Summer Together (Summer #2) Read online

  Summer Together

  Part 2 of the Summer Series

  Amy Sparling

  Copyright © 2015 Amy Sparling

  All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover art from shutterstock.com

  Cover design by Amy Sparling

  First edition February 10th, 2015

  Chapter 1

  So it happens like this. I am wearing a gorgeous bridesmaid gown. We’re talking a satin masterpiece that blows last year’s prom dress out of the water. It’s royal purple and sleeveless. The fabric wraps around the bodice and flows down to my ankles, fitting me so well you’d think I actually do have the perfect hourglass figure. My hair, now longer than it’s ever been, brown with highlights, has a light curl to it. It drapes over my shoulders. My long bangs are swooped to the right and tucked behind my ear, decorated with a sparkly rhinestone barrette.

  I look amazing.

  But I won’t hold a candle to my beautiful best friend Bayleigh and her stunning wedding dress. That’s exactly how it should be, though. This is her day. And I am so unbelievably happy for her.

  The band plays a modern version of the traditional wedding song. They have guitars and harmonicas and banjos. Thanks to some stalking of their Facebook page, I know they recently signed with a small music label and should have an album out soon. Bayleigh, her future husband Jace, and I spent several hours scouring the internet and local coffee shops trying to find the perfect band for their wedding. Just like my gown, Bayleigh’s dress, and this backyard, I know we chose the perfect one.

  The wedding is set up in the massive back yard of Jace’s late grandfather’s house. The house is a gorgeous Victorian and all the old oak trees make for a beautiful wedding scene. We’ve decorated with lights and purple and teal flowers. A white carpet makes up the aisle that separates the chairs for the wedding guests. I feel like my Maid of Honor duties have been executed perfectly because so far everything has gone according to plan. Well, almost everything. One of the members of the bridal party isn’t here, but that’s not because of a lack of trying on my part.

  Jace’s best man, a guy with the name Park, had spent the last two weeks desperately trying to get here from his home in California. His truck and wallet were stolen, the DMV couldn’t be bothered to replace his driver’s license in time for him to get a plane ticket, and because he’s not yet twenty-five, he’s too young to rent a car. Bayleigh and I had arranged a secret surprise for Jace, wherein Park leased a new vehicle, drove nonstop for two days and got here just a few hours before the wedding. I’d stayed in contact with him via text message for the last twenty four hours. Unfortunately, there was a massive wreck in Houston involving three freaking semi-trucks and he didn’t think he’d make it. Maybe in time for the reception, he had said. So although that’s one epic failure in the wedding plans, at least Jace wasn’t aware that Park had come so close to being here so he wouldn’t be as disappointed as Bayleigh and I had been. And I guess there’s still hope that he’ll arrive soon and have time to party with us after the ceremony.

  I’m standing at my place on the bride’s side of the altar, which is a white gazebo that is decorated with clear Christmas tree lights and I’m so excited for this wedding to happen that I think I might be vibrating just a little. I hold up my hand and look at it, at my newly manicured purple nails, and the silver band on my right index finger. It’s a simple ring with a Celtic design engraved on it, something I had found in my mom’s jewelry box years ago. I wore it so much she finally just let me keep it. Just as I had suspected, my hands are shaking. Maybe I should have eaten something before taking my place at the altar.

  Wait…have I remembered to eat anything at all today?

  To my left, Jace is stooped down to Bentley’s level, having a private conversation with him. Bentley is Bayleigh’s ring bearer and little brother. He’s holding the wooden ring box that Bayleigh and I made after finding an awesome tutorial online. He’s also bouncing up and down on his heels. Clearly, he’s as nervous-slash-excited as I am right now.

  “Jace,” I whisper-yell across the space where the minister will be standing in a moment. “What time is it?”

  He glances at his watch. “Five-fifty six.”

  “Thanks,” I whisper, standing straight again. It’s only been three minutes since I last asked him the time. I bet time is moving even slower for Bayleigh, who is probably pacing back and forth in the hallway of the house, waiting to make her entrance.

