Page 15 of Quiet Longing

“Right, you better go get ready. The boys will be leaving soon,” Nuala said, shooing me from her room since I was still wearing my sleep shorts and ratty T-shirt.

I took a quick shower then changed into my bathing suit and patterned maxi dress before sliding on my flip flops. I twisted my hair up into a knot then put on a little lip gloss and mascara. I figured there was no point putting on too much makeup in case I did end up going for a dip.

There were voices out front, and I went to my bedroom window, peering down onto the drive. The boys were loading stuff into the back of a grey SUV. It was Aunt Jo’s car, but shemust’ve been letting them borrow it since there were too many of us to fit into any of the other vehicles.

Grabbing the bag I’d packed with a towel and some water, I went downstairs to join the others. Nuala was already there chatting with Theo and Tristan.

I was making my way towards them when Aidan called, “Moretti! Come sit next to me.”

He waved me over, wearing shorts, a blue shirt, and a pair of Ray Bans resting on top of his head. I was sceptical of his overt friendliness since the other night he’d expressly stated I wasn’t his type. Maybe he was just a genuinely friendly sort of guy, which was fine, but if he was manipulating me, then that wasn’t fine. Had he said I wasn’t his type so I’d start wonderingwhyI wasn’t his type and then begin obsessing?

Hmm, maybe Irish boys were into mind games.

I’d had two boyfriends back home. Lee Sunny when I was fifteen for three months and then Art Collier for six months when I was seventeen. I hadn’t slept with either of them though we had kissed. Both were quiet, artsy, a little shy, and very studious. They were sweet boys and definitelynotinto playing games.

I walked up to Aidan and smiled politely, “Hello, all ready for the beach?”

He opened the car door and motioned for me to get in. “Yep, all set.”

“Thanks,” I replied, feeling his hand on my elbow for a second before I slid in and found Rhys sitting on the far side next to the window. For some reason, seeing him made me catch my breath. We’d spent the entire day working together yesterday, and he’d been so patient with me. I still had his hoodie in my bedroom since I hadn’t the opportunity to wash it yet.

Rhys stared at his phone, his frown and tense shoulders making him look like someone who had the weight of the worldweighing down on them. It struck me as unusual. Everything in his aura depicted a boy who was emotionally exhausted. He hadn’t seemed that way before.

“Hey,” I said softly, and his eyes flicked up. As soon as he saw me, his frown dissolved, a faint smile taking its place. I liked seeing him smile, but he did it so seldom and never fully. I felt like making it my mission this summer to encourage him to smile as often as possible. I was talking wide, teeth showing, eye-twinkling smiles. I wasn’t sure where the instinct came from. I just had this odd urge to make him happy.

“Charli,” he said, sliding his phone back in his pocket. “How are you today? Not too sore after yesterday?”

“Whatdid you just ask her?” Aidan, who’d climbed into the car behind me, interjected. Rhys winced, closed his eyes for a second, then opened them and cast me a look of embarrassment.

Enjoying the idea of bothering Aidan since he clearly imagined himself to be the stud of the group, I slid close to Rhys, our thighs touching. I turned to Aidan, tilting my head.

“Rhys asked if I was sore after yesterday. Not that it’s any of your business.”

Aidan’s eyebrows jumped while Rhys cleared his throat. “We’re working together at the hotel,” he quietly clarified. “Yesterday, Charli helped me clean the freezer.”

I chuckled, dipping my head to Rhys as I whispered, “You’re far too honest.”

Rhys’ eyes met mine, still looking painfully embarrassed about his choice of phrasing.

Aidan appeared surprised. “You’re working at the hotel?”

“You might not realise, but some people work for a living. Haven’t you ever had a job?”

Aidan rubbed his jaw. “Well, technically, no, but—”

“Is everyone ready to go?” Derek asked as he climbed into the driver’s seat. Our conversation about jobs was cut shortwhen Tristan, Theo, and Nuala huddled into the car, and then Derek was reversing out of the driveway. He turned on the radio, some dance song blasting as we headed down the coastal road towards the next town.

“Are you all right?” I asked Rhys quietly while the others chatted over us. I hadn’t forgotten how stressed he’d seemed staring at his phone earlier.

“I’m okay,” he replied, glancing at me briefly. I got the sense he was lying, but then again, I hardly knew the guy. Whatever was going on with him wasn’t my business even if some part of me wanted to keep prodding.

I looked out the window at the passing scenery, excited to do some sun bathing. I was typically a little tan, but I tanned even more when I spent time in the sun. Next to me, Rhys’ phone vibrated in his pocket. I watched as he pulled it out and glowered. The name “Dad” was on the screen. Rhys ended the call and gruffly shoved the phone back in his pocket. I looked away, wondering why he wasn’t answering his father’s call. Had they gotten into a fight? That would explain why he seemed so stressed.

I just hoped it wasn’t anything too serious.

We arrived at the beach a few minutes later. It took a while for Derek to find a parking spot, and I was surprised to see the beach was already crowded with people. We were clambering out of the car when my phone rang with a call from Mom. Nuala shot me a questioning look, but I motioned for her to go ahead.

“It’s my mom,” I said, holding up the phone. “I’ll catch up with you in a minute.”

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