Page 54 of The Summer of Everything

In his peripheral vision, Wes can see thecut your bullshitsideways glare Autumn gives him. All around the main bowl, phones are all trained on one skater. The sun is high, beating down on them. Wes cups a hand over his brow to get a better view. Effortlessly, the skater hits a flip lipside. He drops back in for a frontside air. Then, just to show off, he nails a heelflip.

The audience roars.

Behind his ribs, Wes’s heart rumbles like the center of a thunderstorm. It repeats one word in its cage:Nico. Nico. Nico.

“He’s been here for hours,” Autumn adds.

Wes knows. The Instagram photo was his giveaway.

“Ugh. I hate him,” Autumn says with no heat behind her voice. “He makes the rest of us look like such posers.”

“Nah,” Wes says, only half serious. Unintentionally, Nico does make the rest of these goons look pathetic. But he can’t help that he’s gifted. And being skilled at anything shouldn’t be hidden away. No one should lessen who they are for anyone. That’s how the world stays balanced—everyone has at least one gift and at least one flaw.

“It’s all good,” says Autumn. She tugs down the brim of her snapback before flipping her own board up. On the underside, it’s decorated in skulls with a Sailor Moon sticker slapped in the center. “One day, I’m gonna show all these dudes up.”

Wes watches her hop the rail, dropping in for her own round of applause. She’s not lying. One day, Autumn’s going to be famous.

On the opposite side of the bowl, Nico goofs around, hitting lazy tricks while chatting with the other skaters. His green board shorts contrast nicely with his denim shirt. The shirt’s first four buttons are undone.

Absently, Wes licks his lips, which, of course, is when another skater yells, “Yo, Alvarez! Yo’boyis here!”

Trey, with his cornrows and arms inked in fading tattoos, shoots Wes a slick smile. Wes squints back. He hopes the impliedyou’re a dickin his glare is well-received.

“Wesley,” Nico says, breathless after he crosses the bowl, board in one hand, the other stretched to ruffle Wes’s curls. Nico’s not wearing glasses today, only clear contacts that lighten his irises to a nice shade of copper. “I’ve got this vibe today.”

Wes does too.Today’s the day. He’s already decided on which of his date ideas he’s going with—the beach one.

Nico’s extra bouncy as he sidles up to Wes. “I’m just… I’m vibin’.”

“Maybe you’re high?”

“High on life.” Nico exhales slowly. “And this.”

“This?”

Nico shrugs, refusing to explain.

They lean against the railing together. Their bare forearms brush as they breathe. Wes watches Nico staring at the swaying palm trees in the distance. The words bubble up, but he swallows them down with a wince.

Not yet.

He wants to wait until there are fewer distractions.

Across the bowl, a guy with wavy blond hair and owlish brown eyes steals glances at Nico. He’s got that classic Californian glow, with a scattering of freckles and moles across his nose and long neck. It’s Colton.

“Looks like someone’s digging your vibe.” Wes knows he’s breaking all kinds of crushing-on-your-best-friend rules. But he can’t shut his mouth.

Colton doesn’t try to hide it. He nods his chin upward in thatwhat’s upmotion.

Nico shrugs nonchalantly. “I noticed.”

Wes cranes his neck. “And?” What the hell is wrong with him? This is where Wes should be executing his plan. Why is he trying to encourage this instead? Nico clearly isn’t reciprocating Colton’s weak flirting. He’s too busy studying the other skaters hit their aerials and ollies.

“So…?” Wes exhales softly.

“He’s cool, I guess.” Nico shrugs again. “We’ve hung out.”

“You have?”

---