“We did, thanks, K,” says Wes, hugging his friend. “Ben not here?”
“Nah, he’s coming tonight. Hey, Ivy.” I hug Kaden next, a broad smile on my face. I’m thrilled to get a redo of my beach weekend with Wes. Spring break was a nightmare, but this time, Wes assured me there would be no unexpected visitors or surprises from the past.
This time, I can actuallybreathe.
Kaden ushers us inside to give us a tour of the house, and while it’s half the size of the mansion in Cape Haven, it’s still beautiful, updated with all new appliances, fixtures, and flooring. He guides us to our room on the second floor, and Wes sets our bags by the bed.
“Thanks for inviting us, man,” says Wes. “This place is really great.”
Kaden nods. “I’m glad you could come. There’s a bonfire on the beach later, if you guys are up for it. Just some local people.”
Wes glances to me for confirmation, and when I nod, he beams at Kaden. “Count us in.”
Hungry from the drive, we pick up sandwiches and eat them on the deck overlooking the street below. It’s crowded, but not with cars. Vacationers walk and bike, run and skate. There’s a constant flow of foot traffic, which makes for incredible people watching.
When we’ve finished the meal, the three of us play a game of cards until the sun begins to set, and then we follow Kaden up the street and onto the beach. The moment my toes sink into the sand, I smile and look at Wes. He’s grinning ear to ear, and he takes my hand in his as we trek in the direction of the bonfire.
Sitting on a bench around the dancing flames with a beer in my hand and my boyfriend by my side, I feel…happy. I don’t think about school starting in a few weeks, or how disappointed I’ll be if Wes can’t get the job. I push away all the worries and focus on the now. On the moment. On simply being with Wes.
At some point, Ben arrives on the beach, and the three friends chat about their post-grad plans. Content and slightly buzzed, I zone out, watching the light from the bonfire flicker across Wes’s handsome face. His dark curls blow over his forehead in the evening ocean breeze, and I smile softly as he wraps a strong arm around my shoulders, absently kissing the top of my head.
“I love you, man,” Kaden’s saying, as I tune back into the conversation, “but you gotta stop with the Jägerbombs. The day after the grad party, you were dead to the world.”
“Actually, I was doing Fireball shots that night,” says Ben, and Wes and I wince. “And yes. I know it was a big mistake. A huge mistake, actually.”
Wes snickers and holds up the bottle in his hand. “Maybe stick to beer from now on.”
“Yeah, no more shots,” I say.
Ben grins at us. “Okay, Mom and Dad. No more shots, I promise.”
“I’m holding you to that,” says Wes.
"Whatever happened that night, by the way?” Ben asks. He glances at Kaden. “We never got around to asking.”
Wes takes a sip of his beer. “What do you mean?”
“You know. With Ace.”
My muscles tighten, and beside me, Wes’s entire body tenses up. He tucks me closer into his side in a protective gesture, before giving his friends a hard look. “He crossed a line.”
Kaden’s brows shoot up at the dark note in Wes’s tone. “Any chance you guys will fix things?”
Wes’s jaw flexes, and he shakes his head. When he speaks, it’s in that scary, no-nonsense voice that I have a hard time associating with my sunny, easygoing boyfriend. “Not a fucking chance in hell.”
“But what happ—” Ben begins to ask, but he abruptly stops speaking when Kaden elbows him in the gut. “Ouch, K. Jeez.”
“Will you ever learn to read the room?” Kaden asks, shaking his head. Ben only shrugs.
Kaden quickly changes the subject after that, steering Ben onto a safer topic, and Wes dips his head close to my ear. His warm breath tickles my cheek as he murmurs, “You okay?”
I take a deep breath, glancing up to meet his eyes. “I’m good,” I tell him, surprised to find that it’s actually true.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think he’d bring up…you know.”
“It’s fine, Wes,” I assure, and tilt my head up to press a kiss against his cheek. “I’ve already forgotten about it. Really.”
He nods, his eyes scanning over my face. Satisfied with what he sees, he leans down and kisses my mouth. “Okay. Just making sure.”
