Taming Chloe Summers (Grover Beach Team #7) (28 page)

And even though she may have messed up my first chance with Justin, I completely screwed up the second one myself. I’ll drink to that.

Lifting my glass, I clink it first against Kirsten’s, then Lesley’s, sending her a consoling smile. “Here’s to forgetting the past and heading into great new adventures.”

Les picks up her glass and toasts to me. “You’ll like it in London. It’s just the right place to start over.”

Am I really starting over? Because, damn, it doesn’t feel like it.

Justin

Since my fight with Chloe on Sunday morning, I’ve had no real appetite. Mealtimes are the worst, because the empty seat across from me reminds me of her. It’s Tuesday. Sometime today, she’ll fly out of the country. I don’t even know when her plane takes off or when they’re going to land in England, but I’m sure we won’t be seeing each other again for a very long time—if ever.

Keeping my eyes on my pitch-black coffee, I take a swig from the mug in my hands and welcome the burning, bitter liquid dribbling down my throat.

“If coffee is all you’re going to have for breakfast again, I’ll have Greyson tie you to that chair and force-feed you a buttered croissant, I swear.”

“Always so concerned about me,” I mumble a playful reply to Julie’s threat. These past two days, she hasn’t once forgotten to tell me off for refusing a meal. Struggling to cast a grin in her direction, I grab a muffin from the plate on the table and take a bite, placating her. “Mmm, banana…”
Bah.
It takes another big sip from my coffee to wash down the mash in my mouth, but if it makes her happy… I take a second bite, even though my stomach knots in protest.

“Are you busy playing basketball today?” she asks while I’m still fighting with the crumbled mess in my mouth.

“After lunch. Why?”

Innocently, she blinks her black lashes at me. “Because I thought you might want to give me a hand with the drama group.”

Grey, who’d been quietly eating his cornflakes, pulls the spoon out of his mouth and blurts, “Don’t do it, pal!” He sends me a warning look. “The friar dropped out of the play yesterday, and she’s hunting for a replacement.”

“Greyson!” she hisses, narrowing her eyes at him.

“Ugh.” Lifting my hands in defense, I tell Julie, “I’m really not the right guy.” I haven’t been at the girls’ campsite since Sunday, when I brought Chloe the phone she gave me to lock away with all the others. It was so hard to walk away without breaking down that I really don’t feel like going back to that place for a while.

Abandoning the half-eaten muffin, I drink up my coffee and then rise from the vinyl chair. “See you guys later.”

Once out the door, I stop and draw in a deep breath of morning air, shoving my hands into my jeans pockets. The sun pools its light on my head like a warm hat. Instead of returning to the cabin, I amble down to the frog pond. The silence in the morning, when no kids are stirring up the lake yet, holds a peace for me that I seem to need today. On the dock’s end, I settle down, pulling my heels to my butt and wrapping my arms around my bent legs. For what feels like hours, I just sit here and stare at the spot in the water where Chloe and I came up for air after our fall into the lake.

Our first real kiss after four years feels ever-present on my lips, even days later. I miss her. God, do I miss her…

Closing my eyes, I picture her in the plane, setting off for Europe this moment. Maybe she’s thinking about me right now, too.

But what if she’s not?

I don’t want to think about that.

The sunlight reflecting on the calm surface of the water blinds me even through my lids. Not a single cloud stains the sky, the hard rain from the weekend long gone. It feels like we’re going to crack record temperatures today. I should feel warm and comfortable, yet a cold that I can’t seem to shake off is taking over from the inside.

Minutes later, the laughter of the first kids to come down here makes me open my eyes. Julie’s with them. It’s volleyball before play rehearsal. I watch them for quite a while, until Julie detaches from the group and saunters in my direction. Gaze locked with hers, I track her path until she reaches the dock and walks out to where I sit.

“I knew you’d be here again,” she says quietly, gazing out at the water.

I turn my head forward again, too. “Where else would I be?”

“Dunno.” She pauses, only to continue with the same nonchalance. “Maybe on your way to the airport to stop the girl you love from leaving.”

That truly makes me laugh, even if a hint of sadness resonates within it. “For all I know, she might already be gone. And there’s hardly anything I could have done to change her mind.”

“Right. Holding her back would’ve been pretty mean anyway, considering this is the chance of a lifetime. But letting her go without telling her goodbye was shit, Justin. She’s in love with you.” Her head angles to my side. “And you with her.”

“It was pretty shitty of
her
to fool around with me and then drop the bomb a couple hours before running off. You can’t really call that love, can you?”

