Chapter 31
Summer
The afternoon is dead, Whit’s right. The only people around right now are partying college students who want to drink and bake on the beach, not buy books. We’re locking up when I see the girls at the boutique next door on their porch, talking to a guy in a black skull-cap.
“That’s Avery, right?” I say quietly, nudging Anita.
“Ugh. Yes. Move quietly. I don’t have time for him today.”
I follow her to the parking lot but hear my name.
“Summer! Hey, Summer!”
“Dammit,” Anita says, hilariously annoyed. Something about this guy bugs the hell out of her.
I turn around. “Oh, Avery. What’s up?”
He holds out a hardback copy of my mother’s book, Scars From a Killer. “I wanted to bring this by, so you could get your mom to sign it for me.”
I take the book from him. The book jacket is worn, proving he really had read it. “She’s out of town for a few more weeks on her book tour, but I can leave it for her to get to when she gets back.”
His face brightens into a wide smile. “That’s perfect. Thank you so much.”
“Anytime.”
Anita has already walked off and I turn to follow her when he says, “Summer.”
“Yeah?”
“I know you helped your mom work on the case. She talks about it in the book and in a few interviews. Anyway, could you tell me about it sometime?”
The question is tricky. Does he just want to hang out and talk about serial killers? Or does he want to hang out with me?
Anita must have heard the question because she shouts out, “Aren’t you supposed to meet up with Justin tonight?”
His smile wavers just a little and yeah, that answers my question. “I just took notes and stuff, Avery. I don’t really know much. Come by the shop when my mom gets back and I’m sure she’ll sign and talk to you for a while.”
The smile returns and I make my escape. In the car Anita says, “So he’s really into your mom’s book?”
“Apparently, as are a ton of other people. I spent the day going through all that fan mail. People love my mom and her books.”
A twinkle sets in Anita’s eye and her hands grip the steering wheel.
“Oh my god, Summer, I just had the best idea ever.” She turns to me with a wide grin.
“We need to have a celebration party for your mom when she gets back at the shop. We can send out invitations and invite all the local fans. She can sign some books and talk to everyone. It will bring so many people into the shop and surely be a huge hit.”
It is a good idea, although I think we should run it past my mom. I tell Anita as much and she says she’ll take care of it. All of it.
We talk about the idea all the way back to the trailer park and she’s still tossing out ideas when I get out of the car.
I unlock the trailer and change out of my work clothes.
I enter my room to get a pair of shorts when I see a fresh yellow flower across my pillow.
I pick it up and smell the sweet fragrance.
I decide then what to do with the rest of my day, and slip on my bikini before pulling on shirts and a T-shirt. I grab my keys and head to the car.
It only takes a few minutes to get to the marina.
There’s little traffic, although that will increase in the next week.
I turn down the gravel road and then into the parking lot.
I know Justin’s at the meeting in Myrtle, but I thought maybe I could surprise Pete.
I walk into the office and find Bobby behind the desk.
“Hey cuz, what are you doing here?”
“Stopped by looking for Pete.” I want to thank him for my daily flowers.
“He went into Myrtle with Justin. Part of the meeting is about zoning regulations, and that’s his job to handle.”
I make a face at the idea of both of them being gone. “I guess I’ll catch him later, then.”
“Nick’s out on the launch dock, though, if you want to see if he’s still here.”
The thrum of my heartbeat answers for me. “Great, thanks, Bobby. I’ll see you later.”
I leave the office and walk toward the dock. The marina isn’t huge but it’s efficient. A large three-story storage unit sits to my left. The boats are stacked by a huge forklift. It’s kind of fascinating to watch and it was no surprise the boys loved to work here with fun machines and giant toys.
I spot Nick on the wooden platform, fussing with the camera in his hands. His shoulders are broad and muscular. It’s obvious he’s an athlete, but there’s such a gentleness to him—the artist side. I love the dichotomy.
He hears my footsteps and turns, lips curving upward when he sees me.
“Hey,” he says, walking over to meet me. He greets me with a quick kiss. “What are you doing here?”
“Honestly, looking for Pete, but Bobby said you were down here, so I came by.” I nod at the camera. “Taking pictures?”
“I’m going out on the boat for a while. I’m hoping to catch the sunset down the waterway.” He slips an arm around my waist. “Want to come?”
“Sure.”
I’d just caught him, because the boat is ready and he’s already placed three different cameras in a box on the back seat.
The boat isn’t big at all…just a small fishing boat with two seats.
He holds my hand when I get in, making sure to keep the boat from rocking, and I settle into the seat next to him.
Nick is huge behind the small steering wheel, but his eyes are bright against the afternoon sky. He starts the engine and the quiet marina turns into a rumble that lessens as we get away from the dock and out in the waterway.
Maybe because I’d never been a big swimmer or beach-goer, I certainly never thought I’d be a boat person.
Fishing all day or cruising up and down the waterway.
It can be a little boring unless you’re with a big group, but being out here with Nick as the sun lowers in the horizon feels calming.
He doesn’t go too fast, giving me a chance to look at the big houses that line the waterfront.
I spot the dock and tree swing at Richard’s—now my mom’s—house.
