Chapter Fourteen

6/5/15

"IS EVERYONE READY?" I ask as I grab the keys for Bailey's car off of the counter.

Bailey nods along with Kylie and Chase, and Cale mumbles an answer I don't care to hear. I haven't talked to Cale at all since before my date with Max and I'm okay with it. My date with Max was perfect, and when I'm with him I forget about the part of my heart that is missing because of Cale.

"Awesome," I say. Kylie tosses me a thumbs-up, and I toss her beach towel at her.

"Perfect! Let's head out." Bailey waves at us as she heads towards the door.

We all follow Bailey out the front door. I hand her keys to her before we all slide our ways into Bailey's jeep. I end up in the middle seat, which I hate but I make no comment. Today is about having fun and not complaining about the little things. Kylie and Chase squeeze in next to me. "Glad none of you have hideous body odor," I mumble.

Kylie is the only one who hears me as she laughs, though others might of heard me but just decided to ignore my snide remark.

Bailey pulls out of the driveway and starts off towards the highway. We decided to head towards a more popular beach about an hour away from Easton for the day. Easton's beaches are beautiful of course, but we wanted a younger crowd to hang out with.

"So Bailey, give me the details," Kylie starts. I look at her puzzled as to what she is getting at. "Because Grayson won't tell me about her date with Max," she finishes. I roll my eyes at her and sit back in my seat continuing to be squished between Chase and Kylie.

Bailey laughs. "Like she would tell me. She hasn't given me any details either besides the fact that they kissed and it was good." I stiffen slightly at my sister's words, but don't react any further or look at Cale.

I don't care about his reaction to her words, I don't.

"Ohhh you kissed..." Chase teases me as he elbows me in the side.

I shove back at him in response. "Shut up loser," I mumble.

"So?" Kylie questions.

I raise my eyebrows. "What?" I ask.

She waves her hands eagerly. "Come on I want the details!" She exclaims. "Are you going to go on another date with Max?"

I shrug. "Maybe." And it was the truth. I might go on another date with him, but he hasn't asked yet. We've texted a little bit back and forth since the date but nothing crazy. It's not like I'm planning my wedding to Max like everyone else is already. He is nice and funny, but that doesn't mean he's the one.

"Ugh, you are the worst at girl talk Gray," Kylie grunts as she sits back in her seat giving up on me.

"Tell me about it," Bailey laughs.

"Hey," I chide as hit Bailey teasingly in the shoulder.

She laughs at me, but they are both right. I do suck at girl talk, because I don't see a future with most guys I go out with. Seeing a future with someone means a serious relationship, and I'm honestly scared to take a relationship to that level. I'm scared to get my heart broken again. I'm scared to open myself up that much to anyone, especially a man.

I turn to Kylie to see her fake pouting at me. "Sorry Ky, there just isn't much info yet. I know I like him and that's about it," I say honestly. I do like Max, I feel comfortable around him and he's easy to talk to. Plus he isn't half bad to stare at.

She nods at my words with a quick glance to Cale. "Well, that's a start." I ignore her reference to the man who I haven't spoken to in days, and sit back in my seat saying nothing more.

"Whatever," I say as I close my eyes and pretend to sleep for the remainder of the ride.

* * * * *

"Gray," I hear Chase's deep voice whisper at me.

My eyes groggily open to see the car has stopped, and is parked at the beach. I look up to see that I've fallen asleep on Chase's shoulder. I lift my head and wipe at the small drop of dried drool on my lip.

"Sorry," I say as lift my body off of his and sit up straight. Between late night calls with Hayley, and wedding planning all day with Bailey I haven't gotten much sleep lately. I guess I was more tired than I thought with the fact that I dozed off for such a short drive.

Chase waves his hand. "It's no big deal," he shrugs. "Plus you're cute when you sleep."

I laugh at his obvious joke. "Yeah, because drool is cute."

"It can be," he smiles.

We both slide out of the car to meet the others who are waiting on us. Kylie hands me my towel, and we all head down the small wooden bridge to the beach. It's not super crowded yet with it only being early afternoon, but there are more than enough people to make for a fun day. The sun is burning hot, and the sky is as blue as the ocean. I smile inwardly at the how perfect the weather is today. I've needed a day like this, a day to relax and have fun with my sister and friends. The only thing to make this day better would be if Cale wasn't here, but we can't always get what we want.

Kylie's arm hooks with mine as we follow behind Bailey, Cale, and Chase. "He's in a bad mood," she mumbles.

My eyebrows pucker with confusion. "What? Who?" I ask not knowing whom she means.

"Cale," she responds as if I should already know the answer.

I eye the back of Cale quietly trying to gauge some type of reaction from him. From his back I obviously can't tell much, but I do notice the way he trudges forward ahead of everyone. Even ahead of Bailey. But I cast my gaze down from him because I don't care about Cale anymore. We are finished. So who cares if he's upset?

I lift a single shoulder. "Who cares," I say speaking my thoughts.

Kylie purses her lips, but says nothing more though I know she wants to. She knows that there has been weird energy between Cale and me lately, but she doesn't know that it is caused by the biggest mistake I've ever made.