“The timing was screwed up, all right. But you two might have gotten another chance when she returns next summer. That was something to look forward to, if you ask me. Now, you have nothing but painful memories to keep you awake at night.” She gently places her hand on my forearm. “Do you really want to give her up? Again?”

I never wanted to give Chloe up. Not the first or the second time.

What if I’d tried harder to break through to her four years ago? What if I’d fought to get the truth about the dare out of her after she told those lies about me harassing her? All it would have taken was telling her about Lesley’s grudge against me. But my pride had suffered serious damage, and I was too heartbroken to really see past the circumstances. I was a hurt kid…

Now I’m older, no longer an insecure teenager. Still, I let her go again without a word. Was that a mistake? Was it really just screwed-up timing, and we could have a third chance in another year? Because, based on the current pain in my chest, it feels like the wait would be worth it. The past is repeating itself, and not a single minute has passed that I haven’t thought of her since she left.

But she’s gone. I bite my lip, shrinking under Julie’s intense stare. “What do you want me to do? It’s too late now to change anything.”

“Is it really?”

“Pretty much, yeah.” It’s almost ten. “The plane probably took off a while ago. Besides, I wouldn’t even know which airport to go to.”

A lovely, small smile appears on her face, and it gives me hope. “San Francisco International Airport. Her plane departs at two.”

“And now you suggest what? That I race there and kidnap her from the plane to declare my undying love to her?” I joke.

“Well, unless I’m totally mistaken, you have a motorbike parked in the lot.” Her eyes are sober, not joking at all. “A
fast
motorbike.”

Is it possible? My heart starts pounding. Heck, I could make it in time. I suck my bottom lip between my teeth.

Julie blinks twice at me, her eyes hopeful and trusting. “What the hell are you waiting for?”

A prickling sensation warms my insides. Slowly, the corners of my mouth curve up, my breaths pushing erratically out of my nose. In a rush of barely containable excitement, I cup her cheeks, pulling her forward to kiss her on the forehead. Then I scramble to my feet, dash off the dock, and run.

Storming into our cabin, I knock into Grey. The momentum tosses us both through the room in opposite directions. “Hey, man, what’s going on?” Greyson moans, balancing himself against my bunk bed.

With no time for explanations, I grab my helmet, snatch the keys, and shove my phone into my pocket. “Cover for me today! Julie can explain it all.” Within seconds, I’m out of the room, heading off to the parking lot.

Slightly out of breath, I mount my bike, put the helmet on, and slide the key into the ignition. With a wicked roar, the Ducati springs to life. The rear wheel fishtails as I tear her around, pebbles shooting everywhere, and moments later, I’m snaking down the serpentine mountain road.

Once out on Route 101, I really hit the gas and fly down the highway, maxing the speedometer. If this ride doesn’t get me a stack of speeding tickets, I don’t know what will.

During a stopover in Salinas to refill the tank, I fish out my phone and decide not to rely on my luck today but give Chloe a call. It’s almost noon. I might not make it there before the boarding begins. And even if they’ve already gone past security, there’s no chance I can get to her there.

The call immediately goes to voicemail. Oh, shit. If she turned off her phone, how will I ever find her in an airport half as huge as Grover Beach itself? I don’t have the flight numbers. Then again, I know someone who could find them out for me. Frantically thumbing through my contacts, I find Chloe’s cousin, Samantha Summers. She’s been a good friend ever since she moved to Grover Beach. She’ll help me out.

This time it rings, thank God. “Hey, Justin, how are you doing?” Sam greets me when she answers.

“I need your help, and I don’t have time for explanations.”

“Okaaaay…” she drags out the word. “What do you want me to do?”

“Chloe’s phone is off. Can you please find out which terminal her flight takes off from today? Also check if there was a change in time.”

Her voice, when she speaks next, rises with excitement. “Are you going to catch her before takeoff?”

“If I can make it in time, yes.”

“This is wonderful. She was so upset when we talked yesterday. I know she’ll be so—”

“Sam!” I cut her off, keeping my tone friendly, but firm. “I’m in a hurry.”

“Oh, right. I’ll call her mom and get all the details for you. I’ll text them in a few minutes.” Next I hear her suppressed, joyful laugh. “Good luck!” As she hangs up, I run into the shop to pay for the gas. By the time I get back to my bike, I have a new text from Sam with all the information I need, plus a smiley, a heart, and a thumbs-up emoticon.

