Page 21 of When It Burns

I can’t take my eyes off of Caroline. It feels like she’s awakened a part of me that I thought was dead, and I don’t know the last time I felt so alive. She throws her head back and laughs freely at something that Margaret whispered to her, and I swear she glows once again with the way the sun glistens off her skin. The song ends and the girls throw themselves back into their chairs.

“Y’all ready boys?” Hannah asks us as she begins gathering the trash from around our chairs.

“Yeah, trying to load after dark sucks,” Seth says standing to help.

With that, we begin packing our stuff to make the trek back to the truck. The group trickles in that direction as I stay behind to pick up any trash we might have missed. I think I am alone until I turn around from fiddling with the cooler to make sure it’s firmly on the wagon we brought down to see Caroline standing there waiting on me.

“Come on Theo. Let’s go home,” she says with a smile as she wraps her hand around mine and leads me up the beach. Damn, if I don’t love the way that sounds on her lips.

We work together to pull the heavy wagon to the boardwalk, and I try to ignore how her petite body feels against mine for what feels like the hundredth time today. Right before we reach the pavement she leans over and whispers, “By the way, Theo, I think there’s something we left unfinished today,” biting her bottom lip.

With that, she rushes off to help the other girls, and I stand there wondering what the fuck just happened.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CAROLINE

Hannah: Are we on for Margarita Monday tonight ladies?

Me: Is that even a question?

Margaret: Oh my god, I am so down.

Me: Y’all one of my juniors just asked where in the United States Brazil is. I’m gonna need a marg with an extra shot of tequila tonight.

Hannah: ^^^ I couldn’t agree more.

Margaret: Bless your souls. Well I just left the building for my bakery. I am worried it’s a little more run down than the pictures made it seem. I’m never gonna get everything done. Plus they said I can’t start work until the new year because of something with the old owners.

Me: Oh my goodness no! We’ll help you figure something out!

Hannah: Already on it. You know Seth teaches construction here at the school. I already threatened to tell his momma about his piercings if he didn’t help you. He said he was happy to.

Me: HANNAH! You can’t tell Mrs. Gloria about that!

Margaret: Oh my gosh, you are the best. And I didn’t know Seth had an earring. How does he hide that?

Hannah: Who said we were talking about his ears?

Margaret: OH MY GOD!

Me: This is a conversation for tonight. I’ll see you soon ladies.

It feels like it’s been weeks since I left the beach instead of days by the time I slide into our favorite booth at Maracas. I haven’t been able to get Theo out of my head since we got home Saturday night.

I go through my usual routine of ordering my peach margarita and queso while I wait for the girls to arrive. I’ve only made it a few pages into my latest cowboy romance when Margaret slides into the booth across from me.

“Hey Caroline! Sorry to leave you waiting. I made Theo drop me off tonight. He wanted to come in, but I told him that Margarita Mondays are sacred girl time. I think I could drink a whole pitcher tonight after the day I’ve had,” Margaret says slumping her shoulders down and looking dejected.

“Oh, you're good, girl. I haven’t been here long,” I say while putting my Kindle on standby mode. “And oh no! I am so sorry. The drama with your building?” I ask her sympathetically.

“Yes! I know buying the building before I saw it wasn’t the best idea in the world, but I couldn’t move here without a plan. The pictures looked so nice online. But it just feels a lot more run down than I’d hoped. It’s nothing too major, but the counter area is probably going to have to be gutted to get the look I’m going for,” she tells me with a sigh.

I think about the building she’s referring to, and I understand what she’s saying. Mr. Smith had kept it up well until he died several years ago, but since then the family had been trying to sell it. Since they didn’t live locally and we didn’t have an influx of people opening new businesses in Springside, I don’t doubt that there is considerable work needed on the storefront.

“It’s all gonna be fine!” I tell Margaret, trying to pull her out of the slump I can see her slipping into. “Don’t stress. You have us and the boys. We’ll all pitch in!”

At that moment, Hannah slides into the booth beside me and chimes in, “Hell yeah we will. Plus Seth is a literal mastermind with this kinda stuff. He’ll have you up and running in no time.”

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