We reach a wide, open area, the passage from the ocean to the waterway, that also leads into the mouth of the river.
Nick cuts the engine and gentle waves rock the boat.
“Is this our destination?” I ask. There aren’t many boats out and the whole place is serene.
“Yep, the sun will head right down the river. Hopefully I can get a few good shots.” He gets out his camera and takes a few test shots, checking his settings. I pretend not to get self-conscious when he takes a few of me.
I spent a lot of time with Nick while he worked with my mother on her book. He took photographs that were used in the actual book and for promotion. The truth was Nick was no longer a hobbyist…he’s a professional.
“When’s the sun setting?”
He looks in the distance. “Probably about an hour.” His eyes skim over me. “Want to go for a swim?”
I’m not the best swimmer but I’ve come a long way in the last year. I spent a lot of time with the guys, conquering my fears of things in the dark Atlantic water. The afternoon sun feels hot now that we’re sitting in one place and the thought of seeing Nick with his shirt off is enough motivation.
“If you promise not to leave me.” I still get nervous in the ocean.
He smiles. “Not a problem.”
I drop my shorts and pull my shirt over my head.
When I look up, I’m greeted by Nick’s bare chest. His skin isn’t fully tanned and there’s a distinct difference between his neck and his shoulders—probably from working out for the team with his equipment on.
I don’t move out of fear of rocking the boat, but damn, I want to touch him.
While I’m studying him, he’s studying me, and I feel warmer than I did a moment before.
I’m still not used to showing this much skin—or even having such a heated gaze directed at me.
I run my hand over my stomach self-consciously, but he grabs it, linking his fingers with mine.
I smile up at him, the sun right behind his head.
He counts to three, his voice deep and playful, before jumping over the edge, pulling me with him.
The water is freezing, making me yelp as it hits my warm skin. He never lets go of my hand and pulls me to the surface.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Holy crap, it’s cold.”
“Hasn’t warmed up for the summer yet.”
He reaches for me but I swim out of his arms, heading back to the boat.
There’s a small aluminum ladder and I reach for it, hoisting myself up.
I’m halfway out when I feel hands on my feet and I shout again, constantly spooked by the water.
I glance back and see Nick’s adorable face. “Not funny, dude.”
“I couldn’t resist.”
I get out and he follows and we both stand in the middle of the boat, dripping wet. The water glides down his hard chest and sculpted abs toward the line of dark fuzzy hair below his belly button.
“Aren’t you cold?” I shiver and run my hands down my arms. He pulls a towel out of a compartment and closes the small distance between us.
“I’m warm-natured.” He opens the towel and wraps it over my shoulders while pressing his body against mine. “Especially when I’m around you.”
Slowly, he dries me off, taking time with every inch of my body. I’m definitely warmer when he finishes. He wraps a second towel around his waist and pulls me into his lap. I settle into him and let the sun warm my legs.
“Let me see your phone,” he says. I take it from my bag and pass it back.
He opens the camera and holds out his arm and flips the screen to selfie mode. “Oh my god,” I say, holding up my hand. “I look like a drowned rat.”
“You look gorgeous,” he says, using his other hand to contain my arms. I’m pressed against his chest, squirming to get away while he laughs and kisses my neck. “Summer, it’s just a picture.”
“I know,” I say trying to settle down and push past the anxiety.
A photo tying us together makes this real—us real.
“I guess I’m still not used to this. The whole time I was with Mason it was such a secret, and then even with you guys…
it’s hard to explain, ‘I’ve got four boyfriends,’ to people. Having concrete evidence feels weird.”
“I can understand that,” he says. “I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t tell my teammates or friends about you at school. Not specifically. I think they all thought I had some online catfish situation going on.”
“What? That’s crazy?”
“We texted and called and I had a few photos, but not much. They wanted to see you.”
“I came to your game, but I know that wasn’t enough.”
“It was. Shit, I was so busy at school I didn’t have time for a girlfriend. Just knowing you were out there meant a lot.” He kisses my jaw. “It may feel like a secret, but really it’s none of their damn business.”
He nuzzles my neck and I relax into him, overwhelmed by the butterflies in my stomach. With my guard dropped he snaps a picture, and I grab the camera to look at it. He caught me in a moment where there’s no panic, just a small smile at him being so close.
“Not bad, right?” he asks.
“How do you do that?”
“Practice.” He shrugs. “I may not be a genius like Pete or a businessman like Justin, but I’m patient and don’t mind taking the time to get something right.”
It’s a stunning statement and proves why he’s good at the things he does. Football, photography, and everything else. Nick was the one that talked me into coming back here and giving the guys a chance.
“They say patience is a virtue.”
His eyes flick to my lips and the boat rocks on the waves of the waterway. He kisses me long and sweet before asking, “Can you be patient while I take these photos?”
I nod. “And if I am?”
“I’ll make it worth your while.”
The promise sends a shiver of anticipation down my spine, but I have no problem waiting on him. I love watching him work, listening to him explain what he’s doing. An idea bubbles in my mind for me to tell Anita.
But it can wait, I think, as the sky turns orange and pink in the distance, because I have other things to do before then.