Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
The word “date” caught Eloise off guard, but it didn’t scare her. Not like it would’ve if Fraser asked her out. She would’ve told him no right away, but with Kiel, the word warmed her. Eloise laughed, hoping to ease any awkwardness he might feel by calling this a date. She started her moped. “We don’t have to go far, but you better hang on.”
Kiel did just that. He placed his hands on her waist. His grip was firm, manly. Eloise scooted back a smidge. She told herself it was because she needed more space, when in reality it was because she wanted to feel him pressed against her back.
eight
Kiel enjoyed trying new things. However, riding on the back of a moped wasn’t ever on his list. It was now though, because being this close and touching Eloise made him feel things he hadn’t felt before. His heart hammered in his chest and his palms were sweating. Kiel was thankful Eloise wore a shirt that covered where his hands would be. He didn’t want her to feel his nervousness through his clammy skin.
As they drove, thoughts of crashing or veering off into on-coming traffic plagued his mind. Surely, this wasn’t safe. Yet, as he looked around, he saw they weren’t the only ones zooming up the streets of Seaport, going a whole whopping twenty-five miles an hour. It seemed faster than it was, and he liked being out in the open. No windows. No doors. Just freedom.
His mother would lose her shit if she saw him.
They came to a stop at the top of the hill. From there, he could see the beach where he first met Eloise perfectly. People surfed, something he hadn’t decided he wanted to try while he was there until now. He’d have to ask Skyla if she was serious about learning. If they had someone showing them the ins and outs of it, they had nothing to lose. Others spread out on the beach, with their umbrellas and cabanas. Kids played in the waves and people walked along the surf, some holding hands. Kiel could easily see him and Eloise doing that as the sun set, as it rose, and any other time during the day.
Eloise twisted the throttle and moved forward after the light changed. Kiel appreciated the movement because it brought him closer to her. He tightened his grip on her waist. She turned her head slightly, and he swore she smiled at him. It didn’t matter if she hadn’t. Eloise didn’t scoot forward to put space between them.
They came closer to the water and Kiel’s stomach turned, and Eloise slowed down. “What are you doing? Don’t slow down. It smells so bad.”
They idled behind a long line of traffic. “It’s bad this year. The smell!” Eloise had to yell over the noise from the other vehicles. “My aunt says this is the worst it’s been.”
“What is it?”
“Sargassum,” she said as they moved forward a bit. “The brown seaweed. Normally, the beach crew removes it, but for some reason, they’re leaving it. Honestly, it’s annoying.” Eloise swerved into the bike lane and cruised past the lengthy line of cars waiting to merge. As they zoomed past, Kiel glanced at the motorists. Some looked absolutely irritated, while others sang and danced in their cars.
At the next light, Eloise turned right, and drove a bit before she took another turn. They were back along the water, with houses on their left facing the ocean. Each home had the perfect view. People gathered on their porches, on their lawn or across the road on the green space. When Kiel saw a pink house coming closer, he somehow knew this was where Eloise lived.
He laughed when she pulled into the driveway. She parked, shut the moped off, and turned to look at him.
“What’s so funny?”
Kiel removed the helmet and tucked it under his arm. “I was laughing at myself because I had a feeling this was your house.”
She looked at the pink clapboard and then pointed to a two-story shed in front of them. “I actually live there. This is where my aunt lives.” Eloise stood so Kiel could get off the moped easily, and then she put the kickstand down.
“You’re lucky.” Kiel handed her the helmet.
“Why’s that?”
“You get to live by yourself—”
She opened her mouth to say something, but he held his hand up.
“In the sense that you have privacy if you need it but can still have your aunt close.”
Eloise smiled and nodded. “We keep different hours. It’s just easier this way.” She gathered her things and motioned for him to follow her. “Do you want a tour?”
“Of course.” He wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to learn more about her.
They walked the length of the driveway until the pavement turned into a well-manicured landscape of mulch, wildflowers, and hydrangeas in pinks, purple, white and blue. It would thrill his mom to sit out there and read.