Page 18 of Conception
Yeah, this summer is definitely looking up.
I’M NOT SURE IF I’Mbuzzed from the several rum and Cokes I consumed or the magnetic attraction I have towards Knox. Either way, I’m practically floating as Joe walks Sunny and me back to my grandparents’ lake house. The two of them smooch on the porch for a couple of moments, and just as I’m about to head inside to give them some privacy, Joe calls out my name.
“Nice to see you smilin’ tonight,” he tells me, a crooked grin on his face. “And for what it’s worth, Knox seems like a good dude.”
I lean against the doorjamb and shrug, because even though I want to get to know the man better, I don’t want to appear too eager in front of my friends. “You could tell that from a first impression?”
“You know what they say. You can tell a lot about a person from first impressions. And it’s obvious the guy has the hots for you. I’m thinkin’ you’re into him as well.”
Sunny places a hand on top of his head and pretends to give him a noogie. “Okay, big guy. Leave Amelia alone. It’s her first night here, and if anyone is going to get the gossip, it’s gonna be me.” She gives him one last peck, and I give him a wave before promising to make him breakfast in the morning followed by a long day of lounging by the water.
A short while later, Sunny’s rolling my hair in curlers and my nails are a delicious siren red. Though I should be wiped out, I’m curiously energetic, a bundle of nerves swirling throughout my body. Guess a new crush will do that to you.
“So, what happened with Robert?” Sunny asks.
I look at her in the mirror. She’s paying attention to my hair, not me. “Oh. That. Oh, well, you know, sometimes things just don’t work out.”
“You guys were together for two years,” she reminds me.
I wave her off. “Something happened when he turned twenty-five. It’s like he went from wanting to just have fun to suddenly wanting a wife. A family.”
Sunny pauses, her fingers in mid-curl, and catches my eyes in the mirror. “And I’m guessing you weren’t ready for that?”
I shrug. “Not at all. Don’t get me wrong. I want a family of my own someday—just not any time soon. Plus, dating Robert was fun when it didn’t seem like it was anything serious. As soon as he started pressuring me for more of a commitment, I realized just how much I didn’t love him. I still want to travel the world, taking photos in all the places Mom dreamed about.”
She squeezes my shoulder. “And you will. Hopefully I can tag along with you to a few exotic locations.”
I laugh. “Sure, Sunny. If you can leave Joe long enough.”
“Girl, we’re too young to settle down now.”
I give her a pointed look. “Right, because I totally believe, now that you’re head-over-heels in love with Joe, you’re going to want to jet-set across the world to watch me take some photos.”
A coy grin crosses her lips. “I’m not sayin’ we’re headed to the chapel quite yet, but do I think Joe’s the man I’ll spend the rest of my life with? Hell yes.”
“I really am happy for you, Sunny. And whenever you do decide to head to the chapel, I’ll be right there with you, cheering you on. Just don’t expect me to follow suit.”
“I’m sorry things with Robert went south, but hey, it frees you up for real good fun this summer. And since you and that hunk are both just visiting for the season, you don’t have to worry about it blossoming into anything else. In fact, it seems like a perfect situation to me.”
I don’t tell Sunny that Knox has already given me more butterflies in a mere couple of hours than Robert did over the past two years. Because it’s not his fault. It was entirely mine. I should’ve ended things a lot time ago. It’s just… He was comfortable. Secure. Safe in a world where I had no one but Grams. When we did break up, I felt unexpected relief.
So maybe Sunny’s right. Perhaps a summer fling is just what the doctor ordered.
“Enough about me. Tell me how you and Joe happened. Last thing I remember is you cursing his name after he stole our clothes that night we went skinny-dipping.”
A faint blush creeps onto her cheeks. I’ve never in my life seen Sunny Mayfield blush, so I turn around, wincing as she yanks on my hair, and grin at my best friend.
“Are you blushing?” I tease.
She lets out a groan. “Ugh, he’s so annoying! Why’d you have to remind me of that night? Remember how terrified we were that your dad was going to catch us not only sneaking in, but naked?” She immediately shuts her mouth; then her expression falls. “I’m sorry, Amelia, I wasn’t thinking.”
I take her hand and squeeze it tight. “It’s fine. I promise. It gets a little easier every year. I’m sorry for abandoning you the past four summers. I thought it would be better to stay away. Thought it’d hurt too much coming back here, but the truth is tonight has already been one of the best nights, and I have you to thank for it.”
“I’d throw my arms around you and hug you to pieces, but I don’t want to mess up your hair. So I’ll just smile and say I know it’s not just me you have to thank. Also the gorgeous James Dean lookalike whose eyes were feasting on you all night.”
Now it’s my turn to blush. “James Dean? See, I was thinking more of a young Clint Eastwood. Same piercing eyes, just without the mole.”
“We’re as bad as the guys,” Sunny says, and I burst into a fit of giggles.
