“Let them stare.”

I smirked, assessing him through the wet strands of my hair. “What’s gotten into you?”

He shrugged, his smile falling. “Last night, you fell asleep in my arms, and I just kept thinking about how I don’t deserve you.” I went to interrupt him, but he continued. “But then I realized I’ve had a lot of shitty years in my life, maybe too many. But I’m not a bad person, at least, maybe not as bad as I’ve always believed.” He pulled off his shades and squinted against the sun to meet my eyes. “You’re the one who made me realize that, Bug. You make me feel like maybe I deserve more. Like maybe my dreams matter. Do you realize how much that means to me?” He shook his head, his jaw tight. Sliding his sunglasses back into place, he pushed me out further into the waves. “I’m never letting that go.”

I smiled. “Would it be weird if I called you William?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“It’s not my name.”

I frowned, struggling to find my balance on the board. “Well, technically, it is.”

“It just doesn’t fit me.”

“What do you mean?”

Rhodes sighed, shaking his head but still smiling. “Always with the questions. I’ll tell you, but I don’t want to talk about it right now. Not today. Deal?”

My curiosity was piqued even more, but I’d learned not to push Rhodes. “Deal.”

Even with reapplying sunscreen every hour, my skin was tight and a slight shade of pink by the time the sun started sinking in the west. I pulled my hair into a messy bun and threw on Rhodes’ long sleeve shirt over my suit, loving the scent of him surrounding me. We grabbed our beach towels and strolled down closer to the water, finding the perfect spot for the fireworks show.

I watched Rhodes with fascination as he spread out both of our towels and then sat down easily, patting the spot next to him. He was so different, so happy — and I reveled in the fact that I had a part in making him that way. I was just about to lower myself next to him when Mason’s voice pulled me out of the trance I’d been in all day.

“Hey Natalie,” he said timidly, his eyes flicking from mine to Rhodes and back again. I flinched at the sight of his bruised face. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

I hesitated, glancing to Rhodes quickly before meeting Mason’s stare again. “Um, sure.”

Rhodes’ jaw ticked as I walked a few feet away with Mason, but I made sure I kept within a safe distance. This wasn’t a pissing contest. I’d chosen Rhodes, and I wanted him to know I was solid in that choice.

“How are you?” Mason asked, tucking his hands in the pockets of his swim trunks. His messy brown hair was wind-blown and still damp from the ocean.

“I’m good, Mase. What did you want to talk about?”

He sighed, looking off into the water before pulling his attention back to me. The sun was fading quicker, casting shadows on the beach. “What are you doing with him? He’s not good for you.”

“Mason.”

“I’m serious. Do you not remember his reputation from high school? All the times he was in juvie? Or how about his current reputation down at the club?” I swallowed, which seemed to fuel Mason’s fire. “Yeah, I take it from that expression that you do know of his activities. So then what the hell are you doing? Do you think he’s going to change for you, Natalie? He’s dangerous. This whole thing is going to blow up in your face.”

“What happens between us is none of your concern, Mason. You gave up the privilege to get a say in what I do and don’t do with my life.” I said the words with conviction, but I was shaking beneath Rhodes’ sweater.

“I know that, okay?” He ran his hands back through his hair, glancing once more at where Rhodes was seated behind me. “Just please, be careful. And think about what you’re doing. I just don’t want to see you hurt.”

“I’ll be fine.”

He nodded. “I hope you’re right. Enjoy the show.” With one last hard look at Rhodes, Mason walked back to where our group of friends was gathered on the beach. I noted Shay wasn’t in attendance.

“Sorry about that,” I said, falling down onto the towel next to Rhodes. He pulled my back against his chest, wrapping his arms around me. He was tense for a moment, but then I felt him sigh and relax against me. His lips moved to my neck timidly, kissing me as if he were just as afraid he’d hurt me as Mason was.

Rhodes was quiet after that as we watched the first fireworks being lit off the boats in the distance. The big show hadn’t yet started, so I pushed my luck to get deeper into his thoughts.

“There’s that scowl I’ve been looking for all day.”

Rhodes smirked, holding me tighter. “I was just thinking. About Lana.”

I stiffened, but snuggled into him more. “What about her?”

He was silent a moment, but I waited, letting him take his time. “I just wonder if she sees any of this anymore. I want to believe she does, that she’s still out there somewhere, living. But I know I’m stupid for thinking that way.” He swallowed. “Sometimes it’s just easier than facing the truth that if she is alive, she’s not safe enough to call me and let me know.”

“Do you feel like she is?”

Rhodes cleared his throat. “Sometimes. Every now and then, I feel her — like her presence. It’s almost as if she’s watching over me.”

“Maybe she is.”

He smiled, pulling me in closer. “Maybe.”

The first loud crack of the pier fireworks show sounded and the beach cheered. Leaning up from Rhodes’ grasp, I retrieved my camera from my beach bag and flicked through the settings. Just as I lifted it to focus on a red and white burst firework, Rhodes grabbed my hands.

“Why do you always do that?”

“Do what?”

“Try to photograph every moment. Trust me,” he said, lowering my hands back into my lap and pulling the camera from my grasp. He dropped it on the towel next to us and pulled me back into him. “Sometimes, it’s better with your own eyes.”

And it was. Every loud boom echoed off the water and reverberated through my chest as the fireworks lit up the beach. I tried to keep my eyes on the sky, but I was drawn to Rhodes each time his face was illuminated. His strong jaw, his barely-there scruff, his beachy hair. Even though his eyes took on whatever color the fireworks decided, I could still see the bright green shining through.