oh god,” he moans as my hand moves up and down his length.

  Feeling my nipples harden and my nub start to pulse, I understand why Joey finds so much pleasure by pleasuring me. I push my own dirty thoughts aside and focus on pleasing him, except that with every stroke, I imagine how his length would feel inside of me. So, giving into the temptation, I close my eyes and fantasize about being on top of Joey, moving up and down his hard silky shaft. Feeling the rush of desire building throughout my body, I moan with pleasure as Joey’s mouth runs down my neck.

  What the? I open my eyes.

  Joey is sitting up with his mouth on my neck, cupping my breast with his hand. When did this happen? Deciding that I don’t really care how or when we got this way, I close my eyes and continue where I left off, stroking Joey and visualizing him inside me. In no time, I feel a wave of heat rippling down my body, making me increase my pace on Joey knowing that I will not be able to hold on much longer.

  “Hope…”

  Understanding what he’s feeling, I whisper, “Yeah…” in a heavy breath and with that, we both tense and melt
under each other’s touch, finding our release together.

  Once I’m able to bring myself back to reality, I open my eyes to be greeted by Joey’s big sparkling eyes staring at me full of warmth and admiration. My heart flutters, feeling the warmth they provide transferring from his to mine. Holding my cheek in his hand, Joey gently kisses my lips. “You. Are. Amazing,” he says, our faces only inches apart.

  “You make me feel amazing,” I confess and he smiles in response.

  “You don’t know how happy that makes me.”

  “I have a feeling I do,” I say, knowing that the feeling is mutual.

  “Hope?...Sweetheart?”

  Rolling over, and opening my eyes, I see my dad hovering over my bed.

  “Oh my god! Is everything okay?” I panic, sitting straight up.

  Resting his hand on my shoulder, he answers, “Yes, everything is fine. I was just coming into see if you were okay?”

  Huh? I peer over my shoulder to look at my clock. Holy crap! I overslept!

  “Shit, Joey!” I whisper mostly to myself, jumping out of bed.

  “Joey’s fine,” my dad assures me. “He’s actually in the living room. He got nervous when you didn’t show up this morning and came over in a panic.”

  Feeling awful that I stood him up, I throw on my robe, slip on my slippers, and rush out into the living room. I can only imagine what he was thinking, standing there waiting for me, especially with the eventful night we had.

  “Mornin’ sunshine!” Joey greets me, standing next to my mom in his board shorts and a t-shirt.

  Exhaling the breath I am holding I smile, happy that he’s not mad or angry with me.

  “Mornin’,” I answer, gently pecking his lips, but take a step back, remembering that I have morning breath.

  Glancing up at the clock again, it reads after eight. Today’s Monday, right?

  “Don’t you have to work today?” I ask my dad, seeing that he’s still in his flannel pajama pants, and drinking a cup of coffee.

  “Nope, I took the day off so mom and I can catch up on doctor’s appointments.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  He smiles in response, “Yeah, just check-ups.”

  Joey smiles at me. “Does this mean I get you all to myself today?”

  “I guess it does,” I respond, loving the look of excitement he has on his face.

  “Well, let’s go. Times a wasting!” he jokes.

  “Alright,” I laugh. “Give me ten minutes.”

  “Ten minutes on the clock,” he says, looking at his watch.

  Thankfully I took a shower last night, I needed a little bit of a cool down when I got home, so I grab a pair of shorts and a cami from my dresser and quickly get dressed. After brushing my teeth and throwing my hair up in a ponytail, I meet back up with Joey in the living room.

  “Wow, pretty impressive,” he says, glancing at the time. “Seven minutes.”

  I smile and shrug my shoulders in response. “What can I say? I’m just that good.”

  “Ha! That you are,” Joey says, wrapping his arm my neck, and kissing my forehead. “Let’s go get some breakfast, I’m starved.”

  “Mmm, from the diner?” I ask with big eyes, and a giddy voice. Going out for breakfast is a rare event, even though it’s my favorite meal of the day.

  “Well, how can I say no to that smile?” he laughs. “The diner it is!”

  After saying goodbye to my parents and wishing them luck at their appointments, we head out to Joey’s car. We drive to the diner with the top down, enjoying the beautiful summer morning. Although I’ve been brought up with just the basics and hand-me-downs, which never bothered me in the slightest, sitting in a fancy car with the top down and driving down the Carolina stretch is quite fun.

  Even though it is nine in the morning on a Monday, the diner is surprisingly packed. I assumed everyone would be at work, but I guess during tourist season there really isn’t a down time. After waiting a few minutes, we are escorted to a small table in the back of the restaurant. The diner has been around for years and I’ve been coming here since I was a little girl. When my grandparents were alive, they used to bring me here every Sunday morning to get me out of the house. Pushing my menu aside, I already know what I’m ordering, a number 10–scrambled eggs, bacon, and a toasted bagel with cream cheese.

  “Aren’t you going to look at the menu?” Joey asks with his eyebrows scrunched together.

