Page 2 of We Thought We Were Invincible
“Two things. First, that you're full of shit. Second that I don't believe you actually have a thought in your head.”
“Why aren't we friends?” he asked, grinning.
“Because I hate you.”
“Are you two fighting again?” Jayden came up behind me and draped a lazy arm over my shoulders.
“He's just being his usual douche-like self.” I turned away from Jamie to look at his brother. “I should go. I promised Kat I'd be at the diner for the Saturday morning rush.”
“Waves are dying out here, anyway,” Jamie said. “Some of your aunt's waffles sound good right about now.”
“Ugh, that was not an invitation for you to come.”
I led Jayden across the beach. We climbed over the rocks that sat between the sand and the gravelly parking lot, stopping when we reached my pickup truck. It'd seen better days - peeling red paint made that obvious - but we were old friends.
Jay threw my board in the back as I stripped off my rash guard. He didn't surf, but he loved the beach so he was usually up for hanging.
I grabbed my clothes from the front seat and pulled on a black t-shirt and knee length jean shorts over my bathing suit. Brushing my hands through my sopping light brown locks, I twisted them into a single braid that hung over my shoulder before hoisting myself into the truck beside Jay.
He leaned in to brush his lips over mine and frowned. “Our last beach day of the summer.”
“I wish you didn't have to leave,” I whispered. “This summer has been so much fun.”
He leaned back and stared at me, his lips curving up. “Anyone ever tell you that your eyes look golden when the sun hits them?”
“If you don't want to talk about leaving…”
“You're beautiful.” He reached out and ran a hand over the top of my head. “I love how the sun lightens the top of your head. That's how I know the surf has been good. Your hair changes color.”
“Jay.” I pushed his hand away, coughing uncomfortably. “You remember the deal.”
“I do.” He nodded and looked out the window as I started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot. “Okay then, how about this? I'm only going to be a few hours away, and I'm sure I'll come home from school for visits and stuff. If both of us are single, let's go out when I'm here.”
I glanced sideways and smiled. “It's a date.” I didn't say that it would only be a matter of if he was single because I doubted I'd be anything else.
I didn't like people. My Aunt Kat laughed about it as if it was some big joke. She was socially adept in a way I could never hope to be. Even my twin brother Colby, in his quiet way, had mad skills in the area.
I was different. I preferred my solitude to anything else. That's why I loved the ocean. It gave me strength, peace.
Then there was Jay. He'd been such a huge part of my life. So had Jamie whether or not I liked it. We'd all been friends since before I could remember.
Unlike Jamie, Jay had always been there for me. He was about to start college and when school ended for the summer, we'd tested our friendship on a new level before he left. It was nice… but I didn't feel the things I think I was supposed to feel. I loved the guy, just not in that way.
I parked in front of the diner that was already half-full with hungry tourists. Checking the clock on my phone, I realized I was over an hour late.
Jay followed me in and sat at the counter as Kat stood in front of me, hands on hips.
“You and Allison.” She shook her head, unable to hide a grin.
Allison was my mother and the namesake of Ally's diner. Kat liked to tell me I reminded her of Mom, her sister.
“I hope the surf was good at least.” She tossed me an apron which I caught mid-air.
“It was.”
“Table five needs their order taken.” And just like that, my tardiness was forgotten.
Kat was good like that. Colby and I were twelve when mom died. Our dad was never in the picture and Kat was the only family we had. She was a twenty-eight-year-old travel photographer who lost her older sister. Her response? She quit her adventurous job and moved to the small town of Gulf City, Florida to take care of two heartbroken and lonely kids and one failing diner.
