Page 24 of Tracing Holland

“It’s pretty hot,” she muses, still staring at me, and I can’t stop my grin.

“What, the temperature or the view?”

She laughs and shakes her head.“Wow.You are so full of yourself.”

I give a playful shrug, and she shoves me as we move down the steps together.

“You know what I meant.Yes, the temperature.”

“So that’s where we are now?Talking about the weather?I let you play my Gibson.”

“Exactly.Which is why we’ve graduated from the stock market to weather.”

I laugh, and cherish her return grin.“Oh, I see.So what does a guy have to do to get to sports scores?”

“I’m not sure you could handle that,” she responds with a sly look.

“Oh, really?”I ask, warming to the challenge.

“October is the best month for sports.”

And the magic vanishes as Wes steps in.

Spence is up front with Jesse, Eli and Sweeny, Casey and Callie are hand-in-hand several paces behind, which leaves our awkward threesome bringing up the rear.

“Oh, hey, Wes,” Holland greets, and I have to admit I like the slight hint of disappointment in her tone.I don’t know if he picks up on it, but he clearly has no intention of leaving the two of us alone to explore our gentle flirting.

“Great day for the beach,” he says, and we nod.

“Gorgeous,” Holland replies.

“Not as many people as I would have expected,” I add, desperate for anything to fill the uncomfortable cloud surrounding us.I can see Holland holding in a smile, and I love that she knows how awkward this is too.I’m about to excuse myself to join another group, rather than endure this agony, when Jesse, Spence, Eli, and Sweeny do us a huge favor by ripping off their shirts and plunging into the water.Casey and Callie pull to a stop, and I’m not at all surprised that Casey jumps to join them.He drags Callie after him as she screams, laughing and trying to smack him away at the same time.

“Oh my gosh, they are so adorable,” Holland observes.

I glance over, basking in the momentary warmth of watching the happiness of my two closest friends.

“They’re for real,” I say.

“Almost gives you hope, huh?”

My stomach drops.I can’t even respond, and she studies me hard, confusing me with all kinds of emotions.I’ve completely forgotten about Wes.So has she.

“Hope is a complicated word,” I manage finally.

After another long silence, she nods and focuses back on our companions.

“Come on guys!You need to get in here!The water is so warm!”They’re calling to us, waving us in from the shore.

Holland laughs.“We should.Let’s go!”

She pulls off her top and starts slipping out of her shorts, exposing a body that makes my mouth go dry.I can’t stop staring, any earlier reservation completely gone.As soon as she started moving, so did Wes, and he’s in the water on his way to the group before she even finishes dropping her shorts and tank a safe distance from the water’s edge.

I still haven’t budged by the time she returns, and she gives me an annoyed look.

“You’re still dressed!”she whines, hands on her hips.

I laugh.“You go.I’ll guard our stuff.”

---