Briar watched them from the beach, enjoying the quiet.
Without any distractions, her thoughts inevitably turned to Alice. That sweltering poker game had frayed the last of her nerves, and she hadn’t been able to resist anymore. It was just like high school again, the same desire coursing through her every time she looked at Alice. Only now it was worse. Because now, Briar knew what Alice looked like sprawled out beneath her, knew what her lips felt like on Briar’s skin, knew the sounds Alice made when she came.
It had been driving Briar insane. Every touch, every glance, every second alone together seemed to be pulling her closer. And so, she’d kissed her. Damn the consequences, damn however much it was going to hurt when Alice left. It was the chance to have everything her teenage self had ever wanted, and Briar had taken it.
And then the night before had happened, and now it was impossible to ignore that Briar was once again giving too much of herself. It was supposed to be just sex, not late-night conversations where Briar soothed Alice’s fears of the future, or held her while she cried. It wasn’t supposed to be falling asleep in each other’s arms. Briar needed to be better about putting a wall between her feelings for Alice and her attraction.
‘Earth to Briar.’
Her head snapped up to see Harper.
‘Oh, hey.’
‘You good?’
‘Fine,’ Briar said, making room on her towel. ‘So, what’s the diagnosis?’
Harper put her bag down and sat. ‘Crabs.’
‘No,’ Briar said, scandalized. ‘How did that happen?’
‘Apparently, David went to a white party over the Fourth and brought back souvenirs.’
Briar grimaced. ‘So him and Josh…’
‘Are sleeping together? Yup,’ Harper said. ‘Josh ispissed. And I got to hear all about it while examining their junk, so yay me.’
‘I guess it’s a good thing I stocked up on that lice shampoo.’
Harper shuddered. ‘Anyway, they’re having it out, so I figured I’d come ogle my half-naked fiancé. How’s he?’
‘Spectacular, as always,’ Briar said, resting her arms on her knees and digging her toes into the muddy sand. They sat in silence, watching as Noah played a version of sharks and minnows that pitted him against twenty children.
Harper’s presence was always calming. The ease Briar felt now put the uneasiness she felt with Alice in stark relief. Being with Alice was constantly being on edge, the air between them charged. It was like waiting for the floor to fall out from under her.
She wished she could be honest with Harper.
‘I’m glad you’re here,’ Briar said instead. ‘Thanks for coming back. And letting Noah be here. I know—’
Harper raised a hand to stop her. ‘Don’t do that. We love you, and we want to help. I’m just sorry I can’t be here all the time with my work schedule.’
Briar chewed her lower lip, glancing sideways at Harper and taking in her exhausted expression and the book poking out of her bag:Adult Children of Immature Parents. Briar raised her eyebrows. She knew she had missed things over the past few months, but now it felt like the source of the tension between Harper and Noah was obvious. When it came down to it, the problems between them were always related to Harper’s parents.
Harper noticed her expression and shoved the book deeper into her bag. ‘It’s for work,’ she muttered.
Briar clicked her tongue. ‘Sure.’
Harper softened. ‘I’m just stressed with wedding planning.’
‘Is that all?’ she asked. ‘Noah said you were being weird. And he’s right.’
Harper blew out a sigh. It had taken Briar years to learn how to get Harper to talk to her, but now it was one of her best skills.
‘My parents…’ Harper started, rolling her eyes at Briar’s obvious glance at the book in her bag.
‘…hate Noah,’ Briar supplied.
‘They don’thateNoah. They hate that he’s a music teacher.’
