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Paxton Pechkin stared at his twin, Braxton, watching as he kissed the girl on the cheek, waving at her and walking toward him. He was on the other side of the practice fields, walking with a skip in his step. Brax was always more comfortable with the girls than Pax, contrary to popular opinion.

“Hi, Pax,” said a familiar, sweet voice.

“Hey, Deanna. Happy to be out for the summer?” he asked with a big smile suddenly on his face.

“Happy to be out, period,” she smiled. “I leave for college early. What about you? Did I hear that you and Brax would be headed to boot camp?”

“Yep,” he smiled. “We hope to be SEALs one day.”

“That’s really incredible, Pax. You guys were always smart, great athletes, and you’re the nicest guys I know,” she said with a bright, beautiful smile.

“You’re pretty great yourself,” smiled Pax. “Hey, I was wondering…” He was interrupted by the loud honk of someone’s pickup truck.

“Sorry, Pax, that’s my ride. Take care of yourself. Look me up when you’re back in town. I’ll be going to school here in New Orleans.”

“Yeah, yeah, sure,” he nodded. “Good luck, Deanna.” He waved as she got in the pickup truck of Josh Deville. He hated that guy, and he couldn’t even tell anyone why.

“Ready?” asked Brax.

“Yeah. I guess so,” he frowned.

“Why didn’t you ask her to the party tonight?” his brother said, frowning at him.

“That’s why. Fucking Josh Deville always up her ass every time I’m around. She’s always with him. Does she know what a douche he is?” Brax laughed, shaking his head.

“Probably. He’s her cousin.” Pax turned abruptly, gripping his brother’s arm.

“What?”

“Yeah. He’s her cousin. She gets a ride home with him, to and from school, every day since freshman year. He’s a bit slow, so he’s always been a year behind everyone.”

“He’s an asshole. He always jumped in every time I was trying to talk to her,” said Pax.

“Her folks are just protective of her, Pax. You should understand that better than anyone. Look, just call her and ask her to the party tonight.”

“Well, I would, Einstein, if I had her phone number.”

“Did you forget who our family is? Ask Ace, and he’ll get her phone number for you,” smiled his brother.

“Maybe. That feels creepy to me, though.”

“No creepier than wanting to ask her out for four years and avoiding her because of her cousin,” laughed his brother. “Let’s go. We’re expected at home to get ready for all the graduations.”

As much as Pax tried to shake the whole Deanna encounter, he just couldn’t. He’d always liked Deanna. She was smart, funny, and prettier than just about any girl at school. It wasn’t the kind of pretty that made you stop in your tracks. It was the kind of pretty that every time you saw her, you noticed something different about her.

At first, it was how cute her smile was. Then, it was her beautiful hair. The next time, it was the freckles peppered across her nose. But it was really the whole package. She could have been stuck-up. She could have been rude. She could even have been entitled, but she wasn’t.

He’d watched her become a beautiful young woman since first grade. Now, he’d let her slip through his fingers for the party of the century. A large group of Belle Fleur kids were graduating all at the same time.

It was something to celebrate.

“Did you get it?” asked Brax.

“Get what?” said Pax, trying to brush off his twin.

“Don’t be an ass, Pax. Did you get Deanna’s phone number? Did you ask Ace or one of the others to help you?”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I think it’s creepy. I’ll get in touch with her when I come back after basic.”

“You’re an idiot. You’re my twin, and I love you, but you’re an idiot. By the time you get back she’s going to be dating some college frat guy named Chad, wearing pink polo shirts and canvas tennis shoes.”

“She’d never date anyone like that,” laughed Pax.

“Says you,” grinned Brax, heading to the dance floor to spin around with one of their guests. Pax frowned at his brother, then turned and left the massive tent. It was a warm early summer night, and the cicadas and bullfrogs were singing their songs.

Nighttime in the bayou was far more beautiful than anyone could possibly imagine. When the moon was full, shining on the smooth surface of the water, it was worthy of an Audubon painting. It was deadly as well, but the beauty far outweighed everything else.

