Chapter Twenty-Eight
Parker
T he cool November breeze bites at my skin as I step onto the beach. Amiya went all out for tonight’s gathering. The air is thick with the smell of salt and faint smoke from the bonfire. I squint as I approach the scene, my eyes adjusting to the firelight that dances over the people gathered. My friends, a motley crew who feels like family, are a lively bunch tonight. Lennon, Sebastian, Anson, Wade, and Dillon are tossing a football back and forth while the girls laugh and shout near the warmth of the fire.
I shove my hands into the pocket of my hoodie. I wasn’t expecting this—a beach party. My early November birthday has always been overshadowed by the excitement of Halloween and the start of the holiday season. But here we are.
Anson steps out from the huddle and waves me over. “Took you long enough, man. Thought we were gonna have to eat all the oysters without you,” he shouts, his voice rising over the crash of the waves.
I roll my eyes. “Oh, yeah? I wouldn’t want you guys to suffer like that.”
He tosses an arm around my shoulders when I reach him. “Happy thirtieth birthday, old man.”
“Twenty-ninth,” I correct, snorting. “It’s twenty-ninth, and you’re older than me, asshole.”
“Right, right. Whatever. You’re ancient regardless.”
“Heads-up!” Lennon shouts, and the football comes hurtling toward me.
I start jogging backward and catch the perfect spiral, pulling it into my chest.
We are enjoying an impromptu game of tag football with Lennon and Wade leading the teams. At the center of it all, the bonfire blazes, orange flames licking at the night sky, logs crackling and popping. The girls, bundled up in warm clothing, hold Solo cups and lean back in folding chairs, cheering us on. A portable speaker blasts a mix of classic rock and whatever playlist Amiya chose as the theme music for the night.
The game gets intense as I catch a long pass from Wade and take off running toward our imaginary end zone. As I focus on my goal, I stumble when I spot Audrey, and Dillon launches himself at me. We both tumble into the sand.
I missed her arrival.
She’s by the fire, sitting cross-legged on a blanket with a glass of wine in hand. She spots me and lifts her glass in a mock toast. “Oh, so close!”
I drop the ball before walking over to her.
“Hey, Park! Where are you going, man? The game’s not over!” Anson shouts.
“He knows when to throw in the towel,” Lennon replies, ruffling Anson’s hair. This prompts the two of them to fall headfirst into the sand, leading to a wrestling match.
“Get him, baby!” Amiya shouts as Lennon puts him in a headlock.
“You made it,” I say, shaking my head, and sand rains down on her.
“Parker!” she shouts, covering her wineglass.
“That’s enough playtime, boys. Come grab some oysters while they’re hot!” Avie shouts.
The group gathers around a makeshift oyster roast setup—a metal sheet placed over hot coals piled high with steaming oysters—filling the crisp night air with a smoky scent. The briny shellfish are my favorite, whether raw or steamed.
Amiya hands me two bowls, a tiny bottle of hot sauce, and a shucking knife. “You’d better load up before the animals eat them all!”
I fill one of the bowls and then return to plop down beside Audrey. “Are you hungry?” I ask as I pop one of the shells open, squeeze a lemon wedge over it, add some hot sauce, and bring it to her lips.
She opens her mouth and slurps the delicate morsel inside. “Mmm,” she moans. “It tastes like the ocean—sweet and salty.”
I lean over and swipe the corner of her mouth with my sleeve. “I know something else that tastes like the ocean. And if you eat enough of these, you’ll be begging me for it later,” I whisper.
Her eyes darken. “You wish, birthday boy.”
I grin. “Oh, that will definitely be my wish when I blow out my candles tonight.”
The night goes on, the laughter growing louder and louder as the fire burns brightly. Wade pulls over a cooler full of beer, and I grab one, sipping it while I watch the chaos unfold. Anson and Dillon start tossing the football again.
“Parker, get over here and help me show this young one a thing or two,” Anson shouts, holding the ball up.
I shake my head, content to sit beside her and soak up the night. “I’m good. You all have fun.”
He frowns and starts shouting a response just as Audrey stands up and jogs toward them, calling over her shoulder, “Come on! Don’t be boring!”
