Summer Girl

Summer Girl - Chapter 13

Chapter THIRTEEN 

It was 11 P.M. when we made it back to Max's cottage. It was quiet inside, sort of eerily quiet. I was secretly hoping Harley would be there, but he didn't seem to be. Neither was their Dad.

  I followed Max to his room, and laid down on his bed right away. I was comfortable there, with him. His bed smelled like dryer sheets and a light scent of cologne. I just wanted to close my eyes.

  "Tired?" he asked, as he pulled off his sweatshirt.

  "Mmm," I said, not looking at him.

  "Still drunk?" he asked, then laughed.

  "Oh yeah," I admitted, then glanced over at him.

  He was pulling off his t-shirt, too. His hair was messy now, and he grinned at me like he knew I was looking at him.

  "Quit checking me out," he laughed. "I don't like girls."

  "I know," I said quickly. "I'm not."

  "I'm teasing you," he said, sitting down near me. "Hey, it's still your birthday."

  I sighed. "The last hour was the best."

  "Cay seems great, how long have you known her?" he wanted to know.

  "She moved here just in January, and got a job at the Burger Hut when they were hiring in February. I mean, I haven't known her long, but she's great."

  "I'm glad you have her," he told me.

  "Max..." I began, but didn't finished.

  "What?" he grinned.

  "I think you're my best friend. Like, ever."

  His face turned red. "You are drunk."

  "Yeah.. but I mean it. I swear," I said, sitting up a bit.

  "Something about you..." he said, but let his voice trail off.

  "Huh?"

  "I just remember seeing you on the beach that day. You were with Cay. And then seeing you at the restaurant when you were working. I just knew we would be... friends."

  "Even though both times I was staring at your brother?" I asked, then laughed.

  He snorted. "Yeah. Because Harley... he might be your everything, who knows. But me... I'm going to be there, the whole time."

  "Promise?" I asked, without thinking.

  He held out his pinky finger to me. "Pinky promise."

  I linked my pinky finger into his, then burst out laughing again. I wrapped my arms around him, then kissed his cheek. "You didn't give up on me. You should have, but you didn't," I whispered to him.

  "I never will. You're my fucking fierce woman," he whispered back, trying to keep a straight face.

  "Has Harley given up on me?" I wanted to know.

  Max shook his head. "I don't think so."

  I didn't know what else to say, so I laid back down again, closing my eyes. I didn't care that Cora didn't know where I was, or that Clara and Sam were at the beach house. I was just glad I was with Max.

  "Sleep," Max whispered. "I'll see you in the morning."

  "You can sleep here," I said, my eyes still closed. I patted the spot beside me. It wasn't a big bed, but there was room for two. "The floor doesn't look comfortable."