Finding Serenity (Serenity Beach) Read Free Page B

know you?”
    “You don’t,” I said quickly. “I think we need to get you home.”
    “I’m fine.” She tried to take a step forward and stumbled, landing in my arms. “Be careful. The ground is dangerous.”
    I laughed. “Thanks for the tip.”
    “I’ll drive us home.” Kennedy looked around in a panic. “As soon as I find my car.”
    “Maybe we should call Brian.” Kennedy’s oldest friend was a long-time resident of Serenity and because he wasn’t a big drinker, he was also our favorite designated driver.
    “I could give you a ride,” Nolan said.
    Kennedy held up her phone triumphantly. “Wait. I already called Bry.”
    I took her phone to see if that was true. Sure enough, Brian had texted to say that he was just a couple of minutes away and that we owed him big time.
    “Thanks for the offer,” I said, showing him the text. “Looks like someone else gets to be the lucky chauffeur of two drunk girls.”
    “The universe is always conspiring against me,” he said with a smile.
    It was a slow walk to the front of the house, Nolan and I carrying Kennedy between us. She kept insisting that she was okay to walk, but her body seemed to think otherwise. By the time we got to the driveway, Brian’s beat-up Jeep was waiting with the engine running.
    “This is why we don’t get invited to parties,” Brian said as Kennedy threw herself across the backseat.
    “ We get invited to plenty’a parties,” she grumbled back.
    I shut the door quickly to cut off any further bickering. They were best friends, but they fought like an old married couple.
    “Thanks for the help,” I said. “I’ll let you get back to actually having fun now.”
    “You mean the party?” he frowned. “I can’t think of anything I would rather do less than be surrounded by a bunch of drunk strangers.”
    “Well, have a good night anyway.” I opened the passenger door.
    Nolan nodded. “Maybe I’ll see you around?”
    “Sure. If you make it down to the beach, stop by the Seabag. Drinks are on me.”
    “Deal.”
    As Brian drove away, I fully expected that to be my last encounter with Nolan. It would be the perfect way to remember the night, parting with a promise to meet again but no obligation to make it happen. Empty promises were the best kind because they had no real currency. Unlike promises that were made loaded with intent, which held immeasurable value. Those promises were the ones that could break you.
    So if I never saw Nolan again, that would be just fine with me.

CHAPTER TWO
    Sundays were one of my days off, and I was glad for the extra rest when I woke up after the party. My head was consumed by a dull ache, so I popped some pain killers and downed a glass of water. Kennedy and I had plans to meet at the beach later, but I had kept my entire morning free so that I could run errands.
    My bike was old, like it had probably been around in the fifties, but it was still a deep shade of blue. The large basket over the back tire was perfect for holding my groceries. Best of all, I had gotten quite a deal on it at a yard sale and it had already proven to be worth the investment.
    Serenity’s downtown was in the very center of town, north of the ocean, which meant it wasn’t really downtown at all. Since it was relatively early on a Sunday morning, most people were still at home or on their way to church. I was able to bike down the middle of the road without meeting any cars along the way. Most of the shops were still closed, but I knew for a fact that the place I was headed would be open.
    I left my bike leaning against a light pole without securing it- Serenity wasn’t just a name. The beach community had a very low crime rate. The shop door chimed merrily as I entered and I was greeted by a wave and a good morning from the shop owner, Callie.
    This was at least my tenth trip to the store since I had discovered it a week after moving to town. Callie and I had since become good friends. Aside from Kennedy, she was the