At the dock, he took a seat on one of the many benches along the wooden walkway, just staring at everything he was about to leave behind. This was one of his favorite places to collect his thoughts and just sit in peace and quiet.

“Did you save a seat for me?” asked the beautiful voice. Pax stood so quickly he almost fell over.

“Deanna!”

“Hi, Pax,” she laughed. “Sorry if I scared you. Mama Irene invited me and my parents. I hope you don’t mind that I followed you out here. It’s really loud in there.” He looked at the tent she was pointing to and nodded.

“Yeah. I mean, no. I don’t mind that you followed. I didn’t see you inside. Yeah, it’s really loud in there. This is pretty typical for parties out here.”

“Can I sit with you?” she asked.

“Of course. I’m really glad you’re here.”

“Are you?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “I always thought we were great friends, and I’d hoped that, well, maybe one day, you would have asked me out on a date.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really,” she said starting to stand. “This is so embarrassing. I’m going to go back to the party.”

“No, don’t,” he said, grabbing her hand. “Deanna, I wanted to ask you on a date. For the last three years! But every time I got close to you, freaking Josh got in the way.”

“Oh, yes. My guard dog,” she laughed. “Josh is a bit slow and doesn’t take hints well, but he means well. He’s always watched out for me and made sure I got to and from school safely. My folks live closer to town, so it’s a drive to get out here to this school.”

“I wish I had known,” he said, shaking his head. “I can’t believe I missed out.”

“You didn’t miss out, Pax. I guess we’re just a bit late. But you’ll be back, right?”

“Yeah. Definitely, I’ll be back. I mean. I’m not sure how often or when, but I promise I’ll be back.” She just nodded, staring out at the bayou. “That wasn’t a very good answer, was it?”

“It was a fine answer, Pax. I know enough about you and what kind of guy you are that you wouldn’t want to start something that you couldn’t finish. We’re both so young and have so much time.”

“That’s true,” he nodded.

“I’ll be busy at school, then working for my dad or someone else. I’m not sure yet. You’ll be saving the world, like all the Belle Fleur boys,” she grinned.

“I don’t know about that,” he laughed. “Can I call you? Can I write or text while I’m gone?”

“I’d like nothing more.” She heard the crowd beneath the tent and the soft, melodic voices of Bull and Amanda. “Actually, there’s one thing I’d like more. Will you dance with me? Here?”

“Damn right I will,” he smiled, standing tall above her. He reached out his hand, and she stood in the pretty floral sundress. Her tanned skin was sprinkled with those damn freckles, and he wanted to kiss every last one of them.

Pax was mesmerized by the feel of Deanna in his arms. She was soft yet firm and strong. He smelled her perfume mixed with her shampoo and soap, strands of hair breaking free from her barrette, tickling his cheek.

The music ended all too soon, and Pax wanted to scream at Bull to do another chorus. Instead, he pulled back, smiling at Deanna.

“That was wonderful. You’re a great dancer,” she smiled.

“So are you. Can I kiss you goodbye?” She nodded, taking a half-step toward him looking up. Pax leaned forward and barely touched her lips, a sweet, chaste kiss between friends.

But he was lying to himself and lying to Deanna.

There are moments in your life that become emblazoned on your heart, seared into your soul, and for him, this was one of those. No matter where life took him, he would never forget this moment with Deanna.

Life has a strange way of taking hold and turning all your good intentions inside out. As the years passed and Pax would come home for leave, Deanna always seemed to be out of town or on vacation with her parents. Their paths just never seemed to meet again.

Over time, the texting was fewer and farther between, the letters became almost robotic for them, and they simply ran out of things to say to one another. He couldn’t talk about his work, and she didn’t seem to want to discuss her own career. They’d simply grown up and grown apart. They had moved on. Or so they thought.

Sometimes, the universe has other plans.