Page 11

I can do this.

Although the task may prove difficult, I will discover a route to victory.

This challenge we've created for ourselves. She doubts my ability to win her heart but recognizes that I am the sexiest person she's ever encountered. She cannot resist falling for me because it's impossible for her to do so.

Again, it is challenging but not impossible.

The bet between us took place several days ago. I still lack any breakthroughs, and she actively makes it difficult for me.

Time is my friend.

And luck is on my side already. The parents decided it was time to host our first season barbecue. After that, these usually become weekly gatherings.

My backyard featured a well-proportioned space that included a porch area, a grill setup, a small patio, and available seating places. A path alongside the area led through bushes to the beach.

The proximity to the beach brought very cold winters but Whitmore's basement provided plenty of warmth. My place became the hottest spot to hang out during the Savannah months.

The children headed to the beach during the food preparation time. The sun remained above the horizon but gradually descended as time passed.

The chilly wind kept everyone away from the water. It was May yet everyone understood that the water temperature remained quite cold.

While we played football together Tristan, El and I Em stayed with Ro at the beach's far end.

"So, Ty!" I launched the ball to Elijah while shouting.

"What?" he shouts back.

Who do you want to ask to prom this Thursday? I ask. "I have some options!" he announces.

Elijah's refusal to pass the ball back at me demonstrates his confusion just like when I was shocked by his answer.

"Hold on. Options?" I ask him questions as we approach him. Several girls asked you to the dance? Elijah points out. "Is that hard to believe?" Tristan sounds a little offended.

"No, we just wanna know who?" I put my arm around his shoulder.

"Amelia Andrea," he says.

"Isn't that Sabrina's girlfriend?" Elijah asks.

"Ex-girlfriend." We both correct him.

"When did they break up?"

"Like, a while ago, dude," Tristan answers.

I told him that Neha and she are talking now.

I burst into laughter when I noticed his face expand.

"How do you know that?" he asks me.

"Everybody knows El." I smile.

Elijah rolls his eyes. "Whatever. Back to Tristan-now, who else asked you?"

"Sasha." he shrugs.

"Celes?" I ask for confirmation.

"Yeah," he says nonchalantly.

You somehow convinced Sasha Celes to be your prom date? Elijah says in disbelief.

"Is that not believable?"

"NO!" Elijah shouts. "Sasha Celes does not attend school events. The only time I've seen her talk to anyone from our school never happened.

He tells El that he doesn't know what to tell her because she asked him.

"How'd you, do it?" I ask.

He smiles before turning my way. If you treat girls with respect and stop trying to sleep with them at all opportunity positive things occur.

I never try to get into every girl's pants. I will clarify.

His sarcastic tone says you behave as if you do. Ty, there's a big difference between acting and doing. My behavior doesn't determine my actual actions. I will try to explain my side.

He gives me a self-satisfied look and nods his head. I think she's the person I'll take with me to respond to your question. He goes back on topic.

"Wow. Look at little Ty. Talking on his way into the senior prom." Tristan felt Elijah's arm go around his shoulder as he burst into laughter.

"Shut up." He shows his irritation with an eye roll and pushes Elijah's arm away.

My laughter breaks out before I hear someone call for my sister.

"Rory!"

My sister moves quickly toward me and the other two while Emerson rushes to catch up with her.

With laughter she runs at me extending both her arms. "Jack! Jack!" Ro screams as I pick her up. She holds onto my shirt as she lets out joyful peals of laughter. Em runs up to join us before stopping to release a breath.

The reason behind Rory's pursuit becomes evident to me. Ro's decision to throw sand seemed logical because Em's hair was in disarray and sand kept falling from her head when she moved it.

I stretched my arm out towards her to deliver a high five. "Good job, " I said, praising her actions.

Emerson shot me with a glare, which I answered with a smile. Ro moved off my shoulder while telling me "Mommy said dinner is ready." she smiled.

"Okay. Tell her we'll be right there." After kissing her forehead, I passed her to Tristan who took her happily in his open arms.

I deliberately remained behind while El and the other two continued to walk ahead.

Emerson's head dropped down again while she worked the sand out of her hair by running her fingers through it.

"Good job, really?" she says, flipping her hair back over.

"What?" I shrug. "I had to. She's just like me." I smile. She gives me an eye roll before moving ahead of me. Her fast-walking speed implies she wants to avoid speaking with me which I disagree with.

"Come on, it's amusing," I tell her as I catch up to her side.

"No, it's not. She allows it to pass since it's Rory. I say to her "What if I did something like that...".

She says she would kill me if I had done it.

"Guess I'm a dead man then." I laugh.

"What-" Her response stopped when I touched her head, but her reaction was priceless.

"Jaxon!" She shouted at me "Jaxon!" while tearing her head back and shaking her hair again. "I swear, you are the worst!"

She lifts her gaze toward me while her lips twist into a frown. The power of looks would be lethal to everyone but me. She has stared at me countless times, yet I remain unharmed.

"You. Are. The. Worst." Her exact words echoed as she pushed me away.

My response remains unchanged whenever she loses her temper. I smile and laugh.

"It's not funny, Jaxon," she complains. Your attempts to prove you're not an asshole are completely ineffective. Did anyone ever say that I wasn't making an effort to be an asshole? I ask her. I plan to behave like an asshole at this moment but avoid that behavior afterward.

Her eyes narrow, and her frown deepens. God you're completely wasting my time Jaxon. She groans and walks up the beach.

I pursue her while realizing the others have departed and are likely at my home now.

"How so?" I question.

She halts her walk and turns her attention to me.

"Because. Everything you fucking do wastes my time!"

The change in her eyes tells me she's gearing up to lay out all the ways I annoy her and call me an asshole, blah blah blah.

I admit my partial correctness, but she goes on to explain how my actions waste her time.

Each word you speak causes me to waste my time. I observe her mouth moving yet I hear no words. I managed to hear several more remarks such as, "Anything that you say wastes my time.

The bickering. Everything."

Everything related to you drains my time away. The bickering. Everything."

I must admit that comment really got to me. Nevertheless, I let it go.

"I don't like you."

That was a typical response from her. She consistently tells me about her dislike for me without missing any opportunity to remind me.

I feel completely indifferent to her insulting words. I'm more focused on her eyes. She speaks about me constantly but never once looks at me.

She hasn't kept her eyes on me for more than a moment although she has glanced at me.

The realization has hit me and caused me to recall her past aggressive outbursts.

I don't recall any instance when she directed a direct glare toward me.

It's weird but helpful.

And here she is again. Her gaze rests on the sand beyond my shoulder before darting to my eyes for just a fraction of a second before moving elsewhere.

She is unable to maintain direct eye contact with me.

Good to know.

Jaxon you're absolutely irritating and terrible. I could kill you." The remark pulls me out of my detailed scrutiny and redirects my focus to her. Her eyebrows knitted together while her nostrils expanded, and her arms were crossed against a flushed face.

She was fired up.

My level of annoyance is insufficient to cause Em's death. I finally say something back to her.

"And how are you not?" she snaps.

I took her by the shoulder with my arm and started walking beside her after saying "Because if I was...". My death would have happened by now and your life would become boring without my presence.

A scoff flies out of her mouth. "I think I would be relieved."

"No, you wouldn't. But eventually you would have to bring me back into your life. I grin.

Once we move past the bushes opening, I notice muffled sounds coming from ahead.

"I don't need you." she shoves me away with a groan. I laugh and watch her walk away. Somehow, I find myself smiling.

Throughout the whole time she hasn't made eye contact with me. She doesn't realize this yet but she's providing me with valuable information.

My understanding of her personality and behavior increases gradually.