“Fuck no.” I say it a little too loud. Murph stops what he’s doing for a second but quickly resumes.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” she asks.

“No. I’m just not the right guy for you, Sierra.”

Damn, this hurts. This is so hard I’d rather punch my hand through the glass case before saying something like that to her again. Her demeanor changes instantly. She thinks I’m not interested in her. Couldn’t be farther from the fucking truth. I want her so bad that I want to kick my own ass for turning her down, but I have to. I have to push her away instead of pushing her against this wall and put my hands under that white sundress. Hearing her say my name as I make her come right here in the shop in the middle of the day.

One glimpse into my twisted mind would send her running.

“I get it,” she says as she steps away.

Then she peels my jacket off her shoulders, and it physically hurts to watch.

“I shouldn’t keep this,” she says as she smacks it against the counter and turns without a word to walk out of the shop and out of my life.

That’s it, baby girl. Keep going. Don’t look back.

5

Sierra

I’m a mixture of angry, sad, and confused. How could we have had such a nice time last night and today it's a different story? God, I’m such an idiot. I kissed him, thinking he would be interested, but I get nothing in return. I’m too innocent for him. Too young. Too inexperienced.

I’m flooded with self-deprecating thoughts like: why would a guy like him want a girl like me? I bet he could get anyone he wants.

I keep moving, trying to walk out the way I'm feeling with every step, but it’s not working. The farther I get from that shop, the worse I feel. I want to turn around and beg him to give me a chance. That’s not like me. I don’t beg guys for anything. Not that I have a ton of experience with guys, but I’ve had a few interactions—nothing farther than second base—and it was enough to know that I never had to really ask. They were always willing.

When I turn toward the large boardwalk and the pavilion over the beach, I hear a familiar voice. By the time I notice Natalie, Grant, and Tyler, as well as a few people I don’t know, it’s too late to turn back. I can tell the exact moment they recognize me, so I pick up speed, hoping to get lost in the crowd toward the end of the pier.

“Where’s your friend?” Grant calls after me.

Natalie tries to shush him, but she’s laughing too, so he’s not taking her very seriously.

One of them runs over to me.

“Leave me alone,” I call back without turning, but it doesn't stop him. Before I know it, there’s an arm around my shoulder.