Page 32 of Spencer and the Younger Girl
He kicked his legs, letting the waves carry him in closer to shore. As his feet hit the sand, he shook water from his face and froze.
The girl’s eyes locked onto his. Hadley. But this Hadley had no joy on her face, no mischief.
“What are you doing on our beach?” she asked.
He lifted a brow. “I didn’t see a sign saying it belonged to you.”
She hugged her arms across her chest. “Okay.” Pivoting on one heel, she turned to walk back the way she’d come.
Spencer raced after her, a chill sliding up his skin as the spring wind struck him. “Hadley, wait, are you okay? Shouldn’t you be at school?”
She froze, her back tensing. The fleece jacket she wore pulled tight across her shoulders. “Can’t be at school when you’ve been suspended.”
“Suspended?”
She turned back to look at him. “Something about goats.” Dropping where she stood, she plopped her butt in the sand, not caring about dirtying the sweatpants she wore.
Spencer sat next to her, his entire body shivering. He couldn’t explain his inability to walk away. “They found out it was you? Did Damien get suspended too?”
She leaned forward against her knees. “No. He’s fine. It’s just me that has had my dreams tarnished.”
He suppressed a smile at her theatrics. “How long is your suspension?”
“Until spring break is over. I can’t participate in any school activities.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad. Spring break is next week, right?”
“I was supposed to go to Paris on a school trip next week, but that’s out of the question now.”
“Paris is overrated.” Of all the places he’d traveled, it was his least favorite. He preferred the smaller destinations, the ones with fewer people.
“Not to me. I’ve never been anywhere. Paris has always represented my dream of getting out of this town.”
He knew how she felt, because he’d been through it at her age. The desire for something more, something bigger.
“If you really want to get out, you will.” He shrugged. It was the truth. She didn’t have to stay.
“Thanks for your wise words of wisdom.” Sarcasm dripped from her words. “Seriously, though, I rarely see anyone on this beach. What are you doing here? And why are you swimming when the gulf is frigid?”
“I’m staying with my friend, Vic, in her cottage.” He shrugged and rubbed his hands up and down his arms. “I needed to clear my head.”
She nodded as if she understood. Getting to her feet, she brushed off her pants. “Well, I should let you get back to her.”
He didn’t stop her as she walked back the way she’d come, punching a code into the beach access gate of WentWood. Great. Not only was Hadley a high schooler, she belonged to the elite of Gulf City.
He’d always avoided people like that—except for Victoria. In school, they were the ones walking around as if they owned the place.
What could a rancher have in common with the upper crust of their wealthy town?
Nothing.
That was the only answer.
* * *
A hot showerand a few hours of TV were just what the doctor ordered.
He’d never admit it to his buddies abroad, but he had a thing about watchingFriendsreruns. They took him from his own mind and made him laugh even on days that felt impossible.
