Everlasting (5 page)

T
he next morning
I woke up early, unable to sleep, expecting to hear from Tate. I straightened my hair and put on makeup, ready to hit the beach.

I hurried downstairs to see if Mandy, the early riser, had made breakfast.

I gasped, and my hand flew to my mouth—the entire kitchen had been ransacked by an intruder. My insides bubbled. Careful not to cut my feet on the broken dishes, I tiptoed closer to the overturned table. Water gushed from the kitchen-sink faucet and leaked down to the hardwood floor, seeping into the cracks and crevices.

Where were Matt and Mandy? Someone must have broken in during the night, but I hadn’t heard a thing. I rushed over to shut off the water, my eyes wild—afraid to look around but searching anyway—hoping there wasn’t someone still in the house.

My joints and muscles stiffened. “Mandy, are you here?”

No answer.

I searched the rest of the house, but found no one. My phone rang, and I stiffened even more. The front of my phone stayed dark, no name lighting the front. An eerie chill ran through me. “Hello? Oh, Mandy, I can’t believe it’s you. We’ve been robbed.” My voice creaked like an old wooden screen door.

Her voice slid through the phone, distant, shaky. “No, no…it wasn’t that. Matt and I had a fight. It was bad…but I’m okay. Matt took off…and I’m…I’m trying to find him.”

“Are you hurt? Do you need me to help search for him?”

“No. I’ll be fine. He didn’t hurt me, just has a temper sometimes. This isn’t the first time it’s happened. I’ll catch you later at the beach.”

“Are you sure? Maybe we should call the police on him.”

“No, just stay out of it. We’re fine.” Her tone twisted, turning black, vile.

She didn’t want me getting involved, so I didn’t say anything more. “Alright, I’ll clean up.”

“Thanks.” The tension released, she calmed. “Sorry I’ve been snapping at you lately. There’s just a lot of things going on in my life right now that I can’t talk about. But just having you here with me helps. Just bear with me…please.”

“I will. That’s what friends are for.”

After I cleaned up the kitchen, I walked toward the beach alone. I bit my lip, hoping Matt and Mandy could get things worked out. It was hard to see him treating her this way, and I hoped she would dump him if he did something like this again. She didn’t need to spend her life with an abuser. There were a ton of good guys out there that would be itching to date her, if she’d only let them.

I searched for our favorite spot, and my heart picked up speed, anxious to see Tate again. To calm myself, I took long, deep breaths. But it was impossible; my heart still hammered against my chest with a twittered passion.

I found a lounge chair and fluffed my towel, ready to loll in the sun. With my SPF fifty clutched in my hand, I was ready for action. My skin was turning into a deep tan, so maybe I wouldn’t need to use as much today. I shook the bottle and squirted some onto my hand, spreading it over my chest and shoulders. The speakers on the beach blared out one of my favorite songs.

A team of guys and team of girls slammed a beach ball back and forth in the water, their laughter mixing with the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.

I picked up my phone to see if I’d missed a text from Tate. Nothing yet. Thirty seconds later, I checked again. Still nothing. For a good long minute I sat there. It lit up. A jolt scorched through me. This was it. It was him. Had to be. My hands shook. I reached for it. It was Mandy. My stomach sank just a little.

Hi, Soph, just wanted to let you know that I found Matt and we’re getting things patched up. I’ll meet up with you later, and maybe we can go get something to eat this evening.

I
typed back.
Glad to hear. Was worried about you. Just text when you get back, and I’ll let you know where I’m at.

The people still batted the ball back and forth as I rested my head against the chair, stealing a few glances toward the Ice Cream Shack now and then. I hadn’t seen Tate yet today, and it was almost two in the afternoon.

I lay back and closed my eyes to relax. No more than ten seconds had passed when a light tap on my shoulder startled me. I froze. Here he was. Tate. It had to be. Loud caterpillars crawled in my stomach—tickling. Everyone on the beach had to have heard them.

“Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?” The squeaky voice pitched out…odd.
Is
this coming from a duck or a kid entering puberty?

My heart tumbled to my feet. I squinted up into the bright sunlight, holding my hand above my eyes to shade my view, and stared up at a curly headed guy that would have to scrunch down to keep from disturbing the clouds he was so tall. He clutched a weathered beach chair in his left hand; a yellowed towel, full of frayed holes, draped over his shoulder. Black, plastic-framed glasses held together in the middle with white masking tape sat on a giant nose, and his face was long and pitted. Humongous, white high-top sneakers with white socks pulled up to his knees glared back at me when I looked down.

