couldn’t possibly have any romance I could relate too, if any.
“If that’s the one you want, I’m game,” she said, a chipper tone in her voice.
“Are you being agreeable just to make me happy?”
“Jules, the goal tonight is to do what you want. It’s your therapy, remember?”
I huffed. “Yes, but . . .”
“I promise, so far, everything’s been cool with me,” she said with a grin.
I let it go. Maybe if I stopped making suggestions, she’d come up with something she’d want to do. I didn’t want the evening to be all about me.
My attention was diverted when I noticed the temperature drop. The ocean view was just around the bend in the road. I could visualize the majestic crystalline water. It was like being reunited with a long lost friend. I took in a deep breath and filled my lungs with the crisp, salty air. Something about the beach always relaxed me.
“Wanna go to the cliff?” Sam suggested.
She knew me too well. I nodded, smiling.
She accelerated and I sat back, eyes closed, feeling the warm sun on my face, trying to sing along to the songs blasting out of her speakers. Even though I sounded completely stupid and grasped at the words, I felt my heart heal a little.
Within minutes, we pulled up to the familiar dirt parking lot on top of the cliff overlooking the most pristine beach, our beach.
“You seem to be feeling better,” she said as she killed the engine.
“You know, I am actually. I think this is exactly what I needed.”
I gave her a big reassuring smile.
“Good.”
We relaxed in her car and watched the waves roll in, crashing one by one onto the barnacle laden rocks. Sam filled me in on the most recent gossip she had just heard at school. Apparently Katie asked Tyler for help with her Chemistry. He agreed to meet her in the library after school, but when she got there, Mandy came instead. He forgot he had practice and figured since Mandy was acing Chemistry, she could help Katie. Katie was furious and became the fastest pupil Mandy ever tutored.
“Wow, I wonder how she remained civil,” I said with a chuckle.
“Well . . .” I sensed Sam’s compassion and felt guilty for being so mean. “I’ve been trying to tell her to move on, find someone else, like Erik or Logan McKay. They are both cute and single at the moment.”
I imagined her with another football player and sighed. She wouldn’t have any trouble nabbing either of them but I felt sorry for the poor guy. She’d only use him to try to make Tyler jealous and then dump him when it didn’t work. She was totally stuck on Tyler—like I was stuck on Nicholas.
I cringed at the realization that I had let thoughts of Nicholas seep around the wall I put up. Worse yet, the memories that flashed through my mind were so real I could almost smell his earthy scent.
“Oh, yeah, she should do that,” I said, trying to sound perfectly normal as I stuffed the feelings back down.
I had to face it. Our relationship was over, plain and simple though it never really had begun and I had no need to reminisce any longer. Maybe another guy would help me as well.
I re-centered myself and remembered back to when Sam and I found this place. It was shortly after Sam got her car. Ever since, I dreamt of exploring the beach below, but the sheer cliff edge made it impossible to traverse, even with a working ankle. I never saw a living soul down there, ever.
So, I imagined I was a bird, swooping and flying in the wind. With wings I could get to the beach, no problem. I envied their easy life as I watched them soar, wishing I could be one for just one day, only worrying about where to find my next meal.
Suddenly, our stomachs started to make horrible music together.
“Was that you or me?” I asked.
“Me, but I think I heard yours too,” she said with a giggle. “You still want pizza?”
I nodded.
“Good. Me too.”
I knew we needed to eat soon, because if we didn’t, Sam would turn into the Incredible Hulk and that
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