CHAPTER 17
Music was my saving grace.
As always.
When my mind was troubled, all I had to do was reach for my violin. Yami Yami was getting a workout today. I”d been playing nearly non-stop for over an hour—and making my cousins do the same. They didn”t seem to understand my need for the healing powers of musical therapy.
”Scar, we”ve been at this forever,” Freya said, frowning at me through the screen.
”Oh,” I said, lowering my instrument. ”Do you need a break? Because you can take one, get some water if you want. That”s fine.”
”Oh, well, thanks.”
She rolled her eyes then walked out of frame.
”I think we should stop,” Viola said. ”Didn”t you say you had plans?”
I nodded. ”Yeah, but they can wait. We could still get some good practice time in.”
”I thought that”s what we”ve been doing.”
”Scarlett.” My sister gave me a look, and even though she was miles away, it felt like she was right there in the room with me. ”Meeting online might not have been the best way to go. My video keeps freezing.”
Aurora sighed. ”Mine too.”
”Let”s call it a night,” Charlotte said.
”But…” I frowned. ”Don”t you want to play some more?”
No one said anything.
”Well, I do,” I said, lifting Yami Yami to my shoulder with a sniff and starting the piece we”d been working on from the beginning.
”Then you go right ahead,” Freya said, reappearing, a glass of water in hand. ”By all means, play until your fingers bleed. It won”t help though.”
”Freya,” Viola said, ”come on.”
”What? We all know there”s something she”s not telling us.”
I stopped playing and shook my head. ”What”s that supposed to mean?”
Charlotte was the one who answered.
”You”re stressed,” she said. ”Who knows about what, but this music session is definitely full of stress.”
Viola nodded. ”And bad juju.”
”And restless energy,” Aurora said.
”And know-it-all-ness,” Freya put in.
”That”s not a thing. Is it?”
”It is, Ror. Just ask Scarlett.”
”Ha ha,” I said. But when everyone just stared at me, I paused. ”Have I really been that bad?”
Freya nodded. ”You keep correcting every little mistake—not that I made any, but Aurora almost cried.”
”I did not,” Aurora said.
”Could”ve sworn I saw a tear.”
”Sorry,” I mumbled, ”I was just trying to be helpful, make us better.”
”We know,” Viola said.
”I love playing with you guys. It”s one of my favorite things in the world.”
It really was.
”Now that Viola and Charlotte are in college,” I continued, feeling my emotions pulling me down, down, down, ”who knows how many more times we”ll get to practice like this, let alone perform together?”
Freya gave me a half-smile. ”We”ll always have the Kent family reunion.”
”I know, but…I want us to be ready in case we ever land something big.” I tried to laugh it off like it was nothing, but it felt like I was betraying myself somehow. ”Not that it”ll happen, but a girl can dream.”
”You can, and you should,” Charlotte said.
”Everyone should have dreams,” Aurora agreed.
”The ones about flying are the best,” Freya put in. ”Bonus points if there are dragons. Also love the ones where I”m rolling around in a pile of puppies—or a vat of chocolate.”
”I”m down with the puppies,” Viola said on a laugh, ”but the chocolate sounds disgusting.”
”See? This is why I want this to last forever.” I smiled sadly. ”I haven”t even graduated yet, and I miss you guys already.”
”Where is all this coming from?” my sister asked.
I shrugged. ”I”ve just been thinking. Why does everything good have to end?”
We were silent a moment, then Aurora said, ”I don”t think it does. The best things in life like love and friendship never really end. They might feel farther away, but they”re never gone. Love is always there even if you can”t see it.”
”Wow,” Freya said. ”Youare so sappy.”
”Whatever.”
”No really, you should write Hallmark cards or something.”
Her joke broke the tension. I didn”t know if it was that or hearing their laughter, but my mood brightened considerably. With a sigh, though, my sister met my gaze and tilted her head.
”Scarlett, be honest,” she said. ”Is this about Sam?”
You could”ve heard a pin drop as the others waited for my answer.
”No.” I scoffed then added, ”Well, maybe a little.”
”Are you scared of things ending with him? Because you two looked super close at the game the other day.”
”Yeah,” Freya said, ”honestly, you and Sam are couple goals.”
That”s the whole idea.
We”re supposed to look in love.
It”s part of our fake arrangement.
”I don”t think you have anything to worry about,” Aurora said. ”You”re obviously head-over-heels for him, and Sam is totally into you.”
”You think so?”
She nodded, and Viola chuckled.
”What?” I asked.
Eyes bright, Viola said, ”The guy literally smiled the whole time he was getting his butt kicked on the field—by two members of our family, I might add. And Bo”s dad. Anyway, I think it”s safe to say he likes you, Scarlett.”
Yeah, but is it enough?
Because I like Sam.
More than like him.
I adore him so much, too much, more than enough times infinity.
