Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 12408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 62(@200wpm)___ 50(@250wpm)___ 41(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 12408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 62(@200wpm)___ 50(@250wpm)___ 41(@300wpm)
The condo next to mine is quiet in the morning sun. It’s one of those perfect mornings that make this place look like paradise, and the condo could still be part of it. There are no signs of the party that went on all goddamn night. No garbage on the lawn. No tipped-over lawn furniture. It looks snug and quaint, like nobody would ever keep their neighbors up with loud-ass music for hours on end, and if they did, they’d keep the evidence inside, where at least that wouldn’t bother anybody else. I bought it only a year after buying my place. It was a fixer upper but it didn’t take me long to get it looking like new. Renting it out gave me the funds to take the leap and open up my shop.
I’ve put everything into that place. My brow furrows as a yawn hits me.
I’m annoyed. I’m irritated. And I’m also surprised. The girl I rented the condo to didn’t seem like the type to throw parties like that. Luna seemed sweet when I met her, and I’ve seen her a few times since. We had a nice moment once when she was coming home and I was leaving for work. It felt comfortable, like we’d flirted a few times before, and yeah, I liked it.
Luna is another reason I didn’t call the cops last night. I don’t want her to think I’m the kind of guy who gets upset over nothing, because I’m not that kind of guy. I am a person who needs to be up for work. I didn’t think I would have to ask her to keep her parties quieter when she’s been quiet up til now.
But the reason I’m renting out the condo month to month is to make enough money to float me if the store has a few rough months, which it did over the winter. Last thing I want is to make Luna want to back out of the lease.
If she did that, I wouldn’t get to see her anymore. I’d never get to learn anything about her, and I want to know more about her, damn it.
She was too cute. She was witty too, with quick comebacks. And I liked the sound of her voice. One party wasn’t enough to change that. It was rude, though.
I go around and get into my truck, then turn it on fast, before I can think anything else about the girl next door. I have a job to do. I keep my mind on the beach while I pull out of the driveway and leave the condo behind, even if I’m tired as hell and there’s a petite brunette with large hazel eyes on my mind all day.
LUNA
The ocean crashes behind me as I leave the water behind. My limbs are tired from the time I spent in the water—maybe an hour, or maybe two. The salt on my skin and in my hair feels like home. For the first time in a long time. I don’t know when I got to the beach, exactly. I was tired when I got up, but my heart felt so heavy I had to do something, so I did what I usually do.
I came down to the beach and swam until I couldn’t lift my arms one more time.
Now that I’ve dragged myself out of the water, it’s a strange combination of sensations on my skin. The salt water left over from my swim is cool as it evaporates, but it’s a bright, sunny day, and the heat prickles between the droplets of water.
My bag is still in the sand where I left it, my towel warmed up from the sun, and it feels good to wrap it around my shoulders. For a few minutes, I let the breeze dry me off while I stare out at the waves. They’re not too high today. Even still, in late spring the beach isn’t as packed as I’d think it would be. This area is a little more private though, I remind myself.
I almost want to go back out, just so I can let the current clear my mind.
But that would be dangerous. I was up all night with my friends, drinking and laughing and trying to feel…
Something other than sadness. I’m lucky to have friends like them. Friends who drive out for hours to a little beach town to chase their friend who’s needing an escape. A beach town my mother used to love.
The shell I picked up on my way back to the sand is smooth in my palm. I turn it over as it dries and shake off the grains of sand that managed to hang on. A piece of my hair blows across my face, but I ignore it, not wanting to reach out from under my towel.