Page 40 of Secrets at Seaside
“What was he doing over by the dunes?” Tony leaned closer to Amy. “I’d like to take you over by the dunes.”
“I bet you would,” she teased. “Evan was doing me a favor, but it’s a secret.” She put her finger over her lips.
Tony drew his brows together. “A favor?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“That’s where it all started for us. Remember?” He kissed her again. He couldn’t get enough of being with her as a real couple.
“How could I ever forget?”
He never would. He remembered every second of every moment they’d ever spent together, including that last awful afternoon. He remembered the blood dripping down her legs, the rush at the hospital as they pushed her through the double doors on a gurney and left him standing in the cold, sterile hallway, feeling as though his life had just slipped through his fingertips. And he’d never forget the cold eyes of the nurse who’d glared at him and asked,How could you let your pregnant girlfriend go surfing?
Tony pulled Amy closer, pushing those horrible memories aside and bringing forth the memory of their first kiss, the kiss that had changed his life forever.
“Thank you, Amy,” he whispered.
She cocked her head. “For what?”
“For coming back to me.”
He kissed her again, and she climbed into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.
“Dude, I know you have years to make up for, but you’ve got a teenage audience.” Caden smiled to soften the friendly harassment.
“Dad, I’m almost eighteen,” Evan said.
Tony laughed. “Like he’s never kissed a girl before?”
“Shoot. Too many to count.” Evan shook his head and sat down beside Bella. Evan had been working at The Geeky Guys, a computer-repair shop in town, part-time for the past few years. This year he’d added working out to his daily regimen, broadening his once-rangy body into pre-college stud status.
Caden held his hands up. “I don’t need to know.”
“I think he learned from you and Bella,” Jenna teased.
Caden pulled Bella closer and kissed her. “We’re very discreet.”
Everyone laughed at that.
“I’m almost eighteen. I think I learned on my own, thank you very much,” Evan added.
“Okay, change of subject time,” Leanna said. “Evan, what are you looking forward to most at college?”
Evan flashed a lopsided grin. “You really want to know?”
“No!” Bella and Caden said at once.
“What?” Evan laughed. “I was going to say surfing and better computer classes.” Tony had taught Evan to surf last summer.
“Right.” Caden gave him a playful shove.
“Well…and the babes, of course,” Evan said with a mischievous grin. “Harborside is sixty-five-percent women. Why do you think I chose that school?”
“Because your best buddy’s going there?” Caden said with a fatherly head shake.
“Yeah, Dad. Why do you think he’s going there?” Evan looked at his watch. “Speaking of which, it’s ten. I’m meeting Bobby at his house for a LAN party. Do you mind if I take off?”
“No. Go ahead. Drive carefully, and if you leave his house, let me know where you’re going,” Caden said.
