Chapter 8
EIGHT
FIFTEEN YEARS OLD
“Are you serious, Grayson?”
I turned my head from my spot on the dock, twisting to see my best friend heading my way. Her hands were clenched at her side as she stomped toward us. Her blonde ponytail swung happily with each step, a stark contrast to the look on her face.
“Oh, shit.” Wade, my other best friend, smirked from my side. “You’re in trouble now, Anders.”
If you could’ve felt my heartbeat, you would have thought the same. But the fire in Devyn’s eyes only made me smile, loving she let me see underneath her usual mask. It’d been up too much this past year, settling in almost permanently after she’d showed up at my house in the middle of the night last summer, claiming she’d walked into a door.
I knew it was a lie, knew it as much as I knew my name. But no matter how much I tried to push her, she refused to tell me what really happened. All Devyn wanted was a safe place to land, and she’d come to me.
After that night, I thought we’d be closer than ever, but it was the opposite. Ever since she went back to the city at the start of the school year, she’d started to pull away. We usually talked every day. Now, I was lucky to get her on the phone once a week. If I did manage to get a hold of her, our conversations were tense and brief.
At least things seemed to get better after she came back into town this summer. We spent almost every day together, laughing and hanging out like we used to. But I could tell Devyn was holding something back, like there was a wall she’d built to keep me out. I hated she felt like she had to hide anything from me.
But there wasn’t any hiding right now—she was pissed. She stomped toward me, her pale top practically glowing against her tanned skin. It was a big point of contention between us. Because of my background, I tanned easily, soaking up the summer rays as quickly as I could. Devyn was the opposite. She’d go from pale to burnt, then, after a lengthy healing period, back to pale. But the last month on this very dock had finally given her some lasting color, and I hated how much I liked it.
She stepped up to the edge of my blanket, and I had to grip the edge to keep from reaching for her. When the fuck had that started? We’d always pushed and teased each other, but lately, I’d wanted more, things I shouldn’t want to do with my best friend.
She arched a brow at me, oblivious to my turmoil. “I am going to kill you. You left me to fend for myself against Mrs. Dorset. You know she wanted you to be the one to drop off her lunch.”
“Because she’s always insisting I stay,” I chuckled, rising onto my elbows to smile at Devyn. She’d started picking up shifts at the Lost Tavern this summer, and despite her initial fears, she was doing a great job. Still, there was a part of her that was holding back, relying on me to deal with any complaints or questions. That wouldn’t do. I wanted her to feel confident. “You can handle her, Devy.”
She tried to hide her smile, but the edge of her lips ticked up. “I hate you.”
Wade chuckled, dropping his sunglasses back down to cover his eyes. “You fucked up this time, Anders. She’s going to kill you.”
“Nah,” I said, smiling to meet Devyn’s frown. “She loves me too much to stay mad at me.”
As the words came out, anxiety crawled into my chest. Maybe love was the wrong thing to say, especially as we navigated this new normal. I waited for her to freeze, to change the subject, but she just smirked at me.
“You’re testing that theory.”
I hated how relieved that made me. Just hearing Devyn tease me was a welcome surprise, making me think we’d get back what we once had.
I forced myself to move, shifting so I could face Devyn fully. I leaned back on my haunches so she could see the sincerity in my eyes. “I’m sorry, Ace. I knew if I went with you, all the customers would look to me for answers.” I smiled up at her. “I want them to see you as someone capable, someone with authority. And I meant what I said; I knew you could handle it.”
Devyn stared at me, her hands plastered to her hips. Her fingertips tapped along the pockets, bringing my eyes down to check out her outfit better. Her denim shorts ended only a couple of inches below her hands, cut shorter than anything I’d seen her wear before. She wore a billowy white shirt over them, covering up the bikini shining through the opaque fabric—just enough of that bright blue color to tease what was hiding underneath .
Fuck. I needed to get it together. This was Devyn , my closest friend, practically a sister to me. At least, that was what everyone else always assumed. We’d grown up together, so people thought we were like siblings, but I’d never felt that way toward her. Friends? Hell yes. She was my best friend in the world.
