“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.
“I wonder what Bond girl Joe would say you remind him of. I’ll have to ask. Speaking of, you still haven’t told me how you two got together. Spill!”
Her eyes soften, her fingers toying with the edge of her nightgown. “It was the first summer after the accident. Grandma sprained her wrist, so I took over cleaning for about a month or so. The first time I walked into the house, I don’t know. It was eerie. The walls seemed to close in on me, so I rushed outside for some fresh air only to find Joe standing on the porch. Apparently, he overheard Grandma telling his mom that I was here, and he came to check on me. It surprised me to see him standing there, all big and handsome and annoying. He came to see if I was okay. And that’s when it clicked. That’s when I knew I loved Joe—and probably had my entire life. So I immediately burst into tears. I don’t know if it was from being at the house or the sudden overwhelming things I was feeling. But Joe took me into his arms, wiped my tears away, and told me he loved me.”
She pauses, sucking in her lower lip and nibbling. “And then we had sex in your bed.”
My mouth drops open, and I imagine that my eyes are as wide as saucers. That sweet story took a left turn pretty damn fast. “You had sex in my bed? The first time you slept with Joe?!”
“I’m sorry! One thing led to another and then it just kind of happened.” She’s all starry-eyed, as if she’s picturing the moment right now. “It was amazing. The best. And well, we’ve been together ever since.”
“Did you at least wash my sheets?”
“Of course! Or, well, maybe Grandma did,” she says, her expression sheepish.
I grab a pillow and hit her with it. “Sunny Mayfield, you did not make your grandma wash your sex sheets!”
“I’m kidding! And I promise, after that one time, we never did it here again.”
“You know what? If I fool around with Knox this summer, I’m going to find a way to do it in your bed,” I tease.
She gives me a coy smile. “Yeah, but Joe and I have already done it there plenty of times… And I’ll let you in a little secret. Carpet burns from the felt on a pool table are so worth it. Screwing in the lake? Not so much. On the shore is a toss-up depending on how you feel about washing sand out of your vagina for days on end. The best place though? The back of Joe’s pickup. Underneath the stars, a couple of wine coolers, and a blanket are all you need to have the most romantic night of your life.”
“Good lord, Sunny! Is there any place in Crystal Cove that’s not been spoiled by the two of you?”
“I’m sure there’s a cave somewhere out in the mountains we’ve left untouched,” she says, giving me a wink that probably means that, no, there isn’t a single place in the county she and Joe haven’t christened.
Here’s to hoping Knox has a pickup of his own.
We banter back and forth a bit more until we’re both yawning. Then I switch the light off and stare up at the ceiling, a bead of sweat rolling down my forehead.
“How long do you think this heat wave’s going to last?” I ask.
“They’re saying it could last for weeks. Who knows. I’m only glad some genius somewhere had the foresight to invent air-conditioning.”
“No kiddin’.”
Sunny’s hand finds mine in the dark, and she squeezes it twice. “I’m glad you’re home, Meems.”
I almost have to laugh, because for the first time in four years, I remember how much this place felt like home, and I’m wishing I hadn’t stayed away so long.
“Me, too, Sunny. Me too.”
Joe and Sam show up for breakfast at the ungodly hour of nine o’clock. Sunny and I are still in bed, so naturally, we’re awakened by a 180-pound adult teddy bear jumping on top of us.
I’m about to freak out when I hear Sunny’s amused voice mixed with both laughter and annoyance.
“Joe! What are you doing?” she squeals.
What he does next is shower her face with kisses, telling her sleepy head to wake up. I roll out of bed and place my hand on my hips, glowering down at the both of them now tangled in my sheets.
“You are not having sex in my bed again!” I shriek.
The movement in the bed instantly stops, and Sam’s face peeks around the corner. “Dude, you guys had sex in her bed? Not cool. Not cool at all.”