Page 4 of One Last Summer

“What kind would those be?”

Ben growls and I giggle. “You know exactly what you’re doing.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I lean forward to slide the sunscreen over the top of his shoulders and place my mouth to his, making sure my breasts rub up along his chest.

He deepens the kiss and I lower my body on top of his.

“Ben! Gill! This is a public beach!” Our names are shouted across the space, echoing off the rock walls behind us.

Laughter ensues and we part, turning our heads in the direction of the voice. It’s Brooks, Ben’s best friend with a group of kids from our graduating class. Disappointment gnaws in my stomach because they’re going to hang out with us and I’m feeling protective—I greedily want my last moments with Ben to be with him alone.

“Shit,” Ben groans. “I gotta turn over so they don’t see my hard-on.” His cheeks are pink and I laugh, rolling off of him.

Ben and I have been together for years, but we only started sleeping together at the beginning of our senior year. While Ben doesn’t hold back when we’re together, he always seems a little embarrassed whenever the subject of sex comes up in front of other people.

He rolls over and I straddle him again, this time sitting on his ass, applying the sunscreen to his back.

“Hey guys,” I say when the group reaches us.

“You guys been here long?” Brooks asks. Although he played quarterback on the football team, he either didn’t try to play in college or he just didn’t have it because he’s attending state.

“Nope, just got here.” I climb off Ben and sit on the blanket beside him.

His hard-on must be gone because he rolls over. “You guys heading to my place later?”

“You know it,” one of the other guys says.

“How could we not spend the fourth at Plain Daisy?” Brooks says. “Is Lottie going to be there?”

Ben glances at me. “She’s my cousin, so yeah.”

Brooks nods and looks around the quarry.

For the next hour the group talks mostly about where everyone’s headed for college and how excited they all are. I’m one of the few staying in Willowbrook and when one of the girls asks if I’m looking forward to starting my classes, I feign excitement.

I’m excited to become a court stenographer. I just wish I were going to school in South Carolina with Ben. He’s the north star in my life.

“I’m getting hot. Wanna swim babe?” Ben asks me.

Ben can always tell when I’m bothered or uncomfortable with others or their conversations.

He leans over and whispers in my ear. “C’mon. Let’s go.”

When he pulls back, his eyes hold the look. The one that means he’s horny. My nipples pebble in my bikini top, and Ben notices, licking his lips.

I hop up off the blanket and accept his outstretched hand. We run toward the water, Brooks shouting something obscene.

Chapter Three

Ben

The cool water feels good against my scorching skin on a hot day like today.

There are other kids in the water, a few of my teammates throwing a football around but when they ask me to join them, I decline.

Gillian was uncomfortable about the never-ending conversation with our friends about everyone moving on. I wish more than anything that she could come with me, but her family situation won’t allow for her to leave. I worry she feels less than because I’m going to a four-year university and she’s staying local. She should be proud of how selfless she’s being by pitching in to take care of her siblings. Not everyone would do that. When your mom dies at five, you tend to see the importance of family. Then again, I’m abandoning mine.

“Think you can beat me to the other side of the quarry?” I grin.

---