Everlasting Read Online Free

hiding something from me, are you? Making me nervous here, guys.”
    Mandy’s hand slapped her chest, and she batted her eyelashes. “Who me? Never…. Just work with me here…you’re gonna love it.” She threw her head back and laughed.
    My eyebrows edged my hairline. “I hope so. You’re scaring me.”
    On our way out, Matt stopped in the hallway and pulled open a closet door, lifting up a dusty surfboard plastered with stickers and words scrawled in black marker. “I can’t forget this.” He blew off the dinginess, and a boyish grin lit his face. “The waves are calling me.”
    “Matt’s gonna surf while we snorkel.”
    I gulped. “Wait…what…? Snorkel?” Just the sound of the word made me cringe.
    Mandy opened the front door. “YOLO, right…you know…you only live once. What…you a baby or somethin’?”
    “Yeah.” I clutched my towel tight, fighting the urge to shove my thumb in my mouth.
    The blast of heat hit us when we stepped out—the sun radiating its intense intrusion of summer rays. I loved the heat, but this humidity would take some getting used to.

Chapter 3
    W e trudged through the hot sand, heading to the crescent beach. The droves of people playing and laughing were as thick as roaches in a city gutter, and my adrenaline rushed—I couldn’t wait to join in on the fun.
    We found three beach chairs and threw our towels and sunscreen on them, then ran for the water. Mandy and Matt didn’t waste any time plunging in. I ran fast, but screeched to a halt at the water’s edge as the familiar quiver grabbed ahold. It started at the top of my tummy and worked its way down to the pit—my chicken-self taking over.
    Gathering a small amount of courage, I squeezed my eyes shut and dipped the tips of my toes in. Hundreds of colored fish darted around in the water and headed right for me. My imagination ran rampant. Did I really just see the yellow fish’s teeth gnashing and snarling at me?
    I jerked my feet out like a spazoid on steroids. “Eek!” Arms spinning like a windmill, I overdramatized the move and flailed back on my heels, butt-planting into the wet sand, leaving the sassy imprint of two round butt cheeks.
    My hands shook, and I clutched my stomach, cussing myself for drinking so much orange juice earlier. I got back up again, and my head jerked to the right, then the left—looking for the millions of people who had seen me commit that horrid mistake.
    I crept back to the water’s edge, forcing myself to stand and watch them. Maybe the fish weren’t as vicious as I first thought. In fact, they were beautiful. My heart slowed down and took its place back in my chest. I edged my toes back in again, and after taking a deep breath, inched in a little farther.
    “Get in here, Sophia, you’re missing out on all the fun.” Mandy waved at me from the waist-high water that she and Matt were standing in.
    My lips trembled and my voice shook. “I will…just trying to savor the moment. Take it all in.” Truth is, it wasn’t just the fish I was afraid of. It was the vastness. The ocean was so big and unforgiving—water overwhelming. Seagulls screeched overhead, but I got braver, slinking my way farther into the deep.
    Matt and Mandy splashed one another, laughing. There was no mistaking they were lovers, and I waded toward them slowly and reluctantly, my feet dragging—pushing the heavy water. An intruder in their world.
    I squinted into the sun, the water swooshing around my legs. “Comin’ in hot.”
    Mandy rolled her eyes, snickering. “It’s about time.”
    Matt wouldn’t leave her alone. He cupped his hands and splashed water in her face.
    “It’s just all so…staggering.” Goose bumps prickled my arms, teeth chattered. The chilly water may have been the culprit, but I think my frail nerves took hold—eating their way in and sanding me raw around the edges.
    Mandy slapped at Matt’s hands. “Quit it…. Just swim a little, you’ll get warmed up.” She dove under