“Don’t use your powers for evil,” Beth teased, climbing out of the car.
“I can’t help it if your weakness for sugar is to my advantage.”
She smirked. “You’re evil.”
“I prefer evil genius,” Parker replied opening the door for Beth.
She immediately felt transported back to her childhood upon entering the sweet shop. It was filled with jars of penny candy and cases of sugary delights like ice cream, gelato and delicious handmade chocolates. The nostalgia only continued when, Mrs. Smith, the shop owner walked out from behind the counter, eyes shining with recognition.
“I’ll be. Parker and Bethy! I haven’t seen you two in years,” Mrs. Smith crowed. “Let me look at ya.”
Beth and Parker smiled at the steely old woman as she pinched their cheeks and gave them each a hug. “Let me guess, pistachio gelato for Parker and a chocolate dipped vanilla for Beth?”
“You got it,” Parker answered, anticipating that was exactly what Beth would order.
“You two haven’t changed a bit,” Mrs. Smith said.
Beth smiled even though in her heart she had a sudden fear that wasn’t true at all. Ever since she woke up in Parker’s arms things felt different. The trouble was, Beth didn’t know if it was a good different or not. What was she supposed to do with these feelings? And why was she having them now, when she had a boyfriend?
As Mrs. Smith prepared their treats, Beth gave herself a peptalk. Just shove it down, Beth. You’ve done it before. She suspected her feelings for Parker were resurfacing now because they were back in Tybee Island. Beaches always made Beth feel wistful and romantic. Plus, Beth’s adolescent summers here were when her crush on Parker was at its height. She told herself it was only natural that her feelings would return in such a setting. Not to mention that though Beth wasn’t excited about the drama that came with Brenna’s wedding, it was still a wedding. And weddings were dreamy.
Beth berated herself. Why do I have to be such a sappy romantic? She knew it was the damn actress in her. She always kept her emotions close to the surface. Handy for acting—not so much for scenarios of unrequited love.
“Here we are,” Mrs. Smith said handing over Beth’s cone and Parker’s cup of gelato.
Parker picked out two chocolate turtles, saltwater taffy and a pack of candy cigarettes, slapping a crisp hundred-dollar bill on the counter.
“You know your money’s no good here,” Mrs. Smith argued.
This happened every time they tried to pay at Seaside Sweets. Luckily, Parker and Beth had devised a plan for it long ago.
“Mrs. Smith,” Beth interrupted before the old woman could go on a rant about not accepting money from the Bennetts because back in the day Beth’s great, great so-and-so had helped make the sleepy beach town what it is. “Did you do something different with your hair?” Beth asked even though Mrs. Smith’s hair was in the same steel gray bob it always was.
“My hair? No.”
“Huh. Well it looks extra pretty today,” Beth complimented.
Mrs. Smith smiled. “You hang onto this one, Parker. They don’t come any sweeter.”
“Don’t I know it,” Parker replied.
They said their goodbyes and walked out of the shop. Beth took Parker’s cup of gelato while he quickly drove down 16th Street to find beach parking.
“Where’d you leave the money this time?” Beth asked.
Parker could barely contain his grin. “Tip cup.”
“Oh, that’s not even clever.”
“It’s sneaky clever.”
“How?”
“It’s like hiding something in plain sight.”
“Mrs. Smith will totally know it was us.”
“We’ll be long gone by then, kid,” Parker said in an old-timey actor voice Beth loved.
“Have you been watching ‘Casablanca’ without me?” she asked suppressing a giggle.
“Never.”
And just like that, things were back to normal between them.
Parker
Parker and Beth enjoyed their sweets on the pier overlooking the ocean. The waves were calm and soothing, and the air was full of the unmistakable flavor of summer. That and the scent of Beth’s shampoo. Every time the wind caught her hair a waft of citrus and coconut washed over Parker and he was instantly back in bed with her, limbs entwined, fingers in her silky hair. What would’ve happened if Brenna hadn’t barged in?
