Although the Fourth of July was a few weeks ago, today is the resort’s fortieth anniversary celebration, meaning they’re putting on a big fireworks show tonight. And since Chase was gone over the Fourth, we’re celebrating again. Everyone is staying home for more old-fashioned family fun. Not sure what all it is going to entail, but I am up early and do appreciate Mimi’s homemade biscuits along with Grandma Mac’s sausage gravy. Not to mention, the hash browns, bacon, and patriotic fruit bowl of strawberries, blueberries, and mini marshmallows.
I’m lying in the sun by the pool, watching Madden and Ryder play cornhole while the dogs try to catch the bags, when Chase lies down next to me.
I don’t say anything, mostly because I don’t know what to say.
He lets out an audible sigh and puts his hand on top of mine. The warmth of it instantly makes me feel better. Like everything will be okay.
Except it isn’t.
“I’m not sorry for what I said yesterday,” he says, getting right to the point.
“You shouldn’t be. We’ve always told each other the truth. I hope we always do.”
“Why did you ask me if we’d always be friends the other night?” He looks me straight in the eyes, and I know I should have an answer.
I put my head down, trying not to cry. “You never like anyone I date, Chase. It’s bad enough that I’ll never be good enough for my mother, but I can’t handle it, coming from you.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to add to your stress, but, gosh, Dani, you frustrate me. You don’t even realize how amazing you are. And neither do the guys you choose to date.”
“You were right. I was jealous when you were on the phone with Kelsey. Do you like her a lot? Or that girl at the resort?”
He leans closer to me, pushes the hair out of my face, and holds my gaze. “Not as much as I like you.”
“Psst … Devaney. Chase,” Jennifer whispers loudly, interrupting our moment.
We turn toward her voice, finding her hiding behind one of the big wood columns supporting the deck.
“What are you doing back there?” I ask.
“Hiding, obviously,” she whispers. “Turn back around, so no one knows we’re talking. This is important. I need you to do something for me. Like, right now. You and Chase meet me in the movie room, but be subtle about it, okay? Act like you’re just going to get some lemonade.”
Chase whispers to me conspiratorially, “We’d better go see what’s up.”
What’s up is that Jennifer is freaking out, pacing in the movie room. I have a moment of panic, worried she’s just gotten horrible news.
“I need you to run into town,” she tells us. “But you can’t breathe a word of it to anyone. And you especially can’t tell anyone what I’m asking you to do. Promise?”
“We promise,” I say, giving Chase’s hand a squeeze. I’m not sure when he took ahold of my hand, but I know it’s comforting.
“What do you need us to do in town?” Chase asks.
“Buy a pregnancy test.”
“A what?” I blurt out.
“I know, right?” she says, continuing to pace. “You’re not supposed to get pregnant while you’re nursing, but I’m late—really late—and the car ride here wasn’t the only time I’ve gotten sick. But I don’t want to get Danny excited. Because I’m probably not. Maybe it’s just a stomach bug.”
“We’ll go,” Chase says.
“Thank you,” she says, falling into his arms. He gives her a hug and isn’t at all awkward about it.
“It will be okay, either way,” he says, patting her on the back as she sobs.
She straightens up. “You’re right. Except I really want to have another baby. And I’m trying not to be excited because I don’t want to be disappointed, and I’m sort of freaking out.”
When we go upstairs, Chase passes up the bowl of keys in the laundry room and leads me out to the garage. It’s one area of the house I haven’t been in yet.
He takes a set of keys off a pegboard and drops them into my hand. “I say, we take this sweet Jeep. I’d drive, but—”
“You don’t have your license because you’re still a baby.”
“I’ll have my license in two months.”
“Still,” I tease, feeling like we’re back to our old selves.
Chase puts the top down, and we roll out of the garage and down the driveway toward town with the radio blaring.
“I like this car,” I yell to him over the music.
He turns the volume down a notch. “It’s a little different than the car your mom gave you when you turned sixteen.”
“I didn’t ask for a BMW, Chase.”
“Well, it’s a hot car, and you look good in it regardless.”
