Chapter 54: The Summer Shift

Kieran’s POV

School is out for summer break. It has been weeks since I last spoke to Aveline about Chelsea, and I planned to explain myself once I found out she was coming to Milo’s wild summer beach party. My dad had forced me to take Chelsea with me. I thought maybe if she heard the truth from me, or even indirectly, it might help. It was just a one-week summer break at the beach, so I packed my bag and got ready.

The beach house was already chaotic when we arrived. Loud Music and the smell of smoke mixed with cheap beer filled the air. I looked through the crowd immediately, ignoring people who threw their arms around my shoulders. My chest only relaxed a little when I saw her.

Aveline.

But she was not looking at me. She was avoiding my eyes completely. Her posture was stiff as she stood near the edge of the deck. Instead of coming over to where the team was gathering, she turned her back on purpose and stayed deep in conversation with Cassian. He was laughing at something she said, leaning in close enough that his shoulder touched hers.

A hot feeling of irritation rose in my throat. She was shutting me out completely, using Cassian to keep distance between us.

“Kieran? Are we going to join them?” Chelsea’s voice broke my focus. She stood beside me, adjusting her top strap.

“Yeah,” I muttered, forcing my eyes away from Aveline. “Let’s go.”

I led Chelsea over to the main circle where Milo, Landon, and a few other hockey guys stood around a cooler. When we stepped in, they all went quiet, looking between the new girl beside me and me.

Chelsea didn’t hesitate. She stepped forward with a calm smile. “Hi guys, I’m Chelsea.”

Milo smirked. “Well, hello there. Hampton, you didn’t say you were bringing a guest.”

“She’s a family friend,” I said quickly, but Landon already started teasing her.

“So, Chelsea, do you actually know anything about hockey, or do you just tolerate Kieran’s terrible attitude?” Landon joked, leaning on a beach chair.

To my surprise, Chelsea laughed and crossed her arms. “Actually, I follow the league more than he does. I saw your game against Westbridge last month. Your defence in the second period was completely messy. You left the left side wide open.”

The guys burst into cheers and laughter. Milo clapped. “Oh, she’s good! Landon, she just called you messy.”

In seconds, they were all talking. They were fully caught up in hockey talk stats, trades, and next season predictions.

Chelsea was holding her own, using technical terms that even impressed Milo.

I stepped back from the group, my eyes searching the deck again.

Aveline was gone.

Moments later, Chelsea also left the circle to get a drink in the kitchen. I didn’t follow her. My eyes moved toward the dark beach instead.

In the moonlight, I saw Aveline walking along the shore, his shape clear. But my eyes moved a little ahead of him. Something inside me pushed me forward. I couldn’t stop myself. I needed to go after her.

I left Chelsea without thinking about the guys, the party. I moved fast, my shoes sinking into the wet sand. My chest felt tight.

I followed her onto the wooden planks, my steps covered by the sound of the waves, until I reached the dark dock and cornered her there.

She turned around quickly, surprised, her back hitting the wooden rail.

“I didn’t know you would come,” I said, my voice rougher than I meant.

Aveline looked up at me, defensive again, like her walls were back in place. “Yeah, I didn’t know you would shove your girl in our faces tonight.”

Her bitterness hit me hard. “Aveline, why are you like this? Chelsea and I are not together.”

“Could have fooled me,” she whispered, turning her face toward the dark ocean. “You brought her on a summer trip, Kieran. You acted like a perfect couple in front of everyone.”

“It’s not what it looks like,” I stepped closer, blocking her way, desperate for her to understand. “My dad forced me to bring her. It’s a setup. He is controlling everything. I tried to tell her the truth.”

I explained everything about my father’s control. Aveline’s breath caught. She looked at me, moonlight hitting her face.

The space between us felt smaller. The tension was heavy, like we were about to kiss under the moonlight. I saw her almost give in. Her lips parted slightly. My hand moved toward her face.

But then she pulled away.

Tears were in her eyes, shining in the night. “I can’t do this, Kieran,” she said shakily. “I can’t keep guessing what is real with you.”

Before I could say anything, she ran past me, her shoes hitting the wood as she disappeared back into the crowd.

I stayed there, the ocean behind me quiet. I didn’t follow her. My hands clenched at my sides as the cold wind hit my face. I had told her everything, and she still left.

When I got back to the beach house, things had changed. The patio was quieter, and most people had gone down to the sand. I looked around, but I couldn’t find Aveline.

Milo and Landon stood near the back steps, holding red cups.

“Hey, where did Asher go?” I asked Milo, trying to sound normal.

Milo shrugged and looked toward the beach. “Think he went down to the bonfire with the girls. Everyone’s heading there.”

I nodded and walked down the steps toward the sand.

The bonfire was huge, sparks flying into the night sky. A large group sat around it on logs and blankets.

I saw Aveline sitting on a log next to Theo. She was quiet, hoodie up, staring at the fire while others joked around her. She kept her eyes on the flames and ignored me completely when I sat on a cooler across from them.

That moment from the dock still hung between us. The fire was hot, and my throat felt dry. I needed water.

I stood up and walked back toward the beach house to get drinks. The door was slightly open,

The kitchen was dark, and the only light was by the open fridge. As I stepped in, I heard sounds from the hallway soft breathing and the sound of clothes moving against the wall.

I frowned. I put the cans back into the cooler and walked quietly across the floor. I moved closer to the hallway corner.

The shadows grew darker. I turned the corner and saw Cassian and Daphne kissing.

They were pressed against the wall, hidden from the party outside, fully wrapped up in each other.

I froze in the doorway as the light caught them.