Sea Breeze 01 - Breathe

eyebrows. “Jax Stone happens to be all over her bedroom walls.”
    I smiled and sat back down. “Why did you come to find me?”
    Marcus sat down in the chair beside me. “You’re my friend, and I didn’t like knowing you were hurt. I wish you would’ve waited on me to take you home, but I understand why you wanted to leave.”
    I didn’t reply, because I wasn’t really sure what to say. We stared out at the water for some time.
    Finally, Marcus said to me, “You knew he would only be here for a little while. He’s gonna leave, and you’re gonna be left here. Your worlds are too different.” He stopped and cleared his throat. “You’re not like other girls, Sadie, and that’s attractive to a guy. We get tired of the same stuff, and when someone as beautiful as you comes along, with all your sweet, naive, accepting ways—someone like you is what we’re all searching for.”
    I started to argue, but he held up his hands to stop me.
    “I’m not saying any of this right, so let me finish and see if I can explain this better. When I first saw you, I was immediately attracted to your outward appearance. However, after talking to you, getting to know you, and watching you at work, I realized I would’ve been attracted to you if you were plain and mousy. My guess is, Jax hasn’t been around anyone with your traits in a long time, and mix it all in with the fact that you’re a gorgeous blonde and
bam
, he got hooked. I can’t blame him for wanting you.” Marcus’s hand fisted in his lap. He seemed angry now. “But I can fault him for acting on his interest in you. He unleashed all his charm on you, knowing it could only be for a short time. And for that, I’m going to make sure he pays.”
    A sudden knot of fear formed in my stomach. “Marcus,
no
! I chose this. You’re right, I knew it wasn’t as serious to him, or even long term. I let myself care too much, and it’s my stupidity. Nothing he did was wrong.”
    Marcus shook his head. “He’s older and more knowledgeable about the ways of the world than you. I blame him.”
    I laughed. Not sure how, but I did. “I need a friend, Marcus, not a white knight.”
    Marcus grinned. “I am your friend, Sadie, and that will never change. However, I wouldn’t mind being your white knight, too.”
    I shook my head. “I didn’t really choose him, Marcus. My heart did. I didn’t want to love him. I knew he would end up breaking my heart, but I couldn’t stop it. Every time I got around him, I fell harder. He isn’t the guy everyone sees on television. He isn’t some rich, shallow rocker. He has a kind heart, and there is this little boy inside him who still needs approval from those he cares about. He accepts others for who they are, and he never judges anyone.”
    Marcus’s expression seemed so sad. “You got inside the star and found the heart. It’ll only make this harder on you.” He reached over and took my hand. “I’m here with a shoulder to cry on, whenever you need it.”
    I wanted to cry now, but I knew I couldn’t do so in front of Marcus. I didn’t want him mad at Jax because I’d turned into a silly lovesick fool. Instead, I stood up. “I need to head home.”
    I slipped my hands into the pockets of my shorts. The evening wind had begun to cool.
    “Can I take you home?”
    I thought about it, then shook my head. “I’m close to home, and the ride will be good for me.”
    “Okay, if that is what you want.”
    “It is,” I assured him.
    “Will you be at work tomorrow, or are you going to be up here for the lifeguarding job?”
    “I’ll be at work.” I hadn’t realized I’d made my decision until I said it aloud.

Chapter Eleven
    JAX
    Star had taken up more of my time than I’d expected. I wasn’t good with females’ tears, so I had sat there and let her cry and tell me over and over again how upset she was that Shawn hadn’t trusted her enough. When she’d said that she wasn’t sure she had made the right choice of career, I had for a moment understood her. The life we’d chosen to lead didn’t make it easy for anyone to ever get close to us.
    Once she’d finally stopped crying and gone up to the guest bedroom Ms. Mary had put her in, I’d gone to find Sadie and explain this mess. I had wanted to tell her when Jason had come to get me earlier, but he’d said Star had taken one look at him and crumpled to the floor and begun to sob. I’d needed to go then and help him calm her down.
    I walked outside,