There’s no escaping it now. All the girls, except for Eden, follow her lead, and I find myself lining up across from Audrey, the sand shifting under my feet as I get into position. The air is sharp and cool, the kind that makes your lungs burn when you’re breathing hard.
“You sure you’re ready for this?” I ask.
She smirks. “Show me what you’ve got, birthday boy.”
I roll my eyes, but can’t help grinning. “Find. Don’t cry when we win.”
The game begins, and it’s easy to forget everything else for a while. The sand, the firelight, and the way the stars seem to stretch endlessly above us all fade into the background. It’s just us, shouting, laughing, and running ourselves ragged across the beach. We take it easy on the girls, allowing them to enter the end zone and gently tagging them. However, they tackle us every chance they get, ganging up on us. At one point, both Avie and Amiya are clinging to Lennon’s back as he steps back and leisurely throws a pass to Anson. The ball sails through the air, again and again, being caught and fumbled repeatedly.
I can’t remember the last time I felt so light. I know it’s because I’m here with my friends, and my girl is among them—right where she’s meant to be, whether she realizes it yet or not.
I dive for the ball and crash into the sand, rolling to a stop just short of the water. The icy shock of the ocean soaks into my jeans, and I groan as I push myself to my feet.
“Are you okay?” Audrey calls, laughing as she jogs over to me.
“Absolutely,” I reply, grabbing her and pulling her down on top of me.
Her hair tickles my face as she struggles to escape my grasp.
“Don’t get me wet!” she cries.
I steady myself and lift her into my arms.
I carry her back to the crowd, whispering in her ear, “I’ll save that for later.”
As the game comes to an end, everyone gathers around the warmth of the fire. I drape a blanket around my shoulders and settle into a folding chair, watching the flames dance. Eden walks out from the deck, carrying a plate of s’mores supplies. I grab a stick and skewer a marshmallow onto the end. Gently, I turn it in the fire.
Audrey plops down in the chair next to me, her cheeks flushed from the cold or the wine—maybe both. “Not a bad birthday, huh?”
“Not bad at all,” I reply as I take a roasted puff and sandwich it between two graham crackers. The chocolate melts instantly, sticking to my fingers, so I lick it off before offering it to her.
She raises an eyebrow. “Are you going to feed me all night?”
“I’d love to. There’s no better sight than your sweet mouth wrapped around something warm and sticky,” I growl.
She ignores the comment, but I don’t miss the way her breath catches.
Amiya takes a seat beside me. “Happy birthday, Parker,” she says.
She extends her cup, and I tap it with my can.
“Thank you. It’s been a great night.”
She glances around and smiles. “It has, hasn’t it? How does it feel to be another year older?”
I think about it for a moment, looking back to where Audrey is chatting with Eden while sipping wine and munching on a graham cracker.
I bring my gaze back to Amiya. “It feels like I have a lot to look forward to.”
She nods, her smile softening. “Good answer.”
“There’s one more gift,” Anson says, raising a black box with a purple ribbon tied around it.
I take it from his hand and turn it around, searching for a card or name, but it’s just a box and a bow.
Once the fire died down, we moved the party indoors. The girls presented me with a huge cake covered in twenty-nine lit candles, and they sang me a drunken rendition of the birthday song.
“Who is this one from?” I ask, lifting the package for everyone to see.
The eyes of the room dart around, and a few people shrug in response.
“Nobody’s going to take credit? Okay,” I say as I hold it to my ear and give it a shake.
“Just open it!” Sebastian yells from his spot at the kitchen island.
I pull the ribbon until it’s loose, lift the lid, and peek inside, grinning widely.
“What is it?” Anson asks as he tries to grab the container, accidentally knocking the lid from my grip. He peers inside. “Dude, is that what I think it is?” he exclaims before bursting out laughing.
“Don’t keep us in suspense!” Lennon shouts.
I reach inside and pull out the device from its resting place. “Just what I always wanted,” I say, holding it up for everyone to see.
It’s a silicone rope adorned with five silver metal beads and a series of knots, ending with a finger ring.
“Are those anal beads?” Amiya gasps.
I scan the crowd until I spot Audrey’s amused eyes locked on me.
I hold her gaze as I respond, “It would seem so.”
“Wow! Those definitely trump the boobie beer mugs we got you,” Amiya remarks.