Julys and Goodbyes

chapter four

As I rolled out of bed to get ready, the first small spark of confidence came to me. I had packed an abundance of cute outfits for the nights we were going to eat out, and I decided that if I was going to have sit down and eat with Cole and Nora, I could at least look good doing it.
I dug through my drawers, and finally paired a loose black crop top with a high-waisted pair of black and white gingham shorts. I pulled some platform sandals out of the bottom of my suitcase, and quickly began getting ready. When I was satisfied with my hair and makeup, I grabbed my purse on the way out of my bedroom.
Downstairs, my mom was getting her things together. She noticed me at the bottom of the stairs, and motioned towards the front door.
"Your dad just got back from picking up the golf cart from the rental place. He's ready for us to load in."
Every year, we rented the biggest golf cart that you could get from the rental shop, which was an eight seater. Both of the families pitched in, and when we'd go out somewhere, every Montgomery and Hanson would pile onto the cart. But this year, we had a rather unfortunate special guest.
Normally, it would be Cole and I on the back seats, waving at other golf carts on the road and laughing at nothing. But this year, Cole sat in a middle row with Nora, and I was stuck on the back between Brianna and Finn. It was usually Sadie that sat between them, and if she had come this year, I don't think there would've been room for her at all.
As I walked down the front stairs, I rolled my eyes and groaned internally when I saw Cole and Nora on the cart, hand in hand. I knew that I probably looked deeply annoyed on the outside, but inside I felt a sharp pain of sadness pulse through me. This was supposed to be my summer of Cole, and it had taken a very, very unexpected turn for the worst. And man, did I still love that boy.
Dwelling on my thoughts, I almost completely lost my appetite for dinner. My heart was aching at this point, and I didn't even want go. But swallowing the uncomfortable lump in my throat, I climbed onto the back of the cart with nothing more than a brief nod from Cole.
I heard giggles, and Brianna and Finn came running over to the cart with their parents close behind. The two kids sat on either side of me, and began babbling away about something that I zoned out from.
Cole had Nora now, and it was going to have to be something I would have to accept over the course of this summer.
-
Lucky for us, the usually crowded Oceanfront wasn't as busy tonight, and we were seated right away. I was sitting next to my mom and Brianna, and Cole and Nora were directly across from me. They were laughing quietly with each other over something on the menu, which made me keep glancing up from my own menu.
Nothing was even that funny.
Instead, I struck up a conversation with Brianna.
"So Bri, how are you liking middle school?" I leaned in and whispered to her, "any cute boys in your grade?"
She laughed and shook her head. "No, they all think they're funny, but are really just sooo annoying. Besides that, middle school isn't too bad." She shrugged lightly.
"Well that's boys for you," I laughed. Just wait until you start stupidly falling for them, I thought to myself. "So have you been keeping Cole in line when he's with Nora?"
An expression that I can't completely read briefly crosses Brianna's face. "Yeah, I guess. But really..." She pauses, and then continued in a quieter voice. "I'm not crazy about Nora. I don't think she's that good enough for my big brother."
I raise my eyebrows in surprise, but Brianna's words gave me a small spark of satisfaction. "Oh, why do you say that?"
"I don't know," Brianna taps the side of her cup. "She just makes me feel weird and I don't like her."
I look up to make sure Cole and Nora aren't listening in or overhearing the conversation. Obviously engulfed in their own world, they aren't.
I sigh and glance back over my menu. Although my appetite still hasn't found its way back, I do feel a small sense of relief that I'm not the only one here that's bothered by Nora.
Nora, sitting there with her artificially curled hair and out-of-place sundress.
I tried to focus on Cole and his handsome, inviting features, but I couldn't even look that way anymore with that oversized smile sparkling right beside him.