He surprised me, and I blurted my answer out too fast. “No...go ahead, have a seat.” I couldn’t think fast enough to tell him that this spot was for someone else, and besides that, hurting people’s feelings wasn’t in my DNA.

“Why, thank you. Brian Tarris is the name.” His voice squeaked again, and he held out a large, dry hand—skin flaking. “I noticed you looked lonely and could use a friend. I’m all by myself, too.” He sat down in his chair and untied his shoes, pulling his socks off with them. The odor drifted from his pasty, mammoth-size feet, and he wiggled big, hairy toes at me.

I feebly shook his sweaty hand. “Sophia Bandell. My friend’s usually here with me, but had some errands to run.” I covered my mouth, sickened by the smell, and fought back a snicker when he used his pointer finger to push his glasses back up on his nose.

His eyes squinted. “Girl, or boyfriend?”

I hesitated, wrestling with the urge to spew out the word
boyfriend
. It bounced on the tip of my tongue, primed and ready to fling itself airborne. “Girl…Mandy Stuart’s her name.”

He held up his foot and wiggled his calloused, peeling toes. “Oh, good, I didn’t want to be stepping on any toes.” A funky laugh consisting of a bunch of snorts blowing through his nose flew in my face. “So, are you new to these parts? Do you live around here? Are you in college?”

“I’m a senior in high school in Montana, and I’m staying with Mandy for the summer.”

“Good, we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other, then, if you’re here for the whole summer.”

I nodded my head and looked away, rolling my eyes, hoping the less I said would give him the hint to leave. It didn’t work. He kept talking. I glanced toward the Ice Cream Shack, hoping and praying to see Tate. Brian talked on…on and on and on. He chattered about things I knew nothing about, and didn’t care to know anyway, throwing in those annoying snorts with each laugh.

After about two hours of endless droning, I still hadn’t seen Tate. I checked my phone over and over, looking at the time, foot tapping nervously on the lounge chair. Where was he?

“Don’t you agree?”

My head jerked to Brian. “Huh?” I’d been zoning him out. “Sorry, whad’ya say?”

“That’s okay. The music is kind of loud. I was just saying there are a lot of people who believe that penguins don’t have knees, but if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be able to walk at all. It’s just dumb to assume that, don’t you agree?”

My mouth fell open, and my face dropped to my knees. I stared at him, trying to comprehend, then nodded. “Yeah…there’s a lot of dumb people in this world…. Listen, I’m going to go get an ice cream. Would you…like…something?” I pointed over my shoulder, hoping he wouldn’t tag along, but I didn’t want to be rude.

He cleared his throat. “No, I’m allergic to ice cream. Makes me break out.” His old pock marks loomed toward me as he poked and pinched his face, bringing it up close.

I grimaced, then jerked my head away. “Okay, I’ll be right back.”

I got up out of my beach chair and hurried off to the Ice Cream Shack, looking over my shoulder to make sure he wasn’t following me. He was still jabbering when I left.

I closed my eyes and exhaled, thankful for the long line. It would give me a little relief.
Would Tate be over here today?

I joined the line and looked around, focusing my eyes on everyone I saw, scanning the crowds for him. I chewed on a nail, stunned to think that after our talk yesterday, and the way he asked for my phone number, that he wasn’t around. Maybe he didn’t have feelings for me like I did for him.

I made it to the front of the line and ordered a banana split. Ready to go back and sit down, I glanced over to my chair. Brian still sat there, so I changed my mind and ambled through the crowds of people.

With dwindling hope I walked along, my gaze scouring over everyone. There were people playing volleyball, a group sand-dancing, and even a few people building sandcastles. I perked up when I walked by a couple of guys throwing discs with their dogs, but my heart floated down to my feet when neither of them were Tate.

My heart ached to see him. Yesterday, I believed there might have been a spark lingering there between us, trying to ignite. But I was wrong. Tate was way out of my league, anyway. I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache skulking its way in, and wished that Mandy would make it back soon.

After strolling around for almost an hour, I lumbered my way back to my chair, hoping Brian had left. But he didn’t take the hint. There he sat, in the exact same spot as when I left. He started mumbling again, right where he left off.

