Page 76 of Told You So
Mac and Sam peer back at us, smiles engulfing their faces, though they falter a bit when they see me. I’m not surprised by it, though my reaction to the way my presence affects them stirs my unwanted insecurities back into place.
“It’s about time, sleepy head,” Mac says, shielding her eyes with her hand.
Nick flashes them a full-faced smile. “It’s not easy looking this good. I needed my beauty rest.”
“Oh, I’ve seen you first thing in the morning. I know all about it,” she teases and we make our way over to the blanket.
When I meet Mac’s gaze, it’s more curious than I expect, less thwarted. “Hi, Bethany,” she says.
“Hey,” is about all I can manage as Nick and I drop the ice chest beside the others on the sand.
When Sam finally looks at me, she offers me a small smile but doesn’t say anything. She’s still uncertain how she feels about me, I’ve noticed. Yesterday’s civil conversation was for Jesse and Nick’s benefit, and she’s fine when we talk about design stuff, but the past still lingers, and so does Sam’s dislike for me, even if she’s trying.
“Oh, look, you got him out of bed!” Reilly says, jogging up to the group. He’s all easy smiles and bright blue eyes as he glances between us.
Reilly could make things awkward if he wanted, especially after my friend Claire kissed him and caused a scene between him and Sam last summer. She’d wanted a final summer fling before she moved away, but Sam walking up on them during Claire’s brave moment wasn’t part of the fantasy. Mortification was what Claire got instead of Reilly. He got his girl, though, and he just smiles and acts like it never happened at all.
Reilly tosses Nick the volleyball. “How are things?” He looks Nick directly in the eye. I get the impression he’s talking about Turner family drama, and I busy myself, pulling my hair up into a ponytail.
“Fine,” Nick says, tossing the ball back to Reilly. “Annoying.”
“Time for another Tetris night?” Reilly lifts his brow, hopeful, and I drop my beach bag onto the sand.
“Oh, you want to get your ass handed to you again?” Nick asks. “Fine, then. Let’s do it.”
“It’s always a competition,” Sam says, handing Reilly a bottle of water. He chugs it down, then gasps for breath and glances between me and Nick. “You guys should come play some ball. Brush some of those cobwebs off from being so sedentary and hunched over your textbooks.”
“I’m down,” Nick says. He glances at me, his eyebrows dancing. “You want to play?”
I look from him to Mac and Sam, situating themselves on the blanket. As much as I’d like to play with the guys to avoid the awkwardness that awaits me here, I know it won’t earn me any points with the girls, so I shake my head. “Maybe later, when everyone’s ready to play.”
Nick nods and jogs after Reilly, toward the net. I’m not sure why I have the sudden need to get Mac and Sam’s approval, but I feel like I do, especially if Nick and I are going to be friends. I don’t want it to always be weird. Plus, I’m not as indifferent as I used to be. Iwantthem to like me, and maybe I’m tired of letting people form their own, misguided opinions of me, too.
“Here,” Mac says. She pats the empty space between her and Sam. “Take a load off. Catch some rays—it feelsreallygood.” She pulls her t-shirt off and then her shorts, revealing a full body most girls would kill for and most guys want to get their hands on.
She stretches back, completely oblivious. “Come on, Sam doesn’t bite, I promise.” Mac pats the blanket again and adjusts herself, her eyes closed behind her sunglasses.
“Okay, sure.” I tug my sundress over my head, feeling the nip of the breeze against my skin, but I like it. It’s something else to focus on instead of the thick silence that seems to mask the sound of seagulls and crashing waves off in the distance.
Sitting down between them, I wonder if Mac put me in the middle on purpose as I pull out my sunblock. It doesn’t matter why she did it.Today’s about having fun.That’s what Nick keeps telling me, and it’s what I keep repeating to myself over and over.
“That lotion smells amazing,” Mac says. “What is it, lilac?”
I nod, realizing she probably can’t see me against the backdrop of the sun. “Yeah. It’s a new product we got in at the salon. It’s overpriced, but it doesn’t smell like coconut, which is nice. Everything in the salonalwayssmells like coconut.”
“Yeah, that’s annoying.”
With a sigh, Sam turns onto her stomach, pulling her braid off her back. “This feelssooogood,” she groans. “I can’t remember the last time I went sunbathing.”
“See, Sam? I told you it would feel good to relax.” Mac looks at me and shakes her head. “You wouldn’t believe how hard it is for me to get this girl to pamper herself once in a while. I’ve gotten one mani-pedi with her in the last year.One.”
I smile, appreciating Mac’s easiness around me.
“I guess that happens when you’re so busy,” Sam says on a sigh.
“No—not true at all.” Mac scoffs. “I’m always busy, yet I still find the time.”
With a laugh, Sam wipes the sweat from her forehead. “But you’re high maintenance. I’m not.”
