As much as I wanted to spend my spring break in blissful isolation, it seemed fate had other plans. Cayden and his friends were also headed to the same beach house where I was supposed to unwind for the next five days. Great. Just great.
If you think this was going to be a vacation filled with sunshine and serenity, think again. Sure, Cayden looked like a Greek god, but being around him was anything but lucky. I mean, come on, who wants to be reminded of their crush when all you really want is a few days of peace? Well, there was that slight chance I might get to see him shirtless, but I needed to rein in my thoughtsâquickly.
"Ugh, focus," I muttered to myself, feeling my mouth dry up. I rummaged through my backpack for a water bottle, but of course, it was empty. "Amelia!" I called out, turning to see her, Ethan, and David slumped in their seats, all fast asleep like a bunch of toddlers. "Seriously? Is nobody awake to help me?"
"Here," Cayden said, reaching for the water bottle in the cup holder beside him. He handed it over, and I took a sip, only to realize it was still warm. I quickly stopped drinking and returned the bottle. "Thanks, I guess."
As I handed it back, a thought struck meâwasn't I indirectly kissing him? Just a little ridiculous, right? Why was I suddenly feeling shy? I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thought. It was just a water bottle, after all. Not like I'd kissed him on the lips or anythingâthough he was undeniably hot, and I needed to stop thinking about that.
I turned my attention back to the road ahead. Cayden, with his sun-kissed skin and carefree attitude, was far out of my league. Not that it mattered, anyway. I had a crush on Ethan, and that was enough for me right now. I really should tell Amelia about it; she was my best friend and could keep my secrets safe.
Feeling the exhaustion wash over me, I decided to close my eyes and take a quick nap. I didn't want to dwell on the confusing emotions swirling inside me, especially when I was trying to avoid any conversation about yesterday's awkwardness.
***
I jolted awake to the smell of smoke. My eyes fluttered open to see Cayden casually smoking with the window rolled down. "Oh, hey, you're awake," he said, exhaling the smoke and shooting me a grin. I sat up straight, my throat suddenly scratchy from the fumes.
"What are you doing?" I coughed, waving the smoke away. "Did you know smoking is bad for you? Especially while driving?"
"Did I ruin your beauty sleep with my cigarette?" he shot back, a playful tone in his voice.
I nodded, still coughing as I glanced out at the forest we were driving through. "My bad," he said, tossing the cigarette out the window and rolling it up. He grabbed a car air freshener and hung it near the air conditioner, clearly trying to cover up his misstep.
"Anyways, we're here," he added, and I felt a rush of relief. Finally, a chance to stretch out in a real bed.
As soon as we pulled up to the beach house, I opened the door and stepped outside, inhaling the salty air. David and Ethan were glued to their phones while Amelia snapped pictures of the breathtaking scenery. I wasn't much of a nature lover, but I appreciated the beauty of it all. The gentle waves crashing against the shore made me long for a day spent lounging on the beach.
Amelia dashed toward the small loft where we would check in, and I followed her inside. A girl sat at the front desk, typing away on her computer.
"Excuse me," Amelia said, and the girl looked up, her name tag reading "Ellie."
"Yes, I'm Amelia, the one who checked in online and called last week about our beach house," Amelia continued.
"Oh yes! Miss Ryder, right?" Ellie said, flipping through her papers. "Just sign here, and I'll get your keys."
While Amelia filled out the paperwork, I snapped a few candid shots of her. Then she looked up, her eyes sparkling. "Hey, let's take a selfie!"
We posed, taking a bunch of photos, and I turned to see Ethan photobombing us. "Really?" I said, shooting him an annoyed glance. He just laughed and ruffled my hair, making me scrunch my nose in annoyance.
"Cute," he said, grinning. I felt heat rise to my cheeks.
"Awe, are you blushing because of my compliment?" he teased, pinching my cheeks. Just then, Cayden walked into the loft, and his happy expression turned to annoyance when he saw Ethan messing with me.
"Hey," I said to Cayden, trying to gauge his mood. He seemed distracted, his phone in hand.
"What's wrong?" I asked, noticing his furrowed brow.
"Nothing," he replied curtly, not bothering to look up.
I felt a pang of disappointment. "Thanks for the ride, by the way," I said as he turned to leave.
"You can continue flirting with Ethan now," he shot back, his tone sharp as he walked out. I stared after him, my mind racing. Was he serious? I wasn't flirting with Ethan; I barely knew how to talk to him without tripping over my words.
"Come on, let's go find David and the guys," Amelia said, breaking my thoughts. We walked out together, and I saw David chatting with Logan and Noah, who were also staying at the same beach house.
"Great to see you, Hailey bear," Logan said, walking up to poke my shoulder playfully. I swatted at him, but he just kept going.
"So, where are you guys staying?" Noah asked, looking at Amelia.
"Amelia, what's the number on your house key?" he asked, taking it from her to check. When he saw the number, his eyes lit up. "Oh, hey, we're in the same house!"
My jaw dropped. "No way!" I exchanged shocked looks with Amelia, and we both burst into laughter.
"Let's just start unpacking," I suggested, trying to regain my composure. Everyone nodded, and we headed back to the loft to grab our bags. Logan grabbed my suitcase while Noah helped Amelia with hers.
Amelia leaned in close, whispering, "He remembers my name! And he smells so good; I just want to taste him."
I recoiled slightly, laughing. "You're disgusting," I said, lightly slapping her shoulder.
She pouted but smiled back. "You know I'm serious!"
"What's with all the luggage?" Logan asked, glancing at my bag. "How long are you staying here?"
"Five days," I said, glancing down at my boots. "I should've worn flip-flops instead of these."
"Oh, same here," he said, walking beside me as we made our way to the beach house.
When we finally arrived, I was taken aback by how beautiful the place was. The house had an inviting exterior with steps leading up to a lovely deck. I could already envision stargazing on those steps later.
Once inside, I was stunned. The spacious living room was filled with comfortable furniture, and a large fireplace dominated one wall. The kitchen was much bigger than mine back home, and I couldn't help but admire the cream-white walls adorned with elegant artwork.
"This is like a small mansion," I said, beaming at Logan, who was still standing next to me.
"Welcome to the beach house," he said, grinning widely.
As David and Ethan dashed upstairs to claim their rooms, I took a moment to appreciate the beauty surrounding me. The ambiance felt cozy yet grand. I dropped my bag on the floor and turned to Logan.
"Thanks for helping us with our stuff," I said, feeling a sense of gratitude.
"Of course! You're going to love it here," he replied, and I could see genuine excitement in his eyes.
As the reality of being at the beach house sank in, I felt a wave of joy wash over me. This was going to be the best spring break ever.
***
Hello there my fellow POTATO or UNICORN DREAMERS.
Here's today's newest chapter. I hoped you all enjoyed reading chapter 28 and I will be updating again next week. But, please excuse me if I move it again because I might be disappointed with my grades and I might go through a short amount of time of depression.
Yeah, that's how sad I am to know about my exam results. Anyways, I hoped you loved it and don't forget to Vote, Comment your thoughts about the new chapter and Share this story to your friends. #RoadTo6KReads
As Always, Carry on and Happy Reading!
-The Author