1. Kelsey

"Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad." I didn't think I'd be living at home this summer after graduating from college with my marine biology degree. Except here I am. My parents and I looked at apartments, condos, and even checked the option of purchasing a house. None were feasible, even with roommates. Too many variables could potentially screw me over, fuck my credit up, and still land me at home. Those were my dad's words, which he clearly didn't mince. Needless to say, he won.

"Where are you going?" Mom asks. She's sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee in her hand, floral robe covering her body, and cooling eye patches on. This is her usual. She'll stay up way too late watching a documentary about serial killers. Hence the lazing around when the sun is shining brightly, not a cloud in the sky, and there's a breeze. A rarity in the hot summer months.

"You know she's heading to the marina to help Tara." Dad has already been up, had a cup of coffee, checked at the tide, and is probably planning when he's heading out on the boat. The downfall of where we live is when the tide is low, there's no getting out of the canal that leads to the Gulf of Mexico.

"I am. She needs help at the convenience store with summer picking up." Did I mention I've got this amazing degree and a job doing what I love, but the money is dismal and I need a second job if I'm ever going to move out of my parents" house? So, on the weekends, I work extra shifts and get to see even more of Talon than usual.

"You're forgetting something, young lady," Mom says, eyebrows lifting to her hairline. It's so hard to take her serious with what she's currently wearing. The hair turban seals the deal with her craziness even though it's to help dry her hair; she's truly taking self-care seriously today.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." I'm not sure what she is going to do once I finally move out. Any time I leave, it doesn't matter if it's within walking distance or driving distance, Mom is adamant about giving her a hug every single time. I may give her hell in the moment for being needy, but truth be told, I'd be upset should she ever change her ways.

"That's what I thought." Today's attire for working the convenient store is as little as possible. I may work inside with an air conditioner, but the building doesn't stay very cool; it may as well be off most days. The door opening and closing so often keeps it pretty damn hot and well, sweat happens. Dad lifts an eyebrow of his own as he sees what I'm wearing, or lack of what I'm wearing. Today's outfit is a pair of black biker shorts, a cropped Captain T's shirt, and canvas sneakers. Tara doesn't mind what anyone wears as long as you have clothes on and a shirt with the logo.

"Love you, Mom. Love you, Dad."

"Love you, sweet pea. Where's your water?" Mom asks. She's forty-five and barely looks it. Good genes, eating semi-healthy, and drinking lots of water is what she says keeps her youthful. She doesn't push much on any given thing, except sunscreen and water.

"By the front door, and yes, I'm wearing sunscreen." Did I mention Mom and I are both big on reuse, reduce, recycle? Apparently, my grandma on my mom's side was a big-time maximalist. She was so bad Mom developed what she calls anxiety over-clutter. There were many times Dad would come home after working out of town and the house was cleaned top to bottom, bags of clothes, shoes, and décor stacked at the door. Mom isn't a minimalist by any means; we have furniture, wall hangings, and décor pieces she likes. And never once did she try and make me get rid of things I wasn't ready to let go of. Sure, I donated toys that weren't used, same with clothes, and while I'm an only child, I am not in any way spoiled to the point I need or want a certain lifestyle. We thrift, garage sale, and antique together when we feel the urge. Dad jokes it helps keep his wallet thick for his hobby—saltwater fishing.

"Good girl. Text me later. I think Dad's going fishing, and I'm going to hit the grocery store, maybe meet up with Jessie to gossip about our husbands and kids." Our neighbors to the left are older, adorable, and make me hope that one day, I'll have a marriage like theirs or my parents". Jessie and Al are older than Mom and Dad, have grandkids, and still the four of them get along like there isn't twenty or so years between them. Al and Dad will go fishing together, the ladies will lunch, and when the men folk return, they play cards well into the early hours of the morning.

On the right side though. Well, I'm awarded a pleasure every morning with the view from my balcony. A reason to be an early riser for an entirely selfish reason.

Talon Scott.

Every morning like clockwork, he steps outside of his back door wearing only a pair of shorts, barefoot with a mug of coffee in his hand. I watch as he walks to his dock, looks at the tide, checks on his boat, and does a full-body stretch. He's the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome.

"Can you pick me up a few things? I'll send you money or bring home cash," I offer.

"As long as it's food, we've got no problem buying for you, honey. You know that. Send me what you want." I'm not sure Mom is prepared for the long list. After looking at my finances from my first job, it was clear eating out is going to have to be kept to a minimum. Therefore, I'll be bringing my lunch for the entirety of my life.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." With the heat hitting record-breaking temperatures this early in the summer, the days are hot and the nights are hotter. Especially when I'm in bed by myself envisioning what Talon would do to me if he let himself go.

"We're fine. You wouldn't let us help with college. The least we can do is provide you with room and board, pick up some food, and breathe comfortably knowing where you sleep at night," Dad says, killing the moment of me thinking about Talon. He's not wrong, though. I didn't let them pay for my schooling. Scholarships and grants covered the majority; everything else I worked the weekends to pay for. Dad may have huffed and puffed at times, yet I also saw the pride shining through when he thought no one was watching. He did things his way too, working from the ground up, digging ditches to now being the engineer he is on the cusp of retirement. Still, he won't stop. Dad told both of us he'll do contract work to keep busy and I believe him.

"Fine, fine. I'm out of here, or I'm going to be late. I'll send you a text with my list. Thank you, love you." Mom kisses the side of my head. I pull away and head toward Dad. I know if I pass him up, he'll give me a ration of hell. And I don't have a whole heck of a lot of time at this point.

"Love you, too," he says as I give him quick hug and kiss, then I'm walking through the living room, heading toward the front door to grab my water. I look down at my watch, noting the time. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Talon.