When another call to Chloe goes to voicemail, I curse and glance at my watch. Dammit, I’m really, really running late. Just short of panicking, I punch in a text to her. Then I shove my phone back into my pocket and race away from the gas station with a pounding heart.

Chloe

We leave the bar to finally check in for the transatlantic flight and drop off our luggage. Even though I'm going to live abroad for ten months, I only have one suitcase. The rest of my stuff was secured in cartons and shipped off to England yesterday.

“Should we head to the gate now?” Kirsten asks once everything is settled and we have our boarding passes.

It’s ten past one. The flight is scheduled to depart at 2:05. With a stone-laden feeling in my chest, I glance around. Busy people dash in unforeseeable crisscrossing lines through the airport hall, wheeling heavy luggage behind them, some with trolleys in front. A PA calls out through multiple speakers for a Mr. Jackson Leeway to appear at gate 47-A for boarding, and nearby a young Asian mama tries to soothe her hysterically crying baby by putting her pinky finger in the child’s mouth.

I have no idea what I’m looking for anyway. I mean, it’s not like Justin would show up here when he didn’t even find it worth his time to call in the past two days. Swallowing the newly forming lump in my throat, I turn back to my friends and nod.

As we cross to security, all of a sudden Lesley takes my hand and pulls me a couple steps away from Kir, who doesn’t notice, because she’s punching away on her phone. Lesley doesn’t look at me when I cut her a sideways glance. With her chin lowered, she mumbles, “I would’ve still accepted you.”

Puzzled, I open my mouth, but a lanky boy sprinting through the hallway knocks into my shoulder and startles a gasp out of me. “Hey!” I snap after him. Of course he doesn’t stop. Instead, he lifts his hand over his shoulder, shouts some words of apology, and swooshes away through the crowd. Jerk. Irritated, I turn back to Lesley. “What?”

“Back then, at camp.” She tilts her head at me, her gaze shadowed but honest. “We would still have been friends, even if you’d told me about your feelings for Justin.” And then she stops and takes my hand. “I already liked you a lot. To dare you to do something was a stupid idea.”

Her apology feels like a punch to my stomach. Is she serious? Her eyes say yes. Her hands on mine back that up. Lesley
is
sorry about how things turned out for me.

After an awkwardly long moment, I snort. I should’ve confided in her straight away, then maybe history would’ve taken a different turn. Why, oh why, didn’t I trust her and get over my insecurity? My God, I don’t even dare to imagine how my life might have gone instead.

On the other hand, our teenage years have been ones to remember. I cut a glance to where Kirsten is still engrossed in messaging someone. She, Lesley, and Brinna were the best friends a girl could have. We still get cramps in our stomachs from laughing too hard when we start telling stories from high school. It was a good time. Even though it might have been a little nicer with Justin at my side.

After some seconds of staring into each other’s faces, I give Lesley a conciliatory shrug. “Shit happens.”

She blinks rapidly, seeming a little bewildered, but eventually accepts my forgiveness with relief. Expelling a breath, she loops her arm through mine, and I lean my head on her shoulder as we walk on, picking Kirsten up on the way. It’s not long until boarding now.

Constant messages through the PA system follow us down the halls. Apparently, gate 47-A is still waiting for Mr. Jackson Leeway, and now someone wants Francine Ellings to come to information at B-2. The noise in this place is starting to stress me out. Damn, I can’t wait for a nap on the plane in a little while. I haven’t slept much in the last three days, and exhaustion is wearing me down.

A couple hundred feet down the hall, we get in line at security. Other than my purse and phone, I’ve got nothing else to take off and drop into one of the yellow boxes for the x-ray scan. In front of us, the queue seems endless, even though there are two metal detectors open for the passengers to walk through. The squeaky beep when every other person is held up for a thorough examination is grating against my eardrums as much as on my nerves. Bored, I decide to turn on my phone while we wait. The display starts to glow in a blue hue. After punching in my pin code, it takes another couple of seconds for the system to start.

“Chloe!”

Surprised, I lift my head. It sounded like someone was shouting my name from far away, but with the speaker still asking the Leeway dude to please get his ass moving, I can’t be sure. Spinning both ways, I scan the place left and right. There’s no familiar face nearby, no one looking at me. Had to be a mistake.

As the queue moves forward, it’s Lesley’s turn to walk through the detector. She passes without any hassle. While Kirsten gets ready and shoves her box onto the conveyer belt, I quickly glance at my phone before I have to toss it into the box. A line pops up on the display of my cell. Two missed calls. What the heck—from Justin!

