Never Forget (Memories)

with her, you hear me? Go and find Bianca if you want some fun.''
    ''Jen,'' both guys say simultaneously, Carl with a frown and Alec with a sigh.
    ''You know I'm about as interested in Bianca as I am in learning about what hair products you use daily. You know me better than that.'' Alec gives her a look I can't discern, and her face softens slightly. She nods at him.
    ''Go and surf, you two,'' she orders. Carl looks at me helplessly and I smile. Both the guys grab their boards and head out to the now surf-able water.
    ''For the record, Princess,'' Alec says, walking backwards. ''I couldn't be any happier that you're not one of those girls.''
    I watch him as he turns around and jogs down the beach. I can't work him out. He's an enigma, unlike anyone I've met before. I barely know him, and despite my resolve, a part of me wants to know him.
    That part of me wants to pull away his outer shell and see inside his heart, see who he really is, not the show he puts on for everyone else.
    I think all this fresh air is getting to my head.
    ''Looks like it's mutual,'' Jen says thoughtfully, absently watching the guys surfing.
    ''What?'' I look at her. The sun is glinting off her light blonde hair making me squint.
    ''Oh, nothing.'' She looks at me and smiles slightly. ''Just thinking out loud.''
    ''About?''
    ''The way Alec looks at you like you're a giant gummy bear and he wants to eat you up, and the way you look at him like you want to lick chocolate sauce off his abs.''
    ''That's ridiculous!'' I scoff.
    ''Is it?'' She raises an eyebrow at me. '''Cause the tension coming from you two is somethin' else. It's like, holy shit, you've known each other a week and he already wants to jump your bones, rattle your cage, get in..''
    ''Okay, you can stop there.'' I laugh and lie back on the sand. ''I'm not gonna deny the guy is hot-''
    ''Smokin' hot,'' Jen interjects, lying next to me.
    ''Smokin' hot,'' I correct myself. ''But I'm not gonna fall at his feet because Mr. Flirty-Pants wants me to. I don't do summer romances. In fact, I don't do romance at all. I haven't been in a relationship for two years, and I'm happy for it to stay that way, thank you. Especially where he is concerned.''
    ''So you are in denial.''
    I prop myself up on my elbow and nudge her. ''I am not.''
    ''You so are.'' She smiles. ''You want to save a horse and ride the cowboy, I get it, I get it.''
    ''Oh my god!'' I half laugh, half shriek. ''Where do you think up this stuff?''
    She grins and puts her hands behind her head. ''It's all part of my crazy, baby.''
    I'm beginning to wonder if there's anything about this town that isn't crazy.

    ALEC

    I jog after Carl, leaving Lexy staring at me.
    ''God knows what you're playing at, mate.'' My best friend shakes his head. ''But if you're playing her, you know Jen will kick your ass to some remote place of Russia, right?''
    ''Why would I be playing her?'' I look at him as we wade into the sea.
    ''Because that's what you do, Alec. You take girl's hearts and you fuck with them.''
    ''Maybe she's different.''
    ''Maybe ain't good enough for Jen.'' Carl shakes his head and puts the board on the water.
    ''Fine.'' I follow his movements and we get ready to catch the first wave. ''There isn't a maybe. She is different.'' I look behind me and move on the board. ''I want her so bad it hurts, Carl, but I'm not just gonna fuck her then leave her. She deserves more than that. She's worth a thousand of the girls round here.''
    ''She ain't gonna fall for your shit.''
    ''You're the second person to say that to me in as many days.''
    ''Maybe you'll get it, then.''
    ''Carl, mate, I get it. I'd rather not touch her than play her. And it's got nothing to do with the fact her brother promised to break my legs.''
    ''Already having run-ins with the brother?'' He chuckles.
    ''I may or may not have imagined what her ass would look like bent over in front of me whilst he was in the room.''
    Carl shakes his head and we ride the wave to shore, the wind blowing against us. Out here, on the water, I'm free. It's an escape, something to throw myself into. Something I need whenever Alexis Edwards is around me.
    ''You asked for it then,'' Carl says in response to my last comment.
    ''Thing is, if I did hurt her, I'd probably deserve broken legs. She's too good to hurt.''

    ~

    ALEXIS

    ''Lexy?''
    I hear my brother's voice calling my name and groan. I sit up and push my sunglasses to the top of my head, squinting.
    ''What do you want, Bing?'' I yell at