The Complete Memories Series (7 page)

‘‘Are you gonna teach me to surf or are you planning on being a shark’s dinner?’’ I call to him.

Even though I’m not close to him, I can see his lips curl up, his dimples appear and his eyes crinkle. It’s like it’s burned into my mind.

‘‘Yes, Princess, I’m teaching you to surf,’’ he laughs and moves towards me.

I push my way through the water to beat him to where the boards have washed up, desperately avoiding another moment like what we just had, and at the same time desperately wanting him to take me in his arms again.

I’m not the kind of girl to blink and give my heart away, but I know if anyone can make me do it, it’s Alec.

Every time I look at him it’s like a little piece of who I am chips away, revealing the ‘summer girl’ I left behind five years ago. The carefree, up for anything girl.

He’s slowly stripping away my defences with every look, every touch, every dimpled smile, and he doesn’t even realise he’s doing it.

Meeting Alec has changed everything, and it scares me.

He’s everything I know is bad for me, everything I should avoid. We’re opposites in every way and it shouldn’t work, but apparently my self-preservation has gone on holiday to the Bahamas along with my common sense because I can’t seem to get away from him.

I don’t get swayed by smooth lines, and casual touches don’t make me go crazy. When Alec speaks to me it’s like music to my soul, and every touch sends tingles crawling across my skin.

But, I realise as I paddle out for my second attempt at surfing, it’s not those things that pull me towards him like a moth to a flame.

It’s the look in his eyes when he tells me I’m beautiful; the tenderness in his voice when he calls me ‘Princess’; the soft, protective element to his touch.

They all give me little glimpses into the guy under the flirty, egotistical outer shell.

So maybe, just maybe, the way I’m starting to feel isn’t so crazy, after all.

Every turning point in life has a significant moment that accompanies it. It changes relationships, feelings and perspectives, altering the way you see the world around you.

It also usually hits you with the force of a ten-ton-truck skidding on ice.

It’s no longer about sex, or attraction, or my teenage boy needs. It’s no longer about the way Lexy’s ass wiggles when she walks, the way she looks in a bikini or the way her lips would, and should, move over mine.

It’s about the way her eyes sparkle when she’s excited, the way her mouth curls up in a tiny smile when she’s annoyed and trying to hide it, it’s the way her hair curls at the ends, ever so slightly. It’s the lightness of her laugh, the flick of her eyelashes when she flirts and the playful side she keeps buried.

It’s more than attraction, more than want.

Feelings are developing between us and lines are smudging. No matter how she denies it, I felt the way she reacted to me when she was in my arms. Racing heart, heavy breathing, lidded eyes. The same way I react to her without realising it.

I grin as she wades through the water with the surfboard. I shouldn’t have said the jellyfish thing... No, no. I should have. It was hilarious.

“What are you grinning at?” She raises her eyebrows.

“Nothing.” I splash her playfully and she glares at me.

“Can we try again?” she asks, shaking her hair out.

“I thought you didn’t want to surf?”

“You’re determined I can’t do it.” She wipes the hair stuck to her face. “And I’m determined I can, and I’m not about to give up until I have. We could be here all night.”

“Oh, Princess. I have no problems looking at you in a wetsuit all night. Did you know it clings in all the right places?” I wink at her and hold her surfboard.

She runs her tongue across her teeth and leans forward on the board. “I know. You’re not the only one with eyes, Alec. I can see everything.”

There’s an inch of space between us and she’s changing the game, she’s taking control.

“Like what you see?” I breathe it out and she represses a shiver... Not very well though.

“Even if I do, I’m not likely to tell you.” She smirks and dunks underwater, popping back up with her head back to keep her hair off her face.

And I’ll be damned if she doesn’t look like a wet dream come to life when she does it.

My cock twitches. Feelings might be developing, but it doesn’t overlook the fact she’s still the sexiest thing Devon has ever fucking seen.
 

‘‘Boy’s got it bad.’’ Jen flicks a shell away.

‘‘Okay,’’ I say.

‘‘No, really. I’ve never seen him this way. It’s both exciting and sickening at the same time.’’