“Maybe, but I kind of think this is a bit more my style. Speaking of that, with your birthday coming up, have you thought about what kind of car you want?”
“I’ve been dreaming of my first car since I got my first Hot Wheels. I used to want a monster truck.”
“And what about now?”
“Well, your brother has a lot of opinions in that regard. He thinks since Mom sold her company and Dad’s company’s deal is finalized, now’s the time to ask for something exotic. He’s all hot and bothered over some Bentley.”
“Jennifer has a lot of cars. She’d probably let him drive them. I heard her on the phone the other day, and she’s actually selling the garage space she used to store them in, keeping a couple cars at the house in LA and having the rest brought here.”
“I just want something simple. A truck maybe. I don’t think I’m ready for something that expensive. I would rather earn it, I guess. Like your dad did.”
I look over at him. “You going to buy a Ferrari at a bachelor party in Vegas?”
He laughs. “If I just got a multimillion-dollar signing bonus, maybe. Your dad loved that car.”
“Yet he rarely drove it,” I counter.
“Only because your mom hated it. They were married, she was pregnant with you, and he didn’t even consult her on a big purchase like that,” he says and then goes, “Oh, turn right up here. Then, make a left at the second light.”
“It was his money,” I counter.
Chase nods, smiling in agreement with me, but I notice it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“You disagree?”
“I’m not saying that. I get it. It was his signing bonus. He should be able to spend it however he wanted. I guess, if it were me, I would want the woman I was in love with to share in that moment.”
I grin at him and raise an eyebrow. “Well then, I’d better help you pick out your first car.”
“Oh, so now, you think I’m in love with you?”
I could mention yesterday, but I don’t. I say what I would always say. “Of course you are. We’re best friends.”
“And what do you think I should get?”
“Have your parents asked you about it? Do you have a price range or anything?”
“Dad’s dropped a few hints. I could see them taking me to pick something out. They would probably enjoy the experience of us shopping for it together.”
“So, Chase Mackenzie, what is your dream car?”
“Ultimate dream car? Right now, that would be the Ferarri 812 Superfast in Grigio Silverstone—that’s a grey color—with gold brake calipers and carbon wheels.”
“Nice.”
“But for when I turn sixteen, I’m torn between a Shelby Mustang, the Dodge and the Ford Raptor.”
When we stop at a light, Chase says, “You look happy again. With the top down, your hair blowing in the breeze, and the sun shining on your face.”
“Was I not happy before?”
“You never really told me what happened between you and Matt,” he says seriously.
I swipe my hand across the air. “What’s there to say? He was a jerk, and I don’t need to hear you say I told you so.”
“Dani, you’re a good judge of character. You can size people up from the moment you meet them. You just don’t do it with guys.”
I let out a pathetic sigh. “Not all guys are like you, Chase, and I am happy.”
“Because of Hunter or because you’re here with your family and away from all the bullshit high school drama?”
“A little of both. It is actually kind of freeing, not being attached to your phone.” I sigh again and think it’s especially good when the guy you like isn’t answering his phone when you call from a house phone. It’d be even worse if he wasn’t texting me.
Chase just nods and then quickly looks away.
“What?” I ask.
“Um, well, when I was at the business office for the interview, I told you I checked my email and stuff. There was one from the quarterback camp I just attended, and it said that sign-ups for next year’s camp were starting. So, Mom let me have my phone yesterday, so I could get signed up. She hasn’t asked for it back yet.”
“And you got on social media?”
“Yeah.”
I pull into the pharmacy parking lot and come to an abrupt halt, so quick that Chase might have been thrown forward against his seat belt.
He knows something.
How does he know something?
“And? What? You saw something to do with Hunter?” I give him a staredown.
“I saw why he didn’t answer your call the other day. He was out on a boat with friends.” He takes a deep breath and starts to get out of the Jeep. “Okay, let’s go buy some pregnancy tests.”
I grab ahold of his arm. “Chase, you’re supposed to be my best friend.”
“I am your best friend,” he reiterates.
