Page 16

Our room was in the workers’ wing. I expected something tiny, like our city apartment, not plush accommodations like these. A fluffy king size bed took up part of the room, and two couches facing each other by the window overlooked the…I ran to it and looked out at the most gorgeous view of the ocean. No wonder people loved beachfront property.

“Will this be okay? It’ll have to be all four of us sleeping in one room, but hey, this party could last into the earlymorning hours, so by the time we crash, we won’t care where we sleep.” Suz laughed.

“I’ll sleep on the beach for all I care. I hear this is unseasonably warm for the beginning of October,” I tore myself from the view and tackled my bag, worried once again I didn’t bring the right things to wear for the caliber of this party.

“Well, have fun. Be sure to explore the grounds and enjoy. Hey Sophie, ready? I only have a couple of hours to go, and need to get set up.” Suz thumbed toward the door. The second they left, Maisy flew to the bed, landing in the middle and sinking down like it was a fluffy cloud.

“Ah. Wake me in a few hours when it’s time to party,” she exclaimed, wrapping her fingers behind her head. Poor girl had been studying so hard lately, I didn’t blame her for wanting to rest.

“I’m going to see if I can meander to the beach. I’ll be back later.” Maisy barely noticed me walking out the door.

With so much activity going on setting up for the party, I steered clear of the main house. Who lives here? Seriously, though, it seemed a little too much. I never gave much thought to being filthy rich. I simply needed enough to be comfortable.

I kept following the path toward the ocean, and eventually I arrived there. Once I flipped off my sandals, the sand beneath my toes grounded me, tying me to the earth, in a feeling so surreal—I couldn’t believe this was my life right now. I even rolled up the legs of my jeans and dared poke toes in the cold water.

For a while, I sat, just watching the waves roll in, simply being one with time and motion. With all the hustle I’d put into the deli since arriving in the city, the peaceful moment to relax in a place like this did my soul good. How fortunate were the people here who get to enjoy it as their backyard?

The sunlight, sand, and surf did wonders. After a while, my mind engaged in thoughts about home and the people I loved, drifting eventually to Uncle Doug and the deli. Even Rex popped in, taking up space with his handsome looks and grumbly voice.

Why him? He’d left so abruptly—again—from the deli yesterday, I should put him right out of my mind.

“Ugh,” I sighed back into the sand, closed my eyes, and wished I could.

At the party,I fit right in with my short satin wrap dress the color of butterscotch, paired with tortoise shell strappy sandals. Both things I had picked up from a little boutique near our apartment. Maisy looked casually chic in a strapless floral maxi dress. We waved to Sophie and Suz and then tried to find the bar.

No matter how we dressed, at a party like this, I still felt out of place. So many people crowded into the space on the sprawling green lawn, spilling over to the pool area, and eventually a bar was in sight.

“Is that Archer?” Maisy gasped, pointing to the side while we waited in the long line. “And his brother?”

Sure enough, he and Brooks were standing nearby and spotted us. “Small world,” Brooks called out, smiling and waving us over. We stepped out of the line and joined them.

“Yes, it is,” Maisy gushed. The look on her face as she smiled coyly at Archer was returned by him. Hm. Guess something serious brewed between them, after all. I’d have to have a talk with her later about it. She was still young and just about to graduate. I hated for anything or anyone to hold her back from getting everything she ever wanted with her budding career.

After we told them how we ended up here, Brooks teased. “So, you’re party crashers? Not to worry, I know the owner. I’ll just tell him you’re with me.”

“I appreciate that,” I laughed with him, noticing the twinkle in his hazel eyes for me. I liked him…as a friend. His reddish brown hair and whiskers with slight freckles across the nose were so boy-next-door cute…but he wasn’t dashing. His friendliness and attentiveness were sweet, but he didn’t make my heart go pitter-patter.

“Let’s get you ladies some drinks. What’ll you have?” He asked.

“Sex on the Beach.” Maisy called out. Archer raised his brow with a crooked smile.

“Well, we’re on Long Island, so…iced tea, please?” I asked, and the two men went to the line.

Maisy grabbed my arm. “Oh my God, Archer issogorgeous. I can’t believe he’s here. I really like him.” Oh no, her dreamy eyes were a hugeflag.

“Sweetie, just take your time. Don’t rush into anything. You have?—”

“—your whole life ahead of you. Yeah, okay, mother hen.” She smirked.

“Seriously, though, you are such a smart woman,” I complimented her, brushing her blonde curls over her shoulder. “I hate to see you put off your dreams for a man at this early stage of your life. Believe me, I put off all my dreams after Dad…and I don’t regret it, but you have the chance to do big things at this stage of your life.”

“Yes, like finally losing my virginity to a sexy older man.” She winked at me, then trained her eyes on Archer again as they finally made it to the front of the line.

“Maisy-girl! Are you really thinking?—”

“Hell, yes, I’m thinking. Chels, I’m almost done with college and I’ve never been so attracted to a man before, what with the way we talk and talk and how he makes me laugh. We get along so well, and I know it’s all been by text, but now he’s here. It’s a sign. He has to be the one. Maybe not forever, who knows, but tonight…I think Archer will take very good care of me.” She wiggled her eyebrows, paired with a coy smile.

I shook my head, knowing I couldn’t prevent my sister from doing what she wanted, but I at least could make sure she had protection because I knew she wasn’t on the pill. “Do you have a condom?”