The Secrets We Keep by Kimberly Blackadar

Author:Kimberly Blackadar
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, basketball, young adult fiction, teen fiction, teen romance, beach romance, ponce inlet

*****

“How is Caitlyn going to find us?” I ask, turning to look at Courtney. Our towels, inches apart, staking our spot on Daytona’s crowded beach.

“She’ll text when they get close.”

“Oh…okay,” I say and fall asleep, which proves to be a colossal mistake. Put it this way, falling asleep on the beach ranks up there with being the first one to fall asleep at a slumber party—especially with my circle of “friends.”

I awake to a low chuckle and look up, finding Ricky Sampson and Brandon Edwards grinning down at me. Brandon, Caitlyn’s forever boyfriend, has a bag of fast food. “Callie, come here. I got something for you.” I start to push off the towel.

“Don’t—don’t get up!” A familiar voice warns.

“W-w-what?” I stammer, realizing that the voice belongs to Mike, my ex-boyfriend. I do not look at up him. Hurt squeezes my heart at the thought of seeing him again.

“Dude, you suck!” Brandon chastises.

Mike walks over with an explanation. “Your top is untied.”

“Oh, that’s real nice,” I growl.

“I can tie it for you.” Mike crouches down by my towel and ties it in a knot, maybe two or three times, and then tugs. “That should do it.”

I push up, straightening my arms, and look to my right at an empty towel, and then in the direction of Mike, avoiding eye contact. “Where’s Courtney? And Caitlyn?”

“They went for a walk.”

“Great, and they left me alone with you losers?”

He doesn’t say anything, and I collapse back on my towel, hoping it is going to be a short walk. I don’t want to be here with these three jerks, and I’m mad at Courtney for setting this up and mad at Mike for showing up. I want him out of my life, forever.

“Cal?”

“Don’t talk to me!”

“I just wanted to say that I’m sorry.”

Yep, you are sorry—a sorry excuse for a boyfriend.

“Callie?” He places a hand on my back.

“Don’t!” I turn and glare at him. “Don’t ever touch me again!” I push off the ground and stand up. My hands hit my hips.

“Ooh, man, she told you,” Brandon scoffs and then turns to Ricky. “Let’s go before the fireworks begin.” He steps back and pantomimes an explosion with his hands. “Boom!”

“Shut up, Brandon!” I yell.

Ricky starts to guffaw.

I eye Ricky. “You too!”

Ricky and Brandon saunter off with a football.

“But you just let me tie your—” Mike defends.

“I was half asleep.” I step in closer to him, forcing my eyes open, wide. “But I’m wide awake now.”

“Listen,” he begins, “I’m sorry.”

“Is that all you can say, Mike?”

“What do you want me to say?”

I start to simmer, “Ooh, I hate it when guys say that!” I flick my head at Brandon and Ricky, who are down the beach, tossing the football now. “Go hang out with your friends. And leave me the hell alone.”

“Can’t we—“”

“No!” I stomp my foot into the sand, and my fists drop to my sides. I resemble a defiant toddler.

Mike doesn’t leave. “You should know what happened, Cal. You’re jumping to conclusions. It wasn’t like I—”

“Wasn’t like you what?” I toss back.

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