  “Nope, I already know what I want,” I respond with a huge childlike grin.

  “Come here much?” he jokes.

  “Not in a really long time, but the menu hasn’t changed in twenty years.”

  “Okay then,” he smiles, looking back down to his menu.

  “Hope?” I hear a familiar voice say next to me.

  Looking up at the tall, rigid, good looking man next to me, my heart stops and my breathing goes erratic,

  “Trent. Hi. How are you?” I manage to say through the massive knots forming in my throat.

  “Good…I’m doing good, thanks,” he says, his lips slightly curled in a grin.

  He glances over at Joey then back to me, waiting to be introduced.

  “Oh uh, Trent this is um…” I start but pause, trying to decide how I reference Joey. Is he my boyfriend? Are we just friends with benefits? Is he just my summer fling?

  Joey’s smile fades into disappointment and his eyes fill with pain, seeing my obvious dilemma; with that I clue in to how he perceives me–his girlfriend. Shooting him a smile, I continue.

  “Trent, this is my boyfriend, Joey. Joey, this is Trent,” I say with a forced smile. Although I’m proud to call Joey my boyfriend, this is definitely one of those awkward situations that you just can’t prepare yourself for.

  Shaking hands, Trent nods his head as Joey says, “Nice to meet you.”

  Trent turns back to me. “Well…I better get to work. It was nice seeing you, Hope,” Trent says with a smile, then turns his head to Joey and gives him a skeptical grin, but doesn’t say anything else before walking away.

  “Something tells me that was the ex,” Joey jokes once Trent is out of hearing distance.

  “That obvious?” I ask, scrunching my forehead with a weary look.

  “Well if the death grip he gave me wasn’t my first indication, it was the sweet smile he gave me before he walked away. I’m pretty sure we’re not going to be best buds anytime soon.”

  “Sorry.” Because, honestly, the situation is my fault. Trent didn’t do anything to deserve my loss of feelings for him, and Joey didn’t break us up. It’s not his fault I had feelings for him while having a boyfriend. God, that sounds awful!

  “Eh, I’m used to being the bad guy.” He winks.

  Thankfully, our waitress finally comes over to take our orders, changing the topic. Talking about ex-boyfriends with current boyfriends is not something that’s top on my list of fun conversations.

  “So, boyfriend, huh?” Joey asks with a sexy grin.

  Feeling my internal temperature rising and my cheeks getting flush, my stomach knots up hoping that I read that situation correct–hoping that’s what we are and that’s what he was expecting me to say. I honestly could never do the friends with benefits thing–that’s just too dirty for me and the idea of a summer fling makes my heart ache. However, it could be true. He doesn’t live in North Carolina, he lives in New York.

  This is a summer fling! I suddenly feel like I’m going to be sick.

  “Babe…” He reaches over the table for my hands. “I’m just joking. I got frickin butterflies when you called me your boyfriend. I’m on cloud nine right now.” He laughs at his confession.

  “But, you’re leaving,” I sadly say, trying to swallow away the lump forming in my throat.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “To New York. That’s where you live.”

  “Um, I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart. There’s no way I can go back to that life.”

  “You’re moving here?”
I ask in shock.

  Rubbing his thumbs over my hands, and giving me a smile that melts me to my core, he tries to reassure me. “There’s too many negative influences back home. I don’t want to take the chance of falling back into my old ways. I’ve gotta good thing going here,” he says, his sparkling eyes full of emotion, and admiration.

  “And your parents–they’re okay with this?” I ask.

  “Are ‘ya kidding me? They’re ecstatic. It was their idea.”

  The waitress interrupts our conversation, delivering our food. However, before even taking a glance at my plate I ask in a surprised tone, “This was their idea?”

  “Last summer, after everything went down, I didn’t really leave the house. I went from being a drunk social butterfly, to a hermit. The only time I left the house was to do my community service, and that was it.”

  He had to do community service?

  “At the end of the summer when I finished my hours and went home, it didn’t get much better. My friends wouldn’t stop calling and my old life was right at my fingertips. I stayed sober and I didn’t fall off the bandwagon, but it was hard as hell. My parents saw what I was going through, not to mention you came up in conversation periodically.” He winks before continuing. “So, they brought up the idea of me moving into our beach house; to get away from everything, but still have family down here to be around. I was so depressed at home that I agreed immediately. So, here I am.” He takes a bite of his omelet with a cute smile.

  I can’t help but do cartwheels inside that he’s here and won’t be leaving. We can actually try this out. We can actually be a couple. I’m thrilled that I can finally breathe clearer...and happily.

  “And, I’m so glad you are,” I genuinely confess.

  “Me too.”

  “So, I’ll see you in a few hours then?” Joey asks, putting the car in park.

  “Yup.” I lean over and peck his lips. “Thanks for breakfast.”

  “My pleasure,” he responds as I open my door. “Hey!” Grabbing my hand, he brings me back down into my seat, pulling me in for another kiss. “Do you really need to take this test today? Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” he begs, giving me a pouty look with puppy eyes.