Summer Dreams

EVERLEIGH

“Everleigh!”

I’m seconds away from the door when my mother shouts my name like there’s a fire.

“Yes?”

“Be safe! Love you.”

Honestly, my mom.

“Love you too, and I will!” I yell back, leaving before she demands another hug. I love my mom, she’s like my best friend, but jeez. Sometimes she’s too much.

The red car at the foot of my drive toots its horn, and I wave at my best friend, Kathy who’s grinning with excitement. We’re heading to a beach party in the south of town, where there’ll be plenty of beer and college guys.

Perfect for two eighteen-year-olds that have had a tough senior year.

“You look amazing!” Kathy gushes as I climb into the front seat, her perfectly made-up eyes running over me with pride. “I told you to buy that top. Tell me you’ve got titty tape on, otherwise you’ll—”

“It’s all in hand, just drive.” I clip my belt in and play with the car audio, stopping when one of my songs fills the car.

The drive to Hermosa Beach is about forty minutes away, but it’s not just any beach—it’s our first ever summer break party, and people from all over come to our beach because it’s the best. I wanted to go last year, but Mom forbade it. She’s pretty cool about most things, and I didn’t want to lie to her, so I waited until my eighteenth. After promising to not get too drunk, take any drugs, or go home with any strange guys, she relented. Kathy’s parents were super relaxed and were fine with us heading back there at the end of the night—providing we promised not to get too drunk.

So both parents gave us a clear message.

Don’t get wrecked.

Kathy’s house was closer than mine, so we dropped the car off there and her dad gave us a ride. He pulled up close to the beach, shaking his head at the carnage that lay before him.

“Katherine. I’m serious, baby. You don’t take any drinks from anyone. You too, Everleigh. Stay together. You got your pepper spray, baby?”

His brown eyes bore into ours in the rearview mirror as we nod, shifting excitedly.

“Yes, Dad. I promise; I swear, I know how to kick a man in the balls, and if it all goes south I’ll call you. Okay?”

Her dad nods then watches us climb out.

“Anytime, alright? Call me anytime.”

Kathy leans in to kiss her father's cheek and I turn to the beach, my heart thumping in my chest. Music blares out from an unseen speaker and palm trees shift slightly in the breeze. The sea teases the sand with its aqua waves, and the scent of burgers fills the air.

But it’s full of color, so much color. Girls in bikinis in every color of the rainbow, blonde hair, red hair, black hair—even green hair contrast with the different skin tones.

“Wow.” Kathy grips my hand and squeezes it, her eyes as wide as saucers. “Look at it.”

There are all sorts going on, and I’m intoxicated by the atmosphere. We make our way through the throngs of sweaty bodies, heading for what looks like a bathtub filled with iced beers. I’m still wondering how they got a bathtub on the beach when a guy thrusts two beers into our hands.

“How much?” Kathy asks as the guy winks.

“On the house because you’re beautiful.”

Both of us grin as he takes the lids off the beers for us, his gaze sweeping over us with interest. His blond hair is soaked from the sea, his broad, tanned body still glistening with what’s left of the waves.

“You want beers, come to me. I’ll have to charge for the others, but don’t take anything off strange guys.” The guy winks at us again, and I pull Kathy away, not wanting us to be stuck talking to the beer guy all night.

“That was incredibly nice of him,” Kathy remarks, slugging on the beer. “I can’t believe how many hot guys there are, Ever.”

The beer is cold and soothing in the summer heat, and as I follow my friend's gaze, I’m inclined to agree with her. If you had a type, you’d find it here. But the girls here—jeez. They were just as beautiful.

“What are they doing?” Kathy nudges me and nods to a group of people sitting in a circle, and I shrug.

“Probably chilling.”

“No, they’re doing something. Are they playing a game?” Kathy’s voice rises with excitement and I groan as she pulls me nearer to the circle, not bothering to hide her interest.

The circle, if you can call it that, has around fifty people in it. If they aren’t drinking, they’re smoking or making out. Kathy’s eyes nearly fall out of her sockets when a guy catches her eye, making room beside him.