”Wait, or is this about skinny-dipping?” Charlotte asked, successfully breaking me out of my thoughts. ”Because it”s your list, Scar. You can make changes any time you want.”
I shook my head. ”It”s not that, and I”m not changing anything.”
”Is Aurora still going with you?”
”Yes, I am,” Aurora said then added hopefully, ”although, if you want to call it off, Scarlett, I won”t mind.”
I shook my head.
”Is Sam coming?” Freya asked with a smile.
”No, definitely not,” I said.
”Too bad. Would”ve been nice to see him shirtless.”
I sniffed, trying not to picture Sam shirtless and failing. Miserably. Even in my imagination, he was beautiful. ”Like I said, that”s not happening.”
Viola”s brows went up. ”Ror, are you skinny-dipping too?”
”That would be a big no.” Aurora laughed. ”I”m way too self-conscious.”
”I will be the only person getting naked,” I confirmed. ”But I was wondering, what does one wear to skinny dip? Thoughts?”
Freya lifted her hand. ”As long as you remember your birthday suit, you”ll be fine,” she said.
The joke was silly, but I laughed anyway, enjoying my time with my friends who also just happened to be family. Sometimes, all you needed was a little laughter to brighten the dark, uncertain times. I carried that warmth with me to school the following morning, stopping outside of Sam”s first period after the bell rang in hopes of speaking with him. But as the last student left, he still hadn”t come out.
Did he stay home today?
Peeking inside, I spotted Sam and smiled.
There he was, sitting at his desk with his head down, mouth partially open, one cheek pressed against the desktop. If this was a cartoon, little Z”s would”ve been floating above him because the guy was out cold. I didn”t know how he could sleep like that. It looked very uncomfortable. But as I walked closer, not stopping until I was even with his chair, Sam didn”t move a muscle.
”Hey, Bishop,” I said softly.
He didn”t stir.
”Bishop?” I tried again.
Still no answer.
Bending my knees, so I was level with his ear, I whispered, ”Class is over. It”s time to wake up.”
Sam mumbled something intelligible, scrunching his brows in the most adorable way.
”You know, I shouldn”t find this so endearing,” I said.
I brushed back a stray lock of hair that fell across his forehead.
”But you”re so cute like this.”
”Cute enough to kiss?”
Gasping, I leaned back as his eyes slowly opened.
”Hey, Kent,” he said with a soft smile. ”Thought that was you.”
”Yeah, I came to find you,” I said then frowned. ”You shouldn”t be sleeping in class.”
”But I”m so cute when I do.”
I barely stopped myself from smiling; he really was cute—and annoying. Parking my hands on my hips, I said, ”This is junior year all over again. Why are you always so tired? Don”t you know math is something you”ll use in every facet of life? It”s important.”
Sam stood up with a laugh. ”Thanks, I actually do know that, Starlet. Math is my best subject.”
”How”s that possible?”
”I”ve got a big brain, courtesy of my mom—that”s according to my dad, by the way.”
He yawned, lifting his arms in a stretch, causing his shirt to ride up, and I caught myself staring at his stomach. When he dropped them a moment later, I had to swallow my sigh of disappointment.
”And as to why I”m tired,” he said, ”Bennet had a nightmare which made Betty have one too. They woke me up last night, asking to stay in my room, during which time we broke out the sleeping bags and talked until they finally fell back asleep. So yeah. It was a long night.”
I blinked.
”What are you thinking right now?” he asked.
I think I love you.
”Kent?”
I love you so much it”s ridiculous.
”Scarlett, are you good?”
”I…nothing. I was just taking in what you said.”
He shook his head slowly. ”No, you were thinking something. And you owe me a truth.”
”Excuse me?” I said.
”From our first date,” Sam said as we walked out into the crowded hallway, ”I had two truths left, and you had one.”
I scoffed. ”There”ve been a lot of questions since then, Bishop. Pretty sure we used them up.”
”Still, I want to know,” he said.
I patted him on the shoulder. ”Here”s a truth: You can”t always get what you want.”
Sam sighed. ”You were looking for me. I”m assuming it”s not to talk about my sleeping habits.”
”No,” I said, straightening my shoulders. ”I wanted to tell you that I won”t be home tonight. I”m going out.”
”Okay…”
”Sorry I can”t go on our date.”
He gave me a blank stare. ”Did we have one planned?”
”Yeah”—I rolled my eyes—”it was on the tentative schedule you gave me. Second Date: Party Time. I assumed you were going to take me to a party.”
Sam kept staring at me until I started to blush.
”But if not or you forgot, that”s fine,” I added hastily.
”I”m just messing with you, Kent,” he said with a grin. ”There is a party, and I was going to take you.”
I raised a brow. ”And you didn”t think to ask me first?”
He shook his head. ”That would defeat the purpose.”
”Huh?”
