Luv Letters

02| opposites attract

"Opening day, baby!" Soph yells, pushing the doors to Ryder's open. I toss my keys on the front counter and pull Soph into a huge hug.

Nothing beats the feeling of working at Carlsbad's cutest shop on the boardwalk. Soph and I left class early to make sure everything was set up and ready to go- which usually means I'm doing all of the last-minute touch-ups, while Soph is planning on what she wants to buy from the new inventory.

"I've missed this place." Sophie exclaims plopping herself up on the counter. I let out a small giggle and jump up next to her.

"Party's here!" Caden says pushing through the doors to the shop. Nate and Ford follow behind him with smoothie bowls in their hand.

I hop off the counter and rush over to Nate, who's holding my go-to order and an envelope, Ford carrying the same for Soph.

"Awe, boys!" I squeal taking the contents from Nate and wrapping my arms around his waist. Nate returns the hug and steals a large sized bite from my bowl.

Every summer the guys always make a big deal over Ryder's opening day, and Soph and I do the same for the first day of lifeguard season. We decided to throw a party at Nate's house the night before and invite pretty much everyone we know.

"You remembered the extra strawberries!" Soph says happily with a mouthful of fruit.

"So picky." Ford laughs shaking his head.

I snatch my bowl out of Nate's hands and take a few bites before opening the note he gave me.

Another summer with our baby sis. Stay golden Renny.

-Tanner, Ford, Nate.

A smile spreads across my face and I slip the envelop into my bag that I tossed on the counter earlier.

"When will you guys stop calling me, Dyl?" Soph asks giggling and folding her note up.

"Never!" Ford exclaims picking up Soph and tossing her over his shoulder. He carry's her out of the store and Caden follows behind them.

I push past Nate and run out of the doors. "Hey, I need her back in thirty minutes!" I yell out. Caden turns towards me and salutes me before turning around again and walking towards their lifeguard tower.

I walk back in the store and see Nate sneaking a few more bites of my smoothie bowl. "Seriously, Palmer. Get your own!" I whine taking my spoon out of his mouth and tossing it in the trash.

"Why would I get my own when I can just eat yours, Aug?" He replies chuckling.

I roll my eyes and make my way around the store, fixing clothing racks and filling up empty shelves, Nate trailing behind me.

"Excited for the party tomorrow night?" He asks handing a box of hangers from the storage room.

"So excited! I haven't stopped thinking about it. Are you inviting any kook's?" I ask taking the box from him.

Every summer the boys always give the oncoming lifeguards a really hard time- which is probably why they haven't had any new hires in the past few years.

Caden, Nate, and Ford all call them kook's, which just means a clueless surfer on the waters. It's pretty comical, but I can't help but feel bad for the newcomers. Constantly being watched by the boys can be extremally intimidating. I'm not sure what the guys care about more, the kooks being good lifeguards, or them keeping their hands off of Soph and I.

Kook's like Carson Rockwell, think they're entitled to any job when they're rich, but Miles declines him and his friends every year. Always trashing the beach and leaving a horrible example around CBad, it's better to have them not represent Tower Sev and Harbor Beach as a whole.

"Don't matter, they end up coming whether they get invited or not. If they say anything to you- tell me." Nate demands. I give a small smile and nod before returning to my task.

"Where's the bathroom?" Nate asks impatiently as he hands me another box full of hangers. I roll my eyes and point down the hall.

"This better not be your way of trying to get out of helping me!" I shout as he sprints down the hall and into the bathroom. A faint chuckle escapes him as he turns towards me and gives a guilty shrug before closing the door.

"Okay, what's next?" I whisper to myself scanning my eyes throughout the store. I head towards the front counter and eat the rest of my picked through smoothie bowl when just a few seconds later, I hear a door burst open with Nate sprinting out of the bathroom.

"Palmer! Watch the paint!" I exclaim as the door handle slams against the wall. I quickly walk over making sure the door didn't dent the surface or chip off any paint when Nate grasps my arm and pulls me back towards the front of the shop.

"No time for a demolition checkup Aug, we have to head to the docks!" Nate exclaims swiping my keys off the counter his hand still fully wrapped around my forearm.

I stop halfway through the doorway causing him to stop as well. "First of all, ow!" I whine yanking my arm out of his hold. "Second of all why do you need to go to the docks so urgently, and why do I have to come? I open in twenty minutes!" I ask almost completely out of breath.

Realistically, I could care less why we are going to the docks, I just hate not having a schedule. If it's not in my digital planner it's not happening that day. I run a tight and specific routine daily, and small impulsive things like this completely throw off my day, but out of everyone, Nate knows that the best. He knows me the best.

"Sorry princess." Nate apologizes lifting my arm and planting a light kiss on it. "Jack is having trouble at the docks and you know how the kid is. When he gets pissed off-"

"Don't even finish that sentence, I know." I say cutting him off and snatching the keys out of his hand.

"Plus, you're my ride." Nate adds opening the door to my Bronco before running around the front and hopping in the passenger.

The docks is only a few minutes from Ryder's but Nate knows I can get there in less than a minute, assuming that's why we're driving there.

I've never personally met Jack, but the stories I've heard are just as scary as I've imagined him for the past year.

Pulling into the small, compact parking lot, I immediately spot a six-foot-four guy. Tattoos flooding his body and his ring filled hands, one clutching his helmet, the other balled into a fist.

"Shit." Nate cusses quietly hopping out and rushing over to the scene. Not sure what do to I unbuckle my seatbelt and follow right behind him.

"Stay in the car August." Nate demands turning towards me and pointing at my car. I know he means business when he uses my full name so I decide to stand next the my door instead of fully getting in.

Nate yelling quickly caught Jack's attention. His head whips to me which allows me to get a better view of his face. We're at least ten feet from each other but his green eyes quickly pierce my presence and I instantly fall into a trance.

Sharp jawline, a dark scar slicing from his right eye to the bottom of his ear, and even with a mean mug on his face, small dimples find their way to his cheeks.

Not once have I ever said a word to this man, let alone wanted to. But if I could. If I could say atleast one word. I'd say trouble. Jack Cameron looks like nothing but trouble.