‘‘Jen.’’

‘‘Don’t you start with the ‘Jen’ thing,’’ she warns me. ‘‘I’m just tellin’ you how I see it, and I can see more fireworks between you two than the fifth November.’’

‘‘The things you come out with...’’ I shake my head.

‘‘Lexy, you can tell me.’’ She sits up and is serious. ‘‘Do you like him?’’

‘‘I like him. As a friend.’’ I skirt around her meaning.

‘‘Nice dodge, Lexy.’’ She lies back down.

‘‘I don’t know what you mean.’’

‘‘Well, we’ll see.’’

‘‘Despite everything he said yesterday, I’m pretty sure he just wants to get in my pants. That’s all.’’ I check my phone and see that Bing is coming back to Lilac Bay on Friday, two days early.

‘‘Alec’s never asked anyone for a chance. Ever. Trust me, he wants more than a roll in the hay.’’

‘‘Well, I don’t want a summer romance.’’

I don’t know who I’m trying to convince.

‘‘Yeah, I believe you.’’ Jen says it in a tone that says she clearly doesn’t, but she’s gonna drop it for now. ‘‘There’s another party at the Bay on Friday, and since it’s your birthday next week I thought we’d go and celebrate your last under-age drinks.’’

‘‘Sounds like a plan, batgirl.’’ I grin at her. ‘‘Although, Bing said he’s back Friday so he’ll probably come too.’’

‘‘I have no doubt he will,’’ she says dryly. ‘‘Maybe he can take Bianca off Alec’s hands for him.’’

I giggle into my towel. ‘‘Most likely situation? He will.’’

~

Since Jen has a dress fitting, I spend Thursday with Grammy. I finally roll my sleeves up and help her weed the garden to the sound of her probing questions about my day with Alec. I tell her I surfed successfully three times, but leave out the whole crazy heart beating thing that happened before I actually stood on the board.

Thursday passes quickly - too quickly, and before I know it I’m at Jen’s getting ready for the beach party.

‘‘Six days, and we can party properly,’’ she says, pulling clothes from her wardrobe.

‘‘Oh yes. Where are we going?’’ I flick through the music channels absently.

‘‘Barnstaple. It’s easy enough to get a taxi back.’’ She shakes her head at one dress and hangs it back up. Guess she’s going for the red dress then.

Cobra Starship start singing from the TV and I sigh.

‘‘I make them good girls go bad!’’ Jen sings loudly and twirls dramatically across her room.

I laugh and she pulls me up with her.

‘‘You heard that I was trouble but you couldn’t resist,’’ I wink at her.

‘‘Good girls go bad.’’ She moves her head side to side.

‘‘Boy you’re dangerous, yeah you’re that guy I’d be stupid to trust, but just one night couldn’t be so wrong...’’

‘‘You make me wanna lose control!’’ We both sing at the same time.

I sigh happily and pull my make-up from the side.

‘‘I think that’s your problem,’’ Jen brushes her hair, still dancing.

‘‘What’s my problem?’’

‘‘Alec is the guy you’d be stupid to trust, right? But you’re totally losing control where he’s concerned, and that’s why you’re keeping him at arms length.’’ Oh, Jen, if only you knew. ‘‘But one night couldn’t be that bad....’’

‘‘I’m not having a one-nighter, Jen.’’

‘‘You don’t want a summer romance, so just one night with him wouldn’t be bad... I mean...’’

‘‘I’m a virgin!’’ I interrupt her.

‘‘Well fuck a duck, I wasn’t expecting that.’’ She stops twirling and looks at me. ‘‘Are you actually?’’

‘‘Yes.’’ I go back to my make-up.

‘‘Okay, veto the one night idea. Hmm.’’ She gets a thoughtful expression. ‘‘A date?’’

‘‘No.’’

‘‘Vetoed. Okay. Just let things run its course?’’

‘‘I don’t think I have much choice on that,’’ I sigh.

She tilts her head to the side. ‘‘I knew you liked him.’’

‘‘I...’’ I begin to protest and stop. ‘‘A little.’’

