How to Unbreakup Read online

  “Ugh, sounds good. Do you want the top or bottom?” I reached down to grab her other suitcase for her.

  “Bottom, if you don’t mind. I hate heights.”

  When we got upstairs, we chose the bunk closest to the stairs. From here, I could just make out the beach from the floor to ceiling windows in the main living area below.

  We each picked a dresser and unpacked our stuff. I shoved my soccer ball and cleats on the shelf at the back of my bed, along with a picture of me and Lyncee after we’d won our conference playoff game. Then I slid the smaller picture frame from my purse and placed it in the corner where only I could see it. It was a photo of me and Sage dressed as Leia and Han—our last Halloween together.

  Maybe putting it up wasn’t such a good idea. But then again, I wasn’t gonna change how I had things set up. If he didn’t like it, then he didn’t have to look at it.

  Once I had my bed and clothes taken care of, I glanced up to see that Sage and Benji had the beds right across from ours. Great. That meant he’d be the last thing I saw every night before I fell asleep. And the first thing I saw every morning when I woke up. Damn. What the hell were my parents thinking? I didn’t need the constant reminder of my biggest screw up.

  With a sigh, I grabbed my cell, climbed off my bed, and headed downstairs.

  “Mom, I’m going outside for a few,” I hollered down the hall.

  “Okay, don’t go far. We’re going to have dinner soon.”

  I made my way onto the deck, the wind whipping my hair into my face. Sun kissed my skin as if to welcome me to summer. I kicked off my flip-flops and stepped into the sand. My feet sank into the warm granules, squishing between my toes. When I got to the water’s edge, I sat down and dialed Lyncee’s number.

  She picked up on the second ring. “I thought you were on vacation?”

  “I am,” I groaned. “But you’re not gonna believe what happened.”

  “Oooh, you met a hot guy already?” She giggled.

  “Um, close.”

  “Oh. My. God. I knew it. So what’s he look like?”

  “Remember that other surprise my parents mentioned?” My fingers trailed over the sand, while waves sloshed at my feet.

  “Yeah. Wait, did they hire some Scandinavian masseur. Maybe some gorgeous guy named Sven?”

  “Not even close. More like the surprise ended up being Sage and his family sharing our lake house for the summer.”

  “Holy crap! You’re kidding right?”

  “No.”

  “This is like an omen.” She practically squealed on the other end of the phone. “It’s like it was meant to happen. You’ll have an entire summer with him … I mean what better way to rekindle your romance.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, right. More like an entire summer of no talking. You should’ve seen his face when he realized we were here.”

  “He just needs to get one look at you in your new bikini and bam, he’ll be drooling over you like a blood hound with a steak.”

  If only it were that easy. “I think it’ll take more than a bikini to get him back.”

  “Maybe. But don’t underestimate the power of a girl in a bathing suit. Guys are all about the visual—aka, boobs.”

  I laughed. “Wish you were here.”

  “Me too. Unfortunately, I’ll be babysitting for the Coopers all summer. You get fun in the sun and sand. I get demon children from hell.”

  “If things don’t get better, I might be wishing for the hellish fiends.”

  “Blasphemy. Listen, my mom’s screaming for me to get off the phone. Apparently I have dishes to do.”

  “Okay, talk to you later.”

  “Oh, and don’t forget to send me pics of the house. I’m dying to see where you’re staying.”

  ***

  “Okay, gang, it’s time for the first Castle-Evers bonfire of the season,” Dad said as he tossed another log on the fire pit. My parents’ Beach Boys CD blared in the background, reminding me of summers past. “So, who’d like to do the honors?” He held up a lighter.

  “I’ll do it.” Benji hopped up.

  Dad dumped lighter fluid on the wood.

  “Lor, I think that’s enough,” Mom said, her brow knit.

  “What? You don’t want to blow up the house?” I rolled my eyes and took a step back.

  Benji, Dad, and fire weren’t a good mix. It was a proven fact that they had an affinity for burning stuff down. Like our lawn. Mom’s favorite lilac bush. Their eyebrows and arm hair. Seriously, the list could go on and on.

