Page 9 of Stephan

I had no idea so I looked to Cassie. “We aregoing to go to the beach. It’s such a nice day. A bit cool, butstill hot enough to have a dip and sunbathe.”

“Sounds good, sweetie. You can take the car.But your brother asked for it tonight.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Cassie said. “Derick andStephan are having a party tonight we’re going too. Scott said he’dpick up Stacy and Renee. The others are meeting us there.” Cassie’sfather opened his mouth but Cassie put up her hand to stop what hewas saying.

“Before you worry, we are going with Scott.You know the Silverman boys.”

“Okay. Promise me you’ll call no matter what,even if you need picking up or just want to leave.”

Cassie beamed. “Promise.”

For once in a long time jealousy flowedthrough me. I’d never had anyone care about me enough to give meoptions like Cassie’s father. The love was obvious between fatherand daughter. I hoped Cassie knew how lucky she was to have suchcaring parents. I decided I would say something. I hadn’t toldCassie much about my life before moving here, just the basics likemy mother died and I didn’t have any other relatives beside mygrandpa and I didn’t know my own father. Cassie hadn’t pried much,she’d been more interested in what my other high school was likeand my friends. I‘d tell her a little bit, enough to understand shewas extremely lucky.

After eating, we changed into our swimmers.Cassie grabbed towels, sunscreen, and the keys off the hook by thefront door and we headed for the car. She jumped in the driver'sside and I got in the passenger, chucking the towels and sunscreenin the back. Cassie started the car and backed out of the drive andwe were heading toward the beach.

“You’re really lucky you know, to haveparents like you do.”

Cassie smiled. “I know. My brother’s not toobad either. What was your mother like?”

“Not like yours. My mum would never have saidanything like your father did. I don’t think she ever asked where Iwas going when I went out. I stayed at friends places and sometimesdidn’t come home for days. She didn’t even seem to notice I wasgone. I remember one time she was dating this guy and they wereboth high as kites. He got angry at something she did, probablystole money from him and he started beating her. When I called thecops and ambulance, the paramedic asked her a bunch of questions, Iremember her saying she had no children. Another similar time shedid the opposite and screamed I was a slut and no daughter of hersand went crazy attacking me. The cops pulled her off me.”

I hadn’t realized the car had stopped. Ishook my head out of memory lane and turned to Cassie, she hadtears rolling down her eyes and she was gripping the steering wheelso tight her knuckles were white. “I’m glad your mother is dead.She sounds like a selfish bitch.”

I flinched at her hard words. They wereharsh. I didn’t hate my mother. I never had anyone else so I didn’tknow what I was missing. It wasn’t until I started staying over atfriends’ houses that I noticed my mother was different.

Cassie threw herself across the car andhugged me. I was stiff in her arms. Not many people hugged me, mybest friend, Jess, from my old life and a couple of other friends,but not many. I‘d learned at a young age to avoid touch. It didn’tusually have a positive meaning.

Making myself relax I, slowly wrapped my armsaround Cassie. She hiccupped and hugged me tighter. I had no ideahow long I was supposed to hold her so I waited for her to let mego first.

Cassie took a deep breath, loud against myear. “Let’s go before we miss out on any more sun.” She let me goand I grabbed the towels and sunscreen before getting out of thecar.

We walked down the beach and I was surprisedat how packed it was. The shore was lined with families, teens, andcouples, some were swimming and others sunbathing. Cassie stoodstill and looked around.

“Do you have a certain spot or are youlooking for someone?”

“Both. I’m looking for the best view.”

I raised my eyebrow. “What do you meanview?”

“We don’t want to be with the families or thecouples. We want to sit with the hot singles. So both.”

I couldn’t help laughing at Cassie’s logic. Imay not want a boyfriend or any man, but it didn’t stop me fromlooking.

Cassie tugged on my arm and we walked to ourleft away from the flags. We sat on the edge of the safe swimmingflags, right behind a group of what looked to be university guys. Irolled my eyes. Cassie was full of surprises.

We’d been at the beach for half an hour,enough time to set up and put sunscreen on both our bodies. Beforetoday I didn’t realize how putting sunscreen on a friend’s backcould be such a turn on, but it got the guys’ attention in front ofus.

Cassie and I now sat among four universityguys in their early twenties. I tried not to be nervous or show howuncomfortable I was because I knew Cassie loved the attention.Cassie called Patricia, Renee, Stacy, and Racheal and they were ontheir way. I hoped when they arrived I could fade into thebackground.

Cassie’s phone rang and she rushed to answerit. “Hello. Nope. Jade and I are at the beach. Aha. Okay. See ya.”She hung up.

“Who was that?”

“Scott, he wanted to know where we were. Heprobably wants the car.”

I nodded. One of the Uni guys, Brent, wastrying to talk to me. I just wasn’t interested. The guys were niceto look at but I didn’t feel any real attraction to them. An imageof Stephan, the wanker, flashed before me and my body heated. Itouched my lips as memories of the kiss assaulted me. I’d neverbeen kissed like Stephan had kissed me. My mother’s ‘friends’ hadkissed me but they had been sloppy and I always felt sick in thestomach when they were doing it. I hadn’t felt like that withStephan, I felt the opposite. I inwardly sighed with happiness,because I’d been worried after what all those men tried to do I’dnever be able to feel anything for someone of the opposite sex. Iworried I was broken.

Closing my eyes, I let the image of Stephansurface, his big ocean blue eyes, and thick jet-black hair thatfell just past his eyes. It made me want to reach up and brush itto the side. His killer dimples were lethal and I knew they couldget him out of any situation with a woman, all he would have to dowas smile and they would damn near swoon at his feet. I’d almostgiven in to him, to the temptation he was to me, but I knew I hadto be strong. I heard about the Silverman brothers at school andwhat I’d heard about Stephan made me know he wasn’t for me. Hewould use me and break my heart. Oh, I knew I could get sucked inand fall for him. He was every teenager’s dream—at least most Iknew.

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