A rush of shock renders me motionless, and someone bumps into me from behind. I ignore the mumbled apologies, because my attention is elsewhere. Justin also sent a text. My heart knocking nervously against my rib cage, I open it and read: WAIT! WAIT! WAIT!

“Miss?”

Ripped out of my current stupor, I lift my head and find a TSA worker motioning me forward with her hand. “Please don’t hold the line up.”

The space in front of me is free. Lesley and Kirsten are waiting on the other side. Absently, I take a step forward, my phone slipping out of my hand into the box next to my hip. And then, a tank engine floors me from my right.

A terrified shriek escapes me, but I’m tightly enclosed in strong arms and then gently put back on my feet two seconds later—a couple feet away from the security line. When I look up, I find myself captured by a set of beautiful butterscotch eyes.

“Justin, what— How did you get here?”

“Hi,” he pants, utterly ignoring my question as he bends over, bracing his hands on his knees and fighting to catch his breath.

Standing rigid, wearing an expression like a banana run over by a bus, I squeak, “Hey.”

When he’s calmed down enough to speak, he straightens and steps right in front of me, blocking out the rest of the world. “Listen,” he says, brushing my hair off my forehead and cupping my cheeks. “I was a complete dipshit to let you go without talking to you.”

My eyes widen with surprise, but then I decide to let him see my hurt in a small pout. “Yes, you were.” Nevertheless, I reach up and hold his wrists, keeping his hands on my face. “But you had some good reasons. I’m just so glad you came to say goodbye.” It feels like a heavy rock finally breaks away from my chest.

“Are you coming, Chloe?” At Kirsten’s anxious voice, I cut a quick glance to the side, where the passengers behind me have started filing through the detector. She and Lesley have come to the barrier, leaning over it. From the looks of it, they’re scared that now, with Justin here, I might cancel my plans.

“Give me a minute,” I call out to them.

The next instant, my attention returns to Justin as he cups my chin and tilts my head back to face him. “I didn’t come to say goodbye.”

Not to say goodbye? My forehead creases to a frown. “Then why?”

As he touches his brow to mine, my eyes open up wider to stare into his. “To tell you that I love you, tiger.”

Holy flip! My heart does a double somersault inside my chest. I crack a smile as hundreds and hundreds of butterflies tickle my stomach. “You do?”

He nods, blinking slowly.

From the corner of my eye, I spot Kirsten and Lesley leaning farther out of the restricted area. They look worried out of their minds.

Although I want nothing more than to assure Justin that I love him, too, it feels like a mistake, considering I have to leave him—again—in only a few minutes. My hands wander up, my fingers holding on to his black sweatshirt. “This is really bad timing.”

“No, it’s not. I didn’t come to stop you,” he says, gripping my shoulders. “You’ve got your plans. Get on that plane, do your year abroad, live your life, and enjoy every minute of it.” He pauses. “I only ask for one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Let’s keep in touch. Email, WhatsApp, texts, whatever you want. And when you come back next summer”—his hands moves up to my cheeks once more, and his thumb skims over my bottom lip—“go for coffee with me.”

My heart suddenly flutters wildly around in my chest like a caged pigeon. “Did you just ask me for a date in a year?”

With his head cocked, a lopsided smile appears on his lips. “Guess I did.”

My mind woozy from so much sweetness, I can’t seem to find my voice for a reply.

Those candy-sweet eyes narrow with concern. “What’s your answer?”

A deep breath, and another. My hands flatten against his pecs. After some time, that seems like an eternity, I give a small but happy nod. “Okay.”

“Okay?” he repeats warily, as if I’m a nutcase who can’t be trusted. So, once again and with more determination, I bob my head.

This time, an ecstatic gasp of relief escapes him. He crushes me to his chest, thrusting one hand into my hair, and presses a kiss to my temple. For minutes, I revel in his embrace.

When he finally loosens his hold, I look up into his eyes with new hope for my future. “Everyone’s waiting,” he says softly. “You should go now.”

I really don’t want to. Not now. But he’s right. There’s a foreign country waiting for me on the other side of the world, with a whole lot of new experiences to have. Bracing myself for taking on that adventure, I swallow and gaze up into his face.

Justin strokes his knuckles down my cheek in a gentle caress and cracks an encouraging smile. “Have a safe trip, tiger.”

“See you in a year,” I whisper back.

As I reluctantly slip away from him, his hand slides down the length of my arm. Until he grabs my wrist and hauls me back against him all of a sudden, squeezing a startled gasp out of my lungs. “One for the way,” he says with no room for objection, and then he crashes his lips against mine.