‘‘I knew ittt!’’ she sings. ‘‘I absolutely knew it, absolutely...’’

‘‘Can we just get ready?’’ I interrupt her again. Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if she has batteries or something. She’s always on the go.

‘‘Good thinkin’ catwoman.’’

~

There’s only so much I can take of my brother. Sometimes, I can tolerate him. Sometimes, I want to whack him over the head with the nearest heavy object.

Tonight is a heavy object night.

He’s taken the role of my protector. Unnecessarily.

‘‘Bing, really, you don’t need to stick to my side like glue. I promise I won’t run off. I even promise with a cherry on top,’’ I say sarcastically.

‘‘You’re my baby sister, you’re in a strange place where you hardly know anyone. Of course I’m going to protect you,’’ Bing replies, leaning against a rock.

‘‘I’m hardly a baby anymore,’’ I huff.

‘‘Lex, I’m always gonna protect you, you get me? No one will touch you while I’m around.’’

‘‘No one touches me anyway!’’

‘‘Except lover boy.’’

‘‘Gram’s been recruiting you to her side, hasn’t she?’’

‘‘Dunno what you mean, sis.’’ He grins cheekily at me and I shake my head.

‘‘Is that buffoon still here?’’ Jen groans and passes me a drink. Bing frowns at me.

‘‘It’s come from Alec’s car,’’ I grind out.

‘‘I opened it.’’ Jen smiles sweetly.

Bing grunts and folds his arms across his chest.

‘‘You’re such a fucking toddler,’’ I snap at him. ‘‘Do me a favour and go and entertain Bianca.’’

‘‘Who’s Bianca?’’ He perks up.

‘‘She’s making moves on her man.’’ Jen waggles her eyebrows. I roll my eyes. There’s no use correcting her - she’ll just tell me I’m in denial. Again.

‘‘Where is she?’’

Jen skirts around me and links her arm through Bing’s. She points her out in the crowd - her bleach blonde bob isn’t exactly hard to miss - and I see him nod appreciatively.

Honestly, if it has boobs, a pair of legs and a pulse, Bing will be straight onto it.

Figuratively and literally.

He nods again and starts moving in Bianca’s direction.

‘‘How?’’ I look at Jen in amazement.

‘‘I told him she’d been eyeing him up all night and she’s up for anything.’’ She sips her drink and the emphasis on ‘anything’ makes me choke on my drink.

‘‘Yep, that’ll do it,’’ I laugh. She tilts her bottle towards me and raises her eyebrows casually.

‘‘Someone’s heading your way, and he looks interested.’’

I hate my body for the way a little hope blooms at the thought it could be Alec.

I glance over my shoulder. It’s not Alec - but it’s not altogether a bad alternative. He’s not as built as Alec, but his hair is darker and his eyes look kind of hazel in the darkness. He’s attractive, and had I not met Alec I’d be up for a flirt.

Hold up. When did I start comparing everyone to Alec?

Ugh. I need help.

‘‘Carl’s mate from college. He’s called James, and he’s alright.’’ Jen smiles.

‘‘I thought you were rooting for Alec?’’ I whisper to her.

‘‘Oh, I am. But the thought he might have a bit of competition might give him a kick up the ass.’’ She winks at me and sends a beaming smile over my shoulder. ‘‘Hey, James. How you doin’?’’

‘‘Arite, Jen? Not bad maid, you?’’

His accent is proper Devonshire. Or should that be propurr?

Okay, Alexis, put the alcohol down.

‘‘Yeah, good thanks.’’

‘‘Who’s ya friend?’’

‘‘Oh, James, this is Lexy, my friend from London. Lexy, this is James.’’

I turn and realise he’s a lot taller than me. ‘‘Hey. Nice to meet you.’’

He shakes my hand. ‘‘An’ you, maid. Down for the summer?’’

‘‘Yep,’’ I say with a small smile.

‘‘James, you seen Carl?’’ Jen interjects.

‘‘Yeah, he’s down by the sea talkin’ to the guys.’’