Now, I was picturing so much more than friendship. This summer had been painful. It was hot, even more than usual, so we spent most of our time at the dock and in the water. Almost every day, Devyn wore some bikini that left little to the imagination. While I tried my best not to be a creep and check her out, I couldn’t help it. Her body had changed over the past couple of years and was softer, more feminine. Her long legs led to some serious curves, the kind I had no right noticing. But it was impossible to look away, and every day, the urge to touch her became stronger and stronger.
“Gray!” Devyn snapped, nudging me on the shoulder. “Have you heard a single word I said?”
“Sorry,” I chuckled. “Didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”
She rolled her eyes. “Let me guess; you were up until 2 am trying to perfect your fastball?”
“Not 2 am,” I grumbled. Devyn arched a brow. “Only midnight.”
Wade hissed a curse under his breath as he stood and started grabbing his gear. “I’m gonna get out of here before she tosses you in the lake, Anders.” He started walking away but stopped when he got close to Devyn. He smiled brightly at her, and for a moment, I forgot we’d been friends almost as long as Devyn and me. I practically snarled when he said, “You’re looking good, city girl. Maybe you want to watch the fireworks with me later?”
“She’s gonna be with me,” I snapped, tempted to shove my other best friend’s head underwater and hold it there.
Devyn blushed, ignoring my words. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and said, “It’s kind of our thing.” She looked over at me, chewing on her bottom lip. “But maybe you could come hang out with us. We always watch from the cove behind Guardian’s Beach.”
“Yeah?” Wade asked. “I’d like that. I’ll see you there, Devy.”
“Don’t call her that,” I muttered, ignoring the glare Devyn sent my way. “She hates it.”
Devyn settled next to me, stealing Wade’s place. She sighed as the sun hit her face, stretching out like a content kitten. “What was that about?”
I shrugged. “I didn’t like how he was talking to you.”
“Because he was being nice?” Devyn smirked at me. “The horror.”
“He wasn’t just being nice,” I grumbled, rubbing my hand over my face. “Sorry, I’m exhausted, and it’s making me more of a dick than usual.”
“You should have called me,” Devyn said as she reached out to take my hand. “I hate the idea of you being out there alone. Besides, you know I’ll take any excuse to escape from Hotel Hell.”
I turned to stare at her, noticing the dark circles under her eyes. “David still giving you a hard time?”
“It’s fine. I can handle it.”
As Devyn tried to turn away, I held her hand a little tighter, keeping her close to me. “You can trust me, Ace.”
Her brown eyes sparkled as they searched mine. “I know that.”
“Then talk to me,” I insisted. “I know something’s going on with David, and I hate that you’re dealing with this on your own. So talk to me. Let me help.”
Devyn stared at me for a long minute, then her gaze dropped down to her hands. “I don’t know what to do. For a long time, I thought he just wanted to break my spirit, and that was hard enough. But now, David’s turning his attention on Calla.” She flipped onto her back and stared up at the sky. “I was willing to take the brunt of it to make sure he left her alone. He keeps threatening to send her away to boarding school, and I swear, if he does, that’s it. I’m running away and never looking back.”
“Not alone.” I squeezed her hand. “I’m coming with you.”
“Your mom and dad would kill you if you tried to leave,” she said as she tilted her head toward me with a sad smile. “Besides, you have so many good things going on. You’re not giving up baseball because my stepdad’s an asshole.”
“Hey,” I said. “You and me versus the world, right? That means you leave, I leave.”
Devyn’s eyes searched mine, and I held my breath. Something twisted in my chest, cementing our bond without another word. Over the past couple of years, I knew we’d gotten close, but I never realized how much she meant to me until right now. If she asked me to leave, I’d go without a second of hesitation. Sure, life would suck for a while, but it was still a better option than staying here without her.
Devyn’s eyes watered for a moment before she pushed toward me, wrapping her arms around my neck. She held me close and whispered, “You and me, Gray?”
“Always.”
The annual Fourth of July celebration was a staple in Saint Stephen’s Lake. It was held every single year, no matter the weather. My dad liked to tell a story from twenty years ago, when a strong hurricane sent heavy winds and hail our way. The town came together in the high school gym, refusing to let the year pass without their annual tradition.
