Chapter 2

Itrudged through the sand in my sneakers, finding a spot on the beach just out of reach from the waves to sit. I slipped my phone from my pocket and called my mom.

She picked up on the first ring. "Peyton?"

"Mom?"

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Are you?"

She was slow to respond. "I'm getting there."

"I wish I'd known you weren't here…"

"I'm sorry for that," she said.

"I would've flown to Alabama," I explained. "I still can."

"I know. But…I think you and your father have some unresolved issues that you need to work out."

"You set me up?" I asked, unable to believe she'd do something like that to me. I was just as hurt as she was.

"I couldn't bring myself to go back there," she admitted. "I need time."

I closed my eyes. The pain in her voice broke my heart. "I understand."

"I love you, Honey," my mom said.

"I love you, too," I said before switching off my phone.

I lay back on the sand unsure how to feel about what she'd said. I knew my father and I had unresolved issues. But if I wanted to resolve them, I would have shown up for Thanksgiving or come home for Christmas break or arrived in May when my junior year ended instead of going overseas.

But I hadn't.

Because I didn't want to resolve the issues.

"Peyton?"

I sat up as my next-door neighbor Gina hurried out from her path. We'd grown up together at the beach. She'd been my partner in crime over the years. And though we clicked over our love for the beach, we were as opposite as they came. I was Chucks and band T-shirts, and she was wedges and sundresses.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, sitting down beside me and tucking her sundress under her as she did. She'd cut her long dark hair to her shoulders and it looked curlier than it had over the years. "I thought you were going to be gone all summer?"

"Long story."

"Is everything okay? Are you okay?" she asked, always concerned about me.

"Aside from finding out my mom's in Alabama and my room's been given away, I've never been better," I lied.

She winced. "If it's any consolation, I'm happy you're here."

"That bad without me?" I asked.

"You have no idea," she said.

I stared out at the waves, realizing how much I missed the ocean while I was overseas.

"So, tell me why you're back," Gina pressed.

I sifted sand through my fingers. "Well, I expected gorgeous scenery, amazing food, and an epic love story sweeping countries."

"And?" she prompted.

"And, what I got was dirty hostels, too much food, and no love story."

"That sucks."

"Not for Mel. She met an Italian guy and took off with him once we reached Amsterdam."

Her eyes widened. "Seriously?"

I nodded.

"I'm sorry. I know you never wanted to be back under the same roof as—"

"Had I known my mother was with my grandmother, I would've flown to Alabama instead. I still might."

"But I just got you back," Gina argued.

"I know, it's just…"

"I understand," Gina said, knowing what I'd been through last summer and why I wouldn't want to return—especially without my mother here. "So, you've met Crew?"

My eyes skipped to hers. "Have you?"

"Just in passing. But I can't say I wouldn't like to get to know him better," she laughed.

"He's a pig," I snapped.

"How do you know?" she asked.

"I walked in on him and some girl."

She wrinkled her nose. "No way."

"It was not the welcome home I expected."

"Are you really gonna leave?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I can't coexist with him."

She didn't ask which one. I guess it was clear I meant both of them. "I'm sorry," she said, and I couldn't miss the sadness in her tone.

I knew Gina relied on me for her fun over the summer, and up until now, I'd abandoned her. I guess I was no better than Mel. I watched the waves crashing in front of us for a long time. Could I stay for the rest of the summer? Could I avoid my father and Crew? Could I allow myself to be happy in a house that brought back bad memories—at least since last summer? "Let's go out."

Gina's eyes lit up. "What?"

"We'll hit the bars. We deserve a night out."

She smiled, and I could see how grateful she was for the offer.

Even though every part of my body wanted to curl up in bed because I was exhausted, jetlagged, and pissed I was there and my mom wasn't, I'd do it for Gina.

"Let's meet out front at nine," she said, pushing herself to her feet.

"Okay," I said, standing up beside her.

We parted ways by the path. I headed to my back patio, stopping where the broken chair should've been. I twisted around, seeking any of its remnants, but someone had cleaned it up.

I could see my father through the kitchen windows. In no mood for another run-in, I circled the house to the front door, climbed the stairs to the second floor, and headed to get my suitcase from my room.

"You people don't knock in this house?"

I stopped short a few feet into my room. Crew lay on my bed staring at the phone in his hand. I huffed my frustration. "Let's get something straight. This is my room. And I'm only gonna play nice because…well because I don't need any more aggravation here." I snatched up the handle of my suitcase and rolled it into my bathroom. If he thought I'd be giving up that easily, he was sorely mistaken. I slammed the bathroom door shut for the whole house to hear and locked it behind me.

I rummaged through my suitcase for a clean shirt and cutoffs. There wasn't a chance in hell I was leaving this bathroom until I was clean and dressed for a night out. If he needed it, he could use the guest bathroom.

In the shower, I let the water rain over me for a long time. The water pressure overseas was lacking the power I needed. I lifted Crew's bottle of shampoo to my nose. Sandalwood. Figures. I placed it back down and used my own products on my hair and body, then grabbed a towel from the white linen chest.

After I dried off, I shimmied into my shirt and cutoffs. As my hair dried, I could see the beachy waves return. I'd been accustomed to just pulling it up in a ponytail when I was in Europe, so I'd forgotten how nice it felt to wear it down. I brushed on minimal makeup and slipped on my flip-flops. It was eight-thirty, so I closed my suitcase and opened the door. Crew wasn't in my room when I stepped out.

Smart move on his part.