Revive Me (38 page)

I rested my forehead lightly on hers and sighed. “Babe, she’s right. I’m not going to do this with a house full of people while they’re standing out there and waiting for us,” I said, pulling away from her, chuckling, as she glared at me. I kissed the tip of her nose, lifted up, and walked across the room butt ass naked.

She leaned up on her elbows, her eyes fixed on me, and her lips slid into a sly smile. “You know,” she said, “you’re just as perfect as I am. Daisy and I used to Google penis pictures, and I always thought they were anything but cute, but yours is definitely cute.”

“Cute?” I asked, raising a brow and pulling up my trunks. “Please babe, don’t ever, and I mean ever, refer to my cock as cute again.”

She laughed and pulled herself up from the bed. “Would you rather we name it?” she asked, trying to look serious, but failing.

“Hell no,” I said, tying my shorts.

“You sure? I could start brainstorming. Mr. Fun, Mr. Good Time, The Dragon of Excitement?”

I laughed, shaking my head and leading her to the door. “Come on, you pain in my ass. We’re not naming my cock after some low budget porno.” I opened the door, took one step out, and collided with Daisy’s body. “Jesus, were you waiting here the entire time?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“I told them not to interrupt you,” Cora said, and I noticed the entire crew was there. “But they wouldn’t listen. Drown them, not me.” She pointed to a grinning Daisy and Gabby.

“I didn’t want them to get lost,” Daisy argued. “I just wanted to make sure they knew where they were going.”

“Babe, really?” Keegan asked, turning around, and pointing to the beach through the windows.

She pushed him away, but he grabbed her waist, pulled her into him, and kissed the top of her head while laughing. It was strange seeing her with someone other than Tanner, but I was happy the guy she was moving on with wasn’t an asshole.

Tessa snatched her beach bag and hitched it over her shoulder as we followed everyone out of the house. The humid air felt suffocating and I was struck with awe as we walked down the stairs to the beach.

“So what do you think?” Tessa asked, looking at me eagerly. It was my first time seeing the ocean up close. I’d been invited to go on beach vacations with her family before, but I didn’t want them paying my way.

I peeled my sandals off, my soles hitting the scorching sand, and grinned. “Pretty damn good so far.”

Tessa

T
he leather couch felt refreshing as I collapsed onto it and sighed. “Thank God for air conditioning,” I said.

We’d spent the day splashing in the waves and baking in the sun. My arms felt tender as I rubbed them, and knew I’d be slathering on aloe vera later.

“So ….. you and Dawson, I knew it would happen eventually,” Daisy said, falling down next to me. She handed me a cold bottle of water, pulled the cap off hers, and took a drink. “I’m happy for you, girl. Just make me one promise.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“When you two fall in love, get married, and have your little adorable babies, don’t forget to name one after Aunt Daisy.”

I fussed with the wet tangles in my hair and laughed. “I think we need to wait awhile before we start talking kids.”

She grinned. “Oh please, everyone knows it’s going to happen. From the looks of it, that boy isn’t planning on letting you out of his grasps anytime soon, and I’m sure you’d beat a girl down over him. So, yes, I’m waiting on my mini-Daisy.”

She was right. I couldn’t see myself without Dawson by my side. If there was one thing I was certain was right in my chaotic and dismantled life, it was Dawson. I didn’t know where I’d be without him. He’d been my lifesaver and salvaged me from exploring the destructive road I was on. I wasn’t sure I’d still be alive if it wasn’t for him.

“How’s everything else going?” she asked, lowering her voice.

Daisy knew about my therapy sessions, but I didn’t tell her everything. She didn’t know about Reese or how I’d been drinking constantly to paralyze the suicidal thoughts running through my head. She didn’t know about me stupidly losing my virginity to a guy who didn’t give two shits about me, either.

I’d been afraid she’d moved on without me, but Dawson was right, I had too. We were growing up, doing our own thing, and creating the lives we wanted. We weren’t the two teenage girls anymore who laughed as they talked about boys and shared make-up secrets, And I was okay with that.

I took a drink and swallowed slowly. “It’s going good. My therapy appointments aren’t as frequent because my doctor says I’m doing better.”

She lapped her hand over mine and squeezed it. “I’m proud of you, Tessa. You’re doing great. I know we’ve been going through a lot, and I was a pretty shitty friend. I’m really sorry, and I wish I would’ve never left things how I did.”

“We had different ways of dealing with losing Tanner. I think leaving was good for you. You would’ve never met Keegan, and who knows if you’d be happy if you stayed home.”

She nodded, her eyes watering. “And brought you and Dawson together. Tanner would’ve been happy.”

“I hope it’s good things being said about me over here.” I jumped as Dawson came up behind me. He squeezed in next to me, leaning against the arm of the couch as his wet hair dripped onto the floor. I noticed his sunburned skin and knew I’d be sharing my lotion.

“Of course,” Daisy laughed. “We always say nice things about you.”

He chuckled. “Right, I’ve heard way to too many of your sleepover talks for me to believe that one.”

My mouth flew open. “Seriously? You eavesdropped on our girl talks?”

A sly grin spread across his cheeks. “Well, yeah.” I elbowed him in the side, and he laughed. “Tanner wanted to find out what Daisy was saying about him.”

“We didn’t talk about my brother’s sex life, you freak,” I replied.

“Yeah, I know, which made him nervous. He thought if Daisy wasn’t bragging, his performance was lacking,” he explained.

