Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Sally
“Ella, who knew a bad bitch like yourself could bake something so good?” Casey sings out praise for Ella as my stoic sister tries not to blush.
“Are you sure you should be eating cookies before we even have dinner?” Piper chastises her best friend, which is just met with a devilish grin.
“I had help from Mimi, but don’t ask Sally to cook because she burns water.”
Now, it’s my turn to blush. “Ariella!”
The whole group laughs, and even I find myself smiling.
Ella and I baked cookies after asking the girls what they were all brining to the picnic. Out of the four of my siblings here Ella is the cook while Mimi loves to bake. Leon and I typically just sit there and look pretty.
“Well, if the boys would stop trying to prove how big their penises are, we could eat.” Casey looks over at Carter, her new boyfriend. Then she looks at the three of us. “I obviously don’t need to know anything about our friends’ sex lives, but god, it’s like Carter was made for me.”
Piper shakes her head and opens her second Truly can.
Ella looks at the boys, passing a football between the four of them. Her knee bounces as she follows it back and forth. She wants to jump in with them, but she doesn’t have that many female friends and has always had trouble making them.
She wants to be friends with Piper and Casey, but she also wants to do what she loves.
“So how have have things been with Oliver?” Casey asks and I feel my cheeks heat up as the image of us in the shower comes up again. I swear I think about it daily.
“We’ve been good. I’m just trying not to think about the end of the summer.”
Casey frowns. “You know you don’t have to break up right?”
I give her a sad smile not knowing what else to say because we do have to break up.
“So, how has Jaxon been?” Piper asks out of no where.
Ella is just as surprised by the question. “Fine.”
“You’re the only one he’s hooked up with this summer, which is surprising, given he’s usually one of the top fuck-boys. The tourists love him.”
Ella gives an uneasy look to Casey, who looks more casual about the topic of conversation. You’d assume she had nothing to do with Jaxon, but Oliver told me about their history, and I told Ella just in case something happened.
“We’ve just kissed.”
“Wait, what?”
“No way!” Piper and Casey look at Ella, dumbfounded.
“I don’t know, it just never really gets past kissing and cuddling.”
“That’s so unlike Jaxon. He’s always been the fuck-first-talk-later type,” Piper adds.
“I should know,” Casey laughs before nibbling on another cookie.
I don’t even know what to add to the conversation.
“Maybe it means he’s not thinking with his dick anymore.”
My eyes wander to Oliver as he passes the ball to Tyler.
“I really am happy for you both,” Casey says. “Oliver deserves the best because he always tries his best to make everyone happy. Please give him a chance.”
I look back at Oliver and try my best not to frown.
He’s been weird since yesterday. I thought something was up when he randomly said he needed to help Jaxon with something at the garage.
I was trying not to have an anxious freak out, but then he came back to pick me up for the picnic and even kissed me on the lips.
“Are you jocks ready to eat yet?” Casey yells at the boys, and they make their way to the table.
My eyes never stray from Oliver as the food is passed around. He places a plate full of mac ‘n’ cheese, enchiladas, a slice of pizza, and a cookie in front of me.
I don’t have an appetite, though. Even as everyone eats around me, I just watch Oliver until his hand lands on my thigh.
My breath hitches, and he gives me a half smile and another peck on the lips. I want more, but for now, I’ll take it.
I’m going to tell him tonight.
My nerves have been on fire since the picnic. Oliver felt off the whole time, but he still kept his hand on me.
Even with his presence by me, it still feels off.
I don’t like this at all.
The truth needs to come out soon. My deal was I’d tell him when I leave, but that’s because of my cowardice.
I’m going to tell him tonight. I need to tell him tonight. Even if he rejects me, it needs to happen.
“I can’t believe it’s already the last cove fire of the season!” Casey exclaims, holding onto Carter’s arm as they walk down the sandy trail.
They lead the group, with Oliver and I trailing all the way in the back.
“You know we’re going to have our own personal send-off bonfire, right?” Piper says, not giving Casey the reaction she deserves.
“I just want everyone to see how hot we are. I mean, all of us are in relationships.”
Tyler let out a light chuckle. “Pretty sure they know, but we can take a squad pic.”
“Yes!” Casey exclaims.
Carter places a kiss on her cheek, which causes her to become visibly flustered. Ella looks back at me from her spot next to Jaxon. Out of all the couples, they are the only ones not physically touching. I’m not even sure they are dating yet.
Not that Oliver and I are dating.
“You doing okay?”
My head snaps toward Oliver’s voice. He’s looking down at me with the same unreadable expression from before.
I should be the one asking him what’s happening. Lying won’t help anything, but talking right here isn’t the place for the conversation I’m about to push on him.
“Yeah, I just want you to myself.” I give my best smile.
Oliver’s jaw ticks a little before looking forward.
“Oliver, can we talk when everyone walks off?”
My question hangs in the air for a second before he nods, and we continue forward until the fire comes into view. I’m about to say something to Ella, to let her know where I’ll be when Oliver grabs my hand and starts leading me away from the group.