“Wanna play?”

I almost choke.

“Sure!” Kathy slides into the space beside him as I stand back, shaking my head.

This is her thing—not mine. I’ll watch.

“What about your pretty friend?” The guy asks, and half the circle turns to me.

Oh god.

“I’m good thanks,” I squeak out as one of the girls rolls her eyes.

“I doubt she’s got much truth or dare in her anyway. Good girls never do.”

I clench my jaw but refuse to react—just as someone speaks up from beside her.

Not just someone.

It’s a guy with the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen, and he’s beautiful, in a tanned, messy-haired-Adonis kind of way. He stares at me, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth as I gaze back at him, wondering if he’s even real.

“Oh, I don’t know if she’s a good girl or you’re just a bad bitch,” he says, making the crowd titter before he addresses me. “You can watch if you like, sweetheart. You’ve just got to tell me your name.”

He leans back on the palms of his hands, watching me intently as I try to find my tongue. Sweat trickles down my back—but somehow, I throw my hair back over my shoulder and tell him my name.

“Everleigh.”

His eyes run over me as he bites his lip.

“I’m Mason.”

The crowd loses interest but Mason and I can’t tear our eyes away from one another. Something about the way he looks at me sends electricity to my very core, and I want him to speak to me again more than anything else. The game begins, and my heart nearly explodes out of my chest when he rises to his feet, walking away.

Disappointment floods me but I focus on Kathy’s head, refusing to think of the gorgeous stranger that’s making my body go all gooey. I’ve never felt like this before—and I know some hot guys. But they’ve never had this effect on me. I lift my eyes once more, scanning the beach for Mason to no avail.

Get a grip, Everleigh. He’s just a guy. You’ll meet a million more.

“Everleigh what?” A voice drawls from behind me, and I whip around to meet the cobalt blue eyes that stunned me from across the circle. Close up, they’ve got flecks of gray in them, but it’s the way he looks at me that renders me useless. Like I’m a rare gem he’s just discovered.

“Mason,” I whisper, and he tilts his head.

“Either that’s your surname, which is weird, or you’re greeting me.” Mason smiles, and I fucking melt. I absolutely melt.

“Hi,” I say, my cheeks flushing. “Hastings. I’m Everleigh Hastings.”

Mason nods, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Well, Everleigh Hastings, I have to say, you’re stunning.”

I laugh, shaking my head with embarrassment before he chuckles.

“Fuck, you’re cute, too.” His gaze travels over me, leaving a trail of heat in its wake.

I can tell what he’s thinking, and he looks like a God, with the confidence of one too...I need to put him straight before we even begin.

“Okay, you’re really hot and all, but I’m not that kind of girl,” I say, forcing myself to look away from him.

Mason raises his eyebrows and catches my hand as I go to turn away. Sparks zip between us as I turn to stare at him, unsure if he can feel it too.

His eyes search mine as he shakes his head.

“What sort of girl?”

“The sort you probably think I am,” I shoot back, glad my sass is returning. This guy made me weak, and I am anything but weak.

“Wife material?” Mason smirks, and I can’t help but laugh.

“You’re smooth.”

“I’m serious, you’ve blown my mind. How have I never seen you before?”

This isn’t good, I’m salivating over his body, and he’s checking me out...I’ve only been here for ten minutes and already I’m imagining what it would be like to kiss him...

“I don’t...” I glance back at Kathy who’s in deep conversation with the guy she’s sitting with. “Come here usually.”

Mason follows my gaze to Kathy as she leans in, locking lips with the guy like she’s known him her whole life.

“Great,” I mutter, feeling awkward. “Third-wheeling ten minutes in.”

Mason steps closer, my heart accelerating with every step. I want to move closer to him but I can’t—I don’t even know him. I’m hardly a prude, but something about him makes me nervous.

“You’re not third-wheeling, sweetheart.” His hair falls into his eyes and he pushes it back, looking damn good while he does it. “You’re with me.”