Daisy leaned over and smacked his arm while I gagged. “Or she was trying to spare me the pain of gouging my ear drums out.” I didn’t want to hear about them doing the deed. I’d told Daisy as soon as they’d started dating; I wanted to know nothing about that. Nothing. “Did I ever say anything about you?” I asked, curiously.

“Yeah, you talked about how much you wanted to basically kill every girl I dated,” he answered, rubbing my shoulders and kissing me on the cheek.

“Yeah, he’s definitely not lying,” Daisy said.

“All right bitches,” Gabby yelled, walking from the front door holding pizzas to her chest. “Pizza is here.”

“How’d you get those?” Daisy asked.

“I borrowed Lane’s car,” she said, smirking, “and checked out the boys on the beach.”

Cora and Lane strolled out from his bedroom. “I told you to quit stealing my car,” he said, holding his hands out, and Gabby dropped the keys in them.

“I didn’t steal anything, I got food,” she held up the boxes. “So you’re welcome.”

Everyone but Lane laughed when he looked at her and shook his head. “You’re lucky I’m in love with your best friend.”

“Oh, no, you’re lucky my best friend is in love with you,” she fired back, walking past him and into the kitchen. She dropped the pizzas down onto the counter before kicking off her flip-flops, pulling herself onto the counter, and grabbing a handful of plates. “Now come on, after dinner we’re pulling out the liquor and playing games. I need alcohol to hang out with all of these couples. Third wheelin’ it sucks ass.”

“If it’s
Never Have I Ever
,” Cora said, joining her in the kitchen. “It’s not happening.” She pulled out plastic cups and cans of soda and scattered them along the counter.

“Um no, we’re bound for drama to happen,” Gabby replied. “I nominate beer pong or flippy cup.”

“That’s because you always win at freaking flippy cup,” Daisy groaned, grabbing a pillow and tossing it across the room, coming up short as it smacked into a chair.

“I’m actually a beast at all drinking games thank you very much,” Gabby boasted and every muscle in my body went solid. I hadn’t touched a drink since that night. I was terrified to even be around alcohol.

I was suddenly hit with a twinge of envy and resentment. I was a teenager, I was supposed to be drinking and having fun on spring break, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t that carefree girl anymore. My best friends were my boyfriend and little brother. Even hearing the word alcohol made me sick to my stomach. I looked down at the tile. I’d been so excited to come I hadn’t thought about the booze coming out.

“Whatever you guys decide, that shit’s happening outside,” Lane said, walking into the kitchen. “My parents will kick my ass if you knuckleheads fuck shit up.”

Daisy turned around and looked at me. “What do you want to do?” She asked.

The room began to swirl, as my eyesight got blurry. “I, uh,” I paused, not knowing what to say before pulling away from Dawson, jumping up from the couch, and scurrying down the hallway as I tried to control my breathing. I shrieked as something stopped me from slamming the bedroom door shut. I turned around quickly, noticing Dawson’s hand in between the door and the frame, and kept walking before falling down onto the bed.

“Baby,” he whispered, the mattress sinking in as he sat down beside me. I brought myself up and scooted to the side of the bed, my feet dangling from the edge. “What’s wrong?” he asked, squatting in front of me, grabbing my shaking hands, and kissing them gently.

I looked down at him. “Nothing is the same,” I whispered, sniffling. “Nothing is the same. I wanted to have fun. I’ve missed Daisy so much and I’d been so excited about this trip. She doesn’t even know that alcohol scares the shit out of me and I don’t want to tell her. I don’t want to be that weird girl, but I also don’t ever want to drink again. I can’t even think about alcohol without remembering what I’d done. Drinking would remind me of Reese. It would remind me of the person I was when I was drinking it.”

He kissed each tear falling down my face. “It’s never going to be the same, you know that. She’s still your best friend. Talk to her and she’ll understand. We don’t ever have to be around alcohol. I told you I have no interest in drinking, so you have nothing to worry about. We’ll try our hardest to not be around it, but it’s bound to happen sometimes, it may be hard at first, but remember it doesn’t have control of you anymore.” I was a recovering addict before graduating high school. That was just sad.

I shook my head a few times. “No,” I sniffled. “I no longer have a best friend, and I’m all alone in this sober, lonely world.”

“What about me?” he asked, holding my face and I looked into eyes that matched the ocean we’d earlier been admiring.

“What do you mean?” I asked, not breaking our eye contact.

“I honestly don’t think you’re losing Daisy as a best friend, but if you feel that way, what about me? I’d like to think I’m your best friend.”

I ran my finger under my eye to capture any loose tears. “You’re my boyfriend, you can’t be both.”

“And why the hell not?”

“Because best friends share secrets, laugh with each other, and have sleep-overs. Boyfriends can’t do that.”

He chuckled. “You kidding me? I know every single thing about you, your secrets, your annoying, but cute habits, everything. You spend more time with me than you do anyone. I know what weird shit you like to eat, what you’re allergic to, what shows you like to watch, and how your lower lip trembles when you see a homeless person standing on the corner begging for money. I know how your body tenses up when you’re nervous just like it did when they brought up drinking. And we pretty much have a sleepover every night. Baby, I know you, and that’s what a best friends is; someone you can trust, and someone you can confide it. Best friends can be friends, lovers, girlfriends, anything. As long as they’re your number one, anyone can be your best friend. You’re my best friend. When something good happens or I need to talk to someone, I don’t reach for the phone to call Cody or Ollie, it’s you. You’re my go-to. You understand me. You’re my lover, my soul mate, and my best friend.”

“Wow,” I whispered, pausing, still taking in his words as its truth sunk into me, “You’re right. You’re my best friend.”