He pushed the thought away. That’s not why he’d come on this trip. He was here to be a good friend. And make sure Beth’s last spring break was fun, even if it involved torturing himself. “So, shall we start our indentured servitude?” Parker asked.
“Do we have to?” Beth whined.
“We could share a smoke first,” he offered, pulling the pack of candy cigarettes out of his pocket.
Beth immediately smiled. “These bring back memories.”
Parker put the cigarette in his mouth and puffed imaginary smoke like it was a bad habit.
“Remember when Nana saw us smoking them on the beach and thought they were real?”
“How could I forget? She went crazy!” Parker laughed at the memory. “She was fast for an old lady.”
Beth had tears in her eyes from laughter. “And strong,” she admitted. “She smacked you good before I could convince her they were only candy.”
Parker’s hand went to his cheek. “I think I can still feel it,” he teased.
Beth’s face fell as she took a bite of her cigarette. “I miss her,” she whispered.
“Me too,” Parker replied, putting his arm around Beth’s shoulder.
She leaned her head against him and sighed. “It’s weird being here without her.”
“You’re not without her.”
Beth smiled up at him, eyes watery. “It does kinda feel like she’s still here, doesn’t it? Like her memories are, anyway.”
Parker nodded. “It does.”
“I just wish it didn’t hurt so much to remember her.”
“I know,” Parker murmured. “But you’re lucky to have so many great memories of her. You should hold onto them as long as you can.”
“Park . . . I’m sorry . . . I wish you had more memories with your mom.”
Parker smiled and kissed Beth’s head. “Me too,” he whispered. “But don’t worry about me. I’m a pretty lucky guy.”
She looked up at him in disbelief. “How?”
“You and your family have filled my life with some great memories, Beth.”
She smiled at him. “Yeah, I guess we’re both pretty lucky when you think of it like that.”
They sat in silence staring out at the ocean while their candy cigarettes melted away into nothing. After a while, Parker pulled Beth to her feet. “Come on. The faster we get it over with the more time we have for fun.”
Beth groaned. “This is gonna take us all day.”
“Actually, I have a plan.”
She arched an eyebrow. “I’m listening.”
Beth
They stood on the beach with a shovel, the box of glass bottles and a handful of trash bags. Beth held the trash bags and frowned at Parker as he spouted off numbers.
“So since we know how much sand one bottle holds we can figure out exactly how much we need and fill the trash bags with it.”
“Okay mathlete, I get it, you’re a genius. But that seems like a lot of extra work.”
“Not really,” he said heaving the shovel into the sand. “By my calculations we only need thirty-three gallons of sand to fill all the bottles. Fill up three of these trash bags and we’re golden.”
“But why are we putting sand in a trash bag when we only need to put sand it the bottles?”
“Because if we put the sand in the bags, we can bring them back to Bellemora and work on filling the bottles there, in the air-conditioning and maybe even with some of your mom’s famous sweet tea and pecan cookies. And I bet your sisters will even help us.”
“I take it back, you a
re an evil genius.”
He winked. “Told ya.”
In a matter of minutes Parker had the three trash bags filled and back in his car. Beth was grinning. Take that Brenna! Maybe if her sister had spent more time studying math instead of boys, she would’ve known she hadn’t given Beth and Parker an awful task after all. Although, if it weren’t for Parker, Beth would be walking five hundred bottles of sand back and forth between the beach and the parking lot. Of course she’d never let Brenna know that.
“So what now?” Beth asked when Parker put the last of their supplies back in the car.
“How ‘bout a walk on the beach?”
“Perfect,” Beth replied linking her arm with Parker’s.
They walked together in comfortable silence. The beach was mostly empty at this time of year. Only a few local surfers braved the chilly water. Every so often they passed a jogger or someone walking their dog, but for the most part, the beach was theirs. Beth smiled. She loved moments like these. When it was just her and Parker. P and B together again. The world always felt like a better place when Parker was by her side.
