Page 27 of Courting Clemson

Finally, we both kicked back and quietly enjoyed the warmth of the sun. The rest of the group milled about while others lay on their towels as well. The beach was busy today, but it was the height of summer, and nothing beat the Pacific Ocean for fun and relaxation.

Clemson said, “I could lie here all day just listening to the waves.”

I hummed in agreement because I had been enjoying the same thing. “I like hearing the kids squealing and laughing too. It all seems to be the perfect soundtrack of childhood.”

“Did you come a lot as a kid?” she asked.

I couldn’t remember talking much about not growing up here when we’d met at the shelter. Either that or she forgot.

“I didn’t grow up in California,” I said. “I moved here for college and never went back home.”

“Oh? Where is home, then?”

“Well, I was born in Anchorage. But we moved around a lot when I was young.”

She rolled to face me then, propping herself up on one elbow and creating an amazing view of her breasts. The bathing suit barely contained them in that position, and I hoped she never moved from that exact spot.

“Ahh, military?”

I turned toward her then too. “At first, yes. Then my father got a job with the government, and we moved around just as much.”

“Did that suck? Never planting roots anywhere?”

“I didn’t mind, I guess. Once I was in high school, it was a little worse. But we moved for the last time before my sophomore year, so I had a few years with the same friends. I actually knew most of the people in my graduating class. Before that, I don’t think I could name more than a handful of people that were in the same grade as me.”

When she didn’t immediately follow up with another question, I asked, “What about you? Have you always lived in California?”

“Mmm-hmm. My dad is an accountant.” She rolled her eyes. “Nothing exciting about that, I guess. But I lived in LA my whole life.” She shifted to lean back on both elbows, and I couldn’t help but notice how flat her stomach was.

“Are all these girls on your swim team?” I asked.

“Some are. Those five over there. They’re the ones that know your friends, I think. Grace isn’t on the team, and her other two friends there”—she motioned to the small group of girls splashing around at the water’s edge—“aren’t either.”

Finally, I put two and two together. I wondered if Clemson was one of the girls that Liam had been trying to fix me up with all this time. Every time he tried to coerce me into going out with them, he would say the girls had another single friend that was looking to hook up too.

From the short conversation I had with those girls, though, Clemson seemed nothing like them. It was hard for me to imagine they were close friends. Not like the vibe I got between her and her roommate, at least. In fact, since the moment they all arrived at our spot on the beach together, I hadn’t seen her speak to any of the party-girl gang.

“Do you all hang out a lot? I don’t remember seeing any of them at the shelter,” I said, trying to understand their friendship.

She shook her head. “No. To be honest, I don’t really like them that much.” She nonchalantly motioned to the giggling group talking to Liam and his friends.

“Can I ask why you’re here, then? Sorry if that was rude,” I apologized after registering how off-putting the question sounded. “I’m really glad you are.”

“No need to apologize. It’s kind of a long story. Those three”—she darted her eyes to the same girls again—“have basically been harassing me to hang out with them. Not really sure why, but the ringleader there, well, she can be pretty pushy. So, when they mentioned the beach this morning after practice, I figured it was a good way to get them off my back plus do something I actually enjoyed. I dragged my roommate along for an extra layer of protection and, well…here we are.”

She forced a bright smile, and it was almost painful to witness. I’d seen how radiant her genuine smile was, and this fake one just made me dislike the other girls more. I could sense how uncomfortable she was explaining the situation, and it bothered me.

“Well, I’m glad you decided to come along. It’s funny because my buddy there”—now I motioned toward the same group where Liam stood talking with her teammates—“was pretty much doing the same thing to me. Bugging me constantly to come party with these girls they’d been hanging out with. But that’s just not my scene, you know?”

“I hear you.” She nodded. “I know I’m their same age and all, but clubbing just doesn’t do it for me.” She laughed a bit. “I guess I’m not like other people my own age.”

Time for a topic change. “So what else do you have planned for the summer? I think you said you’re from LA. Headed home for the next couple of months?”

“No,” she said quickly. “I’m staying here in San Diego. I need to get a job, and fast, so I can save up some cash before classes start again.”

It had always been my nature to fix things, so I asked, “What are you looking to do? Maybe I know someone.”

Her reaction concerned me. Maybe I was coming on too strong. She didn’t recoil, necessarily, but I definitely noticed her guard going up. Well, it was too late to take it back, so I just let my offer hang in the air between us.

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