Brent’s POV
We hopped back on the bike, and I drove us a few minutes down the coast to a small boardwalk stand. The air was filled with the smell of grilled hot dogs and fries, and Stacey practically jumped off the bike as soon as we arrived.
After ordering, we found a bench overlooking the water, our hot dogs and sodas in hand. Stacey was quiet at first, looking out over the ocean, a thoughtful expression on her face. Finally, she glanced at me, her eyes searching.
“You know,I didn’t expect you to be so… down-to-earth.”
She snorted, taking a sip of her soda. “Down-to-earth? That’s a nice way of saying ‘out of place,’ isn’t it?”
“No, I mean it. You’re different out here, away from everyone else. More… real.”
She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, turning back to the water. I ventured, “Why do you hide this side of yourself?”
She narrowed her eyes slightly. “What do you mean?”
“This girlWhy do you want people to see you as… well, as the opposite?”
Stacey looked away, her face tightening. “It’s easier that way. People can’t hurt you if you keep them at arm’s length.”
“But… aren’t you the one who ends up hurt?”
“You know what they say… you can fool others, but you can’t fool yourself.I guess I’m just better at fooling others.”
She took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on the horizon. “My dad left us when I was a kid. Couldn’t stand my mom. She was too successful, too… strong. And he couldn’t handle it.” Her jaw clenched, but she went on. “He hated anything that grew or blossomed. Anything that… challenged him.” This was something she’d rarely spoken about. “My mom always told me not to hide, not to be afraid of who I am just because some people might not like it. She’d say, ‘Shine your light, Stacey. Let them be scared of it if they want to be.’” She gave a wry smile, her voice a mix of pride and sadness.
“So… you started pushing people away?”
She looked at me, the smile fading. “If I push first, I don’t get left behind. It’s that simple.”
I studied her, seeing for the first time how much she’d built up around herself. It wasn’t just an attitude—it was armor, protecting her from a world she didn’t trust.
“It sounds lonely.”
“Loneliness is easier than heartbreak.”
For a moment, we sat in silence, letting the words settle. Then, she turned the question back on me, a spark of curiosity in her eyes. “But what about you, Brent? Why are you so loyal to Betty? She clearly doesn’t see you like that anymore.”
Her question caught me off guard. “What makes you say that?”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on. Don’t tell me you don’t know. She was in love with you when she first got here. It was obvious.”
“Obvious? Stacey, Betty’s never said anything about that.”
“Oh, she didn’t have to say it.” She met my eyes, her tone laced with amusement. “You want to know how I know? I used to make her life hell back then…”
“You still do,” I cut her off. But she just chuckled and rolled her eyes. “It’s in her diary, your name was written all over it.”
The words hung between us, sending a jolt through me. “Wait… diary?”