We finally find a spot in the sand that can fit all five of us next to each other. I lay out my towel once again in the middle of Chase and Kylie. Though this time I don't mind being surrounded by my best friends. It's moments like this that make me wish Hayley were here with me. She would love the beach, and Chase and Kylie, and how simple and fun our summer can be. I know she's having the time of her life, but I also know she would love it here with me in Easton.

Cale and Bailey leave to go get some food at the small hut on the beach. So Chase and Kylie and I are left alone relaxing in the sand with the heat of the sun tanning our skin. I dig through the cooler behind me and find a chilled wine cooler.

"Gray, you are lucky we live in a town that never cards," Chase remarks.

I look at him as I swallow the sweet liquid in my mouth with a small grin. "You're right," I agree thinking back to our night at the club. I didn't get carded once the whole night luckily. People usually assume I'm older than I really am, which is fine with me. "But only one hundred and seventy days left and I will be legit," I note.

Kylie laughs at my words. "Not like you're counting or anything," she smirks.

I squish my toes into the sand and shrug. "Don't judge me," I tease. "It's a big birthday," I reason.

"I agree it is a big deal," Chase says as he takes a sip from his beer.

"Thank you Chase," I smile brightly.

"Because it's all down hill after that," he adds.

I look at him with a tilted head. "Seriously," I groan at his comment.

He chuckles. "Hey, it's true."

"Chase is right, what other birthdays do we have to look forward to after this?" Kylie asks.

We all sit there in contemplation at that question. Because after I turn twenty-one the years will roll forward quickly, and next thing I know I will be thirty with a family and kids. Well hopefully. Or I will be alone with ten cats, which is more likely at this point. Wow, they are right after twenty-one it is all down hill.

A shudder rolls through my body, but I immediately push it away.

"Hey," I say to gather Chase and Kylie's attention. They both turn to me. "A toast to twenty-one being the year we can look back at when we are old and tired and say, 'wow that was the year I lived'," I pause. "Okay?" I say as I hold up my drink.

Chase and Kylie nod and hold up their bottles. "To being twenty-one," Kylie says with a wide smile.

"To being twenty-one," Chase repeats.

I giggle. "To being almost twenty-one," I emphasize.

Our bottles clink together loudly and I love it. Right here and right now is perfect, and these are my people.

"What are we toasting to?" I hear Bailey's voice squeak from behind us.

I twist my head to meet Bailey's blue eyes. She's carrying a small white bag, which I know is filled with the best fries in the state. I then turn my gaze to Cale. His eyes hold mine before they flick away. I quickly turn my head back to the ocean before me, and clear my throat. I don't care about Cale, but that doesn't mean I can't hate the tension that now lies between us.

"We were just being dumb," I mumble not wanting to let them on the moment we just shared.

Kylie's gaze hit mine with a questioning look, but I shake my head brushing her off. I don't know why I didn't want to share our toast. But something about it was special to me, and I didn't want to share it with anyone else. Especially Cale.

"Well, I got a ton of extra fries!" Bailey exclaims holding up her bag and shaking it.

She comes and sits besides me on my towel, and opens up the bag. The smell of fresh cut fries hits me, and my stomach growls instantly. "I knew you'd want some," she sings.

I smile as I nudge her with my shoulder. "Thanks sis," I say appreciatively. These fries are my favorite, and the fact that Bailey remembers that makes me beam from within deep inside.

I grab a couple and quietly eat at the deliciously fried food. I notice Cale go to sit by Chase, but I try to not pay too much attention to him.

Bailey plops the bag onto my lap with a sigh, and stands up from my towel. "I gotta run to the bathroom, anyone else need to go?" Bailey asks as she wipes away some sand from her body.

I shake my head continuing to eat the fries Bailey left with me.

"Just go in the ocean," Chase snorts.

Bailey's face scrunches in annoyance. "Eww, I'd rather not," she states as she turns and walks off towards the restroom.

"Didn't seem to like my joke," Chase leans over and mutters at me.

I chuckle dryly. "Yeah, Bailey isn't one for joking about the bathroom," I admit.

He shrugs. "The things you learn about people."

I shove Chase with my hand. "You're stupid," I play.

He narrows his eyes and goes in to grab my wine cooler and takes a gulp. He pulls away from the drink and makes a face of disgust. "No, pretty sure you're the stupid one for drinking that pile of sugar," he states as he hands me back my drink.

I stick my tongue out at him. "Then don't drink it dumbass."

"Believe me, I won't," he laughs.

I shake my head at Chase as I down the rest of my drink. I love how easy it is with Chase. He's like the brother I never had, and I love how I can be myself with him. I honestly can't wait for him to go to Northwestern this fall. I know he is going to fit in great with the school and Hayley. I stand up from my towel to throwaway the bottle in the trashcan a few feet away. I toss the bottle in and turn around and almost run straight into Cale who's standing right behind me.

"What do you want?" I ask confused as to why he is even near me. The way he looked at me when we last spoke is burned into my brain, and I was sure he would never speak to me again.