”The goal was to surprise you. Knock on your door and whisk you away—without giving you time to back out.”
”What makes you think I”d do that?” I asked.
Sam gave me a knowing look. ”Because you thrive on lists and being in control. Parties are unpredictable. They”re definitely outside your comfort zone.”
He was one hundred percent correct.
Parties scared me. They always had. It was why I”d added #15 (Go to a party) to my list, to try and overcome that fear.
Not that I”d admit it.
With a sniff, I crossed my arms. ”I”ll have you know that I”m doing somethingvery out of control later. Some might even call it wild.”
”Wild, huh?”
I nodded.
”Sorry, but I can”t see it,” he said. ”Scarlett Kent, being wild.”
”Well, I can be,” I said. ”I will be. Tonight.”
Sam hummed then reached out to touch the ends of my hair. ”This is new.”
”I dyed it last night. It should wash out in a few days. Another list item complete.”
Without your help, I thought pettily but didn”t add.
”Looks nice.” Sam stared at me as his fingers played in the blush pink tips of my hair. ”If you need help, just call me,” he said.
”Thanks, but my cousin”s going too,” I said. ”We”ll be fine.”
Seeing Brisa and Cooper approach, I put my arms around Sam”s neck and pulled him to me.
”Brisa”s coming,” I whispered.
”And she”s the only reason you”d ever hold me like this,” he mumbled. ”Got it.”
”That”s not—”
”I meant what I said.” Sam”s voice held a hint of something I couldn”t nameas his arms encircled my waist. ”If you need me, for anything, call and I”ll be there.”
A beautiful promise.
But there was no way I”d call Sam.
Not for what I was doing tonight.
Never in a million years.
#
”Aurora, are you listening?” I asked.
”Yeah,” she said, looking back at me, ”I mean, yes. It”s just the song they”re playing. It”s one of my favorites.”
Nodding, I said, ”I agree. Whoever it is has good taste.”
”Sounds really close.”
”They”re probably just blasting the music. I did some research. This stretch of beach is supposed to be empty this time of year. The main tourist-y spots are much farther away.”
”If you say so,” she replied.
”So, do you understand the plan?”
My cousin shrugged. ”You”re going to get naked, run into the ocean, splash around like a crazy person in the icy water, and I”m here to stand guard while you do it. Right?”
I smiled. ”Yes, that was perfect.”
”Can I ask you something?” she said.
”Sure.”
”Why are you doing this again?”
Because it”s on my list.
Because earlier, Sam implied that I couldn”t be out of control.
Because that struck a nerve deep inside me, and now, I want to prove him—and myself—wrong.
Meeting her eyes, I said, ”Because I won”t let my fears stop me from getting what I want.”
Aurora nodded. ”And that would be…what? A cold? Sand in areas we shall not speak of?”
”Crossing something off my list, Ror.”
”Cool,” she said. ”I”ve got your back.”
”Thank you.” I took a deep breath. ”I”m doing this.”
”You absolutely are.”
”Now, I just strip and dive into the ocean. Easy.”
”So easy.”
”You”re here, and if anything happens, you”ll rescue me.”
”I confess I”m not the strongest swimmer, but if we go down, at least we”ll go together.”
I looked at her, saw her bright smile in the quickly disappearing twilight, and laughed. ”Okay, turn around so I can take off my clothes.”
Once I”d folded my t-shirt, pants, and undergarments and neatly placed them in a pile, I made a run for the water. Aurora was right. It was colder than I thought it would be—but it was also exhilarating. As the water swallowed me up, my head emerged a second later, and I”d never felt more free. I laughed out loud as the waves crashed against my skin.
”How is it?” Aurora called.
”Cold, but amazing,” I yelled back.
”I”ll take your word for it.”
”You should come in, Ror. It”s such a rush!”
”No thanks,” she replied.
”Ah come on.”
”If I do that, who”s going to take care of your clothes?”
Smiling, I opened my mouth about to say, ”What could possibly happen to them?” But right then, what looked like a large black dog burst out of nowhere, scooped my pile of clothes into its mouth, and made a mad dash down the beach. I squeaked as Aurora gasped.
”Don”t worry,” she yelled. ”I”ve got it.”
As she ran away, all I could do was stare in disbelief.
The dog was faster than my cousin. But even from here, I could hear Aurora calling out for him to, ”Stop! Give those back! It”s not nice to steal people”s clothes!”
Unfortunately, the surprises didn”t end there.
Two figures were walking along the beach. From thedeep sound of their voices, I thought they might be male. I tried to turn invisible, but when one of them reached down and held up something that looked suspiciously like my underwear, I whimpered. The sound must”ve drew their attention—or maybe I wasn”t as inconspicuous as I thought—because both figures turned their heads.
”Kent?”
Oh God, this could not be happening.
”What are you doing out there?” Sam asked.
”Just having a swim,” I forced out.