“Then, tell me!”
“I can’t. You’ll think—”
“That you’re only telling me because you don’t like him.”
He lowers his head and nods, but then he slides his hand in his pocket and pulls out his phone. “You should see for yourself and decide. It might be nothing—which is why I didn’t tell you the minute I saw it.” He places the phone on my lap.
I roll my eyes. He has no idea that I haven’t talked to Hunter at all during this trip because I haven’t wanted to tell him. Haven’t dared to say it out loud because I knew if I did, I couldn’t keep making excuses for him in my head.
I grab Chase’s phone and key in his passcode, which is my birthdate and his, and then click to a social media site.
“We’re having fun, Dani,” he says, putting his hand on my shoulder. “I don’t think you should look. Don’t let him ruin it for you.”
I look at Hunter’s profile and find nothing.
Chase, who is watching over my shoulder, says, “They are on Meredith’s feed. There’s one from, like, every day since we got here.” He takes the phone out of my hand and pulls up a video of a group of eight friends on a boat at the lake. “He was out in Lance’s boat with Micah, Kenny, and a few other people.”
“What other people?”
“Sarah, Meredith, Kimmy, and, um, Taylor. But they’re all friends, so I’m sure it’s nothing,” he says. “Besides, Taylor is probably only there because Lance likes Sarah and she, Taylor, and Meredith are BFFs.”
“Lance does like Sarah, but Micah is dating Kimmy, and Meredith and Kenny have been hooking up on the sly for months.”
“Really?” Chase says, looking surprised. “I never would have imagined those two together.”
“That’s because they don’t go together. They just have amazing sex.”
“Oh,” Chase says.
“Which means that it’s four couples out on the boat, not eight friends.”
I notice a newly posted video from today. And it’s even worse. Sarah filmed Lance flexing his muscles and then rotated the camera from Micah and Kimmy to Meredith and Kenny. When Hunter’s face comes onto the screen, Sarah starts cooing and then shows that he’s sitting next to Taylor, his arm casually wrapped around her shoulders.
Then, she says, “And so excited that our favorite forever couple is back together.”
I let out a heavy breath.
Then, I use Chase’s phone to text Hunter.
Me: Hey, it’s Dani. Got a phone for a bit. What’s up?
I’m shocked when he replies right away.
Hunter: Whatever you saw, it’s not true. We’re not back together.
Me: I don’t know what you are talking about. I haven’t been allowed on social media. Is there something I should look for when I have the chance?
Hunter: I’m sorry, really sorry that I have missed our calls. And I’m sorry I didn’t call you back. The last few days have been crazy. Micah asked me if I wanted to go out on the boat with a few people. I said yes and went. I didn’t know she was going to be there.
Me: Who was there?
Hunter: Taylor. And then Sarah tagged me in a video today and said that Taylor and I are back together. But we’re not. I wouldn’t do that to you.
Me: Interesting that if Taylor was there the first day, you continued to go, knowing she’d be there. Hold, please. I’m going to check out this video, so I don’t jump to the wrong conclusion.
Hunter: No, wait. I’m trying to get Sarah to take it down.
Chase stifles a laugh as he reads along. “What are you doing?”
“Playing dumb,” I reply seriously.
Me: Oh, well, lucky for me, she hasn’t gotten to it yet. As for my thoughts on the matter … I can see why you are upset. You looked very much like you are still broken up—you know, with your arm wrapped around her and all.
Hunter: Sarah posted it because she hoped you’d see the video. I had my arm across the back of the seat, just getting some sun, when Taylor sat down. I didn’t move it because I didn’t want to make it awkward. Tay’s been my best friend since the sixth grade. I don’t want to get back together with her because I like you. I told you that I like you. That I’m not talking to anyone else, but I still miss our friendship. If that makes sense.
Me: It makes perfect sense, Hunter. Especially combined with the fact that you have missed our calls.
Me: Every.
Me: Single.
Me: Day.
Me: And when I snuck out to use a computer and messaged you, you still didn’t bother to reply. You didn’t even bother to read it.