Beth turned to him. “Thank you for coming here with me.”
“You’re welcome, but you don’t have to thank me.”
“I know. But I’m really glad you’re here. I couldn’t do this without you.”
Parker slung an arm around her shoulder. “Well, luckily you don’t have to.”
She smiled up at him. The sun was already beginning to bronze his skin and his cheeks were flushed in the hollows. Beth had always been envious of that trait. Her cheeks only flushed when she was embarrassed, but Parker’s retained a healthy glow whenever he was outdoors or exercising. She particularly loved the way he looked when he came back from a run—glistening with sweat, cheeks aglow, chest heaving.
Beth felt her own cheeks warm with color as her mind carried her away with images of a stripped down Parker jogging in slow motion on the beach. Get a grip, Beth! This isn’t ‘Baywatch’.
Parker whistled through his teeth drawing Beth’s attention.
“What?”
“Did you just see that guy wipe out?” he asked pointing to the waves. “Surfers have a death wish.”
“You’ve surfed,” Beth countered.
“In the summer. That water’s gotta be freezing still.”
“Oh come on, we’re from Boston. This water has nothing on ours.”
“I don’t see you getting in,” Parker challenged. “Plus, look at the sky.”
In the distance, dark rain clouds hung ominously low.
Beth shrugged. “I could get in if I wanted to.”
Parker barked a laugh. “Right.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“I mean . . .” he trailed off, but the grin on his face said it all. He didn’t think she’d do it.
Beth didn’t know why, but she had a sudden urge to prove him wrong. Because he was right, she was always the safe one. She never did wild or crazy things like her sisters or Caroline. But she could, and just to prove it to herself, she pulled off her cover up and tossed it at Parker. “Hold this.”
“Beth, I’m not challenging you to get in the water.”
“Maybe I’m doing it because I want to.”
Parker
Parker watched Beth saunter towards the water. He was mesmerized by her beauty. Her pale skin glowed in the sunlight, almost as bright as the glittering surface of the ocean. Her hips swayed back and forth as she marched on with determination. But then her feet met the surf and she froze. Parker’s lips quirked into a smile. She wasn’t gonna do it.
He didn’t blame her. The water was probably freezing. All the surfers were in full wetsuits. But as if she’d heard his thoughts, Beth turned to look over her shoulder at Parker. She pulled her hair out of her ponytail in one swift move and then ran into the waves shrieking wildly. She looked so free and joyful that he shrugged off his shirt and raced in after her.
24
Beth
They only lasted in the water for probably two minutes but it had been worth it. Beth was always of the belief that screaming and laughing were good for one’s soul, and she didn’t do it nearly enough. She was still giggling when Parker dragged her out of the water.
“Okay, the next time I have a ridiculous idea please talk me out of it,” Beth begged pulling her wet hair back into a ponytail.
“No way, that was awesome. I’m gonna sign you up for the polar bear plunge.”
“Um, no thanks. One freezing swim was enough.”
Parker laughed. “Still, I’m impressed. I didn’t know you had it in ya.”
Beth smirked at him. “It’s good to know I can still surprise you.”
Parker’s blue eyes twinkled as he shook his head. “Only a fool would ever dare to think they had you all figured out.”
Beth’s heart skipped a beat and she felt herself warm despite the goose bumps dotting her skin. She loved when Parker said things like that. Sometimes he reminded her of an old Hollywood movie star. He certainly had the good looks for it. He could’ve been a young Gene Kelly or Carey Grant. Beth had never met someone who spoke like Parker did—not in real life anyway. It made her want to hold onto him even harder.
She stiffened as Parker unceremoniously stuffed his t-shirt over Beth’s head and let it fall over her slim frame. He didn’t even give her a chance to put her arms through the sleeves before he pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. Being so close to him made her heart pound, but she tried to play it off. “You’re choking me,” she teased, her face mashed against his chest.
