“Don’t ask me why. Regardless of everything, I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”
The laugh that bubbled out of my chest shook my whole body as I turned to give Chase my full attention. “Yeah, you should have. I would’ve been pissed at me, too.”
He shifted the hat on his head backward before nodding. “I think I was just in shock. I didn’t think that I’d ever see you again.”
My chest squeezed painfully. I’d never meant to do that to him. “I wanted to—”
“There’s a party tonight. Over near the jetty. One of my friends sent me an invite...” He looked almost shy after cutting me off, but I didn’t blame him for not wanting to hear my excuses. The invitation was completely unexpected, however.
While a party sounded fun, getting away from that lifestyle was part of the reason that I was here. Had I not been so preoccupied with going out with my friends back in Seattle, I would still be there. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. It forced me to confront Chase when I might have avoided Ocean Shores forever.
“Some of the usual gang still around?” The question slipped out easily. When I was here in high school, Chase’s friends had become mine. I wondered how many of them hated me now as well.
When Chase shook his head, some of my worries dissipated. “Most of them left. What’s there to do around here?” He finished with a laugh, flinging his arms wide and motioning to the beach. Even though it was summer, it was still pretty empty. That was always something I had loved about it. It was quiet. An escape.
“Something obviously kept you around.”
The light that had been building behind Chase’s eyes quickly flickered out. Saying nothing, he stood and brushed the sand from the back of his pants. “Come or don’t. I don’t care either way.” He shrugged before walking off toward the beach access, and I scrambled to follow him.
“Chase.”
He stopped and turned back in my direction, waiting for me. I huffed as I caught up to him.
“What?” He crossed his arms over his chest as he studied me. The building friendliness turned hostile again. It was stupid to think that I would be in his good graces so quickly, but his invitation to do anything with him had thrown me off.
“Are you walking home?”
He chewed on his bottom lip for a moment before looking around, shifting his weight back and forth. When he scratched atthe back of his neck nervously, looking uncomfortable answering my question.
“Yeah, I can use the exercise. How about this? If you want to come tonight, meet me at the IGA at nine. You can give me a ride out to the jetty.”
I swallowed and nodded. Being stuck in a car with him was going to be torture, even if the drive was less than ten minutes. How the hell was he able to walk home, though? We were on the southern-most beach access, and when I was last here, Chase had lived outside of town. That was a long-ass walk.
I nodded and gave him his space, trying not to dwell on it because he knew what he was doing. Chase spun on his heel and walked up the packed sand back to the main road near Sharky’s. The gift shop was a staple and known for its Jaws-like appearance. Most tourists stopped there to pick up shark-related souvenirs and saltwater taffy.
I waited until he was out of sight before climbing into my car and driving back to my uncle’s house.
“He’s alive.”
I rolled my eyes as I shoved Max off of me. He’d excitedly jumped on me the second I walked in the door. The dog didn't bother me, but I'd need time to get used to returning home to him all summer.
“I’m alive,” I called back, strolling through the house to the kitchen where Uncle Drew stood over the stove cooking dinner. The room smelled heavily of garlic and basil as he stirred whatever was in the pot.
Uncle Drew turned off the burner and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the counter. “Is this how it’s going to be? You get upset and run away?”
I chuckled before grabbing a can of soda from the fridge and popping the lid open, taking a long sip before answering his question.
“He took a dig at my degree. Kind of tired of people thinking I’m not trying.”
Uncle Drew nodded. “I get it, son. The job market just isn’t what it used to be.”
My fingers plucked at the tab of my soda can as I thought over what he’d said. It was great that my uncle seemed to understand that it wasn’t easy. Now, if only my mom and everyone else got the message.
“I messed up.”
Uncle Drew nodded before turning back on the burner and stirring the sauce he’d been cooking. “And what mess up are we talking about?”
That weird strangled feeling settled into my chest. Because I’d messed up in so many areas of my life. I’d screwed up by not coming back like promised, and I still couldn’t figure out if going to school had been the best decision.