Cale crosses his arms over his bare chest, and I can't help but let my eyes linger on his bronzed skin for a few seconds longer than needed.

"What's going on with you and Chase?" he asks harshly with a locked jaw.

My mouth opens in shock at his words. I'm taken back by his question. "Nothing..." I trail still baffled at him even talking to me.

"Well it doesn't look like nothing," he sneers. His hazel eyes burn into mine with a mix of emotions I can't read. But the way his eyes hold mine make my skin itch and my pulse race uncomfortably.

"Then what does it look like Cale," I ask my tone turning angry at his accusations.

He huffs in aggravation. "It looks like you were cuddling with him in the car, and it looks like you were flirting with him just now." His body is close to mine, and I can feel the warmth from the sun heating me through him. The heat of his body only spurs the irritation that begins to course through me.

I wet my dry lips, and take a deep breath trying to calm the anger that bubbles within me. "First of all it's none of your business if something is going on between Chase and I, and second of all how dare you think you have the right to ask me even if there is?" I scoff.

He shakes his head in disbelief. "I have a right to know if something is going on between my brother and you." His fists clench, and his tongue swipes against his teeth. His anger only spurs my own.

"And what if there was Cale? What would you do about it?" I ask as I place a hand on my hip.

He opens his mouth, but no words come out.

"Exactly," I push. "You would do nothing because you have no right." I state seeing the realization that washes through his face. He knows he is in the wrong with asking about my relationship with Chase. So why would he even ask in the first place?

"Whatever," he mumbles as he turns and treads back towards our towels.

I squeeze my fists trying to not let the anger take over and ruin my day. But how dare Cale think he can ask me a question like that? He has no input in my love life or whom I date! Cale is nobody to me and deserves no insight into my life or anyone I date.

Kylie comes up to me and places a hand on my shoulder, startling me for a few seconds. "Hey are you okay? Cale just came back looking pissed as all hell," she tells me. I refuse to let myself even look over at Cale. I hope he's pissed, and I don't care if his day is ruined.

I shake my head. "He wanted to know what was going on between Chase and I."

Kylie laughs at my words. "You're just friends," she states like it's obvious. She then pauses, "Wait, you are just friends, right?"

I nod frantically. "Yes, of course! But who does he think he is asking that?"

"Well you two do seem really cozy," she comments.

"We're friends!" I say defensively.

She holds up her hands in justification. "I know, I know but I'm just saying that I can see where he is coming from."

"And where's that?" I ask annoyed.

"He's jealous Gray," she states.

I let out a choked laugh. "Yeah, right Ky," I say sarcastically. She doesn't know what happened between us after the club. She doesn't know the way he looked at me after I yelled at Bailey. And she doesn't know that after all this time that we are finally finished.

"No, seriously," she pushes.

I shake my head. "No, Kylie you don't understand. We are done. Really. He's not jealous."

She shrugs indifferently. "If you say so." And then she turns around and skips back over to her towel.

I stand by the trashcan for a few more minutes trying to take in what just all happened. My anger is slowly fading to pure confusion now because of Kylie's words. I know they aren't true, but in my back of my head I can't help but wonder if maybe she's on to something. But I quickly push the idea of Cale's jealously away, because I don't care if he is or not. I don't care about Cale at all.

"Hey, wanna go for a dip?" Bailey excited voice comes from behind me.

I turn to meet her and wipe on a fake smile. "Aren't we supposed to wait a half hour after we eat?" I ask jokingly.

Bailey rolls her eyes at me. "Come on loser," she mumbles.

Her hand slips in mine and pulls me away from the trashcan. "Hey, that's my line." I play still trying to push the last ten minutes from my head. I lock away the anger Cale instilled in me, and shove away the confusion Kylie laced within me. I push everything away, and let my sister pull me back into a day filled with fun.

She laughs as we race off towards the water. I honestly can't remember the last time we went to the beach, let alone played in the water like kids again. We swam, and splashed, and at one point we were in a dunking war, which Bailey successfully won. I had salt water in my eyes and up my nose, but I couldn't have been happier.

I miss this carefree side of me that used to exist. But now it hides behind a wall of fear. I don't want to hide anymore, I want more fun. Fun with my sister, and even fun with Max.

Bailey and I sit in the sand on the shore with water washing up on us every couple minutes. The ground is firm, and I run my fingers over the sand before my doodles get washed away.

"So," Bailey starts. "Be honest with me."

"About what?" I ask seriously. I hate how my mind races with fear of her asking me about Cale. I hate that every time I'm around her a part of me fears that she knows that I kissed her fiancé.

"Your date with Max!" she squeals. A sigh of relief flies through my body. "I want actual details, please," she begs making puppy dog eyes at me.

I chuckle. "Okay, okay," I surrender.

I sit in the sand and let the waves kiss my legs as I tell my sister about my date with Max. I can't lie it was pretty perfect. The location, the flowers, the lights, and of course Max. Everything about that night was amazing, and it was easily the best date of my life.

But as I tell my sister about my date, all I can think about is my first date with Cale. The beach, the ice cream, our first kiss. It was simple, and nothing compared to my amazing date with Max.

But why can't I stop comparing them?