“I actually need to get something off my chest too.” His tone is far more serious than the usual casual flare he possesses.
He wipes his hands against his shorts before looking past me at Lake Michigan.
“Okay.”
Oliver lets out a nervous breath before bringing his eyes to mine. There’s something in there I’m trying to piece together. Where is his head at right now? Oliver has always worn his emotions on his sleeve, but tonight, there’s nothing there.
“I need to see my friend again. I want to apologize to them before moving on.”
Apologize?
“Why do you need to apologize?” My brain starts to file through my memories from back then. Nothing is popping up.
“A few days before CPS took them away. My friend told me they were scared because their dad might hit them.”
The memories flood back. That night, my parents were arguing, and my dad was angrier than normal. I should have shut myself into my room that night, but some part of my head thought maybe Dad would like me more if I comforted him.
It was all a mistake. My presence irritated him even more. Maybe part of the fantasy was me still trying to convince myself it wasn’t me that drove my parents to the edge, but Damian threatened his own child.
A few days later, Child Protective Services showed up to ask questions, and my birth parents didn’t even try to lie to them. Just like that, I wasn’t their kid anymore.
Oliver’s eyes stay on me, almost studying my reaction before continuing. “I was so scared for them. I thought it would be a wake-up call for their parents, but it wasn’t. They took my friend, and that’s what’s been holding me back.”
Before I can even think, I’m saying, “Thank you.” Tears prick my eyes. “Thank you.”
“S—”
Cutting him off, my lips connect to his. It only takes a moment before he’s kissing me back, trying to deepen the kiss. His nervous hands from before wrap around my waist, pulling me further into his body.
“Thank you so much,” I whisper, pushing my face into his chest with one last inhale like this might be the last time I get to smell him. “You saved me. You were always my hero. Even in the end, it stayed true. Because of you, I was able to find my real family.”
I look up, seeing the swirl of emotions clouding his sea-green eyes before pulling away. This is the true test of our relationship.
“Oliver, that was—”
“I know,” he says before hanging his head, avoiding my gaze. I need him to look at me. I need to feel his gaze on me, even if it's full of anger.
“When did you find out?” It's the only question on my mind right now.
“I read one of the letters your mom wrote to you.” Oliver sounds almost ashamed that he read them, but I can’t be mad at him for it. I’ve been lying to him for the past two months.
“Oliver—”
“Look who it is!”
My stomach drops at the nauseating voice I hate more than anything. With whatever strength I can muster, my head turns to see an obviously drunk Dalton standing a few feet away from us.
I was so consumed in the moment with Oliver that I didn’t even notice his approach.
“Dalton, what are you doing here?”
“Dalton?” Oliver growls, and I curse myself for saying his name. “This is Dalton?”
“Oh, she told you about me.” He sounds content with himself. “Did she also tell you she’s actually a dude?”
Right as he says the last part, the music cuts off, allowing his voice to carry throughout the beach.
Oliver turns toward him, gnashing his teeth together like a raging beast.
“Your girlfriend actually has a dick,” Dalton laughs again. “Holy shit, Simon.”
My dead name leaves his mouth, and everything goes still. It feels weird to hear a name you haven’t gone by for years suddenly be used to address you. It doesn’t stop the gut punch that causes me to nearly lose all the food I ate at the picnic.
The next round of nausea hits when my eyes reach the bonfire. Everyone is staring at the scene before them.
No, they don’t care about a drunk guy yelling. Their eyes aren’t on him. All of them are on me. Even Oliver’s friends look confused. The only one not stunned is Ella.
“I’m going to beat your fucking ass!” she screams, charging forward before Jaxon wraps his arms around her waist.
Dread rolls over me.
My feet move, carrying me toward the trail, away from the fire. I need to leave. This whole thing was a mistake. All of it. I should have scrapped the plan and just let the house rot. Let the memories of my birth parents rot like they deserved.
“Wait!” Oliver’s voice calls after me. “Sim—”
“No!” I scream back at him. “Don’t you fucking dare say that name to me!”
Oliver’s face pales, realizing what he was about to say. I can’t hear that name from him, not anymore.
I have to leave.
Before Oliver can say anything else, I’m running away, and he’s not chasing after me.
Once I reach the town, everything catches up, and tears pour from my eyes. I’ve never been a loud crier, but this time, I’m wailing as a pair of arms wraps around me.
At first, the thought of Oliver comes to mind, but that disappears as Ella’s face comes around to face me head-on. She looks like a mixture of pissed off and devastated, all wrapped up in the body of my sister.
She should be the older one with how often she comforts me.
“Let it out.” She presses her forehead to mine, and I do as she says.
After my tears dry up, we walk back to the house. I thought maybe I was done crying, but then the sight of Leon and Mimi sparks the floodgates once again.
They embrace me in a group hug as Ella starts to make some hot drinks for us.
I don’t leave their hold for the rest of the night.