Sea Breeze 01 - Breathe

Mary. He stood when he saw me. “Well, how did it go?”
    “He thought I was a fan who slid in through the cracks, and he wanted to know how I did it. I informed him that I had replaced my mother because of her pregnancy, I wasn’t a fan, and I didn’t realize this house belonged to him when I took the job.”
    Marcus frowned. “How did he take your explanation?”
    “I don’t think there will be any problem now that he knows I’m not a crazy fan about to slip him my number on a dinner napkin. I doubt he notices my existence from now on.”
    Marcus raised his eyebrows as if he didn’t believe me.
    Ms. Mary walked forward and took the tray from my hands. “Good. I knew you were gonna work out just fine. Now go change out of your uniform and head on home. You won’t be expected in until seven in the morning.”
    I hurried to the laundry room. Once I’d changed back into my own clothing, I headed for the door. Ms. Mary hummed while she cleaned, and Marcus stood leaning against the door, waiting.
    “It’s late. Did you drive or walk?” he asked when I got to the door.
    “I rode my bike.”
    He opened the door, and we walked out into the night together. “Let me put it in the bed of my truck and take you home.” He genuinely seemed worried about me.
    “Okay, thank you.”
    Once we were both in the truck, I relaxed and leaned back on the worn leather seat. “So, how long have you worked at the Stone mansion?”
    He looked over at me. “I just started last summer. I only work summers here. I’m a local, but I’m currently attending the University of Alabama. This is a summer job for me.”
    “It’s obviously just a summer job for me, too. I will begin my senior year this fall. We just moved here from Tennessee.”
    We sat in silence for a few minutes, and I watched out the window as families walked down the sidewalks, still in their beach clothing. I’d never seen the beach before we moved here. I couldn’t help but be fascinated, catching glimpses of the waves crashing on the sandy shore.
    “You seem so much older than a senior in high school. In fact, you’re more mature than most girls I go to school with.”
    I smiled to myself.
If he only knew.
But tonight wasn’t the night to unload my life story on someone who just might turn out to be a real friend. “I know. I have always been an old woman in a kid’s body. It drives my mother crazy.”
    “I wouldn’t call you an old woman, just more mature than the average seventeen-year-old girl.”
    The normal teenage girls laughed and flirted on the side of the street. Summer romance wasn’t something I understood, but apparently it was a very big thing around here. The girls here referred to the tourists as the summer boys. I didn’t really get it or understand it, but then again, I wasn’t normal.
    Marcus turned to me. “Did I hurt your feelings? I didn’t mean to if I did. It was a compliment, really. I get tired of the silliness and shallowness of girls. You’re like a breath of fresh air.”
    I turned my head back in his direction and smiled. He really was a nice guy. I wished my insides got all warm and tingly when he stared at me, but apparently my body reserved that response for teen rock stars, and the thought that I might be shallow made me feel sick inside.
    “Thank you. I’ve never been complimented on my strange personality before.”
    He frowned and shook his head. “I wouldn’t call you strange . . . more refreshingly unique.”
    I laughed at his attempt to make it sound better. “Thanks. ‘Refreshingly unique’ sounds much more appealing. Turn right at the next light, and it’s two houses down on the left.”
    We remained silent the rest of the way to the apartment.
    “Pull over to the side. We’re not allowed to use the owner’s drive. They own the house. We rent the small apartment below.”
    Marcus pulled up in front of the house.
    “Thank you again for bringing me home.”
    He opened his door, jumped out, and got my bike from the bed of his truck. I watched as he lifted it down. “Anytime. If you leave the same time I do, I can always give you a lift.” I thanked him again. He shuffled his feet and glanced up at me. “Since you’re new here, and we are working together this summer, why don’t I take you out one night after work, or on Sunday during the day when we are both off? I can show you what’s fun around here and introduce you to some people. You know, just as friends.”
    “It sounds like