Chapter Fifteen

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BY MIDDAY THE temperature was off the charts and the scorching sun was posted high and alone in the sky

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BY MIDDAY THE temperature was off the charts and the scorching sun was posted high and alone in the sky.

Walking down here, I was almost certain I would've gotten sunburn if it weren't for the five hundred layers of sunscreen my mother had lathered on my fair skin.

"Where did you buy this dress?" She asked, her fingers grazed the spaghetti straps on my light blue sundress.

"Tiana and I went shopping last month for a summer wardrobe. It was a small boutique near Coleman's."

Truth be told, Tiana actually dragged me there. I was shopping for shorts and t-shirts not dresses. Honestly I don't hate the occasional dress but if I had to choose between the two clothes it would definitely not be the latter.

"It's very pretty." She smiled, "It suits you."

"Thanks," I smiled back and placed my beeper safely inside my white handbag.

After Derek left the rooftop for a shower, I climbed back down for one myself. It was then that I finally realised what day it was: the Fourth of July.

Every year on this day, Carson Ridge holds their annual parade down at the waterfront, where there's also fireworks towards the end of the night. Almost all the townspeople go, especially the little ones, but my family always leaves early for our neighbourhood party.

"Hey there's Mr and Mrs Miller," My dad waved at Tobys parents who had just pulled their black Holden into a car park.

I adjusted the straps of my dress so they were further up my shoulders and I watched as Toby hopped out of the backseat.

Something moved in my stomach. This is the first time I'm seeing him since the kiss. Since my kiss.

"Nathan, Claire! How are you guys?" Bill Miller called out to my parents with a gigantic smile plastered on his face.

As he reached my father, they did that hand slap - side bro hug that all the teens do, not caring that they're actually thirty years older than the teenage boys.

"Claire, thank god your here," Erica Miller grabbed my mother's arm. "I don't think I could handle any more of Bills energy."

My mother laughed.

Toby stood beside his father, a perfect replica. If you didn't know them you would probably call them twins.

"River! How are you darling?" Erica pulled me in for a proper hug.

Even during the hug my eyes darted to Toby. God he looks handsome. The khaki green shorts complimented his tan and the white button down hugged his body, all that soccer has done him good.

Stop staring River.

I forced myself to focus on Erica. "I'm good, could be better though," I replied eventually pulling away, my thoughts still elsewhere.

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