Me: So, have a fun summer with your best friend, Tay. I’m out of the equation.
I slam Chase’s phone onto the seat and say with a forced laugh, “At least I’m not the one who’s pregnant. Let’s go get this over with.”
I hop out of the car and turn to go into the store, but Chase stops me, pulling me into a hug.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “I didn’t know you hadn’t talked this whole time.”
I melt into his chest. “I don’t want to see your phone or any other phone for the rest of the trip.”
“Deal,” he says, kissing the top of my head. He takes my hand, and together, we go into the store. “I say, we get a bunch of snacks while we’re here.”
“We have snacks.”
“Yeah, we do, but I’m talking junk-food snacks. The kind our dads love.”
“The kind you and my brother sneak in the house for when you’re playing video games? Don’t think I haven’t seen his secret stash.”
“Could be worse.” Chase laughs, swinging my hand high in the air as we walk. “At least it’s not drugs.”
He grabs a cart and starts throwing things in, like beef jerky, nuts, processed cakes with fake fillings, cans of whipped cream, bags of fried chips, and a bunch of candy.
“Oh, let’s get bubbles, too,” he says, tossing a case of it in the cart. “Emersyn would love them.”
“Look, Chase,” I say, pointing at a rack. “Sidewalk chalk. We used to do that all the time when we were kids.”
Chase moves closer to me, his broad chest almost touching mine. “You can lie down, and I’ll trace your body like I used to,” he says. And something about the way he says it doesn’t make me feel like a kid again. It makes me feel very grown-up.
“Yeah,” I say, a little breathless. “That would be fun. I’ll do you, too.”
I’ll do you? Oh my gosh.
The corner of Chase’s mouth turns up in a grin as he makes room for three containers of chalk in the practically full shopping cart. “There’s paint. When’s the last time we painted rocks?”
“I don’t remember,” I say.
“And I think we should stop on the way home and get some fireworks.”
“I think my dad brought a bunch of big ones.”
“Oh, he sure did. But when I looked through the box, there weren’t many small ones, like smoke bombs, snakes, firecrackers, and those harmless ones that pop when you throw them hard on the ground.”
“Sounds like fun,” I tell him, slinging my hand around his elbow.
When we get up to the counter to pay, Chase goes, “Crap,” and turns the cart around. “We almost forgot what we came here for.”
I start laughing hysterically. I don’t know why. Probably because it feels good. Or ridiculous. Or because the weight of telling him that Hunter hasn’t called is off my shoulders.
“That wouldn’t be good,” I say when I finally stop giggling.
We go to the correct aisle. The one with all the things that scream of sex. Condom packages in gold, black, and primary colors hang from pegs in neat rows, contrasting the pastels of feminine products filling the shelves around it. The pregnancy tests are on the row facing them.
“There’s a lot of different kinds,” Chase says, standing back and rubbing his chin, acting like my father when he’s trying to determine which play to make.
I glance down at my palm, where Jennifer hurriedly scribbled the brand name in pen as we were leaving.
I scan the shelf and find it. “This one,” I say, plucking up two and tossing them into the cart.
We go to pay, and the cashier definitely pauses and gives Chase an accusatory glance when she sees the tests. She probably saw him hug me before we came in the store and thought he was telling me it would be okay. And things will be, just not for the reason she thinks.
The second we walk out the door, I burst out laughing again.
“What’s so funny?” Chase asks, his arms filled with bags.
“The cashier totally thinks you knocked me up.”
He unloads the bags into the back of the Jeep. Then, he tilts his head to the side and wraps his finger in a strand of my hair. There’s a naughty twinkle in his eye. “I’d have no problem if that happened.”
“Chase, we’re too young.”
“Not too young for practice,” he counters, biting his lip and trying not to smile.
“You’ve been hanging out with my brother for too long.” I smack his firm bicep. “He’s going to turn you into some playboy if you’re not careful.”
“Not really my style,” he says, now fully grinning at me, but then he breaks out in laughter. “The best form of birth control is having a screaming baby living at your house.”
