"Truthfully, my heart was so full of her, I could barely call it my own."
𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧 is the epitome of a doberman boy. Six-foot-five motorcycle rider and lifeguard, not only does he not have time to socialize with a girl longer than it...
"Thank you for the ride, Enzo. I owe you." I insist as I unbuckle my seatbelt.
"Don't mention it, Aug. Here let me help you." He replies. Enzo steps out and circles the front of the cab to open my door.
"Listen, I know you're in a rush but can I run something by you real quick?" He asks reaching for my hand and helping me out.
Enzo only moved here a couple months ago but since getting a job at the docks his face has become a more frequent sight of mine. Although I'm not as close to him as I am in contrast to the guys, I still see Enzo as like a little brother of mine.
"Sure, but seriously make it quick." I reply nodding my head towards the shop. Opening day is no joke, tens of people crowd the area and form a line outside of the glass doors.
Ryder's has always been a huge hit over the last years and now that I'm store manager, it's my personal duty to make sure everything is perfect.
"Right. Walk and talk. After you." Enzo insists as he double clicks his car keys and locks his jeep. I give him a soft smile and follow behind him through the crowd of people.
"Five minutes!" I exclaim to the large crowd surrounding Lorenzo and I. Loud cheers and claps fill the summer air which instantly heightens my smile.
When I walk in Soph is already putting last minute touches together while Ford and Caden scatter around helping her.
"Tanner what did I tell you! We want the mannequin outfits to be cute and trendy, not mismatch and out of place!" Soph stresses while she swats Caden's hand away.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Dyl. This outfits' hot." Caden whines.
"Stop crying and help me carry these boxes, C." Ford yells from the back.
"Only the girls can order me around. Carry those boxes yourself, big guy." He laughs in response as he spots Enzo and I at the entrance.
"Speaking of girls. Sup Statler!" Tanner says jogging towards us.
"These are for you." Lorenzo bites back, flipping Caden off with both hands.
"Grow up you two." I giggle while pulling Enzo by his arm and having him follow with me towards the back counter.
"You got three and a half minutes, Statler." I say sharply pointing across the shop at the large clock mounted above the swim suits.
"Oh right. Listen, my brother comes into town tomorrow. He's trying out for Tower Sev and I was just wondering if you could put in a good word for him?" Enzo whispers.
I turn my focus away from the flyers on the counter and cock my head towards him.
"Brother?" I ask unaware Enzo even had a brother.
"Yeah, Kai. He lives in Long Beach, but decided to chill here for the summer."
"Listen Enzo, I'd love to help but you're asking the wrong person. Ford is definitely your guy for something like this." I reply grabbing the flyers and walking around the counter.
"You know how the guys are, Aug! They'll shoo him off like they do with the kooks every year." He exclaims following my footsteps and grabbing the flyers out of my hand.
"Lorenzo-"
"Please, at least talk to the guys for me? Nate scares me as it is, I can't handle Ford and Tanner. Especially, Tanner. See it as your good deed of the day, plus you owe me for my ride."
"Fine, but if he doesn't make it or gets pushed to a different tower-"
"I will be grateful you even tried." Enzo insists cutting me off. I give a sincere nod in return and pat his shoulder signaling for him to get started on the flyers.
Enzo wouldn't be the first person to ask me to 'put in a good word' to Miles. But in all reality, he's the most genuine. I'd do anything for Soph and the guys, so seeing Lorenzo willing to take risks for his brother means a lot to me.
"Okay, what's next- Tanner! Unless your buying all eight of those candy bars, I suggest you take them out of your pockets." I scold.
"You're hot when you get mad!" Caden shouts from across the store as he tosses his wallet at me.
"Such a child." Soph giggles walking past me and into the break room.
I nod in agreement before catching and opening up Caden's wallet, taking out a five dollar bill. My eyes spot two Polaroids neatly placed inside of the small pockets of the wallet.
One of all five of us piled on top of each other at the docks and the other Polaroid is Caden carrying Soph and I over each of his shoulders. My heart smiles and I carefully fold the wallet back up and tuck it in my back pocket.
"Okay, item placement, check. Clean counters and windows, check. All new item inventory, check- Where's the hoodies?" I say coming to a stop on my checklist and searching the store frantically.
"It's almost summer, Aug. No one needs hoodies." Ford says walking up to me.
"No, no. That was Ryder's request. Hoodies for the shop, because not everyone feels comfortable walking around in just their bathing suit." I insist.
I know how important this specific item is to Ryder and not having them on opening day would hurt my heart. I scurry to the back room hoping to find the misplaced bags shoved in a corner or on a random table, but nothing.
"Think August, think." I whisper to myself as I pace the room. The sound of the clock ticking and faint conversations from the crowd outside fill the room as I try my best not the break down.
"Marina. Shit." I cuss at myself out loud once, but a million more times in my head. How could I have messed up something so simple.
"I'll be back!" I shout as I swipe my phone off the counter and run towards the front entrance. The beach is usually visible from the shop but with the large crowd of people, I can barely see the towers.
"Hang tight!" I exclaim as I open the shop door careful not to hit anyone. I frantically skim my gaze over the group of people looking for a path to get out when my eyes land on him.
It's hard to simply look past, Jack. One-hundred and ninety-five centimeters of pure tattoos and black clothing. I have to look up at him the same way I would have to look up at the sky.
My stance is frozen and all I can do in the moment is cock my head in confusion of why he would be here.
Without exchanging a word, which would be pointless with how loud the group of people have gotten since I walked out of the shop, Jack simply mimics my movement and cocks his head the same direction I did mine.
A soft smile hits my lips and when I see him lift up an overfilled bag with hoodies my smile gets a million times bigger.
"You're a lifesaver!" I shout over the crowd.
"It's my job!" He shouts back.
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