“Judging by the size of your goose bumps, I think you should choose choking over freezing to death,” he joked. But then he released her and gave her ponytail a tug. “Better?” he asked, rubbing warmth back into her arms.
“Yes, but what about you?”
“I’ll survive,” he said. “Let’s walk awhile. We’ll dry off faster that way.”
“Or we could go buy towels and sweatshirts that say Tybee Island at the touristy beach shops.”
Parker narrowed his eyes. “What happened to the adventurous girl that just dove into the ocean?”
“She’s freezing!”
He laughed and put his arm around Beth’s shoulder bleeding warmth into her. She closed her eyes and leaned in, sighing in delight at being so close to Parker. Suddenly, Beth found herself wondering if it felt that good when Jared put his arm around her. It worried her slightly that she couldn’t recall.
They walked back down the beach in the opposite direction of the car and Beth decided she didn’t mind at all—not if she was cold or late getting Brenna’s stupid wedding favors finished. She wanted to savor this moment on the beach with Parker. Tybee Island had always been theirs. It only felt right that they would get to have one more perfect day together there.
Parker was right. Between the sun and the ocean breeze, they dried off quickly on their walk. After a while they decided to sit down in the sand and soak up some sun. Beth lounged, resting on her elbows and tilting her head back for maximum exposure. It felt deliciously indulgent to relax under the hazy blue sky. The warmth of the sun made Beth’s bones feel drowsy. She could’ve easily laid down and taken a nap right there. But too soon a shadow disrupted Beth’s bliss.
She opened her eyes, startled to see an old woman grinning down at her and Parker.
“Hello,” the woman greeted with a warm smile.
Always the gentleman, Parker stood, brushing the sand off his palms to shake the woman’s hand. “Hello, ma’am.”
Beth climbed to her feet too.
“Oh don’t let me disturb you,” the woman said. “I just can never resist saying hello to honeymooners.”
Beth blanched. “Oh we’re—”
“Pleased to meet you,” Parker interrupted.
The woman grinned. “My late husband and I honeymooned here, ya know?”
“Really?” Parker asked.
“Oh yes. We loved it so much we moved here,” she
said with a wistful look in her pale eyes. “Spent fifty great years together on this island before he passed.”
Parker took the woman’s hand in his. “I bet you have lovely memories here.”
She smiled wide. “I certainly do.” Patting Parker’s hand she said, “Well, I won’t take up anymore of your time. I just wanted to say you make a beautiful couple and wish you many blessings.” She leaned in and whispered to Parker, “I can always spot the ones who are truly in love.” With that she gave them a wink and strolled off down the beach.
Beth plunked back down in the sand, her heart pounding with overwhelming emotion. Parker settled beside her and she slipped her hand into his. “That was really sweet of you, but you didn’t have to pretend to be my husband.”
Parker shrugged. “I’m here as your date, aren’t I?”
“Date, not husband,” Beth corrected.
“Semantics.”
Beth laughed. “Well, for what it’s worth, I like this husband-date version of you.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. He’s nice and caring. Everything my real boyfriend is supposed to be.”
Parker frowned. “How are things with Jared?”
“I don’t know. I mean I thought I’d miss him like crazy because I was looking forward to Aspen for so long. But I don’t. I’m here with you and . . .” She paused, unsure if she should say what she really felt.
“And what?”
“And everything feels like it’s supposed to,” she whispered. “Is that weird?
Parker faced her, his blue eyes boring into hers. “I don’t think so.”
The way he was looking at her made her nervous. She fidgeted, raking her fingers through the sand. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m the problem. I don’t think this is how I should feel. He’s been acting so strange lately and, I don’t know, we should miss each other, shouldn’t we?”
Parker continued to stare at her and it made her chest ache.
Beth looked down at the sand, chewing her lip. “He hasn’t even called me once,” she said in a small voice.
Parker took her hands in his. “Beth, you’re not the problem.”
The Stand-In Boyfriend: A YA Contemporary Romance Novel (The Boyfriend Series Book 5) Page 13
