CHAMPAGNE ISLAND

I hardly went home. Woke up at like 6 AM and laid there for a bit -watching Brooks sleep next to me like the emotionally unavailable stalker I am. I just couldn't help it. His eyes kind of twitch in his sleep and it's just the best twitch I've ever seen.

Got up at 7 AM when Travis brewed a fresh pot of coffee. Left at 8 AM to go home and shower, grab some things, charge my phone and change into a new swim suit. Fielded questions from Kathy with help from Frank, who reminded her that I'm not 18 anymore.

And now here we are. I am dropping my old bike on the side of Travis's house at Back Bay.

11:17 AM

Seagulls are sort of charming in their own way. Yes, they're terribly annoying beach rodents that will attack at the sight of anything remotely resembling food. Seriously, they hear the shuffling of wrappers or plastic and come running. Flocking.

When they aren't surrounding you, they're minding their own business. I watch them soar in arcs over the water, cutting against the sky in V shaped patterns. It's oddly freeing to watch, to see them move together with such an ease. They dip low over the water and it looks like they dance on the miniature whitecaps breaking in the harbor.

Low-key charming when they want to be. They are now anyway.

"Are you bird watching?" Meg's voice breaks my focus on the tiny specks in the sky that moments ago were seagulls.

"No. I'm waiting for you guys," I say, rolling my eyes.

"She was totally bird watching! Freak," Trix says, laughing.

I roll my eyes at them, but secretly I love it. I love Meg's dry sarcastic jabs and Trix's not-so-subtle name-calling. I miss it. See, it's not just the boy that I missed about this place.

We're all standing behind the canal. Travis's boat is being dropped into the water as we wait.

It's the eight of us again like some quadruple date aquatic extravaganza. I have to remind myself there're only two actual couples. Only two sets of souls that have decided to be together. Nate and Meg, Trix and Travis... I find I'm oddly jealous when I think about it now. About the fact they can trust their relationships. That they're even relationships to begin with. Still, as I look over at Brooks standing next to his old truck and holding the cooler, I can't help but burst from the inside out. The way he tosses his head back when he laughs and the glimmer of fire *hunger* in his eyes when he looks at me.

It's enough. It's more than enough.

"Come on!" Travis shouts over to us.

"Always waiting on the girls," Alex rolls his eyes. He swings his arm around his flavor of the week. I think I recognize her from before -from Chicken maybe.

I follow Meg and Trix to the water, holding my tote above my head. We wade out until it's halfway up our legs, lapping at our kneecaps. We hand our bags up to Nate and climb into the boat. I almost lose my balance once I stand up.

"When's the last time you were on a boat?" Nate asks.

"Seriously. It's insulting to us," Alex grins.

"Yea yea." I push off Alex's shoulder as I pass him.

"Hi." Brooks smiles down at me.

"Hey," I smirk.

Brooks moves when I move. He situates himself near me, watching me, like he's ready to jump in and rescue me should I fall overboard. It's like he forgot I can swim. I reach my palm down to his thigh and rest it on his swim trunks. He just looks at me with that hunger and I have to look away before I yield to the urge.

I slide my sunnies off my head to help hide my eyes.

"Em, want a seltzer?" Meg asks, holding up a can from the cooler.

"Course," I say, taking it and catching a koozi Trix throws at me. The neon color catches in the sun.

Travis puts the boat in gear and a faint purr begins beneath us. With a sudden jerk, he steers us away from the bay, away from the canal, and into the open water.

It's a clear and perfect day. The sky is a spotless, crystal blue and the sun reflects off the water like it's dancing on the surface. Our boat cuts across the waves leaving streaks of white in our wake. I'm reminded of the seagulls and their arcing patterns in the sky. Our boat is charming too.

There's nothing quite like the wind in your face -fucking up your hair and making your fear losing your sunnies -as you glide along the water's surface on a bouncing boat. It's 90 degrees and sunny, but it's like we move in and out of cold patches. I've missed this.

We take turns being on cooler duty. Meg and Trix and I share the responsibility of making sure everyone's beverages are full and hands are never empty. The boys take turns wake boarding. None of them have lost their skill and nearly all still as good as they were in high school. Meg is great too. She can jump the wake and do spins -can surf too but that's another story.

Once upon a time I was able to wake board with the best of them. It's been years and while I'm sure I wouldn't totally drown, I don't think it's quite as easy as getting back on a bike. It's safest I remain on cooler duty.

Seltzers are the craze this summer. Alcoholic seltzers of course with fresh light flavors that make you forget you're drinking alcohol in the first place. They're dangerous the way they sneak up on your blood-alcohol level. Still, they pair spectacularly well with the sea and sun.