  Benji clicked the lighter, a large flame flared to life and the paper and wood went up with a quick poof. When I realized there’d be no action film explosions, I let out the breath I’d been holding.

  My gaze shifted to Sage, who sat away from everyone else. Okay. Now’s your chance. Go talk to him. Like Lyncee said, this could be my summer. Before I could talk myself out of it, I walked toward him, the sand squeaking beneath me.

  “So, how have things been?” I plopped down beside him, my knees pulled up to my chest.

  Sage glanced at me. “You don’t have to make small talk. Let’s just get through the summer, okay?” He stood, wiped dirt from his shorts, and stalked toward the house.

  “Sage,” Mr. Castle hollered after him. “Don’t you want a s’more?”

  “I’m not hungry,” he said, not even turning around.

  Well so much for speaking to him.

  “He’s been so moody lately,” Mrs. Castle said. “I’m hoping this summer does his attitude some good.”

  I stared at the fire crackling in the pit. Bright oranges and yellows danced beneath the breeze. The constant rhythm of waves rolled in against the shore.

  “So, what’s our plan of attack?” Allie sat down beside me, licking the marshmallow from her fingers.

  “Our what?”

  “You still like him.” She nodded to where Sage stood on the deck. “We need a plan of attack to help you get him back.”

  My teeth caught my bottom lip, and I sighed. “Am I that obvious?”

  She giggled. “Only to me. I see the way you look at him. And I remember how happy you guys were together. Even if he won’t admit it, I know he misses you.”

  “Yeah, well he has a crappy way of showing it.” My heart skidded into my ribs. Was it true? Did he miss me?

  “Sage just needs to be reminded of how much fun you guys used to have.”

  “I broke his heart, Allie.”

  “But hearts can be mended.” She swiped a strand of her brown hair behind her ear, her eyes focused on the starry sky above. She sounded a lot more mature than sixteen.

  “I never stopped loving him,” I whispered.

  “I know. Which is why I’m going to help you get him back … we’re gonna find a way for you to unbreakup with him.”

  Chapter Five

  Allie grabbed my arm and tugged me toward the deck. Sage glanced up at us from where he sat on a lounge chair. But we didn’t stop, instead we went up to the loft, where Allie sat me on the couch, and dug out a bunch of magazines and a notebook.

  A moment later, she came over and took a seat next to me. “So what exactly are we doing?” I said.

  She grinned. “We’re going to make a ‘How to Unbreakup’ list. You know, things you can do to win Sage back.”

  “And you think this will work?” I grabbed a magazine from the floor and thumbed through it.

  “Of course. Once he sees how much you want him back, he won’t be able to resist you.”

  “So why do we need these?” I held up a Teen Life magazine.

  “For inspiration.” She turned it to a picture of a hot surfer guy in board shorts.

  I laughed. “Okay, I admit, I’m now inspired. Who wouldn’t be with abs like those? I mean, I could do some laundry on those.”

  “I’m definitely not imagining chores with this guy.” She waggled her brows up and down.

  “And here I thought you were a nice girl.”

  Allie smi
rked. “I am, but that doesn’t mean I can’t think a guy’s hot.”

  With a snort, I leaned back against the arm of the couch, pulling my legs up to my chest. “I sure hope this is a good idea. Trust me, the last thing I want to do is piss Sage off further.”

  “You won’t. Now quit worrying.” She patted my foot then opened up the notebook. “Why don’t you look at this like a ten-step program. We’ll make a list of ten things you can do to unbreakup with Sage. Or at least get him back in your good graces.”

  “This is starting to sound like an AA meeting.”

  “Really? I didn’t know you’d ever been to one.”

  “Funny.” I tossed a pillow at her.

  She giggled. “Okay, so let’s get down to business. What kinds of things should you do to show my brother you’re still into him?” She tapped the tip of the pen against the notebook.

  “I-I could make his favorite food,” I said.

