“I can’t believe the shit we used to do as such young kids. The freedom we had,” Mila sighs. “That’s why someday I want to raise my family right here in Dogwood Cove. I want them to have the freedom and fun we did.”
“And where, exactly, is this family coming from? Last time I checked you were flying solo. Anyone I need to beat up?” Brotherly teasing and affection come out in Ethan’s words, and Mila reaches in front to smack him lightly in response.
“A girl can dream, okay? Besides, I’m not the only one in this truck with no love life.” I see her stick her tongue out at him in the rearview mirror and based on the smirk Ethan gives in return, he saw it, too. Mila turns to me, and I know what’s coming next before she even opens her mouth. “What about you, Summer? Anyone special in Calgary?”
I swear I see Ethan’s gaze flash to mine, wide with curiosity before he returns to watching the road. And I know I see his hands tighten on the steering wheel, both of them holding on rigidly now. Interesting.
“No, no one special,” I say softly, trying to watch him out of the corner of my eye. He relaxes; it’s subtle, but I see it.
“Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Dogwood Cove has a serious lack of hot, single men,” Mila says dramatically.
“Hey, what am I, if not a hot, single man?”
My heart skips a beat at Ethan’s words, laced with innuendo. But Mila is oblivious to it.
“Eww. Ethan, stop. You’re family. You don’t count.”
I risk one more look over at him, and this time I catch him glancing back at me. It’s the tiny upward turn of his lips in the barest hint of a smile that makes my heart speed up, however.
When we get to the public beach, over on the other side of town from where Oceanside is located, there’s quite a few vehicles in the parking lot. Ethan reaches into the bed of his truck and hands Mila a blanket, then she’s gone, skipping down to the beach, leaving the two of us alone.
“Mills is so happy you’re back.”
He says it so quietly, I almost don’t hear him.
“You still call her Mills? I thought she hated that.” I smile.
He chuckles, and the sound washes over me like warm, melted chocolate. “Why do you think I do it?”
I laugh as well, so content in this moment with him that I almost forget everyone who’s waiting for us. Before I can second-guess myself, I blurt out “Are you happy I’m back?”
His eyes darken, and the way he is staring at me so intently, it could light a fire with its heat. “Of course I am.” His hand lifts up as if he’s going to touch me, and I hold my breath in anticipation, but then he lets it drop back down to his side.
My breath escapes in a loud whoosh, and I turn away from him to try and control my reaction. Holy crap on a cracker, he’s potent.
“You want to take the drinks cooler, or the bag with towels and stuff?”
When I look back, his eyes are normal again, as if he hadn’t been stripping me bare with his gaze seconds earlier.
“Bag, please,” I manage to croak out, before taking the bag and following Mila’s path at a near jog. Space. I need space. Because, wow.
When I reach Mila, she already has one blanket spread out, lining up with several others. Serena, Paige, and Reid are all spread out, chatting with each other. I put down my load, suddenly feeling awkward. Everyone has been friends for so long, and even though they have been nothing but welcoming, it’s hard not to feel like an outsider.
“Hey, Summer!” Reid calls out when he sees me, giving me a wide smile. I wonder if Mila or any of the girls have ever dated him. When she said there were no hot guys in Dogwood Cove, she didn’t mention him.
“Hey, guys,” comes a low rumble of a voice before I can respond to Reid. I can feel the heat of Ethan’s body standing close behind me. He must have walked up without me even realizing it. I wave awkwardly, and everyone goes back to their conversation as I sit down on the blanket beside Mila, resolutely not meeting Ethan’s gaze. I don’t know how to feel about the pull I can sense between us now. The easy friendship is there, the same as when we were younger. But now it’s layered with something else, something far more powerful. And I’m not sure I’m ready to figure out what that is.
I haven’t had a day like this in forever. Mila convinces me to go kayaking with her, and we spend an hour on the water, watching for seals. I missed the ocean living in Alberta, and it is so invigorating to be by the water again. When we pull the boats up to the beach, Ethan comes to help, and when our hands brush, I swear I feel a spark of something undefinable in that casual touch.
Reid brought a portable grill, so while he cooks burgers, the rest of us play volleyball for a while. Then, after lunch, the girls and I go for a walk along the beach while Ethan and Reid take the kayaks out.
“One of the dance moms asked me yesterday if I would teach adult classes,” Serena says as we walk slowly down the beach. “She specifically wanted to know if I could teachpole dancingclasses.” She shudders delicately. “I’m a freaking ballerina, not a stripper!”
“Pole dancing is meant to be a killer workout. I’d sign up,” Mila says, stooping to pick up a shell.
“And strippers work incredibly hard. I’m not knocking them; I’m only saying that’s a little out of my comfort zone.” Serena replies, shrugging her shoulders. “But I have been thinking of offering some adult classes. Just not sure what. The idea of having to teach the dance moms isn’t high on my list of things I want to do.”
“I could probably come up with some yoga classes that would make them happy, if you’re interested in that,” I offer.
