"So, tell me, how did we end up sharing a beach house with them?" I asked, crossing my arms as I looked down at Amelia, who was busy unpacking her suitcase. "I thought this place was just for us."
She paused, letting out a deep sigh, then shrugged her shoulders as if to say it was out of her hands. I watched as she continued to unpack, folding her clothes neatly and placing them in the wardrobe.
I rolled my eyes and plopped down onto the bed, trying to process this unexpected situation. Once she finished, she closed her suitcase and pushed it aside to clear the floor, then sat beside me, taking a deep breath.
"I really didn't expect it to be them," she said, locking eyes with me. I narrowed my brows, waiting for more.
"So you knew we were sharing a house?" I asked, disbelief evident in my tone.
She nodded slowly. "I didn't know it would be them, though," she said, her voice almost apologetic. "When I talked to the lady about booking a beach house with the best view, she said we'd have to share. I was against it at first."
"Who are 'they'?" I pressed.
"She just said it was a group of guys, and I thoughtâwell, if they're cute, it could be fun, right?" Amelia grinned, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes again.
"Okay, but still," I replied, my frustration bubbling. "You should've told me sooner."
"I know, I know," she said, rolling her eyes dramatically like a child caught in a lie.
Before I could scold her again, someone knocked loudly at the door.
"Come in!" Amelia shouted, and I turned to see Noah step inside.
"We're going to set up a campfire in about thirty minutes. You guys want to join?" he asked.
I exchanged glances with Amelia, raising my eyebrow.
"No," I said firmly.
"Yes," she replied in sync with me, her enthusiasm contradicting my reluctance. I shot her a questioning look.
"No way," I mouthed, but she shrugged me off.
"Yeah, we're coming. See you there," Amelia said, trying to keep her excitement in check as Noah left the room.
"I'm not going," I insisted, flopping back onto the bed and reaching for my favorite book, The Fault in Our Stars. I had read it a hundred times, but it never failed to distract me.
"No, no, no," Amelia protested, grabbing my ankle and trying to pull me off the bed. I held onto the blanket for dear life. "We're here for a vacation, not just to be by ourselves."
She had a point. We had agreed to spend our Spring Break with friends, but the idea of watching Netflix alone sounded far more appealing than mingling with a group of guys.
"Fine, I'll come after I grab a snack," I finally conceded, jumping up to head for the kitchen.
I rummaged through my backpack for my phone and made my way to the kitchen, where the scent of freshly baked cookies wafted through the air. Chips Ahoy. I sat down on a stool, scrolling through Pinterest while munching on a couple of cookies.
Just as I was about to take a huge bite, Cayden walked in, earbuds in, lost in his own world. Seeing him in the kitchen was unexpected; it was strange to think we'd be sharing a house for the next five days.
I quickly shoved a cookie in my mouth, attempting to eat it all at once, but a cough escaped as I started to choke. Cayden looked over, eyebrows raised, clearly concerned.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine worry.
I gave him a thumbs-up, hoping he'd buy it. Do I really look okay while choking? He poured himself a glass of water from the fridge. I stood up and snatched the glass from his hand, gulping it down gratefully.
"Thanks," I managed to croak as I handed the empty glass back.
Cayden looked at me with a blank expression before I turned away, hoping to escape the moment. Just then, Ethan stepped into the kitchen.
"Hey there, baby girl," he greeted, a teasing smile on his face.
"Hey, Ethan!" I replied, trying not to blush. I turned to Cayden, who gave a half-hearted nod in acknowledgment.
"Are you guys joining the campfire?" Ethan asked.
I nodded. "Yeah, I think so."
Cayden nodded too, and Ethan smiled before asking us to grab some marshmallows. "Sure!" I said, and he left the kitchen.
I opened the cabinets, searching for the marshmallows, but they seemed to be hiding. Finally, I opened the top shelf and found three packs. I reached up but couldn't quite grab them.
"Need some help?" Cayden asked, standing behind me. In one swift motion, he grabbed the marshmallows and handed a pack to me.
"Thanks," I said, feeling a rush of heat as our fingers brushed.
He turned to leave, and I inhaled deeply, trying to calm my racing heart. What is wrong with me?
Once I collected myself, I headed outside, joining the others gathered around the campfire. The flames danced brightly, casting flickering shadows.
Amelia and Noah were cozy together, giggling at something only they found funny. James and David were trading ghost stories, while Cayden and Logan shared quiet laughter. I ended up sitting next to Ethan, and my heart raced again, but this time from the thrill of his presence.
"Okay, so picture this," James began, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "A girl walks into a phone booth, right? She's about to leave when the phone suddenly rings."
Everyone leaned in closer.
"She grabs the phone and says, 'Hello?' and the voice on the other end says... 'Send nudes!'" James finished, and laughter erupted among the guys.
I rolled my eyes, partly amused and partly annoyed at how juvenile the humor was. Meanwhile, Cayden remained quiet, poking a stick into the fire and glancing occasionally my way.
Just then, Ethan stood up. "I need to hit the restroom; I'll be right back." He walked off, and the atmosphere shifted.
With Ethan gone, the guys returned to their banter, leaving me and Cayden in silence. I reached into the marshmallow bag, ready to toast one over the flames, but before I could, Cayden took my hand, pulling me away from the group.
"Come with me," he said, and I nodded, caught off guard by his sudden boldness.
We walked in silence, hand in hand, the sound of waves crashing against the shore providing a calming backdrop. I felt a mix of anxiety and excitement as we ventured farther down the beach, the night air crisp against my skin.
After a while, I plopped down in the sand, watching the waves ripple under the moonlight. Cayden sat beside me, both of us soaking in the moment.
"So...," he began, breaking the comfortable silence. "Why is it so awkward between us?"
I glanced at him, surprised. "I'm not awkward," I said defensively.
He chuckled, the sound warm and easy. "You are totally awkward."
I smirked, unable to hold back a laugh. "Okay, maybe a little." I turned my gaze back to the ocean, memories swirling in my mind, reminding me of why I often preferred solitude.
But before I could dive too deep into my thoughts, I felt Cayden's eyes on me again. I looked over, our gazes locking.
"I can't help it," he said softly, "I just can't stop looking at how beautiful you are."
My heart raced, and I felt heat flooding my cheeks. "You're just saying that," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.
"No, really," he insisted, his tone sincere.
In that moment, I realized I had been drawn to him for a while now. Something about the way he carried himself and how he made me feel alive with just a glance.
Why do I feel like... I'm starting to fall for him?
***
Hello there! Here's the new update. I hope you guys enjoyed reading it.
It's been a few days since I updated and yes, I know that I'm not following the update schedule again and I am sorry. I'm also sorry for saying sorry all the time and I think I need to work on that. But, no worries... Here it is.
Don't forget to Vote, Comment your thoughts about today's newest update and Share this story to your friends, hopefully, they might be interested in reading this type of genre even though I find it quite a cliche one.
Anyways, Carry on and Happy Reading!~
-The Author