  “Perfect. Okay. Step One: Make Sage’s favorite meal.” She wrote it down. “Wait, maybe you should be doing the writing. I mean, this is your list.”

  “But it was your idea.”

  “Yeah, but I’m gonna decorate the cover.” She hopped off the couch, went to her top dresser drawer and pulled out a pair of scissors, glue, and assorted colored markers. Allie was really into art.

  “Fine, give it here.” I took the notebook from her and wrote “How to Unbreakup” at the top of it. Then numbered the lines one through ten. “Okay, so number one is make Sage’s favorite food. Which when we were going out was always chocolate chip pancakes.”

  “Still is. And Mom hardly ever makes them.”

  “On to number two.”

  We both busted out laughing. “Don’t you dare write anything down that has to do with bathrooms.”

  “We could TP his bunk,” I said.

  “That’d get his attention, but probably not the kind you want.”

  “Right. We need to stick with non-gross things.”

  For the next two hours we sat on the couch, joking, laughing, and coming up with my list. In the end, we found our top ten:

  1) Make his favorite food

  2) Invite him to do something like sports- or swimming-related

  3) Offer to help him with chores

  4) Do something nice for him or out of the blue that he wouldn’t expect

  5) Give him compliments and listen when he’s talking

  6) Make him jealous (this is a last resort)

  7) Seduce him

  8) Make him a playlist

  9) Plan a day trip for him

  10) Tell him how you feel/Apologize

  “I think we’ve got a perfect list,” Allie said, taking the notebook from me.

  “Yeah, well, I’m not sure about the seducing thing. That seems like it could go all kinds of wrong.”

  “You might not even get to number seven. Think about it. If things go as planned, you might have him at number one.”

  “I sure hope this works.”

  “Don’t worry, it will. Now, I think we need to implement this list as soon as possible. Like say at breakfast tomorrow.”

  We picked up our mess then changed into our pajamas. I climbed onto the top bunk and tucked the notebook next to the picture of me and Sage. Right then my cell rang.

  “Hey,” I answered.

  “Dear God, the demon spawn nearly killed me today,” Lyncee said from the other end. “They decided to give their dog a haircut while I was doing dishes.”

  “Did the Coopers get mad?”

  “No, but it makes me look irresponsible. I swear, I’m gonna be in a padded cell by the end of the summer. My mom owes me big for volunteering me for this shitty job.”

  “It’ll get better. Come on, you’re way smarter than them.”

  “I don’t know about that. I bet they have a plan to torture me all summer. Instead of hanging out at the beach, I’ll be trying to survive the bowels of hell. Tomorrow they’ll probably castrate the dog and put its balls in my cereal.”

  “You are sick.” My nose wrinkled as I fought not to laugh.

  “I so wish you were here. It’s only been a day and I already miss you.”

  “I know. But the summer will go by fast, you’ll see.” Although, I hoped it didn’t go too quick because this was my last chance to spend time with Sage. Because I knew if we were at school he’d be able to avoid me. At least here, he didn’t have a choice. “Well, you’ll be happy to know that operation Get Sage Back is underway. Allie and I have come up with a list.”

  That got her attention. So I explained what we had planned. “Oh. My. God. That’s perfect. If he doesn’t fall for you after all this then he’s a super douche ball.”

  “Yeah, well, wish me luck because we kick this off tomorrow.”

  “Maybe you could make him pancakes while wearing a bikini.”

  I rolled my eyes. “This isn’t a car wash.”

  “But it could be,” she said in a sing-songy voice.

  “Oh brother. Hey listen, I need to go,” I said as Sage came up the stairs, followed by the rest of our siblings.

  “Fine, but promise to call me tomorrow and tell me what happens.”

  “I will. Goodnight.”

  “Night.”

  After I put my phone up, I leaned back in my bed. Sage grabbed a change of clothes and headed into the bathroom, while the others climbed into their bunks. Already my brothers were making funny noises, while Sage’s youngest sister Rochelle was throwing teddy bears at Caleb.

  “See, this is why I wanted you to be my bunk mate,” Allie said from below me.

