Chapter 6

At eight-forty-five, I anxiously wandered the aisles at the IGA. Art had said the party was BYOB, but I normally didn't drink a ton, and I didn't know what type of partier Nathan was. He didnt appear interested in going. Hell, I didn't even know if he was going to show up. I stood by the beer coolers at the back. My fingers twitched at my sides as my heart rate picked up, thinking through all the scenarios that could happen if he did.

I grabbed a pack from the shelf, and like my body knew whenever he was near, I looked up at the presence next to me. And there he was. God, Nathan had always been hot, but he was even better now. Fluorescent lighting didn't do anyone any favors, but it made his light brown hair stand out against his slightly tanned skin. His brown eyes trailed the case before he looked at the six-pack in my hand and grabbed another.

"So, do I know the person having this party?"

I shrugged, my throat dry, and closed off at his nearness.

Art met this young couple down at the beach and convinced them to hold the event. When he sent me the address, I recognized it as one of Drew's properties, which irritated me. It wasn't unusual to have to clean up after rowdy renters, but I rarely contributed to the mess.

The trip through the store was unbelievably awkward. It didn't help that I had no clue what to say to him. I was mostly still pissed, but I also wanted to at least figure out how to propose the idea I'd come up with earlier. There was nothing wrong with a little summer fun.

After we paid for the beers, Nathan led me to his car and I slid into the passenger seat. He started the engine, but didn't pull out of the parking lot. We sat there in continued silence until I couldn't take it anymore.

"What do you want me to say?"

Nathan laughed, his twinkling eyes turning in my direction. "You have to tell me where we're going."

My face heated in embarrassment. Of course, I hadn't told him. "Right. It's going to be off Ocean Crest Avenue. It's literally right next to the jetty."

Nathan nodded before backing out of his parking spot and pulling onto the main road. The radio was off and the continued quiet made my skin crawl. Why the hell did everything have to be so weird between us? It was possible it was all in my head, given that Nathan acted as if everything was fine.

By the time the car turned onto the road, which would take us all the way down to the jetty, I couldn't do the silence anymore. "So... how have things been back in Seattle?"

Nathan let out an airy chuckle before he shook his head. "It's been okay, I guess. Not having the best of luck finding a job. That's why I'm out here. If you ask me, college is a big-ass joke. Aiden is going to be starting in the fall and he won't listen to me that maybe he should go to a trade school instead."

I just nodded along dumbly, like I had any clue what he was talking about. At least I remembered his brother. When we were younger, they were inseparable. I wondered if they were still close. Nathan was protective. No one messed with Aiden without going through him first.

"Can't say I can relate."

He sighed before glancing at me and then back at the road. "I can't believe you stayed out here. You had no other dreams?"

I shrugged before looking out the window and watching the houses along the beach pass us by. Suddenly, I wasn't as eager to fill the silence anymore. The point wasn't to get close to him again. I simply needed to tolerate him for the summer. That was it.

The drive to the house should've been quick, but it felt like time was dragging on.

"I didn't mean to pry. You don't owe me anything."

I nodded, still saying nothing until we pulled up to the house. The street was lined with cars as people in all sorts of party attire made their way to the entrance. Nathan killed the engine and, just like back at the store, neither of us made a move. My fingers itched to grab the door handle the longer we sat in silence.

"Why did you really invite me to this, Chase?"

I chewed at my lip, watching a couple walk past us, laughing with their arms linked together. They were so carefree and happy, and I wished things were that simple for me all the time.

"Because we might as well not hate each other all summer?" My reasoning was flimsy at best, and the way his eyebrows raised into his hairline showed he wasn't buying it.

"I never hated you..."

I couldn't listen to it. The handle gave under my hand as I pushed the door open and climbed out of the car. The cool ocean breeze blasted my face, and I had to grab my hat from blowing from my head. The smell of the salt spray was always comforting, and I leaned against the side of the car until I heard Nathan get out as well. Was I being a coward? Maybe a little.

I opened the backseat, grabbed the two six-packs, and made my way to the front door of the house, Nathan on my heels the entire way.