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She pushes her fingers through the water, making a semi-circle in front of her. “I don’t know if I inherited the cancer gene from my mother, and I’m not sure I want to know. On one hand, I’d like to know before I get married and start a family, if that’s in my cards. And on the other hand, do I really want to live with that knowledge looming over me?” She lifts a shoulder. “It’s scary either way you look at it.”
“Having the gene doesn’t mean you’ll get cancer. And who’s to say you’ll die from cancer? What if you have a heart attack, or get hit by a bus? You can’t predict what’s going to happen to you. Life happens all on its own.”
Her green eyes lift and hold my gaze. “How old were you when your parents died?”
“Sixteen.” I let my legs fall until I’m standing in front of her. “I was supposed to go to dinner with them, but Nana called me to come do some work on the porch. She didn’t want Pop getting up on the ladder to fix the fans. So, I got out of the car and said goodbye to my parents. That was the last time I saw them.”
“You would’ve been in that car with them when they died.”
I nod, and flick the water with my index finger. “Probably would’ve died too.”
“I’m so glad you didn’t.”
I cover up the sadness with a joke. “You sure about that? You’d have this private guest house all to yourself.”
Her lips press into a firm line. “That’s not funny.”
I shrug, and glance away.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that, Bryce. Losing your parents sucks.”
“I’m sorry you lost your mom too. It sucks she had to suffer like that. But I’m glad you got the chance to say goodbye.”
A sweet smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. “You’re always thinking of other people. I’ve noticed that about you.”
I look into her bright eyes. “Not everyone.”
Lately, it’s been you who consumes my thoughts.
Pink tinges her cheeks. “No?”
“Only the people I give a shit about.” My words come out like a hushed confession, one I shouldn’t have admitted, yet I couldn’t have stopped myself if I tried.
The air between us thickens, and I watch the rise and fall of her chest with her shallow breaths. It takes all my willpower not to lean forward and kiss her. I want to. Want to claim those lush lips, and steal the air from her lungs.
What’s more, I think she wants me to. She stares up at me, waiting.
But I can’t let myself go there. Can’t get wrapped up in her this summer.
Eventually, she’ll go back to her real life in New York, and where will that leave me?
Alone.
Left behind.
Again.
“Come on. Let’s start with some laps.” I swim away from her, putting distance between us.
I’ve said enough for one night.
Charly
“You’re very predictable, you know.” I lean onto the center console of Bryce’s truck. “Big tough guy with a big manly truck.”
He smirks. “Yeah, well, it’s kind of hard to squeeze all this,” he motions to his body, “into a tiny sports car.”
On the outside, Bryce’s shiny black Dodge Ram looks like every other truck. On the inside, modifications have been installed to meet Bryce’s needs. The driver’s seat is an ergonomic bucket seat with armrests and padding along the back. The pedals also rise up higher than usual, and there’s a long lever with a handle to the left of the steering wheel, coming from the floor.
