Summer and May

Chapter Fifteen: Jeremy

"Grandpa?" I called, louder than usual. I called again. No answer. I dragged myself into the living room, nearly tripping on the dusty rose shag carpet. I knelt by the recliner, near Sully. "Gramps?" He shook himself awake, his eyes settling once he saw me. "I'm going to a party. I'm not sure when I'll be back."

He slowly formed a smile, nodding.

"You already had your dinner, and I left your pills by the sink. Take them before bed, ok?"

"Alright, kid." he yawned. "Go have fun. Go kiss that girl... uh... May?"

"Probably not gonna happen, gramps. I'll see you later." I squeezed his hand, trudging out of the room.

"Pussy!" I hear in his soft, sickly voice. I chuckled to myself. Even at his weakest, Sully never lost his personality.

I was a good kid. I hardly got in trouble at school, did all my work, respected my teachers... but weekends at grandpa Sully's looked a lot different. I had my first beer at nine. I learned my first cuss word that same night. Sully wasn't like everyone else, which was why I shared everything with him. It was why I was thrilled to spend the summer after high school living with him, taking care of him, and working at the shop.

The responsibilities of tomorrow circled around my head as my truck hummed down the street. I had an early morning, so tonight needed to end early. It would disappoint Sully, but I didn't picture myself kissing anyone tonight. Even if it was May. Each time I found myself around one of them--Summer or May--I was entangled in the fact that they were friends. The two were complete opposites, yet they shared a similar spark. It was what drew me to that kayak the first time I saw them. That, and the fact that I didn't want Summer to drown.

I wasn't the kind of man that read into things. Living life day-to-day, enjoying my blessings, was how I lived. The last week in Shimmer Lake has left me feeling upside-down. Not only because I've practically taken over Sully's Fisherman House, but because I've met two beautiful women, and I feel completely helpless to do anything about it.

Summer is fiery. She exudes confidence, and her smile is radiant. She's gorgeous and she knows it. She makes me laugh, and I think she likes me.

May is elusive. She's the quiet kind of beautiful. Her eyes do the talking for her. She's generous, kind. She had caught my eye from the very start, but she was impossible to read. It was only getting harder to read her, especially now that I see Summer twice as much.

I couldn't tell what Summer wanted, but in all fairness, neither did I. I just graduated high school, and have no plans for a future. I would be a fool to fall for an Ivy League girl, but being around her was so easy. I didn't know her intentions, but I do know that I'm excited to see her. I wondered if May would be there, too.

The party was ablaze when I arrived. I parked far down the drive, so I could leave easily, but nothing about this crowd was winding down anytime soon. I caught Summer as she was grabbing herself a seltzer, and the only thing I could think to say was, "Hey, can I have one?"

Summer beamed, eagerly nodding. I watched as she caught herself up in the moment, then pulled herself back down. She didn't want to seem too available, so she sauntered over to the cooler, bending slightly and slowly, plopping the can in my hand gently.

"Glad you could make it." she played. What Summer didn't know is I could read her like a book. Girls like her always get hurt, so she tries desperately to have the upper hand. I wish she realized that I wasn't a heartbreaker, but I also wasn't even sure if I was in that kind of position. The position that she could get so attached, that I could break her heart. I didn't envision that for myself this summer. I hadn't envisioned anything. Sully was my main focus.

"Me, too." I smiled. "Where's May?" I blurted. Maybe she did have the upper hand.

Summer pointed to the fire, where I saw May standing alone. She looked lost in thought. She peered up from her state, barely smiled at me, then looked away. Something begged me to go say something, but Summer was asking me a question.

"Sorry, what was that?"

Summer batted her lashes. "I asked about your day, but we can talk about something else." she grinned, as if she was begging me to ask her something.

I can play.

"Alright, Ivy League, why don't you tell me what your life will look like next summer. When you're one year in, you probably have a senior boyfriend, and you're president of your sorority?"

That made her eyes lit, and her wide smile was back. "Treasurer, not president." she said, pointedly. She had it all planned out. "I'll probably get an apartment on the lake with May, go for one more round at Dockside, and..." her lips moved languidly over the next words. The way she was looking at me could set me on fire. "as for the boyfriend?"

I was hanging on her every word, and she knew it. Was she a sorceress, or just playing a game with me?

She leaned in to whisper in my ear. She smelled like strawberries. "Play your cards right, and..."

"Summer!!!!!" someone screeched. I was on the edge of my seat, and Summer couldn't look less unbothered. She gave me a quick up-down with her deep blue eyes, turning her full attention to her friend. They both talked at a million miles an hour, so it took about two minutes for me to fully tune them out. Contributing to the conversation would be pointless, and impossible.

My eyes found themselves back over at May, who was in the same spot she was five minutes ago. I wanted to go to her, to ask her a question--any question--just to get her eyes on mine.

But that was selfish. May was clearly unavailable, and here Summer was, right in front of me, playing the kind of games that would drive any man wild.

I had no plans for the summer, but the way I was wondering about May only left me with more questions. Following along the footprints I've already created could be my best option, because I knew far too well how it felt to love a girl that didn't--that couldn't--love me back.