  I glance into the crowd, fifty chairs full of their friends and family. I only know the people on Bayleigh’s side, of course. Her mom’s new husband David sits in the front row and next to him is an empty chair. But as I’m watching, I see Bayleigh’s mom slip down the aisle and take her chair next to David. Their faces glow with pride. Aunt Truly and her husband, whose name I can’t remember, sit next to them. Some friends from school are here, along with Bayleigh’s cousins and their spouses. And then there’s my parents, sitting in the third row. Dad’s in his police officer uniform because he’s working night shift now and by the time he gets back to Lawson, it’ll be time for him to go to work. He’s just going to stay for the ceremony and then head out to catch bad guys. (Although he claims he does a whole lot more driving around than catching bad guys.)

  Mom notices me looking at her and she gives me a little wave, her smile spreading across her whole face. I wave back. The band continues playing; restarting the song so flawlessly you hardly even notice it. The drummer is totally hot, but that he’s also probably ten years older than me so screw him. And I know I shouldn’t be thinking these things, but I can’t help it. I’ve been single for several months now that Braedon and I broke up and pretty much all I think about now is how badly I want a boyfriend. But not just any boyfriend. A real one. Something meaningful. Something that lasts.

  What Braedon and I had was definitely a real relationship but…I don’t know. It felt too high school. We started out as friends and even when we were officially dating, we had always felt like friends. The friendship just evolved into a greater friendship. We didn’t have the passion, the spark that I desired. Braedon always laughed and shook his head when I’d mention something like that. He’d tell me that crazy rip-your-clothes-off passion only existed in the movies. He’d say people didn’t act like that in real life. Well, I disagreed. I’d seen Bayleigh and Jace act like that all the time. Well, not the ripping each other’s clothes off part. Fortunately, they kept that stuff to themselves.

  When Braedon and I decided to break up, it was amiable and it was mutual. In fact, it was a little too mutual. I guess I had wanted him to miss me, to cry for me, to try and make things work. But he was going away for college and I was staying here, attending community college. And I had mentioned that infamous idea of passion so many times that I guess he just didn’t feel like it was worth it to try.

  I still have his number saved in my phone, although all the little heart emoji have been removed. Now, he’s simply Braedon. Sometimes he’ll send me a funny picture and sometimes I’ll text him something funny that happened at C&C now that he doesn’t work there anymore. So, just like that, after months of dating, what started as friends has ended as friends.

  I glance over at Jace and think about asking what time it is again, but it’s probably only been a minute or so since I last asked. As if reading my mind, he checks his watch and frowns. I continue to stare at him until he notices me. I lift an eyebrow. He mouths the words, six oh one.

&
nbsp; She’s late. Should I go check on her? She could be missing a shoe or having a wardrobe malfunction and I’m not there to help her. But if I leave the gazebo then it might create a confusion among the guests…people might murmur and think something’s wrong. They’ll think she has cold feet, which I know she’ll never ever get. She loves Jace with all of her heart. Or, I could be halfway toward the house when she starts walking down the aisle and then I would have ruined everything. So I suck it up and stand straight, poised and smiling, because everything is okay and everything is going smoothly.

  And then it finally does go smoothly. Bayleigh steps into view, her white lacey gown like a beautiful flower in contrast to the setting sun. Only we at the altar can see her at the moment because she emerges from the back of the house, behind all of the people sitting in the audience. The band starts the traditional wedding song, I think it’s called the wedding march but I really have no idea. I can’t believe how in all of our days spent planning a wedding, we never thought to figure out the name of that song.

  Tears fill my eyes pretty much the second I see her. I know it’s silly of me to cry at my best friend’s wedding, but come on. This is so beautiful and so perfect. I hear Jace take in a breath and damn if that doesn’t make me tear up even more.

  The guests rise in their chairs and turn to face her. I take this opportunity to dab at the corner of my eyes, hoping I don’t smudge my makeup.

