Down the Shore Read Online Free Page A

from the boardwalk and both of our stomachs grumbled out loud. As we approached, we smelled all the different aromas. There was cotton candy, funnel cakes, caramel apples, pizza and fudge. I always preferred vanilla while Makenna loved the chocolate with walnuts.
    The boardwalk is a place people either love or hate, and I love it. It's crowded, loud and bright with neon signs posted on storefronts; arcades overflow with kids of all ages, screams echo from the roller coasters and the stores sell all the same novelties: hermit crabs, T-shirts, seashells, toys, salt water taffy and fudge.
    We walked for several blocks until we came up to our favorite pizza joint, Mack and Manco's. It was the best the beach had to offer. We debated whether to grab a slice and walk around, or just go inside to sit down. We decided to stay and eat. The seagulls hovered and we didn't want to lose our dinner to the ‘flying rats.'
    We grabbed our slices and sodas and found a seat in the rear of the restaurant. We sat next to a table of four guys. Their eyes instinctively shot up to look at us as we started to sit.
    "Hello, lasses, how are ya’ tis fine evening?” the red-headed guy in the knit cap said.
    The dark-haired boy stared over at us, smiling, but said nothing for a moment.
    "Ah, Liam, leave ‘em alone,” he said.
    I looked up at Makenna as I took a sip from my soda, and she was smiling over at their table. I kicked her, and mouthed, “Stop."
    "Someone does want to play, me thinks,” the blonde boy with cute little freckles on his nose said.
    The dark-haired boy looked back over grinning, “Lads, leave ‘em alone."
    When they did listen to their friend and left us alone, they started cursing and making wise cracks. They had an accent, not quite sure from where, but I quickly discovered after I read the tattoo on the amazingly tanned bicep of the dark-haired boy.
    We sensed the stares coming from their table, and though we tried hard not to look at them, it was almost impossible not to. One boy stopped my heart from beating, he was so breathtakingly gorgeous. He had raven-like, black hair and the darkest brown eyes I had ever seen, the color of chocolate, and a five o'clock shadow. He wore a silver cross around his neck, and had two tattoos, one on each arm. The first one was some sort of cross, and the second read ‘Irish Power'with a small shamrock in between. The others boys were average compared to him: two blonds and a redhead. I turned away from his stare, hoping for his eyes to stop studying me. I may have been getting more confident, but not that confident.
    "What do you want to do next?” I asked before taking a bite. I burned the roof of my mouth as I did, “Ouch! Shit, it's hot!” I laughed as I pulled back the slice and dropped it back onto the paper plate. I drank the entire cola in one big gulp, trying to put out the fire in my mouth. Mortified, I heard my gawker softly chuckling under his breath.
    We sat for a while people-watching, talking and picking at our pizza. I glanced back over at Mr. Hottie McShamrock. His brown eyes still gazed at me. The hint of a smile crept on his face. I desperately wanted to look away. I couldn't stop this time. He seemed to never take his eyes off me, just laughing along with his friends, grinning at me over their shoulders. He made me completely uncomfortable, like his eyes had been undressing me. Of course, I had seen plenty of handsome or cute boys in my lifetime. But, this guy was no ordinary looker...one I was not familiar with other than a few stares in the mall at the Abercrombie billboards. He would even give those boys a run for their money. The sheer ruggedness and smoldering brown eyes that went through me every time he looked at me set a little fire inside of me. I also couldn't help but notice that he looked much older than anyone I would consider dating. I hoped he couldn't tell that he made me slightly nervous, and that my knees were shaking under the table.
    "Let's go,