June has only one more summer before she marries her high school sweetheart. She intends to make the most of it, but she has no idea what is waiting for her in Dolphin Coast. Socks on the Beach is a tale of steamy love, jaw-dropping heartbreak, and...
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The cloudy air inside The Tipsy Pirate Package Store was thick with incense smoke and a touch of grass. I inhaled slowly, deeply. Rather than shelves and display cases, this liquor store let cardboard boxes on the carpeted floor speak for themselves. Their inventories of vodkas and rums, tequilas and wines formed a shadowy maze that obstructed the back half of the store from sight. Jimmy Buffet's Brown Eyed Girl was playing overhead. I loved that song.
"I gotta piss, be right back," Perry grumbled, turning heel and disappearing into the cardboard maze.
I grabbed Pearl by the hand and led her to the left side of the store, where a row of refrigerators provided precious light. I scanned their glass doors until I found the seltzers. When I pulled the black plastic handle towards myself, the cool air felt amazing. It also gave me a moment's relief. I should've listened to Pearl and changed into shorts, but I had no intention of telling her that. We would be back at the rental before long and it wouldn't matter anymore. I clumsily tugged on a case of Black Cherry White Claws on the top shelf, getting the corner of the box stuck on the wire rack, and manipulating the angle until it yanked free, smacking into my shoulder. I buckled over slightly, "Ow!"
I smiled as I looked over at Pearl, expecting to quickly become the butt end of a joke, but Pearl wasn't looking at me. She was leaned up against the fridge to my left, pushing her arms together so her boobs looked bigger and biting her lip. I hardly recognized her and I was reminded for the first time this summer that a lot can change in a year. She was still a virgin though. I was certain that she would've told me. I followed her gaze to the man worth frothing at the mouth over, in public and sober.
Everyone has a type, I guess.
The tall brunette man exchanging fuck-me eyes with my best friend was wearing an unbuttoned yellow hawaiian shirt, khaki pants, and loafers. He was dressed like a spring-breaking frat boy, but he was pushing thirty. I realized that the confidence this man exuded must've rubbed off on Pearl, and everything made sense again. It eased my mind to have an excuse for her behavior.
The man broke his gaze, saying something to the stunning black goth girl who entered a few seconds after him, alongside a couple others, before he headed off towards the restroom. I didn't see anything else before Pearl grabbed ahold of my shoulders, shaking me violently and giggling, her face a blur of hair and teeth to my rattling brain.
"Jesus Christ, down girl!" I laughed. I swatted her hands off of my shoulders.
"Look. June, hear me out," Pearl's face was plastered with a smile, but her eyes were pleading, "I know I promised to keep it just us tonight but did you see the way he was looking at me?"
"Pearl..."
"I will literally do anything if I can invite him tonight," she begged, puppy dog eyes wide and unblinking.
"Pearl-"
"And-"
"There's an and?" I rubbed my brow, annoyed to already be in this situation on night one.