While I loved the carnival and all the other events of the day, my favorite part was always the fireworks. Devyn and I found the best view years ago, watching the whole show from a small cove on the east end of the lake. It was hidden, far from the usual beaches and sights the tourists crowded every year. Ever since our parents decided we were old enough to go off on our own, we’d watched here—only the two of us.
Until tonight.
I glowered at my two best friends huddled together on a log. Wade said something, and Devyn threw her head back and laughed. The sound was like an anvil to my chest. As much as I wanted to watch the fireworks, I was too busy watching them like some creep. I swore, if Wade touched her without her permission, I’d?—
“Wow. If that’s how you look at your friends, I’d hate to be your enemy.”
My head turned to the chair next to me, finding Calla draped over it, twirling a Twizzler in her hands. Devyn’s little sister was only a year younger than us, and the girls were as close as they could be. I almost felt bad for their older sister, Laurel, who always seemed to be the odd man out. But there was something about Calla and Devyn, a bond that no one else could replicate.
Despite their closeness, the girls were as different as they could be. Devyn was shy, her words quiet but also cutting. Calla was one of the kindest people I’d ever met, always willing to go above and beyond for anyone. Where Devyn played her cards close to the chest, Calla was an open book.
Her auburn hair was tied in a ponytail and secured with a red, white, and blue ribbon. She was wearing a similar outfit to Devyn’s but traded in the black top Devyn favored for one in a vibrant red. Just like her sister, Calla had grown up a lot this past year, looking more and more beautiful every day. And maybe, in another life, she’d be the girl I wanted.
But no, I was too busy fixating on my best friend, the one who had been pushing me away for months, who now had blown off our most sacred tradition to hang out with Wade.
Calla smirked and pointed the candy at me. “That face. Right there. Damn, Gray. I honestly didn’t know you had it in you.”
I scrubbed my hand over my face. “I’m not trying to. I just don’t get it.” When did they start spending time together? I wanted all the details and none of them at the same time. When Wade asked her to hang out later, I thought it was spontaneous. But now that I saw them together, I wondered if I’d missed something. While I was watching Devyn, maybe Wade was too. Unlike me, though, she seemed to be looking right back at him.
Calla slid her seat closer to me, leaning in conspiratorially. “You know she’s had a crush on him for years , right?” When I shook my head, she continued. “Yeah, ever since he grew a foot and joined the team. Devyn’s got a type.”
“What does that mean?”
Calla stared at me then leaned back, shaking her head. “Are you seriously telling me nothing has ever happened between you two? It seems like there’s something there, something more than just friends.”
I heard Devyn laugh, and once again, my eyes instantly went to her. It was so light, so airy. She sounded happy, and my heart sunk. I was being such a shitty friend. No matter what I felt, at the end of the day, all I really wanted was to see her smile. After everything that happened over the last year, that was all I could ask for. If Wade was the one to make that happen, I should be happy for my best friend.
Maybe that was all we were meant to be. We were friends. Best friends. And even if my head was all messed up right now, I knew I always wanted Devyn in my life. I wouldn’t risk that because she was the most beautiful girl in the world. I’d rather be her friend than nothing at all. It was enough for me. It would always be enough for me.
I nodded, turning back to Calla. “Yeah, we’re just friends. I’ve never thought of her like that.” I cleared my throat. “Plus, Wade’s a good guy. Devyn deserves someone like that in her corner.”
Calla grimaced. “Good thing you said that, because otherwise…” She nodded behind us. “Otherwise, that might be hard to see.”
I knew what had happened before I even shifted. But like a true masochist, I couldn’t help but watch as Wade placed his hand on Devyn’s neck and pulled her in for a kiss. It was tentative at first, and they jumped apart like they’d been shocked. But after a moment, Devyn leaned forward and kissed him again.
Fresh, burning agony seared through my chest, and I forgot how to breathe. This was ridiculous. Devyn wasn’t mine, and I wasn’t hers. So why did it hurt so much to see Wade kiss her? I closed my eyes and shook my head. Friends. We’re just friends. Keep saying it until you remember it.
“Oh man,” Calla sighed, dropping her head to her palm. “I want someone to kiss me like that.”
Maybe it was because my heart had just been battered—maybe it was because I was too young and dumb to think about my choices—but I leaned over and said, “I can help you with that.”
And I pulled her in and pressed my lips to hers.