  “Oh my God…” Jace murmurs, almost as if he’s just heard a funny joke. I lift an eyebrow and look at him, but he’s staring straight ahead. His hand covers his mouth and he shakes his head, and he just stands like that, smiling and shaking his head like he’s in on some inside joke that no one else knows.

  I follow his gaze toward Bayleigh. She’s making her way down the aisle, looking stunning and beautiful and so many more words that will never be enough to describe her, but that’s not what made Jace laugh. She isn’t walking alone. She’s walking arm-in-arm with a man wearing a tux just like Jace’s. He has a teal tie and a purple pocket square and a smirk on his face that can only mean one thing: This is Park and he finally arrived on time for the wedding. But that isn’t what makes my jaw drop.

  My heart leaps into my throat as I focus on him. Tall, muscular, strawberry blond hair and blue, blue eyes. I can’t see the color of his eyes from here, but I’d recognize them anywhere. Park isn’t just some guy from California who I’ve only known for two days via secret phone conversations. His first name is Nolan. And he’s been floating around my daydreams for the last year.

  Chapter 2

  It was the start of summer before my senior year of high school. A little more than a year ago. I had just gotten a job at C&C BMX Park to cope with my boredom after Bayleigh’s reckless teenager actions pissed of her mom so much she got grounded and sent away to live with her grandparents all summer. The BMX park is an indoor park full of ramps and half pipes and even a foam pit for freestyle tricks. I’d never ridden a BMX bike in my life, but that didn’t deter me. Working there is a ton of fun and my boss is the most laid back guy around.

  Not to mention the guys. Did I mention the guys? Sure, a ton of annoying little preteen boys stop by C&C to ride during summer break, and I’ve had to host more than a few birthday parties for bratty kids who can barely ride a bike at all, but it’s all worth it for the late crowd. The guys-my-age-crowd. The ripped guys with jagged hair and tattoos who can toss a bike around as if it’s an extension of their own body.

  It was during one of those exquisite days at work where I was spending more time on the clock admiring the view than actually working, that I met Nolan Park for the first time. He had come in with his friend Dustin, a guy who frequents C&C just about every week. Nolan was kind, but quiet. He griped at Dustin for flirting with me when I clearly wasn’t interested. And then he rode off on his bike, stayed a few hours and left without another word.

  I know, right? Totally the love-at-first-sight story you were expecting. I don’t know what it is about him, (besides maybe his gentlemanly manners and ridiculous good looks) but I could not get that man off my mind for weeks. Even after Braedon and I started dating, I would still get a little flutter in my stomach when a guy who even remotely resembled Nolan would walk through the double glass doors at work.

  It was stupid. It is stupid. I shouldn’t allow myself to sink so low as to daydream about some guy I don’t even know. I should be better than that. But here I am, Maid of Honor at my best friend’s wedding, trying hard as hell to look at Bayleigh and only Bayleigh as the two of them walk up the aisle and step into the gazebo.

  Bayleigh hands me her purple and teal rose bouquet. I wink at her and she winks back. This is it. This is her moment. Nolan takes Bayleigh’s hand and gives her to Jace, then hugs Jace and they whisper something to each other before he takes his place as the Best Man next to Jace. I swallow, which does nothing to soothe my now dry throat, and smile as if everything is completely okay. Nope, no psycho girl crushes reactivating over here. Just a regular Maid of Honor at a regular wedding, supporting her best friend in a regular, non-boy crazy way.

  The mister talks and then the bride and groom say their vows, but I don’t really hear any of it. The whole ceremony is a blur. Twice I glimpse to the left and see Nolan, or Park, or whatever name he goes by. The first time he’s also looking at me, but his expression is unreadable. The second time, he’s looking out at the guests.

  He doesn’t recognize me. Why would he? And why, oh why, is it making my chest ache to realize that I didn’t stick in his mind as much as he stuck in mine over the last year? God, I am so stupid.

  Luckily I snap back into reality just as the minister tells Jace he can kiss his bride. Jace slips his arms around her waist and pulls her toward him, kissing her like he’ll never get to kiss her ever again. I wipe a tear from my eye and join in on the applause for the happy new married couple. I give her back the bouquet and they head down the aisle as husband and wife.

