Secrets Vol. 2(23)

She laughs, "Yup! But what'd I do?"

"Something major had to happen for you to come all the way out, without a phone call..." I smile at her, waiting for her to tell me. When she grins, I know I'm right.

"I got a job! It's mine, Anna."

"That's great! Is it the one you wanted, over at the paper?"

Emma's giddy now. She nods, "Yup! All I have to do is finish the internship, graduate, and it's onto the lowest branch of the newspaper totem pole." She squeals and I can't help but feel excited for her. "It's perfect, Anna. And oh my God! You should have seen me at the interview. I nailed it! Like, totally nailed it! I'll be working alongside Stacy James - "

"No way," I say leaning forward.

Nodding enthusiastically, she slaps her hands on the steering wheel and squeals, "I know, right? He'll oversee the internship and I'll start getting my own stories in a few months. It's totally perfect!"

"I'm so happy for you, Em. I know how much you wanted this. You're gonna rock it. Just imagine, your own newspaper article with a little square picture of your head. It'll be retweeted worldwide and you'll become an overnight sensation."

She snorts, "That's why I was coming to get you! I knew you'd be the perfect person to celebrate with!" She glances at me, "I have a beach bag filled with towels, bikinis, and trashy romance books. My original plan was to lounge on your beach, but I think some time away from Cole will help your brain work better. We need a Cole-free zone. Why don't we detour to Jones Beach and hang out for a while? You can relax and I can celebrate."

Leaning my head back against the seat, I say, "That sounds completely perfect."

Emma cuts across six lanes of traffic and I think I'm going to die. We make it onto the exit ramp for the beach and we both start laughing.

The beach is one of my favorite places - when it's empty. Today it's overflowing with people. Emma parks in a distant field and we pick a spot on the sand between several other sun-seekers. I lift my face and breathe in deeply. The sound of the ocean fills my ears, as the salty breeze lifts my hair. Emma throws down the towels and smooths them out. While Em runs off to change, I lay down on the towels in my tank and cutoff jeans, adjusting my sunglasses so they're in the right place. As I lace my fingers behind my neck, I close my eyes.

This is perfect. It'll give me time to think, to decide what I want to do before I see Cole again. Part of me wants to ignore the whole thing and not deal with the drama, because since I met Cole I've noticed that is the one thing he promises - lots of drama. I'm not sure if I'm up for that. Especially with the way my life is. I have plenty of drama on my own. Kicking it up a notch with Cole might make my head implode.

You're a coward, Anna, a voice whispers in the back of my mind. Maybe I am. Maybe Cole's not the right guy, but as soon as I think it, I know that's wrong. Cole feels right.

The sound of his voice makes me jump, "Anna," Edward says. His shadow falls over me. I squint up at him, wondering how he spotted me. I'm packed between tons of people and after what Emma said, I really don't want to talk to him right now.

I push myself up onto my elbows, "Hey. Em just ran to change. She'll be right back."

Edward stands there frozen, hands on his hips, wearing a blue swimming suit that shows off his body. He has a deep tan that suggests he's already been here for hours. I wonder if Emma knows he's here, if she's trying to make our paths cross. My stomach twists. That can't be right. She planned on staying out in the Hamptons, not coming here.

"I know," he says, running his hands through his hair. "Actually, I came to see how you were doing. It's been a while." Actually, it hasn't, but he seems sweet enough.

Making my hand into a visor, I press it to my forehead so I can see him. The sun is behind his back. "I'm good. Working a lot, but good." I pause and try to look at his face again. Something about the way he's standing makes me uncomfortable. I can't decide why. I clear my throat and ask, "How's school? Staying out of trouble?"

Raising his hand to his face, he grins down at me. I can see his eyes now. "School's fine. Good. I heard you were staying out in the Hamptons for the summer?"

"Yeah, for the internship, remember?" He nods. I don't understand why he acts like I never told him about it. I did. I remember the conversation. "I thought I already told you that?"

He smiles sheepishly, "You did. I just panicked and didn't want to walk away, yet. Anna..." his tone is too soft, beseeching. It kills me to hear it.

Before I can say anything, Emma walks up behind me and seems surprised to see her twin, "Hey, Eddy. What are you doing here?" She turns her head both ways, looking for the rest of his friends, but turns back to her brother with a raised brow.

"Just hanging out."

"Cutting class, no doubt," Em retorts. She grabs a huge pair of black plastic sunglasses from her bag and slides them on. Her black bikini makes her look like a super model. As I look around, I see many male eyes on Emma, no doubt wondering if they should try and talk to her.

My phone rings. I pick it up and look at the screen. Cole. I send it to voicemail. I can't talk to him now. Edward is watching me as the conversation with his sister commences.

"As are you, unless the paper fired you already - " He knew how to press her buttons. His words make Emma puff up, ready to fight.