After three rounds of wake boarding each, Travis heads the boat to a small cluster of sandbars just off the beach. The largest of these sandbars is cluttered with rainbow umbrellas and mismatched beach chairs. Boats are anchored on the beach and in some cases people have set up tents for BBQ.

Champagne Island. It's what we've called it since forever. Since my parents were in high school. I used to grow up hearing about how they went there when they were younger –would take the boat or the wave runners and tie up there for the day. It's a beach away from the mass crowd of shoebees looking to ruin the relaxation vibe.

We anchor the boat about 10 feet off the beach. There are about four or five other groups everyone seems about our age. Mid-twenties. Puke.

"Nate, help me with the grill," Travis says just as the boat engine shuts off. "And don't get the rolls wet."

"Try not to," Meg says.

"It's not the rolls he cares about. His cigarettes are in that bag," Trix says.

Trix slides down off the back of the boat after Meg. The water hits them just below the waist. They hold the grocery bags over their heads. Alex jumps over the side and carries the cooler above his head.

Nate takes the grill from Travis as he lowers it into the water. I sweep the boat and see the bundle of blankets and towels still sitting in the front seat. I move around the center console and into the shade.

"Finally alone." Brooks comes up behind me. His hands cup my ass.

"Yea it's been what, five hours?" I joke.

Everyone is on the beach now. We're blocked from view by the consol.

"That's long enough," Brooks says. He sits down on the tan cushion and pulls me down into his lap.

His fingers glide down my neck and over my chest. Feeling him beneath me makes my mouth almost water. Brooks buries his lips into my hair and my neck and I just want to die.

"Brooks," I groan.

"Ems," he whispers against my skin.

He lies down on the cushion and again pulls me onto him. I wrap my legs on either side of him and lean my bikini against his chest. Brooks's hands rest on my butt. I rub my fingers through his hair to push it off his forehead. I tuck a loose curl behind his ear the way he always does himself.

"I can be very quick," Brooks says.

"Every girl's dream." I roll my eyes. "Come on."

"You just want to torture me, huh?" He curses me under his breath.

"You got me." I bite my lip.

I lean back to look at him beneath me. His eyes are so blue-green like the sea surrounding us. His dark hair almost looks black when it's wet with seawater. I used to spend years of summers looking at him like this, but it's different this time. This time he's not my boyfriend. He's not my anything.

He's just Brooks.

"You owe me," he says, narrowing his eyes.

"Yea yea," I say. "And you owe me way more."

I push myself off him and have to catch my balance. I've spent years around boats but I'm still just getting my sea legs back. Brooks's hand grabs my wrist as I turn away from him.

"Wait," he says.

He leans into me. I stand on my tiptoes to kiss him. I feel his hands slide around my waist and over my butt again. He squeezes and I laugh into him.

"Stop!" I squeal.

"Ugh, you're the worst."

"Don't forget it," I smirk.

Brooks follows me off the boat. The water feels nice against my sticky skin. I wade through the small waves until I reach the beach. Our day camp has already been set up. There's horseshoes and corn-hole and a rogue Frisbee on the ground. Travis has already lit the grill for dogs and burgers. Meg distributes more drinks and Trix sets up chairs and towels.

"Oh hey," Meg says when I walk up.

"Thought you got lost," Trix smirks.

"We can't leave you two alone for a damn second," Travis says.

"Just double checking we didn't leave anything on the boat," Brooks grins.

"Funny." I roll my eyes. My mind is already back on the boat, back to straddling Brooks as the water rocks us back and forth.   

It's been a hot minute since I've been to this sandbar. In fact, I vividly remember the last time I stepped foot on these champagne shores.

The week of graduation.

Brooks and I had just fought over something stupid. I didn't realize it then but it was probably the fight to start all fights. I'm not sure we ever stopped arguing after it. We had made plans for dinner but he wanted to go to a friend's graduation party. The fight started not because he wanted to go but because he didn't ask me to go with him.

Lord. I was a fucking nut. The things you can see in hindsight. He steps up next to me now and his fingers lightly touch mine. I wonder if he is thinking what I am.

Probably not.

He's a boy after all.

"I remember, you know." He says it after a minute of standing there. Shit.

"Me too. Wish I didn't," I sigh.

"We should make a better memory for this place," he says matter-of-factly.

I watch him sideways and he smirks at me. He's both the same and not the same and it drives me wild. It drives me hungry. I can't help but laugh.

"After you," I nod.