The Summer We Burned

he stepped off the wooden boardwalk and onto the sand, her sandals dangling from her fingers. The sun, molten and endless, spilled its

ame for stillness, to find a version of herself that wasn't tied to deadlines, heartbreak, or the noise of the city. She wa

keep promises. Fa

rled forward and retreated, curling and retreating like a heartbeat. She lay back,

eard it-laughter, l

hythm, sharp as a spark. She

ed kind of handsome you find in magazine ads-something wilder, sun-bitten, messy in a way that made her stomach stir.

just enough-and for a second

beneath her skin that had nothing to do with the sun. She wasn't here fo

seem interested

e kind of awareness that tugged at the edges of her body. When she opened her eyes again, he was

voice carried over the rush of wave

eone else. But when his gaze slid toward her, his mouth tilt

red, her voice ste

me here?"

ded. "A

"I come here every summer. It's kind of my escape. Surf in

ed. "And you're

he point of summer if not t

She should have looked away, should have buried her attention back in the waves

last, as if her name could

it easily, like he was off

vy with something unspoken. The resort music grew louder i

ce?" he ask

an eyebrow.

Even the shy ones." His eyes lingered on

ugh escaping. "I didn't come here t

said softly, "danc

ard the surf house. She watched him go, every step outlined by the setti

stood on her balcony, the sound of drums rose from the beach. Firelight flickered against the horizon. And below, among t

ushing over her bare shoulders. Her heart wh

e for silence was alre