Boys of Summer by Jessica Brody

Author:Jessica Brody
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse

CHAPTER 28

GRAYSON

The Fourth of July is a big deal on Winlock Harbor. Visitors come by the boatload from all over the East Coast to watch the parade, visit the shops downtown, eat ice cream at Scoops, swim in the ocean, and take over our beaches like an invasion.

Traditionally Ian, Mike, and I don’t do anything special. We hang out at my house, drink by the pool, swim, chat, eat, and watch the fireworks at the end of the night. Anything to avoid dealing with the mob. And I’m actually looking forward to these little acts of normalcy.

I’m looking forward to the three of us hanging out like old times.

No girlfriends. No dates. No drama.

I haven’t spoken to Harper since I left her on my father’s boat yesterday. She’s texted me twice, but I haven’t responded. I don’t know what to say to her. I don’t know what to do. If I see her, I’ll kiss her. If I kiss her, I’ll feel wretched.

And yet all I want to do is see her.

Being with her feels safe. It feels right. Even though I know it’s not.

The whole thing is just messed up.

The guys and I have the house to ourselves today. My father is on the mainland for work, and Whitney left about an hour ago, looking as giddy as a schoolgirl. No doubt she’s found some hunky tourist to keep her company for a few days.

I turn on the barbecue and go inside to get the steaks from the fridge. On the way back out I grab the chips and salsa, and set them on the table next to the cooler.

I’m just putting the first filet on the grill and taking a sip of beer when the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it!” Ian calls, emerging from his room and sprinting toward the door. It’s the first I’ve seen of him all day. Sometimes I get the sense that he’s avoiding me, although I don’t have the faintest idea why.

A few seconds later Ian steps onto the patio with Mike. We exchange fist bumps, and then for a minute we all kind of just stand there, staring at each other, wondering what comes next.

No, I think. I will not let this become another one of those awkward conversations where none of us can find anything to say to each other. I will not endure that torture again.

Yes, we’re all going through some shit, but we’re best friends. There has to be something we can talk about.

“So, Ian,” I say, trying to sound casual, which, of course, makes it sound just the opposite. “Mike told me you had a date yesterday. How’d that go?

Girls. Girls are always a good topic.

“Oh,” Ian says, sounding flustered. “That. Yeah, it wasn’t really a date. It was no big deal. Just a casual thing.” I try to give him a knowing look, but he refuses to meet my eye. He plunges his hand into the cooler and grabs two beers, then hands one to Mike and unscrews the other to take a long gulp.

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