lot of time at the cliff alone just thinking and trying to get things straight in my head.
After two weeks, Melanie has had it with my avoidance game. She shows up to see Brett before he heads back to college. It’s mid-June on a Saturday, Brett’s last night home. The four of us order pizza, talk about the end of our school years, and catch up. Brett excuses himself early to go pack for his departure in the morning.
“Well, girls, it’s been a slice. I have to be up at five a.m. to take Brett to the airport, so I think I’m going to head up to relax for a bit and get ready for bed. Goodnight,” Mom says putting an arm around each of us and kissing the tops of our heads.
Mel waits about thirty seconds after she’s gone to start her interrogation. “What gives? You have been avoiding everyone for two weeks! And seriously, I’m not just anyone. I know you better than you know yourself, so what is going on?”
I take a deep breath. Oh, God, I have to say it all out loud, which will make it real. “I’ve just had a lot on my mind since the party.”
“Uh, huh...”
“It’s probably nothing. I mean, Charlie was drunk, so he probably didn’t really mean it when he said he loved me.”
Melanie gasps and is rendered speechless. Melanie has never been speechless in as long as I’ve known her. “What exactly did he say?” she whispers.
“He was drunk. I’m sure it was the booze. I was putting him to bed and he woke up. He apologized for being so drunk. Then, he reached up and touched my cheek and said I was beautiful and he was in love with me.”
Melanie lets out a slow sigh.
“Well? What do you think? He was just drunk, right? I mean, people don’t mean things they say when they’re that far gone?” I ask hopefully.
Mel squishes up her face. “Actually, I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but I think people say things when they’re drunk that they’re too afraid to say when they’re sober. How do you feel about him?”
“I don’t know. It’s messy. He’s a good friend. I don’t want to lose that.”
“Brynn, stop. You are smart, and you analyze and weigh the pros and cons of everything you do! But some decisions shouldn’t be made with your head. Some decisions, your heart has to make.”
“Maybe he doesn’t even remember. He hasn’t said anything when he has texted me.”
“Well, I guess we’ll find out tonight.” Melanie smiles so bright I think she’s going to burst.
“Tonight? No, I’m...” Shit, I have absolutely no excuse and she knows it. Dammit .
“Go get dressed. We’re going to a bonfire!” Mel exclaims in victory. Shit .
* * *
It is a cool night, so I throw on some skinny jeans, a white, long sleeve tee with buttons half way down the front to show a little, but not too much boob. I run my hands through my hair to detangle my waves and run some mascara and lip-gloss across my lashes and lips. I jog downstairs to a waiting Mel and throw my all-white chucks on. Usually, I would skip the makeup revision for a bonfire, but I feel the need to look my best tonight for some reason.
We drive to the shore and head toward Pine Beach. The football players have bonfires here all the time. It’s a vacant beach, and it’s also away from the residential areas so they can party loud without disturbing anyone. It’s also convenient, because you can drive right up to the beach, so there is music coming from one of the two cars parked next to us. When we park and walk out toward the fire, I see this bonfire is a four-person party tonight. Great, only Austin and Charlie are lounging on the beach near the pit. This shouldn’t be completely awkward at all—right.
When we get closer, Mel leans over to me, and whispers, “Let your heart do the thinking for once.”
We say hi to the guys and have a seat by the fire. “It’s chilly out tonight,” I say breaking the awkward silence that is suffocating me.
“Do you want a sweater? I have one in the
After two weeks, Melanie has had it with my avoidance game. She shows up to see Brett before he heads back to college. It’s mid-June on a Saturday, Brett’s last night home. The four of us order pizza, talk about the end of our school years, and catch up. Brett excuses himself early to go pack for his departure in the morning.
“Well, girls, it’s been a slice. I have to be up at five a.m. to take Brett to the airport, so I think I’m going to head up to relax for a bit and get ready for bed. Goodnight,” Mom says putting an arm around each of us and kissing the tops of our heads.
Mel waits about thirty seconds after she’s gone to start her interrogation. “What gives? You have been avoiding everyone for two weeks! And seriously, I’m not just anyone. I know you better than you know yourself, so what is going on?”
I take a deep breath. Oh, God, I have to say it all out loud, which will make it real. “I’ve just had a lot on my mind since the party.”
“Uh, huh...”
“It’s probably nothing. I mean, Charlie was drunk, so he probably didn’t really mean it when he said he loved me.”
Melanie gasps and is rendered speechless. Melanie has never been speechless in as long as I’ve known her. “What exactly did he say?” she whispers.
“He was drunk. I’m sure it was the booze. I was putting him to bed and he woke up. He apologized for being so drunk. Then, he reached up and touched my cheek and said I was beautiful and he was in love with me.”
Melanie lets out a slow sigh.
“Well? What do you think? He was just drunk, right? I mean, people don’t mean things they say when they’re that far gone?” I ask hopefully.
Mel squishes up her face. “Actually, I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but I think people say things when they’re drunk that they’re too afraid to say when they’re sober. How do you feel about him?”
“I don’t know. It’s messy. He’s a good friend. I don’t want to lose that.”
“Brynn, stop. You are smart, and you analyze and weigh the pros and cons of everything you do! But some decisions shouldn’t be made with your head. Some decisions, your heart has to make.”
“Maybe he doesn’t even remember. He hasn’t said anything when he has texted me.”
“Well, I guess we’ll find out tonight.” Melanie smiles so bright I think she’s going to burst.
“Tonight? No, I’m...” Shit, I have absolutely no excuse and she knows it. Dammit .
“Go get dressed. We’re going to a bonfire!” Mel exclaims in victory. Shit .
* * *
It is a cool night, so I throw on some skinny jeans, a white, long sleeve tee with buttons half way down the front to show a little, but not too much boob. I run my hands through my hair to detangle my waves and run some mascara and lip-gloss across my lashes and lips. I jog downstairs to a waiting Mel and throw my all-white chucks on. Usually, I would skip the makeup revision for a bonfire, but I feel the need to look my best tonight for some reason.
We drive to the shore and head toward Pine Beach. The football players have bonfires here all the time. It’s a vacant beach, and it’s also away from the residential areas so they can party loud without disturbing anyone. It’s also convenient, because you can drive right up to the beach, so there is music coming from one of the two cars parked next to us. When we park and walk out toward the fire, I see this bonfire is a four-person party tonight. Great, only Austin and Charlie are lounging on the beach near the pit. This shouldn’t be completely awkward at all—right.
When we get closer, Mel leans over to me, and whispers, “Let your heart do the thinking for once.”
We say hi to the guys and have a seat by the fire. “It’s chilly out tonight,” I say breaking the awkward silence that is suffocating me.
“Do you want a sweater? I have one in the
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