When I Say "I love you..."

Chapter 10

The next morning was like every other weekend. I went running but my dad had to work again this morning, so he didn’t go with me. I was lucky I woke up in time. Today it was hot when I woke up though, so I just put on my training bra and shorts. I took my iPod too. I didn’t see Damen as I passed his usual spot on the beach. Had he left already? His umbrella was here, but oddly he wasn’t. Was it possible that he was avoiding me? Just as I had time to think of this and become disappointed at his disappearance, I was tackled. Who???? I ended up landing on someone. I was too surprised and in disbelief to do anything. I stared at the seventeen year old man I had landed on.

“Are you okay?” Damen asked me laughing. I blushed watching him stare back at me. Then I started to get up, collecting my iPod. I stuck my music in my shorts’ pocket. He chuckled, never taking his eyes off of me. I couldn’t help staring back at him a little embarrassed that I hadn’t at least seen him coming.

“What did you do that for?” I asked ignoring his first question. I helped him to his feet sticking out a hand. He grabbed it but hardly used it anyways. I loosened my grip expecting that he would let go, but I was wrong. He clasped it in his own. I was surprised to hear a voice a couple yards away.

“Dude, you missed the ball.” I looked to find Carter pointing towards a ball that was a few feet behind Damen and I. That’s how he ran into me. Another coincidence. I tried to fight back a laugh. Damen grabbed the ball with his other hand. He tossed it back to Damen. “Are you gonna ditch me for your girl?” Carter asked. I just looked at my toes. Damen made a snorting noise.

“Duh, she’s way better than you bro.” I couldn’t help my cheeks from burning again. I couldn’t fight the smile that spread across my lips involuntarily. Damen pulled me closer making me stumble and I would have fallen if he hadn’t caught me. Carter had his hand on his heart in mock pain.

“Come on man, that one hurts.” Then I noticed Piper come up from behind him. She handed him a smoothie. I watched her hand one to her and he gave her a smile throwing his arm across her shoulders. She waved at me. Damen and I were already walking towards them when she started making hand gestures for us to come closer.

“So you found a new best friend?” she asked me wiggling her eyebrows. I felt myself flush again and I laughed with her. It was a relief to see her again. I hadn’t realized how much I missed her. She looked different. I wasn’t sure what it was...but it made a difference.

“Ya, I guess so,” I said looking up at Damen. Now he had his arm around me instead. I couldn’t help from smiling big on the inside. He mirrored his brother. I wandered if he did it on purpose.

“Addy has to finish her run, guys. We can meet up later if you guys want to.” I was kind of sad when Damen said this, because I wanted to hang with Piper. I hadn’t spent real time with her in a long while. I nodded and said that it was a good idea. Piper agreed and smiled. Carter shrugged, saying we could all talk about it later. With that, Damen and I started walking towards the shore line. I waved over my shoulder and saw Piper smile at me just before Carter planted a kiss on her cheek. I turned away before I smiled. I was biting my lip. I knew it.

Damen stopped at his umbrella. He took off his shirt and I tried not to stare and not to look awkward at the same time. Flipping impossible! When he caught me staring a little he smiled and I blushed quickly looking back towards the sea instead. I could just tell he was fighting back a chuckle. Then, he tried to distract me.

“Shal we?” he asked me and I nodded. We started jogging. We were going pretty fast, like we had yesterday morning when I couldn’t seem to get away from him. I thought about that and tried to slow down our pace a little bit more. Finally, he broke the silence. It wasn’t awkward really, I wasn’t used to it though.