Chapter 46 #2
My hair is a little damp from the water so I pull it back to wrap it up in a messy bun with no hair tie, hoping it’ll stay in position without the added support. It does for a while.
I can tell he doesn’t want to be alone with her so I stay where I am. Her arms tighten around him, pulling him closer to her.
Hearing the media asking if they’re back together, she turns to face them and tells them, “Yes, we couldn’t keep away from each other for so long. It’s meant to be.”
His eyes quickly open mid-sentence and he responds, clearly irritated, “We’re not together. We were never together.” He politely removes himself from her and she’s clearly embarrassed by what he said publicly.
Knox saunters off towards Adam and Eden, who are still engrossed in their play, and I sink down into the sand, letting the waves lap over my legs. Lauren, meanwhile, storms back to the media, likely to do some damage control after his outburst.
A few minutes later, my mom settles down beside me. She gently brushes a stray strand of hair from my face. We don’t exchange words. We don’t need to.
I watch as the water rushes over my feet, carrying with it tiny shells and larger grains of sand. They tumble around beneath me, caught in the pull of the waves.
“So, Ben and Hannah, huh?” Mom bends her knees, her gaze drifting towards the people in the water.
“You jealous of Hannah, Mom? I think they’d be kind of good together,” I tease, squinting one eye shut to get a better look at her. Her smile is radiant. I love it when my mom smiles.
“Ben is gorgeous, sweetie. Why not keep him for yourself? He clearly adores you.”
“He is, but our relationship is platonic. I adore him too. He gets me. I love being around him. He’s so easy to talk to and can read me like a book.”
“Oh, come on, Alex. I love Hannah, don’t get me wrong, but he is good for some fun, no?”
“Mom, no. We both don’t see each other like that. I just... I want to focus on myself. I need to think about things, you know? What do I really want? Who do I want?”
“Just consider it, sweetie. He’s gorgeous too. He has a lot of time for you, Alex. He’s making such an effort with you.”
“I’m not his type, Mom. He likes someone else. He told me there’s a girl he likes but it’s complicated.”
“Do you know who she is?”
“No, he won’t say yet, but he told me I know her. So it’s most likely someone from school or something? I don’t know.”
“What? What’s that face for? You’re making a face right now and I don’t like it. Tell me!” I whine at her, toying with the water in my hands.
“Well, ever think that maybe it’s... you?” “Me? Why the hell would it be me? He doesn’t like me! You’re getting like Sam, Andy, Hannah, and Ben now, Mom. Trust me, I’m not his type.”
“You keep thinking that, honey. But a mother knows,” she gives me a pointed look over her sunglasses. I groan out in frustration.
Don’t think about it, Alex. It’s not you. You’re not his type.
I start to poke my finger in the sand, watching it disappear as the hole once there quickly fills with sand. I can feel her eyes on me, so I look back at her. Her shoulder nudges me and I nudge her back.
Resting my head on her shoulder, I glance over at Knox playing with Eden and Adam. The girls behind me are practically swooning, picking up their underwear off the floor.
I catch his eye and he gives me a small smile. My heart stops beating. Oh no, no, this isn’t happening. He’s still staring at me and I’m staring at him. Look away! I mentally scold myself, and I do.
Later that day, the waves pick up so Ben and I surf together while most people on the beach watch us. I annihilate Ben on the board and we decide to watch the sunset on the sea together.
“Super romantic,” Ben teases me, trying to push me off my board.
“Sorry, honey, I’m not Hannah.” Two can play that game, Hendrix. He gives me a deadpan look and I giggle, splashing water at him.
“Your mom is hilarious. She’s been trying to get me to take you on a date all day!”
“My mom likes to meddle a lot, in case you haven’t noticed,” I reply, sarcasm dripping from my words. I scoop up water with my hands, letting it run down my body.
“She’s also convinced that I’m the girl for Knox,” I roll my eyes, looking at the sun disappearing behind the waterline.
“She’s a mother, but I’m convinced she’s trying to fatten me up... and maybe she’s right? I can see it, so can most people but you and Kyle.”
“You won’t leave here until you’re rolling out the door—if you can even get out the damn door. Trust me. So tell me, Hendrix, do you like Hannah?” Seeing the pink on his cheeks confirms that he does indeed like her.
“So tell me, Thompson, do you like Knox?” I glare at him, splashing water in his direction. “That’s what I thought,” he smirks.
“Look, I’m asking as her best friend. I don’t want you to go there and lead her on unless you really like her. I don’t want it to turn out awkward between the three of us.”
He nods, understanding what I’m saying. “I get it. She’s a great girl, don’t get me wrong. Absolutely beautiful inside and out. I just don’t think it would work because of the distance, you know?
I like her a lot though, Alex. I just don’t want to do that to her. It isn’t fair with her still in New York and all. But maybe in the future? I could definitely see myself with her.”
His eyes are focused ahead on what little light we have left.
“I love your honesty, Hendrix. It’s my favorite thing about you. But I understand, and I think she will too. But don’t lead her to believe you’ll move across the country for her and vice versa.
I love the both of you, together or not.” I paddle over to him and hug him. He throws his arm around my shoulders and holds me to his chest.
“You can’t shake me off, sweet cheeks. You know this. You’re stuck with me for life!” His words echoed in the darkness as the last vestiges of light faded away.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way, honey.” With that, I seized the moment to push him off his board and into the water. Laughter bubbled up from within me, echoing into the night.
He resurfaced, hands gripping his board. “What was that for?” His voice was higher than usual, amusement lacing his words. He couldn’t suppress a smile, and neither could I.
“You went all sentimental on me, Hendrix.”
“What can I say, Thompson? You bring out the softie in me.” He hoisted himself back onto his board and paddled over to me.
“Do you want to stay out here a bit longer, or should we head back in?” he asked, steadying himself by gently lapping the water around him.
“Let’s linger for five more minutes, then head back. I’ll show you your room.”
“Sounds good, sweet cheeks!”
“I flick beans,” he retorted, smirking at me. We both burst into laughter. “Ben!” I was caught off guard by his comment, covering my eyes to hide my shock. “You didn’t just say that!” He peered over at me, feigning innocence when he was anything but.
I shook my head, amused by his lack of shame. He took pride in his audacity, and that was part of what made him Ben to me. We sat on our boards, sharing a quiet moment of smiles.
The night was still, the faint chatter from my friends on the beach barely audible. Deciding to call it a night on the waves, we paddled back in to join my family and friends.