‘‘I’ll go and find him, leave you two to get to know each other.’’ She walks past us and throws me a sly smile. I shake my head at her games.

‘‘Been ta the Bay before?’’ James asks.

‘‘Yeah, used to come every summer. My Gram lives here.’’

‘‘That how ya know Jen?’’

‘‘Yeah, we used to play together when we were kids.’’

‘‘Nice girl.’’ He nods approvingly, his eyes roaming over me. ‘‘Not as nice as you, though.’’

I’m not comfortable with him. At all. I glance around and I can spy Bing talking to Bianca with his back to me, and Alec is too busy glaring at the side of James’ head to catch my eye.

‘‘Got a boyfriend, Lexy?’’

My name sounds dirty on his lips.

“Nope, I don’t.”

I look around and we’re fairly secluded from everyone else. Pretty much everyone here is local and they’re all smart enough not to be by the rocks while they’re drinking.

“Well then,” James drawls. At least, he tries to. “How about me and you go back there an’ have a little fun?”

“I’m fine here thanks.” Alarm bells ring in my mind as he steps closer. I step backwards - into the rock.

I’m backed in and he’s either really drunk, or really stupid. I’d bet a bit of both.

“C’mon maid, me an’ you could have a real good time, you get what I’m sayin’?”

I can smell the beer on his breath and it’s all I can do not to gag.

“No.”

“No, you don’t get what I’m sayin’ or you don’t want a good time?”

“I don’t want a good time, especially not with you,” I say icily and look up at him.

“Well, thass a shame, cause me an’-”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Alec’s voice warns from the shadows. I look over James’ shoulder at him.

I’ve never seen Alec angry, but it’s not a look I want to see again.

“And why should I do tha, surfer boy?” James sniggers.

“Because that’s my little sister your dirty ass is tryin’ to fuckin’ hit on you creep,” Bing seethes and steps next to me. His body is tight and his fists are clenched.

He’s ready to fight James.

“Bing, let’s just go,” I say quietly and touch his arm.

“Nah-uh,’’ he says without looking at me. “I wanna know who the fuck this little prick thinks he is pullin’ those kinda moves on my baby sister.”

“Hey, listen here mate, you ain’t her keeper and this little slut-”

I hear the crack before my brain comprehends the fact Bing has punched him and is now pinning him to the ground, and that I’m in Alec’s arms.

I don’t realise I’m shaking until Alec tightens his grip on me. He rubs my back gently and I press my face into him.

“You’re alright, Princess,” he whispers in my ear. “I’ve got you now.”

I grab fistfuls of his shirt and ignore the shouts and cheers behind me. I’m not worried for Bing. He knows how to look after himself - I’ve seen him fight a guy twice his size and KO him.

“Oh my god Lexy I’m so sorry!” Jen wraps her arms around both me and Alec. “If I knew he’d try that I never would have left you alone with him!”

“It’s okay.” I turn my head slightly so I can see her. “You didn’t know. None of us did.”

“Why was she alone with him in the first place?” Alec questions her.

Jen looks at me and I grimace slightly.

“We...” She sighs. “He was coming over and I thought if you saw her with another guy you’d get a wriggle on and you know.”

“You left her with a stranger to make me jealous?” Alec explodes and steps back.

I let go of his shirt with one hand and grab his arm. He looks upwards and I tug on his arm.

“Alec?” I say softly. He looks down at me. “I’m okay. Really. He didn’t touch me. Jen didn’t know that’s what he had on his mind. He’s a friend of Carl’s - she thought it would be okay.”

“It was a stupid idea. I’m sorry.” Jen looks at the ground.

“Aw, hell, Jen. I don’t blame you. I’m just angry at that prick for trying to take something that doesn’t belong to him. Yeah, yeah I know.”

Jen must have made a face or something at him, but as I’m still looking at Alec I don’t know.

“Go and tell Carl we’re getting Bing. We’ll meet you at the car in ten.” Alec smiles at Jen and she disappears. He looks back down at me and pulls me back into him.

This time, I wrap my arms around his waist and just let him hold me.

“Sure you’re okay?” he asks softly.