Summer Love (13 page)

YOU
look at both guys and realize neither one of them is really all that attractive. At least not personality-wise. True, agreeing to get lemonade or a piña colada doesn't mean agreeing to anything more, but why spend your time hanging out with guys who haven't really impressed you very much?

“I think,” you say, eyeing the game on court five, “I'm going to stay here and check out the competition. If Mitch and I are going to win again, I may need to take some notes.”

“I like that competitive spirit,” Mitch says. “Want me to grab you some water?”

You nod, and he and Mila go off to the water-cooler. Dex starts wrapping the grip on his racket with new tape. You busy yourself watching the group of four playing next to you and quickly realize
that you and Mitch will be able to take either pair, no problem. Actually, so will Mila and Dex.

Mitch comes back with the water, and you thank him before chugging it down. It's ice cold and perfect on such a hot day.

“So,” Mitch says, sitting down next to you, “we gonna beat them?”

You nod. “Absolutely.”

Soon the game on court five ends, and you and Mitch start playing against Silas and Greta, who, you find out, have been dating since seventh grade. You win in two sets, the last one a bagel. And Dex and Mila win their game, no problem.

After you all shake hands across the net, Silas and Greta announce that they're going for ice cream. Mitch and Mila have to go meet up with their parents. Dex decides to go to the driving range. And the last doubles pair, Primo and Tala, want to go over to the bar for some virgin daiquiris. They invite you to join, but you decide to head to the pool to see what Tasha and Jade are up to.

DINNER?
Jazz festival? Adam? Yes, yes, and yes!

You know Tasha is probably planning on hanging out with you tonight, but you also know that if you bail for boy reasons, she won't mind. Plus, she's always happy to go out with Jade.

“That sounds fun,” you tell Adam. He smiles, and you smile back, already looking forward to spending more time with him.

“So I'll pick you up at seven,” he says. “I'll be in my mom's lame station wagon—I hope that's okay.”

You laugh. “Of course that's okay! I don't care what kind of car you drive.”

You give him Tasha's parents' address, and the two of you head back to the pool holding hands. When you reach the pool gate, he looks down at his watch.

“I've got to get the triplets in a minute, but I don't
think I can wait until later to do this.”

“Do what?” you ask.

“This,” he says again, as he tips your chin up so you're looking him in the eye. The pull he has on you feels irresistible, and you lean toward him. He bends down and presses his warm lips against yours. He tastes sweet, like Sprite. You wrap your arms around his neck, and he lifts you up so your feet are dangling a few inches off the ground and your body is tight against his. You've always kissed with your eyes closed, but this time you open them and look at his tan skin and perfectly straight eyelashes.

Still holding you up, he pulls his mouth away from yours and opens his eyes.

“See you later,” he says softly, as he lowers you down to the ground.

“See you later,” you say back.

Then he heads to the pool to collect the triplets. And you take a moment to collect yourself before following. You were looking for a fun guy to flirt with, but you're pretty sure you've found something more.

CONGRATULATIONS!

YOU'VE FOUND YOUR HAPPY ENDING!

AS
much fun as you're having with Adam, you're not sure about going out with him later. You like him too much for him to be a one-night fling, and you're worried that with his job and his plans and his living so far away, the two of you don't really have a chance at something real. It's better to say no. Safer to say no. And besides, you don't want to ditch Tasha, even if she'd probably understand.

“I wish I could,” you say, “but I'm hanging out with my cousin tonight.”

“That's too bad,” he says as you head back toward the pool. “Maybe another time?”

“Maybe,” you say. For a minute you wonder if you should change your mind, but then you decide to stick to the choice you made. There are so many guys
around this summer, and Adam's not right for you. At least not right now.

TASHA
and Jade have finished talking about their dorm room decoration, and now they're looking at a “Who Wore It Best?” article in one of Tasha's magazines.

“I totally have this!” Jade squeals, pointing to a cobalt blue drapey dress that two B-list actresses wore to different movie premieres the week before.

Tasha inspects the pictures closely. “Did you wear it with peep-toes like this one, or gladiators, like that one?” she asks Jade.

“Ugh, neither.” Jade waves her hand as if she's fanning away a bad smell. “Strappy gold sandals with heels. I wore it to the prom after-party.”

You look at the pictures yourself, over Tasha's shoulder. “If you wore it with strappy gold sandals, I
think you probably wore it better than both of these girls.”

“Totally,” Tasha says. “How did you wear your hair? And what jewelry? I feel like that's always the most important after shoes.”

Jade reaches into her tote and pulls out her phone. She scrolls through the pictures and lands on one of her in the blue dress with her gold sandals, her hair in a high, curled ponytail with some height in the front, and a thin gold necklace around her neck with a diamond nestled in the hollow of her throat. She had diamond studs in her ears and three bangles on her right wrist: two gold and a cobalt blue one that matched the dress almost perfectly.

“Oh, you totally wore it best,” Tasha says after looking at the picture and zooming in to see Jade's jewelry better.

“Absolutely,” you say. “I mean, seriously, you should've been their stylist. And they should fire the one they have.”

“You know that's what I want to do after college, right?” Jade says to you. “Be a stylist?”

You shake your head. “I didn't know, but I think you'd be amazing.”

Jade leans back against her chaise lounge.
“Thanks,” she said. “It's really my favorite thing to do, you know, putting outfits together, helping people look their best.” Then she looks at you critically. “If you want, I could do you.”

Tasha bonks Jade's knee with the magazine. “Leave my cousin alone—she looks great the way she is.”

You hadn't actually been offended, though. It might be fun to have someone tell you what to wear to make you look best.

“So, cuz,” Tasha says, turning to you, “have you had enough of this country club thing? Want to go to the beach now? I bet there'll be more boys for you to meet. . . .”

“Or you guys can stick here with me,” Jade adds. “Because I've gotta meet my mom in a couple of hours in the spa. And even if you do look beautiful the way you are, I bet I could give you some tips that would make you look even
more
beautiful. . . .”

“SO
why didn't you go with him?” Tasha asks.

You shrug. “I don't know, I guess I didn't want to talk about that guy getting hurt anymore, and I had a feeling he'd want to.”

“He was cute,” Tasha says.

“I know,” you answer, “but there'll be other cute guys around.”

Tasha nods. “Yeah. Want to grab something to eat? Or maybe head back home? I'm kind of done with the sand-and-ocean thing right now.”

After all the excitement down here, you find yourself agreeing with Tasha. Enough with the sand and ocean for the moment.