𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐲

IX. Anywhere Near You.

THE GROUP of six now arrive to the beach, all excited and laughing, joking together. "Beach." Evie pointed, sitting in Kie's lap as she looked out the window in amazement. "Yeah! You excited, Eves?" The Carrera girl now asked the little Lennox girl, grinning widely. "Yeah, mama Kie." Evie says, giggling as Jake watched them with a small smile.

He glanced over at JJ who's leaning out the open van door, fingers in the sand as they drove down the beach shore. He felt so happy in this moment, to be on the beach, with his two girls, and his guy. He can't stop thinking about that, just staring at JJ the whole way, smiling faintly. When the blond boy looks over, laughing and grinning widely, he stopped for a moment to stare back at Jake.

His grin turns into a small coy smile, staring at Jake before sending him a little wink. John B eventually parks the van, shutting off the engine as JJ got out first, and then John B. The waves were huge, giving everyone excitement that went rushing through their veins. "Don't you just immediately feel like life is better at the beach?" Kiara asks as she sets down Evie who immediately began playing with the sand, letting it fall through her hands as she held clumps of it then relaxed her fingers.

"Yeah, mama Kie. I love the beach!"

The group now set up everything, which were the beach chairs, an umbrella, a cooler. "Easy with her. I've had this thing since I was three." JJ says as John B hands over his beach chair. "Oh, God. Half-baked Poguelandia." John B says as Jake walks over from the van, Evie's packed bag in hand. "Wanna drink some water, Eves?" He asks, the girl sitting on one of the chairs and wearing her sunglasses.

"Yeah." The girl makes grabby hands and Jake handed over the sippy cup filled with water as JJ looks over. "Let's get these boards off." He said once everything was set up and Jake is quick to drop the bag in his hands to follow after. "Oh, boy." John B says. "What?" JJ calls out, near the van by now. The three massive cars now come driving by, "ugh." Jake mutters, staring at them. Topper, Rafe and all their friends. "Don't stop." JJ says quietly, but of course they do. "Oh, you're joking. Of course they stop here." Kie sounds annoyed.

"Why wouldn't they? When there's an entire beach." Kie looks over at the Kooks. "Dada, who are they?" Evie asked, pointing. "We were here first." Sarah says quietly. "Don't mind them, baby. They're just..." Jake sighs, not even sure what to tell his daughter. "It's a waste of waves, if you're asking me." Kie walks over as Sarah rolls her eyes, scoffing.

"So lame."

JJ hands over Sarah's board that was on the top of all the other surfboards. "Great. My brother's here." The blonde girl says, making both Kie and Jake look over, at the boy in sunglasses, opening up a bottle of beer. "Hey, don't worry." Jake held out his hand, holding onto the small of Kiara's back, "he won't get anywhere near you. I'll make sure of that." He says, knowing how Kie felt seeing Rafe was here, as JJ now holds out Kiara's surfboard.

"We'll both make sure." The Maybank says, nodding as she just took her surfboard, nodding softly and glancing at Jake who's staring at her. "Hey, ya'll. John B. Sunshine's coming. What do you think he wants?" JJ says now as Topper began making his way over. "What does he ever want?" Jake quips as Sarah turns to John B. "Please don't let him antagonize you." She tells him. "I got him."

"Okay."

"I'm gonna be cool." John B walks backwards before turning around. Jake sighs, watching John B walk over Topper as Kiara set down the surfboard with the other ones. "Is that all of them?" Jake asks the Maybank who now carefully climbs down. "Yup. Got it." JJ turns to him then smiles widely at Jake who's just standing there, smiling.

"They won't ruin today for us, okay?" The blond boy assures him, then suddenly leaned in, planting a little peck on his cheek before walking over to the front of the van. Jake blushes, following behind him to stand next to him as Kie walked back over to them, standing next to the two boys, now just watching John B and Topper talking to one another.