  With the ceremony over, I hope I can calm my speeding heartbeat, ignore the super handsome Best Man and at least try to have fun at the reception that immediately follows. Jace and I, along with Bayleigh’s mom and grandparents spent several days decorating the back yard with clear Christmas lights and rustic décor. There’s a dance floor set up next to the buffet and on the other side of that is the band. It’s a beautifully decorated area for the reception. There are at least fifty people here tonight, so it shouldn’t be a problem for me to slip into the crowd and mingle.

  I head down and visit with my parents, who hug me for the millionth time and tell me again how pretty I look. You’d think I was the one getting married with how excited they are. I guess it’s just impossible for them to accept me in a dress when I spend all of my summers in cut off shorts and neon-colored C&C BMX shirts.

  Bayleigh’s mom comes up and chats with my mom. Everyone’s smiling and taking and laughing and here I am, standing with the same happy smile on my face, but feeling anything but genuinely happy. My heartbeat has sped up into steady vibration and I’m certain it shows on my face. I take a deep breath and look around. I need a drink. I’m not even exactly sure what kind of drink, but it feels like I need one. Since the bride and groom aren’t legal to drink, there’s only a small selection of beer for the adults. Not that I would even think of drinking alcohol in front of my police officer father.

  I make my way to the refreshments table and one of the caterers hands me a champagne glass of sparkling cider. I take a big sip of it and immediately regret it as the bubbles burn my throat. Bayleigh appears at the exact same moment I’m making this awful face from the sparkling cider.

  Her perfectly manicured left eyebrow arches in response to my face. “You okay? Or did all my makeup sweat off, making me look like a troll?”

  “No more troll-like than you always look,” I say, sticking out my tongue for good measure.

  “I should kick your ass for that,” she says, taking a champagne glass for herself and swirling it around her
hand all fancy-like. “But I am a married woman now, so I must behave like one.”

  She takes one sip of her drink, makes the same face I had made and we burst into giggles. “So how does it feel?” I ask her, absentmindedly brushing a stray curl behind her shoulder. “Is it everything you hoped for?”

  “It’s more than that,” she says, shaking her head. “It’s so much more. I can’t believe you and Jace pulled this off. I never even once suspected that we’d get married here, of all places.” She puts a hand to her chest and I can tell she’s holding back happy tears. “You and Jace are seriously the best friends I’ve ever had.”

  Shit, now I’m holding back tears, too. “I love you, Bay.”

  “I love you too, Becca. This night is so perfect. Even Park showed up on time. Jace is freaking psyched about it.” She glances out over the crowd of people and I follow her gaze to find the two men standing near the edge of the dance floor, chatting excitedly to each other.

  “Yeah, about that,” I say, letting out a deep breath. “Now that we got all of the sappy talk out of the way, I have something mega epic to tell you about and…well, I know it’s your day and I should keep my own drama to myself but—”

  “Girl, are you kidding?” She says, grabbing my arm. “If there’s drama I want to know about it. Stat.”

  I can’t believe how nervous I get knowing that I’m about to reveal my embarrassing secret. “So that guy Park? You know how I’ve been talking to him for the last few days so we could arrange for him to get here without Jace knowing?”

  She shrugs. “Yeah, what about it?”

  In a brief moment of doubt and panic, I glance back across the yard and focus on Jace and Park again. I need to get another look, make sure this guy is exactly who I think he is. I mean, it’s been a year since I last saw him…maybe it’s not the same guy. As if by magic or some kind of ironic intuition, Jace and Park look up at the exact same moment. Jace points toward us and says something that looks like there they are. But…I could be mistaken. He probably said there she is, meaning his wife. Why would he say they? Why would he mean Bayleigh and me? That doesn’t make any sense. Regardless, they start walking toward us, and in the few panicked seconds I have before they get within earshot, I glance over Park again and I know without a doubt that this is the same Nolan Park from a year ago.