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The air buzzed with excitement as we prepared for the annual Fourth of July fireworks. Cousins Beach was known for going all out, and everyone was in a festive mood, dressed in red, white, and blue, ready to celebrate. JJ and I had spent the morning with Belly and the boys, setting up blankets and picnic baskets by the beach so we'd have the perfect view for the fireworks later. The day was hot and humid, but the thrill of the evening kept us energized.

As the sun started to dip below the horizon, people gathered around, chatting and laughing as the scent of bonfires and grilled food filled the air. JJ wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder, and I leaned back into his warmth, savoring the moment. It was one of those perfect summer nights that felt like it could last forever.

But as much as I tried to focus on JJ, I kept catching glimpses of Steven. He'd been lingering around the edges of our group all day, sending me those small, thoughtful glances that made it impossible to forget last summer. Part of me wanted to ignore him, but another part—a part I was trying to forget—still felt drawn to him, wondering if he was feeling even a fraction of what I had.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by Belly tugging on my arm, her face alight with excitement. "Come on, Dee! Let's grab some ice cream before it gets too dark!" she exclaimed.

JJ kissed my cheek, laughing as Belly dragged me toward the ice cream stand. I glanced back to see him joining the boys in setting up more chairs and blankets, and my heart swelled with gratitude. JJ had been so good to me, always showing up, always steady. I reminded myself that I was here with him, that this was my life now.

---

The ice cream was refreshing in the warm summer evening, and Belly and I shared our favorite flavors, laughing as we recounted childhood memories of summers at Cousins. She was telling me about a particularly wild family bonfire when I saw Steven heading toward us, hands stuffed in his pockets and a slight, nervous smile on his face.

"Hey, Belly, can I borrow Dee for a second?" Steven asked, his eyes briefly meeting mine before flicking away.

Belly raised her eyebrows, giving me a quick, inquisitive glance, but she just shrugged. "Sure! I'll meet you back by the blankets," she said, squeezing my hand before bouncing off.

I looked up at Steven, crossing my arms as I waited for him to speak. There was a tension between us, thick and unspoken, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear what he had to say.

"Can we, uh, take a walk?" he asked, his voice barely above a murmur.

I hesitated, glancing over my shoulder to where JJ was helping Jeremiah set up. He caught my eye and gave me a thumbs-up, mouthing, "Go have fun!" With a sigh, I nodded, following Steven as he led me down the beach, away from the noise and laughter of the gathering crowd.

For a few moments, we walked in silence, the only sound the gentle crash of the waves against the shore. I glanced over at Steven, noticing the way his brow was furrowed, his expression serious. Finally, he stopped, turning to face me, his gaze intense.

"Dee, I need to talk to you about last summer," he began, his voice soft but unwavering.

I felt my heart tighten, old memories and wounds resurfacing with his words. I crossed my arms again, both as a shield and a reminder to myself of how much it had hurt. "What's there to talk about, Steven? You made it pretty clear back then," I replied, trying to keep my tone steady.

He winced, rubbing the back of his neck, a gesture I knew all too well—it was what he always did when he was nervous. "I know. I messed up. I... I was stupid, okay? I didn't realize... I didn't understand what I was doing until it was too late."

His words softened something inside me, but I fought against it, not wanting to let my guard down. "Steven, you said you could never love your best friend's sister," I reminded him, my voice barely above a whisper. "You broke my heart."

He looked away, his jaw clenching as he took in a shaky breath. "I know I did. And I hate myself for it, Dee. I... I was scared. Scared of ruining what we had, of crossing that line. But I didn't realize that by pushing you away, I'd lose you completely."

My heart pounded as his words sank in, each one cutting through the walls I'd built up. I wanted to stay strong, to hold on to the life I'd built with JJ, but Steven's gaze was pulling me back to a place I'd sworn I'd never go again.

"I was broken, Steven. For months, I couldn't shake what you'd said," I admitted, the vulnerability in my voice surprising even me. "But I moved on. I found someone who cares about me, who sees me. JJ... he makes me feel like I'm worth something."

Steven's face softened, and for a moment, I thought he might reach out and touch my hand. "I'm glad, Dee. Really, I am. But seeing you with him... it kills me. I thought I'd be okay, thought I could just pretend, but... I can't."

I swallowed, my emotions a tangled mess. This was the moment I'd dreamed of last summer, the words I'd wanted him to say, but now that they were here, they felt bittersweet. I cared about JJ deeply, and he had brought so much light back into my life. But the spark with Steven, the connection we'd shared since childhood—it wasn't something I could ignore.

"Why now, Steven? Why are you saying all this now?" I asked, my voice breaking slightly.

He stepped closer, his gaze intense and filled with regret. "Because I can't stand the thought of you slipping away. I didn't know what I had until you were with someone else, until I saw him make you smile. And I realized that smile was supposed to be for me."

My breath caught as he reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face. His touch was warm, familiar, and it made my heart race in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying.

"Steven..." I whispered, my voice wavering. My mind flashed to JJ, to the stability he'd given me, the way he'd never made me feel uncertain or unwanted.

But Steven leaned in closer, his gaze locking with mine. "I know I don't deserve another chance, Dee. But if there's even a part of you that still cares about me, that still wonders what we could've been... please, don't shut me out."

My emotions churned, a storm of old memories and new love. A part of me still wanted him, still yearned for what we could have been, but I was torn, caught between the boy I'd loved all my life and the man who'd shown me I was worth something real.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped back, giving him a sad, yet resolute look. "I'm with JJ now, Steven. And he's... he's good to me. I'm not just going to throw that away because you're finally figuring things out."

Steven's face fell, but he nodded, accepting my words even if they pained him. "I get it. I just... I had to tell you. I had to let you know how I feel, even if it doesn't change anything."

He turned away, leaving me standing on the beach, my heart torn in two. As I watched him walk back toward the others, I felt the weight of our history pressing on me, a bittersweet ache that I knew wouldn't fade easily.

But as the fireworks began, lighting up the night sky in bursts of color, I realized that this summer was about finding my own path. And whether that path led me back to Steven or forward with JJ, I was determined to follow it, one step at a time.

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