The Summer I Met The Girl

four

Matt goes for a run with his Dad early Saturday morning, before everyone else is up. Crew usually joins them, but didn't get out of bed this morning, and Matt is happy to have time with his dad.

They run 10 miles down the beach, and Matt is always shocked by his Dad's athleticism. Even at his age, he has no trouble keeping up with Matt.

They come to a stop and catch their breath. His dad plops down in the sand.

Matt does the same. The sun is just starting to rise over the horizon.

"How's Carly?"

Matt's heart sinks. Of course that's the first question he asks. "She's good."

His dad eyes him, "How are you two doing?"

Fuck. Matt picks at his shoelace, it's fraying at the end. He should buy new ones soon. "We broke up." Matt finally says.

His dad nods slowly, "Are you okay?"

"Fine."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

"Okay. End of discussion," His dad says quietly and turns his head back to the waves.

He's appreciative of his dad dropping the subject. It isn't something he wants to talk about, and the truth is bound to come out about why they broke up, he just isn't ready to talk about it yet. He doesn't want to disappoint his parents. Because he knows when he does tell them, he's in a world of trouble.

"You ready for school to be out?"

Matt nods, "I can't wait to be up here all summer."

"Have you talked to Brad about working for him again this summer?"

"Yep, I'm going to start right after Memorial Day." Matt helps Brad, the local surf shop owner, teach surf lessons to anyone willing to pay. It doesn't pay all that well, but Matt gets to spend all day on his board so he doesn't mind.

"That's good. I'm sure he'll be happy to have you back." He clears his throat, "How are you feeling about the house?"

"It's sad," Matt says softly. He does love their Boston house.

"I know."

Matt looks over at his Dad, "Why are you selling it?"

"We want to be up here. Your mother and I have always felt the most at home up here."

Matt smiles. His parents are tale as old as time, childhood friends turned husband & wife. Even after almost 30 years, it's easy to see how much they love each other. His mom makes coffee for them every morning while he makes her breakfast. He rubs her feet at night, and always covers her with a blanket when she falls asleep on the couch. She massages his hands when he gets out of a long surgery, and always has his favorite smoothie ready for him when he gets home from his run.

Matt's always been really grateful for that. Parents who don't hate each other, or fight constantly. They set an example of what love should be. For some reason, Matt still hasn't figured out how to replicate it yet.

"As long as you never sell this house," Matt says quietly.

"No, this house should always belong to a Fisher." His dad takes a deep breath, "Ready to head back?"

Matt nods, and they simultaneously stand up. Before they head off, Matt asks his Dad, "Did you ever cheat?"

His dad frowns, brushing sand off his shorts, "On your mom?"

"On anyone."

"I did not," his eyes narrow, "why?"

"Just curious."

"I know someone who has cheated though, and it's a mistake they live with every day. It affected his relationship for a long time. That kind of mistake is hard to undo."

Matt wants to crawl into a hole and die. How could he have done that to Carly.

But his dad says quietly, "People make mistakes everyday, Matt. I think it's how you come back from it that defines you. You know? Like was it a one time thing, or did it become a habit? You're allowed a mistake, but once it becomes a habit, you've made an active choice."

Matt nods, but doesn't say anything. The words weigh heavy on him the rest of their run back. They fall into step easily and Matt finds comfort in the pace they set together, and the sound of their shallow breathing as their feet hit the sand.

Back at the house, people are slowly waking up. His mom is in the kitchen, finishing up two smoothies, when they walk in the door.

Matt watches from a distance while his dad walks over and kisses her like it's been months. He takes a swig of the smoothie and whispers something in her ear. She laughs.

Someone comes bounding down the stairs, pulling his attention from his parents. It's Crew.

"How was the run?"

"Good, light 20 miles before breakfast."

Crew scrunches his nose, "Yeah, I can smell it on you. Go shower."

Mallory saunters down the stairs, already fully made up in a dress and heels. She frowns when she walks by him, "Matty, you stink."

Matt throws his hands up, "Thanks Mal. I exercised this morning!"

"Nobody cares," she grumbles at him, "Get out of the kitchen."

Matt shakes his head with a chuckle. He climbs the stairs and walks by the bathroom just as Grant walks out. "Hardly any hot water left," he mutters, water dripping from his hair.

Matt shoves him playfully, "Asshole."

Grant chuckles, "You want to go out tonight? I heard you might be in need of some female attention."

"Eh, I don't know if I'm in the mood."

"Oh c'mon, it could be fun."

Matt sighs, "Let's see how we feel after dinner."

Grant nods, satisfied with that answer. But Matt knows he'll somehow get roped into going out with his cousins and siblings.

They spend all day Saturday cleaning, at the request of the parents. It isn't until late afternoon, that the 9 of them get to sneak out to the pool.

Mallory is perched on the side, trying to take the perfect Instagram to picture. Cassidy and Beck are laying on rafts. Mason and Henry are in the shallow end, laughing about something. And Matt is listening to Jude and Grant talk about their new football coach.

Cassidy perches up on her elbows, "Are we going to that party tonight?"

"What party?" Henry asks .

"Theo's."

Crew frowns, "Who is Theo?"

Mallory sighs audibly, as if extremely annoyed that they don't know who Theo is, "He just bought the place over on Sunrise."

"That mansion?" Matt asks.

"That very one," Mallory looks back at her phone.

"And how do you know him?" Matt asks.

"He followed me on Instagram. When I followed him back, I noticed he posted a picture of the house."

Henry cocks his head, "And then what? You became friends?"

"Who cares how they know each other?" Grant interjects, "Are we going to the party or not?"

Matt rolls his eyes, "G, you're 15. You're not going."

"If you guys are going, I'm going." He fires back.

Matt groans. Sometimes Matt hates being the oldest of the cousins.

"So it's settled! We're going," Beck chirps from her raft.

Matt shoots daggers at her, but doesn't say anything. It's a losing battle with Beck, and fighting her will only make it worse.

After haggling with all the parents about curfew, and Matt and Crew agreeing to stay sober, the Fisher/Conklin cousins are off to a party.