“Tell me about it. And if this turns positive, there will be two.” I chuckle. “Can you imagine?”
“I’ll be really happy for your dad though. He told us he always imagined himself with a bunch of kids.”
“Yeah, he told Jennifer she needed to have two. After a rough delivery with Weston, she said one was enough. I’m surprised she’s so excited.”
“And your dad must not have gotten the memo,” he says with a laugh.
As we get in the Jeep, I say, “Maybe I need to tell Papa to have the talk with him again.”
Chase slaps the dash and laughs. “Oh, how I would love to witness that.”
We stop at a fireworks stand, get some fun stuff, and then go back to the house.
Jennifer is pacing the front yard when we pull into the driveway.
“What took you so freaking long?” she rants.
Chase hops out of the Jeep, digs through one of the bags in the back, pulls out the tests, and hands them to her.
She takes them, yelling back a quick thank you as she runs off.
“I don’t think we should bother putting all the snacks in the kitchen. Why don’t we take it out back and just have a free-for-all?”
“Sounds good to me,” I tell him, following him to the backyard.
We go over to the table by the horseshoe pit, where both empty and full beers are scattered around. They must have started early today. I clean the table of the empties, then Chase literally dumps the snacks onto the table, and everyone comes running.
He picks up a bag of tortilla chips and opens it up along with salsa before taking a few bites. It’s probably been a whole hour since he last ate.
Then, he grabs the jars of bubbles and hands them out to his sister, Damon, and his little brothers. “Mom, bring Emers and Westie down here. We got bubbles!”
Mimi and Jadyn each bring a baby down from the pool to the grassy area. Chase gets a blanket from the boathouse, spreads it on the ground for them, and blows a couple bubbles toward Emersyn. She shrills with delight and tries to catch them with her chubby, little hands. But then she leans too far forward and topples over, rolling down the hill slightly. Chase grabs her and sees that she’s about to start crying, but he tosses her gently in the air. She grins at him and points at the bubble jar, wanting more. He places her back on her feet, but this time, Jadyn keeps ahold of her waist.
Weston isn’t quite sure what to think of the bubbles at first, but she’s enthralled with them. Unlike Emersyn, she doesn’t seem to want to touch them, but her blue eyes follow them across the sky, and she babbles to show her approval.
“Devaney,” my dad says, “go grab us a few beers. And, yes, you can have one yourself. But only one.”
I roll my eyes and go get a bunch of beer.
When I hand one to my dad, he tells me, “You need to watch your old man. He’s kicking butt at horseshoes.”
I give him a little nod then plop down at the picnic table and open the beer. The second I do, my brother is at my side, trying to steal it from me. “It’s not like you can’t just get one out of the fridge yourself. You’re sleeping in the boathouse.”
“Oh, I have, trust me,” he whispers. “Been teaching not-so-little Haley how to hold her liquor.”
“How’s that going?”
“She’s doing better than you, is all I will say.”
“Damon.” I keep my hand on the bottle. “You and Haley … aren’t …”
“Aren’t what?” he says with a wicked grin, and I can tell he knows exactly what I mean.
I give him a stern look.
He lets go of the beer and holds his hands up in surrender. “Just friends. You know, like you and Chase.”
I swallow hard. Because what is that supposed to mean?
The second I let go of the beer, he grabs it from the table. I go running after him, tackling him halfway to the dock.
He lands with a thud but looks up and says proudly, “Didn’t spill a freaking drop. I win. It’s mine.”
I punch him hard on the shoulder and get up off the ground. Then, I go grab two more beers from the fridge.
“Kids,” Chase says when I get back to the table and hand him a can.
“I heard something about your brother crushing on some girl at the resort. Is that true?” Dad asks. “Do I need to have another talk with him?”
Papa laughs at my dad. “I might need to have a talk with you, son,” he teases. “I’m ready for another grandbaby. You getting too old? Things not working as good as they used to?”
“Yeah, Danny,” Phillip jokes with them.
