Lonely hearts

15. The beach

The next morning, I woke up with a hint of excitement; Chris, Matt, and Nick had invited me to join them for a day at the beach. It was supposed to be a day of fun and relaxation, a welcome distraction from the complicated feelings that had been occupying my mind lately.

After a quick breakfast and getting ready, walked to the triplets house. I saw Matt's car already in the driveway. But when I opened the front door and stepped inside, my gaze immediately fell on Amber, who was chatting pleasantly with the guys.

A knot formed in my stomach, and my heart sank a little. Amber was here. I hadn't expected that. My genuine excitement about the beach day was replaced by a wave of sadness and uncertainty.

Chris saw me come in and waved enthusiastically. "Olivia! You're right on time! We're almost ready to head out."

Matt looked up from his conversation with Amber and saw me standing there. He smiled kindly, but I could notice a vague concern in his eyes. "Hey, Liv. We're almost ready to go."

"Yeah, I see," I said with a forced smile. I tried to hide my feelings, but it was hard not to notice how my mood had shifted. The idea of spending the whole day with Amber around made me uncomfortable.

Amber approached me and smiled in a way I found hard to place. It was a mix of friendliness and a subtle challenge. "Hi, Olivia. It's nice to see you."

"Yeah, you too," I replied, doing my best to sound genuine. My smile was a bit too forced, but I hoped it didn't show too much.

Matt noticed the shift in atmosphere and gave me an encouraging nod. "I'm driving today, so hop in. We can get going."

I nodded and followed him to the car, while the rest of the guys headed outside. Amber also walked with us, her presence hanging over me like a shadow.

In the car, Chris sat in the front seat next to Matt, and Nick and I took the back seat. The ride started off calmly, but I could feel the tension between Amber and me, even without saying much. Matt tried his best to keep the conversation going and the mood light, but it was hard to ignore that Amber's presence was affecting part of the day.

During the drive, I tried to distract myself by looking out the window and enjoying the scenery. The sun was shining brightly, and the sky was a clear blue, a contrast to the knot in my stomach.

When we finally arrived at the beach, I stepped out of the car and felt the warm ocean air on my skin. The sound of the waves and the calls of the seagulls were soothing, a welcome distraction from my inner turmoil.

Matt carried a cooler full of drinks and snacks, and Chris and Nick were already busy setting up their beach gear. Amber walked beside me and tried to start a conversation, but it felt awkward and forced.

"Would you like some water?" she asked, pulling a bottle from the cooler.

"Yes, please," I said, taking it from her, though I felt uncomfortable. I struggled to carry on a conversation with her without feeling the tension between us.

Matt came over and noticed the discomfort. He placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled reassuringly. "Come on, let's find a spot and just enjoy the day. We've got the beach to ourselves."

His touch made my heart skip a beat, but it was also a reminder of reality. Amber was here, and it was clear that my feelings for Matt would remain complicated as long as she was part of his life.

As we set up our things and started the day, I tried to focus on the fun and relaxation of the beach. I wanted to enjoy the beautiful weather, the ocean, and spend time with Chris, Nick, and Matt. Despite the discomfort that Amber brought, it was important to me not to let the day be ruined by my own emotions.

The afternoon went by faster than expected. While Amber and Matt lay together on a towel, clearly comfortable with each other, I felt a knot of frustration in my stomach. They were so close, their conversations and laughter made it difficult to ignore my feelings.

Chris and I exchanged a glance of silent understanding. He immediately grasped what I was thinking and grinned broadly. "You know what we should do?" he asked. "We should get a little clingy. Maybe it'll make Matt a bit jealous."

I nodded, my heart beating a little faster at the idea. It wasn't the most mature way to handle my feelings, but I was willing to give it a try. "Let's do it," I said determinedly.

Chris and I moved closer together, our hands accidentally intertwining as we laughed at one of his jokes. It was a bit forced, but we did our best to make it convincing.

When I glanced at Matt, I saw his gaze fixed on us. His eyes showed a noticeable shift when he saw how close Chris and I were sitting. His expression slowly changed from relaxed to something I couldn't quite place—perhaps a mix of curiosity and a touch of jealousy.

Amber either didn't notice or perhaps didn't want to acknowledge it. She lay on her stomach with a book in hand, occasionally glancing up at Matt and giving him a soft smile.

Chris leaned in closer and whispered in my ear. "Look at him. It's actually working."

I quickly looked at Matt, who now clearly seemed uncomfortable. He threw occasional jealous glances our way and tried to keep the conversation with Amber going, but his attention kept drifting back to us.

"Yeah, it's working," I whispered back with a mischievous smile. "Maybe it's worth something after all."

After a while, Chris stood up and reached for a volleyball that was nearby. "Time for some beach volleyball. Who's in?"

Matt, Amber, and I got up while Chris and Nick were already preparing for a game. We all put on sunglasses and played with an energy that almost made the air electric. The spirit lightened the mood and made it more cheerful. The tension between Matt and me seemed to disappear for a moment as we all got involved in the game.

We split into two teams: Chris and me against Matt and Amber. The teams were well-matched, and the game started with a strong beginning. Chris and I worked well together, resulting in some impressive points. Amber and Matt were also well-coordinated, which kept the game exciting.

During the game, I noticed Matt's focus on Amber slowly diminishing as he glanced at me more frequently, likely due to the way Chris and I interacted. Chris and I occasionally let our hands accidentally touch and helped each other in a way that was clearly a bit exaggerated, but it seemed to be effective.

A few times, I caught Matt's eyes staring at me intently before he quickly looked away. His attempts to give Amber attention sometimes came off as forced, and I felt a bit of triumph.

After several rounds of intense games and much laughter, we were all tired but happy. We gathered on the sand, eyeing the cooler with drinks that Nick and Chris had prepared.

Matt leaned back and took a sip of his drink. He looked at me and gave a crooked smile. "Well played, Olivia. You and Chris were a great team."

"Thanks," I replied with a smile. "You guys weren't bad either."

There was a noticeable shift in the air. Matt's earlier jealousy seemed to give way to a more relaxed demeanor. Amber seemed to follow the conversation, but I could sense a hint of discomfort in her posture.

Chris gave me an encouraging nod and sighed with a satisfied smile. "This was really a good day."

"Yes, it definitely was," I agreed, feeling relaxed and comfortable in the company of my friends. The sun began to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the sky. The day ended with a sense of fulfillment, both from the fun we had and from the game I had played with my own emotions.

As we gathered our things and prepared to head home, I glanced at Matt, who was talking to Amber again. Despite everything, it had been a good day, and I knew there would be more to look forward to.