”At night. In the ocean. On a beach hours away from home.”
”Yeah. So?”
”Thought you were supposed to be doing something wild tonight.”
Making sure I was still covered by the waves, I said, ”I thought you were going to a party.”
Sam nodded. ”I am. It”s at a friend”s house a little ways up the beach. You can hear the music from here.”
So much for research.
Appparently, people did come here at this time of year. They even threw parties.
His friend held up my underwear and asked, ”Are these yours?”
I could”ve died right there.
Just let the ocean pull me under.
But I decided to brazen it out.
”Yes, actually they are,” I said. ”Can you put them back where you found them please? Thanks in advance”
Sam”s face suddenly brightened, and I wanted to die all over again.
”Is this #12 on the list?” he asked.
I didn”t need to answer. He was smiling already.
”It is, isn”t it? Man, Kent, I thought you woulddo that somewhere more private.”
”The beach was supposed to be empty,” I gritted out.
Sam shrugged. ”Well, it”s not.”
”Obviously.”
He frowned at his friend, snatched my panties from his hand, glanced at the ground then faced me again. ”Where are the rest of your clothes?”
I swallowed. ”There was a dog.”
Before I could get too far into the story, Aurora came back, looking slightly harried and red-faced. ”Sorry, Scar, he got away.”
My heart dropped.
”What did the dog look like?” Sam”s friend asked.
”He had the prettiest midnight black coat,” Aurora said. ”Fast as a cheetah, a little scary because of how big he was. And smart too because he hid from me, so I couldn”t get Scarlett”s clothes back.”
”Sounds like Onyx.”
”You think?” Sam said.
”Could”ve been her, only one way to find out.” His friend let out a long, piercing whistle, and the black dog came bounding back down the beach, not stopping until it rubbed its head against its owner”s thigh. ”Did you take this girl”s clothes, O?”
It was a rhetorical question, and the dog panted happily up at him.
”She looks guilty,” Aurora commented.
”Sorry about that,” he said. ”She”s the best dog, but yeah. She likes clothes.”
”It”s okay,” Aurora said. ”She”s gorgeous.”
”Thanks.”
”Um, hello?” I said, bringing their attention back to me and my current predicament. ”Does anyone have any spare clothes I could borrow?”
”I brought a blanket,” my cousin said, pulling one out of her bag and holding it up. Of course, the dog didn”t even touch that—a fact for which I should”ve been grateful, but I still wasn”t over being mortified. ”And a book and headlamp just in case this skinny-dipping expedition ran longer than expected.”
”Ror.”
”Right,” she cleared her throat. ”Gentlemen, can you turn around?”
They spun faster than I could blink, and I made my way out of the water to my cousin as quickly as possible. After she”d wrapped me up in the blanket, I went over to Sam.
”Um, can I get my panties back?” I said.
”Oh yeah,” he said, and even in the moonlight, I could see a blush suffuse his neck and cheeks.
I pulled those quickly into place as well.
”Ror, did you happen to have another shirt in there?”
She shook her head.
Looking down at myself, I frowned. The blanket would”ve been fine to conceal my lower half, but stretched out as it was, the length barely covered all my bits. ”Well, I can”t walk to the car like this,” I mumbled.
”You can use my jacket,” Sam”s friend-whose-name-I-still-didn”t-know said.
Before I could reply, Sam shot him a glare.
”No way, Ryker,” he said. ”She”s not wearing your jacket without anything underneath it.”
”Just trying to be nice,” Ryker said.
”Sure.”
I looked at Auora, but she only shrugged.
”It”s okay, Bishop,” I said.
”Sorry, but my girlfriend”s not wearing some other guy”s clothes.”
”Well, there aren”t a lot of options available, so… What are you doing?”
With one hand, Sam lifted the shirt he was wearing over his head.
”What”s it look like?” he said then tossed the material back to me. ”You can wear my jersey, Kent.”
”And what will you be wearing?”
Sam shot me a look over his shoulder. ”A smile when I see you in it.”
Oh.
Okay then.
As I slipped into Sam”s jersey, I couldn”t be too mad at Onyx for running off with my clothes. Sam”s scent surrounded me, and he actually did smile when he saw me wearing it. For my part, I had a hard time keeping my eyes off his broad shoulders and muscular, toned chest. The moonlight played off the contours of his skin, making him look like a piece of art, and making it nearly impossible for me to look away. Also, I realized it wasn”t the first time I”d seen Ryker—or rather, he recognized Aurora and me. ”Hey, I know you,” he said. ”You guys played my little sister”s birthday party. I told my roommates all about you. You rock.” Of course, that made both our nights. Despite her thievery, Onyx was a loving, affectionate dog, letting Aurora and me fawn all over her.And Sam couldn”t stop sneaking glances at me in his jersey.
Overall, I”d say skinny-dipping was a success.