My dad says, “I’d have a mess of kids already if I could, but Jennifer says she doesn’t want any more. Weston has been kind of a handful. And I’m okay with that. Although it’s a moot point because she can’t get pregnant while she’s nursing.”
Mimi—who has Weston perched on her hip, holding on to her with one hand and refilling her wineglass with the other—stops and looks at my dad. “Yeah, she can.”
Chase bumps my leg under the table and looks at me. We both smirk and try not to laugh.
My dad starts to ask what Mimi means by that when Jennifer comes barreling out of the house, waving a little white wand.
She runs down to us, yelling out something unintelligible.
She stops in front of my dad and waves the stick at him.
“What’s this?” he asks. But when he grabs her hand to make her stop flailing it about and sees what it is, his eyes get big.
He pulls it out of her hand and looks more closely.
“Positive?” he says unbelievably.
“Positive,” Jennifer confirms. “I took two.”
“Wow,” Dad says.
And I’ll be honest, I’m not all that impressed with his reaction. Shouldn’t he be happy?
He seems to quickly snap out of his stupor because his eyes get misty as he stares at Jennifer, and then he picks her up off her feet, spins her around, kisses her, and yells out happily, “We’re pregnant! We’re pregnant!”
“Can’t get pregnant nursing, my ass,” Mimi mumbles to herself.
“All sorts of fireworks around here,” Papa says, taking another sip of his beer.
“I can’t wait to eat these,” Chase says, turning racks of ribs on the grill.
“Make sure the sauce caramelizes and doesn’t burn,” Jadyn says, who, along with Phillip, is in charge of dinner tonight.
“What else is on the menu?” I ask.
Chase rolls his eyes at me, and I know he’s referring to the fact that I still haven’t gotten in the habit of checking the bulletin board, but Phillip says, “Long Island iced tea is the drink of the day, and we have bourbon weenies for an appetizer. Dinner is ribs, cheesy potatoes, corn on the cob, baked beans, Mimi’s homemade biscuits with honey and cinnamon, and cherry pie, topped with homemade ice cream.”
“Heaven, in other words,” Chase gushes.
“It was really nice of you two to go get fireworks and the bubbles,” Jadyn says. “Emers is obsessed with them. And congratulations, Dani. You’re going to have a new baby brother or sister.”
“Yeah, I was meaning to talk to you about that. How difficult would it be to soundproof my room?”
Jadyn laughs at me and rolls her eyes but then hugs Phillip and says, “Better her than me.”
“Oh, come on, Mom,” Chase says. “I will admit that I wasn’t nearly as excited about you having a baby as I was when Uncle Danny brought home Winger, but Emers is adorable, and I think you should have another, give her a little sister.”
“Yeah, no,” his mom says. “We’re done. Your father is getting that taken care of when we get back.”
“Getting what taken care of?” Chase asks.
“She’s having my nuts cut off,” his dad says.
“Oh, please, you are such a baby. I birthed five children, three of them with no drugs. I think you can handle a little snip and a weekend of watching preseason football with ice on your crotch.”
“Uh, I think I’m gonna need a whole keg of beer if I have to listen to any more of this conversation,” Chase teases.
I’m lying flat on my back on the roof of the boathouse with Chase. It’s just the two of us and our position means we are hidden from the family’s view. His hand is barely touching mine as we watch the resort’s fireworks show light up the dark sky above us.
And for the first time since we arrived, I’m truly glad I’m here.
I complained about coming.
Complained about not having my phone.
Complained about leaving Hunter.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I say.
Chase rolls his head to the side and looks straight at me. “You’re the most beautiful thing about tonight. I wish you could see the way the colors of the fireworks reflect off your hair. How your smile gets bigger when the white fireworks that look like they are raining down on us explode. And how happy you look right here, next to me.”
I put my hand on top of his. “I was just thinking that same thing. About how happy I am to be here.”
“Next to me?” He brings his hand to rest on my waist.
And I know what he’s asking.
“Yes, in this very spot,” I say, leaning in to kiss him.
And I know more fireworks go off, but the sparks I feel when kissing Chase trumps them all.
