Page 3 of His Girl of the Summer

“Dude, I’ve been waiting all year for this one. They announced it last winter, and it's been killing me. Plus, the tickets are just to get in. There are no assigned seats, which means we get to stand as close to the stage as we want.” He turns a huge smile back my way, and I can't help but chuckle at his boyish excitement.

“Fine, but I’m crashing on your couch tonight then, so I don't have to trek my tired ass back to the south side,” I tell him and see the shadow cross his face as I mention my living situation.

“You know you could always move in…”

“Don’t.” I cut him off before he can finish his sentence.

I know what he wants to say. I know for the millionth time he wants to offer me the chance to move in with him. He has a small studio apartment over his dad's garage, and it's a nice little setup. All my friends know about my home life and have tried everything they can to help me out, but I won't take it from them. I have to do this on my own. I need to get out of this life, that shithole on my own.

Grayson offered to put another bed in the apartment or even move back in with his parents and let me have the whole thing, but I won't let him do that. As fucked up as it may seem, the only time I can really check up on my mom is when I'm in town for the summer. She won't answer if I try to call her, and that's saying she paid the phone bill. The whole year I'm at school, I keep my phone close by, waiting for the phone call telling me she finally drank herself to death or wrapped herself around a tree. Being home, it's a sort of tortuous peace. At least I know if she goes, I’ll actually be here. Maybe on her deathbed, I’ll get a little crumb of affection that, apparently, I still crave as a full-grown man. It just makes me hate myself more.

I fall silent, and Grayson doesn't pry; knowing I'm not a big talker, he leaves me to my thoughts. Sometimes, I hate that more than anything because there's no way to run from the shit-tastic upbringing I've had. Other times, it's just peaceful not to see the pity in everyone's eyes. Grayson lets me push past him so we can make our way to the front of the crowd on the beach. People seem to see my size, scowl, and scar and move out of my way, so it has its advantages. I’m scowling even harder at the couple nearly having sex in the middle of the damn beach when a flash of glitter catches my attention.

“Wow…” I don't even realize I’ve said that out loud until I hear Grayson say, “What? Oomph” as he runs into the back of me.

I can't speak. I’m stunned silent by the beautiful dancing fairy that's somehow caught my attention. I can't think or move; my world has just stopped, and it's starting to spin again. However, now, the focus of my entire world seems to have shifted.

“Holy shit.” I hear Grayson whisper in awe from beside me. That tone and the direction of his eyes have me snapping back to the here and now.

“You better not be looking in the same direction I’m looking,” I growl out, unable to take my eyes off the beauty in the glitter top and leather skirt. Damn, she's sexy as hell.

“The teal dress,” he murmurs.

“Thank fuck,” I murmur back. I take a quick look around her and realize the one Gray must have spotted must be my girl’s friend. They are sticking close, laughing and dancing together.

“We need to get closer,” I tell Grayson, not liking the way I see some frat guys seem to be moving closer to the girls.

“Let’s get in front of them. With the crowd, maybe we can bump into them accidentally,” Grayson grins. I make my way through the crowd again, this time more determinedly. I don’t stop until we are a couple of people in front of the girls.

“We’ll just slowly fall back until we’re in front of them. I don’t want to ruin their time, but I am going to keep all these drunk assholes away from them,” I tell Gray, keeping my head ducked but turned to the side so I can keep an eye on my fairy.

For the first time in so long, I let a genuine smile take over my face as I watch her. She’s absolutely stunning. I’m not paying attention to the band, the music, or anything around me. All my focus is on her as she throws her head back, laughing loudly. She smiles at the sky and twirls, then brings both hands in the air and reaches toward the stars. What I wouldn’t give to know what she’s thinking.

I know I’ll never get that chance, though. This girl is the sun, and I’m a thundercloud waiting to rain on her day. Still knowing that, I can’t help the protective instincts running through me. Living in this area my whole life, I know every horror story when it comes to what could go down at this beach. Especially to young women, and I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to my fairy. So, instead, I’ll just stand in the shadows.

I don’t really expect to get the chance to talk to the ladies before the concert ends. It’s too loud to carry on a conversation, anyway. Still, luck seems to be on our side because one minute, I’m caught in the daze my little nymph had caught me in, and the next, Gray is covered in whatever had been in his girl’s cup. Not only do we now have an excuse to talk to the women, but I also get the pleasure of seeing Grayson get a drink spilled down his back. The only thing that could make this night better is getting the name of my little fairy.

“Please, I’m so sorry. I’ll buy you a new shirt,” Gray's girl says, but I don’t take my eyes off her friend.

“It’s okay, beauty, no worries,” Grayson replies, pulling off his shirt in a stupid-ass dramatic way. I can’t help but roll my eyes. Just wait until I tell the guys about his peacocking.

The two of them talk, and I tune out the conversation. Instead, I take in the features of the angel standing before me. She has a tall, willowy frame and sharp features, only playing up her fairy nature. The short leather skirt and glittery barely there top accentuate the subtle and slight cures she possesses. Still, anything more that most would consider more “womanly” or “feminine” would feel out of place on her ethereal frame. She’s taller than her friend, but still will only maybe come up to my chin, with a tangle of light brown waves shot through with golden highlights that catch the lights from the stage and make her all but glow.

She’s a solid thousand out of ten, and I know there’s no chance in hell that I’ll get a minute with this woman. I wouldn’t even dirty her perfect skin with my touch. She’s way out of my league, and there is no way she would be interested in trash like me. Still, if life were different, if I had grown up in a loving and caring household like Gray, maybe, just maybe, I’d have something to offer. I’m brought back to the here and now when my fairy speaks.

“She’ll have dinner with you. Her name is Harper. Her favorite food is steak, and she’s allergic to shellfish,” she says, a mischievous look in her eyes.

“Charli!” the other girl yells. Finally, I have her name. I don’t know what comes over me at hearing it, but I open my mouth before I can think better of it.

“Charli, that’s a beautiful name. How about you and me take a walk on the beach?” I’d lie and say I’m just being an awesome damn wingman, but my motives are purely selfish. Surprisingly, there’s no argument from her.

“No sushi then. Works for me. I can’t stand the stuff, but we can avoid it together,” Grayson rushes to say, not giving either of the girls a chance to change their minds. Instead, he grabs his woman’s hand and starts dragging her away.

“Just know I have a tracker on her, and you will never find it. If something happens to my friend, I’m coming for your balls!” I let out a startled laugh as I lead Charli out of the crowd and back toward the boardwalk.

“So, got a name, lover boy?” Charli asks, and her sass steals my heart.

“Kas,” I croak out through a suddenly dry throat. Fuck, I gotta get my shit together, or I am gonna lose my chance.

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