Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“Don’t what us,” his mom said. He tried desperately to keep the smile off his face but failed. “Tell us everything about her.”
Kiel ran his hand through his hair and groaned. So much for privacy, he thought, as his sisters shuffled him into the living room. He sat in the ornate wing-backed chair that had been suspiciously moved to the center of the room.
“Am I on trial?”
“Yes, spill,” Skyla said as she crossed her arms.
“Or don’t. We can speculate,” Ciara added for good measure.
Kiel leveled his gaze at her. She was his favorite, and she knew it. He’d make her pay later for not taking his side.
“Her name’s Eloise. I met her on our first day here.” Kiel told them about the encounters he and Eloise had and left out the night they spent together. What he and Eloise did in private was their business.
“She’s the one always painting at the beach?” Skyla asked.
“Yeah. She’s building her portfolio. Her aunt owns the gallery in town and has this big event at the end of the summer. Eloise will have a painting on display.”
“What does it look like?” Leona asked.
Kiel shrugged. “I think it’s something her aunt decides.”
“Is she talented?” Skyla asked.
“Tremendously. I don’t know shit about art, but when I look at her paintings, I feel something here.” He placed his hand over his heart. “I can’t explain it.”
“It’s called love, you noob. You’re in love,” Skyla said with a sigh. “Why you?” She huffed. “I want a summer romance with some local hottie.”
Ciara and Kiel rolled their eyes.
“There are plenty of lifeguards at the beach,” Ciara pointed out.
Skyla’s face lit up. “Why, yes? Yes, there is.”
After a few more questions, Leona said it was time to make dinner. The four of them went into the kitchen and helped with the side dishes while Emmett manned the barbeque. When they sat down, Leona reached for Kiel’s hand and gripped it.
“I think it’s sweet that you’ve found someone. I’d like to meet her.”
As much as he wanted to, Kiel also didn’t want to bring Eloise over, out of fear Skyla would give her the fifth degree. Ciara would be chill and likely ask Eloise a ton of questions about her craft. However, because his mom asked, he’d extend the invite to Eloise.
“I’ll talk to her,” he told his mom. “I’m sure she’d love to meet you.”
He at least hoped.
“Leona, leave the boy alone,” Emmett said.
“It’s okay, Dad.”
“Yeah, Dad. If Kiel is living my favorite romance novel, he has to give us the details,” Skyla proclaimed with a shrug.
“No, I don’t.”
Skyla glared at her brother.
“Details? What kind of details?” Leona asked.
Kiel kicked his sister under the table and snarled at her. She smiled in return.
“Surely, you’re not . . .” His mother’s eyes widened, and she gasped. “Kiel Collier, I taught you better than that.”
Everyone at the table laughed except Kiel and his mom.
“Leona, my love,” Emmett said. “Don’t chastise our son for the same things we did when we were his age.”
If it were at all possible, Leona’s mouth dropped open even more.
“Mom!” the twins said at the same time.
“Why, I . . .” Leona picked up her glass of water and drank. “I think we should change the subject.”
Kiel agreed and couldn’t hold back his laughter. He lifted his hand to his dad and gave him a high-five. He took in the moment. The surroundings. His family, at the dinner table, laughing. This was why his parents wanted everyone together, for one last summer vacation. Soon, everyone would start going their own ways and something like this would be impossible.
“I can’t believe this is the topic of conversation at dinner,” Ciara said, with disdain. “What is wrong with my family?”
Emmett laughed loudly. “It’s okay, sweetie. Maybe Eloise has some friends you can hang with.”
“Oh, God,” she said as she covered her face.
Skyla didn’t miss a beat. “Does she?”
Kiel shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
“Yeah, I suppose you don’t do much talking when you’re together.”
Kiel kicked his sister again and then glanced at his mom.
“Neither did I,” Leona said with a sigh.
Everyone waited a beat before they choked with laughter.
thirteen
Kiel and Eloise laid tangled beneath the top sheet of her bed. Outside was gray, muted. Dreary. Rain pelted the skylights in her room and the sound of the angry waves crashing into the rocky shoreline near her home was oddly soothing. In the two weeks they had been together, they’d spent every night next to each other, and as many hours during the day as possible. When Eloise painted, Kiel went with his family. As soon as she was done or off work, she’d tell Kiel where to meet her or she’d wait for him to find her, which was becoming her favorite game. She loved watching for him. They’d even gone out with her friends a few more times and met up at the beach for a bonfire and chill night. At times, it was like she hadn’t left, and her friends had welcomed Kiel into their fold. The summer was shaping up to be one of her most memorable to date, and that was because of Kiel.