Whispered Promises

Chapter 17 - Sun, Sand, and Sparks

Levi POV

The sun beamed brightly over the horizon as the four of us made our way toward the beach. The salty air danced around us, mingling with the warm breeze that rustled through the palm trees. It was the perfect summer day—kids building sandcastles, people sunbathing, volleyballs flying, and rainbow snow cones being devoured.

The sun was hot. Too hot. I adjusted the strap of the cooler slung over my shoulder, already on edge from the drive here. Why had I agreed to this beach trip? It was supposed to be a bonding day, but so far, it felt like a complete waste of time. Every interaction with Alex was like pulling teeth, and being forced to spend more time together only made things worse. Still, here I was. Alex walked beside me, as tense and irritated as ever.

Josy and Jackson led the way, their towels draped over their shoulders, each one throwing casual barbs at the other, laughter bubbling between them. From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Josy playfully nudging Jackson with her elbow, her lips curving into a teasing smile. Their voices were light, full of teasing jabs.

"Honestly, Jackson, you run like you've got two left feet," Josy teased, her laughter ringing out like music.

Jackson rolled his eyes but grinned back at her. "Says the girl who can't even toss a pom-pom in a straight line."

Josy shot him a mock glare but couldn't help the giggle that escaped her. My jaw tightened as I watched them. It brought back memories and a longing to experience that kind of easy connection again.

Josy's eyes lit up whenever Jackson flashed that cocky grin her way. I glanced over at Alex, quickly regretting it. She looked annoyed, her eyes narrowed as she kicked at the sand, clearly wishing she were anywhere else. I let out a frustrated breath, determined not to let her get under my skin today. But, of course, that lasted all of two minutes.

"So," Alex said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "did you actually bring something useful in that cooler, or is it just more of your bad attitude?"

I clenched my teeth, barely keeping my temper in check. "Trust me, the only bad attitude here is yours. I'm just trying to make sure no one starves."

"Right," she snapped. "Because you're such a saint, always looking out for everyone."

I was already on edge, and her words felt like the last straw. "Well, someone has to pick up the slack when you're too busy being the queen of everything."

She shot me a glare, and for a second, I thought she might actually throw something at me. I almost wished she would—it would be better than the constant back-and-forth that left me feeling like I was chasing my own tail. This so-called bonding trip wasn't going according to plan. If anything, spending more time together seemed to only fuel the fire of our mutual irritation. I shoved my hands into my pockets, muttering, "This is ridiculous. Why'd I even agree to come to this beach thing?"

Alex rolled her eyes, tugging at her ponytail. "Because you have nothing better to do than annoy me. And you think you're being helpful by offering to carry my bag, but guess what? You're not."

I glanced at her sideways, my brow furrowed. "I wasn't trying to be helpful. I just didn't want to hear you complain about carrying it the whole time."

Alex huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Typical. Always assuming I'm going to complain. If anything, you're the one who never stops whining. 'Alex, why didn't you pass the ball?' 'Alex, stop hogging the field.' Please, it's like playing with a child."

I clenched my jaw, my frustration simmering just beneath the surface. "Oh yeah? Well, maybe if you actually trusted your teammates, you wouldn't have to do everything by yourself."