  I leaned over the edge of my bed and looked down at her. “You aren’t lying. By the way, Lyncee thinks our plan is brilliant.”

  “It is. We’ve totally got this Grace Evers. See you bright and early,” she said as she flipped off her reading lamp.

  Sage turned off the overhead light when he came out of the bathroom. My breath caught in my throat as I watched him saunter across the room, shirtless. His arm muscles flexed as he hefted himself up into his bed. I swallowed hard. He’d definitely outgrown the lanky, boyish frame he’d had at thirteen. He was so close. Just across the way. The scent of his cologne wafted in the air. I inhaled deeply. This would definitely do wonders for my dreams.

  Bwant

  One of my brothers farted.

  “Geez, are you trying to kill us?” Allie said.

  Everyone laughed. “Is that the best you got?” Benji said to Caleb.

  “Nope. Pull my finger and you’ll see.”

  “Don’t you dare.” I sat up.

  “Or what?” Caleb challenged.

  “I’ll lock you in the bathroom after Dad takes a crap in it,” I said.

  “Then Sage or Benji will let me out.”

  “Nope, sorry, buddy, I’m not getting in the middle of it,” Sage said.

  When the room got quiet again, I heard Chico yacking like he had a hairball. Great. I hoped he was downstairs.

  As I lay in bed, I listened to the sound of the waves coming in through the open windows. I was surrounded by my family and friends. It was perfect. To be up here at the lake house with Sage and Allie. With the Castles.

  Next year at this time, I’d be heading off to college. Things would be different. I hugged my pillow to my chest and stared at Sage’s form. He’d been my first love and my first kiss. The thing was, I wanted him to be my last one too.

  Chapter Six

  Step #1: Make his favorite food

  The next morning, I climbed from bed, trying hard to be quiet. I shook Allie. “Hey, I’m going to go downstairs and get breakfast stuff ready.”

  She tossed off her blankets and got up too. “I’m coming.”

  I slid my feet into my slippers. Something slimy squished under my left foot. “Ew.” I kicked it off to find one of Chico’s hairballs inside.

  “What’s wrong?” Allie glanced at me.

  “Chico barfed in my slipper.”

  “Gross.”


  “I hope this isn’t an indication of how my day’s gonna go.”

  “It’s not. It can only go up from here.”

  Plugging my nose, I picked up my slipper and carried it to the trashcan, where I banged it against the side to get the slimy, hairy blob out of it. These so needed to be washed or burned.

  Once I cleaned up the mess, we crept down to the kitchen. I searched the cupboards and pulled out a large mixing bowl, the pancake mix, along with the eggs and milk. “Did you see the chocolate chips?”

  “Um, hold on a second. I think my mom might have put them up with the spices.” A second later she came up beside me with a baggie.

  “They look a little weird,” I said.

  “I think they melted some on our way up, but they should be fine.” Allie set them down on the counter, and then went to get the griddle out while I mixed the ingredients together.

  I turned on the stove burners and then put butter on the pan to keep the pancakes from sticking. With a ladle, I scooped up batter and let it fall to the griddle in blobs. While I worked on cooking, Allie set the table and poured everyone a glass of orange juice. Then I heated up some of our maple syrup.

  My dad and mom came down the hall in their robes. “Hmmm, something smells good.” Dad sat at the table.

  I smiled. “Thanks.”

  A few minutes later, Mr. and Mrs. Castle and others, minus Sage, stumbled into the kitchen as well. Allie gave me a thumbs up.

  “So what’s the occasion?” Mr. Castle asked.

  “We just wanted to do something nice.” Allie shrugged.

  Sage came into the kitchen, tugging a T-shirt over his head, his hair sticking up from sleeping on it. God. Was there no end to his hotness? He glanced at me with a strange look on his face as I dropped a few pancakes on his plate.

  “We made your favorite—chocolate chip pancakes,” I said. My pulse thundered in my ears as I watched him. Please acknowledge that you know I did this for you.

  “Thanks,” he muttered.