Summer Forever

01.

01.

December – The Start of Summer

"Shellside Bay is so much less fun when it's cold," Everett muttered from beside me. "Isn't it supposed to be summer?"

I laughed, leaning closer over the counter of the Shack. "That doesn't mean it's not going to rain now and then."

The Shack was exactly what it sounded like. It was a small shack on the edge of the beach, and I'd been working there since I was fourteen, every summer for extra cash. This would be my final summer working at the Shack. I'd miss it. I doubted I'd find anything like the Shack while I was living in the city.

"We should move somewhere that never rains," Everett continued, pouting.

"I thought you loved Shellside Bay."

"That was before I discovered it rains here."

Raining was an overstatement. Really, it was sprinkling so lightly that not even the sand changed colour. Still, the sky had clouded over, and the sun was nowhere to be seen. Even Everett's tanned skin seemed duller in this light.

He sighed, his hand covering mine and flipping it to trace his fingers over my palm.

"Why do you have to work when it's raining? All your customers cancelled and, I mean, haven't you saved up enough for college? River didn't change his mind about the rent, did he?"

"University," I corrected.

He narrowed his eyes at me. With a teasing grin, I continued.

"River didn't change his mind. I'm moving into his place in February," I said. "Don't test him though. Ever since we graduated in September, he's been so moody. It's like his university offer was a curse. He turned so sour."

"Maybe he doesn't want to live with you," Everett teased.

I rolled my eyes, grinning. "More like he doesn't want to leave Shellside." Leave a special someone here in Shellside. "Anyway, the money's good. Maybe I can visit you in New York next time?"

Everett's smile seemed to drop, and his eyes fell to our hands. The clouds seemed to turn darker behind him. "Maybe."

I frowned. His eyes stayed on our hands, his fingers light on my skin. It was as if he was avoiding my eyes—avoiding the idea of me visiting him in New York. Suddenly, my skin felt on fire.

Swallowing, I pulled my hand away, forcing his eyes to flash up to mine. I smiled.

"Or we could meet half-way?"

"Half-way?" he echoed. A smile returned to his lips. "What's half-way between New York and Sydney?"

"I don't know. Las Vegas?"

His lips twitched. "I think that's a little more than half-way."

"Oh yeah, Mr Geography? What's a better alternative then?"

He hummed. "I don't know. Hawaii?"

My smile grew. "Hawaii it is."

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Now

"Hurry up Isla, put your back into it."

I rolled my eyes, lifting the final box out of the elevator and carrying it over the door threshold into River's apartment.

River wasn't a local from Shellside Bay. He was Sydney city, born and raised. Not to mention the fact that he was rich, no matter how much he denied it. It wasn't until he visited Shellside bay back when we were kids that we met.