Page 77 of The Summer Plans

I can’t help but smile. “We’re dating?”

She picks at the button on my shirt. “I mean, yeah. Aren’t we?”

“We are,” I assure her with a kiss. “She won’t be mad. She’s the one that dared us to kiss back then. Part of her had to be okay with the possibility of us ending up together.”

The way she bites her lip in response tells me she’s hiding something. “A few months ago, she told me that she dared us to kiss because she knew I had a crush on you, and she thought kissing you would help me get it out of my system.”

“That sounds like her.”

“She said she figured I’d realize you were an idiot, and I’d get over my stupid crush.”

I throw my head back in laughter, then look at her. “Did it?”

“Not even close. But you think she’ll be okay with this? With us?”

“I don’t think it’s any of her business.”

“It kinda is,” she insists. “We’re both a big part of her life, and now that we’re together it’s going to change things for her. And you know she’s not a big fan of change. And if this doesn’t work out⁠—”

“Gonna stop you right there, darlin’. I’m not going anywhere, so you can get that thought out of your head. I told you, I’m not making the same mistake my teenage self made. You are it for me, Summer. I’ll get on one knee right now if you want me to.” I start to lower to one knee and her lower lip trembles, right as a giant wave slams into me, soaking us both. I feel like Ariel when the water crashes into her, except a whole lot less graceful.

She laughs, tugging me to my feet. “Don’t be ridiculous, RJ. We’ve only been seeing each other for the past week.”

“Technically two weeks.”

“That first week doesn’t count. The kids were here, and we were pushing each other away.”

“You were pushing. I was chasing. And I’ve spent a lifetime wanting you. We’ve grown and changed since we were kids, but we’re still the same people at our core. You know me, you know my heart, and I’m telling you, you’re it for me. It took me years to figure out all the things I wanted out of life, but I’ve known I wanted you since middle school.”

“I’ve waited my whole life to hear you say that.”

“Then what’s stopping you?”

“I want to talk to Raven first. I just need to know that she’s okay with this.”

“She will be. And then I’m going to make you my wife.” I pull her against me and kiss her. The waves crash at our feet, the sand shifting beneath us, but I’ve never felt steadier than when she’s in my arms.

“You can’t just say things like that.” She breaks the kiss, burying her head in my chest.

I grip her chin, forcing her eyes to mine. “I mean it. Every word. If you need me to make you that promise now, or ask you that question, I’ll do it. I already asked you to move in with me.”

She smiles as she melts into my arms, exhaling against my chest.

We stand there far longer than we should, clinging to each other. “I’m getting hungry. We should head back.”

When I lean down to kiss her, she’s wriggling out of my arms. “First one back to the house has to make dinner.” She runs toward the house, splashing in the waves that crash at her feet. Since I’m the runner, I give her a head start and smile as her laughter echoes on the breeze. When she looks over her shoulder at me, I take off in a jog, slowly closing the distance between us.

Then her face contorts in pain and she stumbles forward, screaming in agony as she falls onto her hands and knees. I sprint over to her and kneel beside her. “Summer! What happened? Are you okay?”

She’s clutching her left foot, and it’s red, the area already swelling.

“It feels like… I got electrocuted… and stabbed… at the same time.” She struggles to get the words out as I search around her for what she could have stepped on. That’s when I see the tan-colored fish buried in the sand behind her.

Logan’s words from our fishing trip float around in my head. He mentioned a fish that was poisonous and camouflaged itself in the sand near the shore. What was it called? A star-something?

“Stargazer!” I shout over the crashing waves. Summer’s head has dropped to her chest, her eyes squeezed shut in pain. “We need to soak your foot in hot water.”

I bend down and lift her, jogging back to the house as quickly as I can. Once we’re inside, I set her on the bathroom counter and fill the tub. Holding up her foot, I don’t see any stingers or spines, so I rinse the area with hot soapy water. She winces when she dips her toes into the tub, but slowly eases her foot in.