He rubbed his nose, giving his glasses a push up the ski slope. “You shouldn’t put your heart into one guy, you know. There are other fish in the sea.”

I wrenched my head toward him and blinked my eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I can see right through you.” His squeak pitched up an octave. He struggled to keep his eyes steady on mine, but they darted away with uneasiness. “You’re always searching for him and are disappointed you can’t find him.” The blood drained from my face, and I looked at him, dazed.
Had he read me that easily?
“Am I right?”

Not knowing how to answer, I drummed my fingers on my knee. “Well…maybe…no, that’s not it at all. It’s none of your business.” I pulled my knees together and looked away.

“Don’t get mad at me, Sophia. Seeing you heartbroken kills me. I would love to take you out, put the smile back on your face that was there earlier.”

I swallowed hard, suppressing the urge to gag. Irritated, I edged my way to the end of my seat. “Um…I don’t think…” I stopped short. Out of my peripheral view something caught my eye, and I couldn’t continue. My gaze shot toward the Ice Cream Shack and I froze. A knot the size of a bowling ball rolled through the pit of my stomach. Tate lounged in the sand with two pretty girls in bikinis, Symphony lying in between.

They sat far enough away so I couldn’t hear them, only see their actions of laughing and flirting. I could about guess what those three pretty people must be saying. My heartbeat slowed…barely beating…dizzy.

The girls laughed—their pretty white teeth glistening. They tossed their heads, letting their gorgeous hair fly in the wind, petting and loving on Symphony. Tate joined in on their laughter, acting like he had with me. I’m sure he was asking for their numbers.

Unable to watch, I swallowed hard and turned my head away. I didn’t know what to do, so I got up from my chair and paced, pressing my fists to my lips.

Brian noticed. “What’s the matter?”

I clutched my stomach and walked toward the water. “Nothing. I just need to go for a swim. I’m getting overheated.”

“Okay. I’ll go with you.” He followed behind, catching up to my fast pace.

I raised my hand to stop him. “I just want to be left alone.”

“If you’re overheated, it would be best if I stayed with you. I don’t want anything happening to you.”

“I’ll be fine…just fine. You don’t need to stay with me. I’m not a kid, and I want to be by myself.”

My nostrils flared. My heart pounded viciously.

“Okay, I’m going back to my chair. I’ll catch up with you when you come back.” His mouth turned downward, and his face sagged. I’d hurt his feelings.

Even though I hated to hurt him, he had my nerves worn to a frazzle, so I didn’t answer back. I dove into the cool water and swam, fighting to expel the image of Tate and those beautiful girls from my mind.

I should have known Tate would be this way, hounding every girl he sees. All of the gorgeous ones always did. After my short swim, I eased my way back to the shoreline. Tired and worn, I shivered and rubbed my sore shoulders, my fingers gliding over goose bumps. I just wanted to go back to Mandy’s.

I trudged back to my chair and grabbed my towel, dried off. My eyes glanced over to where Tate and the girls had been, and they were gone. Probably all left together. The coiled knot in my stomach hardened, brain scuffling with my heart. He could talk to whoever he wanted; I didn’t know him. But who was I kidding? It still didn’t ease the hurt any.

Brian fidgeted, a bit cautious about speaking, but started in again anyhow. “How are you feeling? Did the water help?”

I looked away and shot my gaze to the sky. Couldn’t this guy take a hint?

“Yeah, I guess, but I think I’m gonna go back home, now. It was nice meeting you. I enjoyed our visit.” I hoped I wasn’t leading him on and inviting him back, but I wanted to make up for my earlier meanness.

He stared into my eyes, his face hopeful. “It was great meeting you, too, Sophia. I hope we can talk again. And, remember, don’t wait on someone who might not be interested in you, when you have a guy right here who would love to take you out and wine and dine you.”

I looked down, gathering up my towel and lotion, and exhaled an exasperated breath. “Thanks, but I’m not looking to date anyone at this point. I’m just here to enjoy my summer with my friend.” My flat tone disappointed me. Weird how my vacation had turned into being all about Tate. This made me even sadder.

He shrugged one shoulder, bending his foot to the side. “I’m not talking about anything serious, just a night out on the town. You know, just go and have a little fun. Like I said, maybe supper and a movie. It can’t hurt.” His drooping glasses dangled off his nose before he pushed them up again.