Page 26 of Stealing Summer

He smiled, shaking his head slightly. “You don’t play mind games. You’re honest, sometimes maybe too honest, but it’s refreshing.” Reese’s tone was surprisingly sincere.

I looked out over the lake, the tension slightly fading between us. “I’ve spent so much time playing characters, immersing myself in drama... When I’m not on stage, I just want to be me. I like authenticity.”

Reese watched me closely. “Sounds exhausting. Wearing a mask all the time.”

“It kind of is,” I admitted. “Sometimes it’s exhausting and draining—but in the end, it’s all worth it. Just like I’m sure baseball is for you.”

“Definitely worth it,” he laughed. “Speaking of baseball…I need to hit the batting cages later tonight.”

He pulled open a cabinet door to grab his phone to check the time, revealing neatly stacked books that filled the small space to the brim.

“Wow, I didn’t take you for the bookish type,” I said, unable to keep the surprise out of my tone as I stepped closer.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

“Apparently,” I admitted, crouching down to get a better look. My fingers brushed against the spines of various titles—literature, philosophy, several law books—each book a new layer of Reese Carrington.

“Listen,” I said, my voice cheerful with the thrill of this new discovery. “Books are the way to my heart. They’re how I travel.”

A soft chuckle escaped him. “Is that so? Haven’t heard that one before.”

“Absolutely. They can take you anywhere you want to go.” I explained.

“Noted,” he said simply, his smile widened, revealing a rare vulnerability that he usually kept locked away.

I pulled out one of the books on top, my focus shifting as a post-it note slipped from between the pages, fluttering to the floor.

“Oops,” I said, bending to pick it up.

“Leave it,” he said quickly, but not quickly enough to stop me from seeing the scribbled notes on it.

“Criminal law?” I asked, holding up the slip of paper, noticing that several other bookmarks were peeking out from the book’s edge; it was covered with similar neon post-its.

A brief look of vulnerability crossing his face before the mask of confidence returned. “Maybe I’m full of surprises—or maybe I just think the law is interesting,” he said with a small smile, taking the note from my hand and tucking it back into the book.

“Maybe there’s hope for you after all,” I teased, though the realization that Reese might have dreams beyond baseball and the carefree lifestyle he projected struck a chord within me.

I watched him carefully replace the Criminal Law book among the others, the post-it notes now hidden from view. It was then, surrounded by his secret studious world, that I understood that there was more depth and complexity to Reese Carrington.

“Here,” he said, handing me a particularly worn volume. “I think you’ll appreciate this one.”

I glanced down at the worn cover—a vintage edition of ‘Hamlet’—and felt an inexplicable throb in my chest. How could he have known? I performed as Ophelia in our last theater production, a role that I was incredibly proud of.

“Hamlet?” My voice echoed a mix of astonishment and curiosity, betraying the surprise that had taken over me. The moment felt heavy, almost as heavy as the leather-bound book I held in my hands.

Reese’s smile widened. “Yeah. You strike me as someone who appreciates the classics. The tragedy, the madness—the undying love or whatever.”

I knew one thing for certain, this boy was anything but simple—and there were layers to him that went beyond what could be seen on the surface.

thirteen

“Hey, can I try driving the boat?” I asked suddenly, desperate to change the subject and distract myself from the moment we were having.

“Sure,” Reese agreed, looking surprised by my request. “Come here.”

I walked over to stand next to him, hesitating slightly before placing my hands on the wheel. His proximity sent a flurry of goosebumps across my skin, and I could feel my palms becoming sweaty beneath my grip. His touch was gentle yet firm as he showed me how to steer and maintain our course.

“See? You’re a natural,” Reese said encouragingly as I navigated the boat through the waves. “I knew you had it in you.”

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