“You’re onetotalk.”
“Whatever, I’m getting in the pool,” she said, getting up and jumping into the water. I was sitting close enough that a few stray drops of water hitmylegs.
I stayed in my chair. Avery was my best friend, and I didn’t usually talk to her like this. But I didn’t feel like talking to anyone right now. My perfect summer was ruined before it evenbegan.
Instead of getting a tan in the sun, I’d be sitting under fluorescent lights. My sandy beaches would be replaced by shelves and shelves of books. Instead of gorgeous cabana boys, I’d be dealing with a bunch ofnerds.
I slammed back in my chair a few more times, a growling noise escaping the back of my throat. I hated that my dad had this much power over me and I hated that I had nochoice.
Avery looked so carefree in the water. Her blond hair was sticking to her neck and shoulders. It must be so nice to enjoy the summer and not have to worry about a summer job or missing our trip. I couldn’tstandit.
“Time to go home,” I said to Avery as soon she resurfaced from her latest underwaterhandstand.
“Veryfunny.”
“Not joking. I think you shouldgohome.”
She didn’t get out immediately, treading water while looking at me. Her head was cocked like she was trying to figure out if I was serious or not. Of course, I was serious. Was she really thatdense?
After a short staring match, she took the hint. “Fine. I’m going to listen to Carter and his band playanyway.”
I watched as she grabbed her towel and stormed inside. Avery didn’t say goodbye, and I didn’t follow her in. She’d been here enough times this was like a second home to her, and she knew whereeverythingwas.
I regretted talking to her the way I did, not that I would admit it. At least not right now. I was too upset. We were as close as sisters. We fought, and then we got over it. If I didn’t hear from her in the next day or two, I would tell her I was sorry. Otherwise, I’d see her the next time she wanted to use the pool or wanted to see some romantic comedy at the movietheater.
I stayed out on the back patio and waited until I heard her cardriveaway.
Once Avery left, I let out a deep breath, leaned back in my chair, and closedmyeyes.
Ihadn’t meantto fall asleep. I don’t think I’d ever done it before. I looked down at my legs. They were bright red. Crap. How long had I been out here? I grabbed my phone off the small table and looked at the screen. 3:27, which meant I’d been laying out in the sun for… I honestly didn’t know. I wasn’t paying attention to the time when Avery left. It could have been five minutes, or it could have been five hours. Although, if the color of my legs were any indication, it was more likely the latter. A glance at my arms confirmed they were as red as my legs. I guessed my face probably looked like a ripetomato.
Justgreat.
I went inside and took a shower which alternated between too hot and too cold. Neither temperature felt good on my skin. I was thoroughly burnt to a crisp. Avery would have a field day after what happened earlier. She’d argue it waspayback.
I pulled out the aloe from the cabinet in my bathroom and started applying it to my entire body. It was the first time in my life I wished I owned a frumpy one-piece that covered entirely too much skin. But because I tended to sport string bikinis, everything hurt. Thankfully the gel dulled some of the sting. I started to head back downstairs for some pain reliever when I heard the telltale beep from our alarm system signaling someone opening thefrontdoor.
My dadwashome.
I raced down the last couple steps to tell him exactly what I thought of his bookstore and where he could shove my summer job. This whole thing was his fault. If I were still going to Cancun, I wouldn’t have fought with Avery. If I didn’t fight would Avery, I wouldn’t have fallen asleep. And if I hadn’t fallen asleep, my entire body wouldn’t feel like I spent some time in afirepit.
I watched as he set his briefcase down, and grabbed a drink from the refrigerator. There was no doubt I was his daughter. He and I both were both just under six feet tall, and both had dark hair, although he had slight grey patches near both of his temples. We also shared our deep, olive skin. When I wasn’t the shade of fruit punch atleast.
When my dad spotted me, he started laughing. “Oh, Princess, whathappened?”
I kept my features blank and raised a single brow. I wasn’t amused. My dad shouldn’t be amused. “What do youthink?”
“I think it’s a good thing you’re not going to Mexico. If you can’t handle the sun in River Valley, there’s no way you could survive downthere.”
“It’s not like I’ve never been. I’ve done it a milliontimes.”
“Four hardly counts as amillion.”
“Ugh, you know what I mean. It’s not fair I have to stay here whileAverygoes.”
“A little responsibility won’t kill you, Michelle. You’ve had everything handed to you your entire life. I’m learning that might not have been the best thing. Just look at yourmother.”
“I don’t want to talk about her right now. Besides, the beach doesn’t have anything to dowithher.”
