“Lennon, I'd like you to meet Nora, my girlfriend.”
The air becomes so thick I could choke on it. “Your g-girlfriend?”
I didn't even know my dad was looking for a relationship, let alone dating someone. I look the woman over again, wondering who she is and where she came from. All my life, it's only ever been my dad and me. I'm not sure I'm okay with some random chick becoming a part of us.
“It's nice to meet you, Lennon,” she greets me.
Doing my best to fake a polite smile, I look away from her and to my dad. “Is this what you wanted to tell me? The important news?”
A guilty look appears on his face as he glances at Nora and then back to me. “Well, partly. I wanted the two of you to meet and get to know each other.”
No thanks. “I mean, I'll try, but I'm super busy with graduation and dance and getting ready for college. I'm just really swamped, Dad.”
He gives me the no-bullshit look that he always uses whenever I’m in trouble. “That's okay. I'm sure there will be plenty of time since you'll see so much of each other.”
“I'm sorry, what?”
With the little time my dad spends in this house, I don't see how I'll see her at all. However, my dad drops a bomb that very well may destroy the comfortable home life I've always loved.
“Sweetie, Nora is moving in—with her two kids. It's about time we fill this big, empty house.”
My vision tunnels, and everything becomes hazy. I can faintly hear my dad mentioning something about her son being my age, but I can't find it in me to care. Everything I've ever known is about to change.
4
CADE
Out of everything I could be doing right now, packing has got to be the worst option. It's bad enough that my parents are splitting up, but to top off this shitty situation, I have to go live with the homewrecker. Sure, I could stay here with my dad. I'm nineteen. It's no one's choice but my own. However, my mom is insisting on taking Molly with her, and I can't leave my little sister—especially not when I don't know who the hell my mom's new boyfriend is or what he's like. Obviously, he's the kind of guy who's okay with breaking up a family, and in my book, that instantly makes him a piece of shit.
I grab the shirts from my closet and toss them into a box. There's definitely a neater way to do this, but I don't want to be doing it in the first place. Why'd she have to go and ruin everything? Why couldn't she just talk to my dad and tell him what was making her so unhappy? They could have worked it out. No one can tell me that my dad wouldn't have done what it takes. He's spent the last twenty years putting her and our family first. He would have done anything.
This past week was probably the most awkward time of my life. My mom hasn't spent too much of her free time at home, claiming she's getting the rooms for Molly and me ready at the new house. Honestly, I think she just can't bring herself to be around my dad. Not when she knows that she's to blame for this. Our perfect family is in shambles, and it’s all because of her.
Taking my surfing trophies down from the shelf, I wrap each of them up tightly and lay them inside a box. I write FRAGILE all over it, because if these get ruined, I very well might hurt someone. Surfing is the best thing in my life. My outlet. My favorite hobby. My lifeline. It's the one thing I can always count on, no matter what.
Fighting at home? Surf.
Life in shambles? Surf.
World burning down around me? Surf.
I'm just placing the last trophy inside the box when my bedroom door bursts open and Bryce throws himself onto my bed. He groans in pain, pulling a block of wax from under his back. I roll my eyes and snatch it away from him.
“That's what you get for not looking first.”
He frowns. “Well, who would have thought you'd have a random block of wax in your bed?”
I say nothing, instead just looking at him until he chuckles. Anyone who knows me would expect exactly that.
“Okay, touché.”
Jayden comes in next with a whole damn sandwich and a can of soda. My brows furrow as he takes a massive bite.
“What?” he asks with his mouth full. “Your mom made it for me.”
To be honest, I didn't even know she was here. Then again, I shouldn't be surprised. My dad is at work, meaning there’s no reason for her to be avoiding this place. I'm sure she'll leave before he gets home, because God forbid she actually faces the person she broke.
“Anyway—” I shake myself from my thoughts. “What are you guys doing here?”
Bryce gets up, as if he remembers the purpose for them being here. “Oh, right. We're taking you out.”
My brows raise, and I look around the room. “Uh, do you not see that I'm packing? We're moving into Casa de Satan tomorrow.”
“You've been packing all week,” Jayden retorts.
“I have a lot of stuff.”
It's not exactly a lie, but I haven't been up for company lately. I've spent most of my time going to a different beach to surf so I could be alone. It's not that I don't love my friends. They're practically my brothers. It's just—sometimes I don't want to talk or fake a smile. Pretending I'm all right gets exhausting, and I haven't had the energy to do it lately.
“Well, we don't care,” Bryce tells me. “You're coming, even if we need to drag your ass out by your hair.”
They've both got looks on their faces that dare me to go against them. I consider it for a second, but then realize the last time Bryce was this determined, he threw me in a pool—fully clothed, with my cellphone in my pocket. If I try to tell them no, they really will drag me out of here, and there's two of them. I run my fingers through my hair and sigh.
“Fine. What'd you have in mind?”
The two of them smirk, and I immediately wonder what I've gotten myself into.
THE LARGE BONFIRE SITS in the middle of the large crowd. It's easily over seven feet tall, and there has to be more than fifty people here. Everyone is drinking beer and having a good time. My friends were right—this is exactly what I needed. Then again, it also reminds me that I'm being forced to leave all this soon. It may only be a twenty-minute drive to North Haven, but the people there suck compared to the people here.
I grab my board and head for the water, seeing the perfect swells starting to roll in. It may not be the smartest thing to do—go surfing at night—but I can't help it. I need the high I get when I'm riding a wave.
Making quick work of paddling out, I can barely see the waves, but I can feel them. The bonfire provides a small amount of light that lets me see what's coming if I squint really hard. Finally, I paddle into the movement of the water and just as it starts to take me down, I hop up on my board.
My whole body feels lighter as I ride the wave. Like nothing can get to me. Like my problems aren't real. Like everything is going to be okay. And in the water, all of that is true. I'm standing on top of a board but it feels like I'm on top of the world.
A scream pulls me from my euphoria just in time to see my board heading straight for a chick who looks no older than I am. Her eyes are wide with fear. I cut to the side to avoid hitting her, but my balance never stood a chance. The wave takes me over and crashes directly on top of me and my board.