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ashley
26 YEARS OLD
I’m walking down main street when I see Fran’s niece, Serenity, or as everyone’s been calling her, Sugar. I walk across the street to where she’s walking out of the bakery. I’m craving something sweet, but not what’s in the bakery.
“I’m guessing they call you Sugar because you have a sweet tooth?” I ask her.
“I must not be the only one with a sweet tooth if you’re here too. But I still don’t know your name.” So she remembers me. I mean, it was only a few days ago, but it’s still nice to have such a pretty girl recognize me. Especially since I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her.
I give a noncommittal shrug. I could tell her my name, but I like this little game we have going. “How are you enjoying life in Sunshine Coast?”
“It’s so amazing here. I’ve never been anywhere like it before. Well, I’ve never really been anywhere before.”
“I’ve not traveled much either.”
“Yeah, but do you really need to when you live in this gem?”
I can’t help but chuckle at her adorable smile. “I, um, I guess so, yeah.” Oh shit. I’m rambling. Not cool, Ashley. Not cool. “So, you’re here for the summer and then back to college?”
“Yes. I’ll be starting my freshman year, actually.”
Freshman? Oh no. “How old are you?”
“Eighteen. You?”
My heart plummets. Eighteen? She’s younger than my brother. A summer fling plus her age equals drama—all reasons not to get involved. Why am I even standing here? I have work. I have things I need to be doing, people who are depending on me. I’m such an idiot. “I’m twenty-six.”
I notice the light dim in her eyes. She must’ve felt the connection as well. She gives me a hopeful smile, but I’m uncomfortable with our age gap. I’m also wishing I hadn’t gotten her hopes up by going out of my way to speak to her.
“Are you finally going to tell me your name?” she asks.
I take a moment to stare into her doe eyes. She’s gorgeous and there’s this sweetness in her voice and smile. I can’t even explain how drawn to her I am, but she’s only eighteen. And she’s here for the summer—that’s it. She’s going to disappear just as quickly as she appeared in my life. Is that enough time to make it worth trying, even if it’s only for fun? What the hell am I saying? I don’t do fun. I can’t afford the time and money for it. Why bother with encouraging this anymore? So instead of giving her my name, I offer her something that’s, unlike a relationship with me, worth her time.
“Make sure you check out the Princess Louisa Inlet and Chatterbox Falls tours.” Her mouth opens, but before she can say something insane like suggest we go together, I interrupt her. “Take care, Sugar,” I tell her abruptly, and turn my back on her.
She’ll love the waterfalls and mountains. Maybe she’ll even recognize a few of the locations from my landscape paintings. I feel deep regret with my first step, but I power forward.
* * *
“Dammit, Adam!” I kick one of the many beer cans that are discarded on his bedroom floor. “You’re too old for this shit.”
My twenty-two-year-old brother groans and raises his head. “No,” he slurs, “that’s where you’re wrong. I’m just the right age for this shit, as you so lovingly put it.”
I point at him and hope he can sense he’s on thin ice with me. “I’m about to put my foot lovingly up your ass.” I can barely contain my rage. He’s drunk, again. Does he want to end up like our parents? Losers who aren’t going anywhere but to an early grave. Alcoholics who don’t want to become anything more. That’s exactly where he’s heading, and it seems there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I’m trying so hard to steer him right, but he refuses to listen to any advice that comes from me.
“Do you seriously not have anything better to do than bust my balls?”
That. Fucking. Does. It. I bend down and pick the can up off the floor. Then I throw it as hard as I can at his naked back.
“Son of a bitch! That hurt, you dickhead.”
I roar at him, hoping to God he gets how fucking serious I am. “Get out of bed now!”
“Shhh!” he hisses while placing his hands on his temples. “I’ve got a hangover, man. Stop yelling. Shit, I’m up.” He rubs his face and then snarls at me. “What’s your fucking problem? Nobody asked you to step in as Dad.”
My voice is barely above a whisper as I struggle to maintain control. “You’re going to get dressed. Then you’re going to meet me at Ruby Lake and help me work on the boats. Do not meet up with your friends. Do not stop and buy weed. Do not fucking pass go.”
“Ha. Monopoly. Man, when was the last time we played that? Can I collect my two hundred dollars, or maybe I’ll hit Free Parking?”
