Page 15 of Finding Fate

“Just forget it, Annie,” Izzy bit out. “I’ll just keep my dates to myself if Wesley bothers you that much.”

Annie’s jaw clenched in frustration. “I didn’t want to make you mad, Izzy, but if you thought Jet was doing something I’d be upset about, I’d want you to tell me. I was just trying to return the favor.”

“Well, maybe you should trust me to make my own choices instead,” Isabel fumed. “I like Wesley. That’s that.”

“That’s what?” Jet asked as they approached the girls.

“Don’t worry about it,” Izzy replied, dialing back her irritation for the guys. “Y’all are done surfing already?”

“Hungry,” Jet grinned, rubbing his stomach.

“Crap! It’s almost lunch already?” Izzy jumped up and grabbed one of the nearby bags. “Guys! Come get something to eat!” she called out.

“Don’t stare. Don’t stare. Don’t stare.”Tucker repeated to himself as their siblings ran up for juice packs and sandwiches. Izzy was in her little, purple bikini with the pink polka dots and the strings. It had been a few weeks since he’d had a normal reaction around her. There was no telling how he might react with her wearing that.

“You want one, Tucker?” she held out a sandwich. He shook his head, trying desperately not to look. Looking would involve wrestling those unwanted, confusing feelings, the ones he just couldn’t shake. “Because you want her.” He froze at the thought.

“So Izzy, when are you and Wesley leaving for the movies?” Annie asked, meeting Tucker’s shocked gaze. A jolt of anger surged through his chest, and he gripped the back of his neck. Annie smirked.

“Drop it, sis,” Izzy snapped. “Where’s Tyler?”

“Over here!” Tyler called out. “I can’t get out!”

They looked over to see him buried from neck to toe, the sand molded into a mermaid’s tail from the waist down, a seashell bra sculpted at the top. Tucker tilted his head back and laughed uproariously.

“Oh yeah, sorry; I forgot,” Chris said sheepishly.

“Don’t worry; we’ll get him,” Jet said to the twins. He and Tucker laid their surfboards down and rushed over.

“Alright, little man, let’s get you out of this,” Jet said to Tyler as they started digging away at the sand that was pinning the youngest Dearly down. Tyler continued to wiggle furiously until he broke free.

“Woo! Finally! Thanks, guys.”

“No problem, Ty. Now, let’s go get your lunch,” Tucker clapped his shoulder as they headed back.

“Thanks,” Izzy said as she handed her brother his food.

“No prob; we’re gonna head out,” Jet replied, grabbing his board.

“Hang on!” Annie jumped up to give Jet a kiss. “See ya later, babe.”

“Ewww!” Chris and Tyler groaned.

“Shut it,” Annie replied, leaning in again.

“Come on, man,” Tucker urged Jet away from his girlfriend. He needed to get away from Izzy and fast. “Let’s get to the diner before it’s packed.”

* * *

Tucker’s wave of relief was short when they left, noticing the weird looks Jet started sending his way as they drove. He kept his eyes firmly on the road, his hands alternating between gripping his neck and the wheel. He needed food first if Jet was going to start digging. They pulled up to Bob’s Diner a few minutes later; a cross between coastal and early 90’s theme, it had the best burgers in town. Tucker’s stomach rumbled at the smells flowing from the kitchen as they headed inside.

He nodded ‘hey’ when he spotted Wesley with a couple of friends near the counter but was thankful when Jet turned down the invite to join, spotting a group of friends in the large corner booth for them to eat with instead.

Jet took the last booth seat, so Tucker pulled up and straddled a chair at the end, running his hand through the sun-bleached strands that fell over his forehead. “Sup, guys?”

“Dudes,” Corey Peters greeted them with a fist bump. “Just telling everyone about my party next weekend. My dad’s gonna be out of town, so the beach house is free.”

“If it’s anything like the one you had spring break, count me in,” Kyle O’Brian grinned, his freckles stark against his pale skin and bright red hair. “Epic,” he praised.

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