What Happens at the Beach

By Obelia Akanke

Violet's stay in the beach house is supposed to be the perfect minivacation. She can reconnect with old friends and bond with her best friend, Corey. However, when Corey decides to spend time with a woman he just met, Violet experiences a new emotion - jealousy.

Has the Cove Crew been right all of these years in saying Violet and Corey should be a couple? Is Violet willing to risk a seventeen-year friendship over what could be a temporary emotion?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Obelia Akanke
• Release date: Jul 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393665335

Book preview

What Happens at the Beach

A Settler’s Cove Minivacation

Obelia Akanke

Text Copyright © 2018 Obelia Akanke.

Cover photo Ammentorp © 123RF.com

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or in any means – by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without prior written permission.

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Edited by Cynthia Tucker.

Cover designed by Alphaite Creative Design.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

About the Author

Other Books by this Author

Chapter 1

Barely a hint of sun cracked through the dark of night as Violet both delighted in and lamented her solitude. She removed the sandals from her feet and smiled. She no longer had to hold a seashell to her ear to hear the ocean because she was finally beside it. Sunrise coincided with low tide that morning, so she was able to watch the day begin and hear the soft whooshing of the waves as they rubbed the beach without the noise of tourists.

Even though she lived barely an hour away, Violet had never visited a beach at the Outer Banks or OBX, as some call it. The Cove Crew had been planning the trip for over fourteen months. The friends from the Settler’s Cove neighborhood stayed in touch over the years and decided to rent a beach house for a week. Fortunately, Frank had inherited a house and allowed everyone to stay at the end of May. Four guys and six girls occupied the tri-level home during the reunion.

Even with so much area to move about, ten adults in a house can make it feel crowded. Violet was used to her space and privacy. She hadn’t had a roommate since college, so bunking with Sharon wasn’t the highlight of her trip. However, she decided not to complain since they all saved money in lodging costs by staying in their friend’s beach rental home for a reduced fee.

Violet stepped onto the cool sand and stood just close enough for the waves to barely sweep over her toes. As much as she liked the water, she didn’t like it enough to risk stepping in too far and possibly getting swept away because she underestimated the strength of the current. Typically, she had a rule about telling at least two people where she was going. This time, she had just wanted to be left alone, which meant no one would know where to look for her if she didn’t return at a given time.

She squeezed the wet sand between her toes and concentrated on feeling the warmth of the break of dawn. Finally, I can be alone and have the morning all to my–

Cookie! What are you doing out here so early?

Violet turned her head to the left to see Corey jogging up to meet her. She had a fondness for Corey. He was the first person to call her Cookie and the only one she’d let get away with the nickname. They had an undefined friendship that had never been titled, but they were close enough to know that they could depend on each other if needed. He had not checked in last night before she went to bed, so she hadn’t expected to see him first thing in the morning – during her alone time.

Hey, Munk! Violet walked toward him. I get it! I get it! You’ve buffed up since the last time I saw you. Please don’t break me! she requested as he gave her a bear hug. When’d you get here?

I got here about one o'clock, but I wanted to take my morning jog since I won’t be at the gym for almost two weeks. Corey released her and scooped her up again. Look at you!

Oh...gosh, she managed to grunt out with the second hug. It’s good to see you, too, Munk. Maybe I need to start calling you Diesel now, huh? kidded Violet when he let her down. Morning jog? So, you’re going to run? On purpose? On the sand? Won’t that make it harder?

Yeah, it’s good resistance, but I decided to walk instead. I was on the way back to the house when I saw you and came over.

Man, I thought I was the first one up. You know you can swim to make up some of your exercise. Just hop in, she said, gesturing toward the water.

I don’t do the beach. I mean, I’ll stay out here, but I’m not big on beach water.

Well, get in the pool then, she suggested.

Eh. I’m not a pool guy either. I don’t swim.

You don’t swim, or you can’t swim?

Yes.

Yes, what?

Yes, to your question.

It was an either/or question.

Maybe, but the answer is the same to both. I don’t swim, and I can’t swim.

Really? All this time we’ve lived on the coast you haven’t been swimming? But I’ve seen you at the pool. We live by the water.

"Technically, our city is by the ocean. I don’t actually get in the water. I walk on the boardwalk. And yes, you’ve seen me at the pool because neighbors had pool parties. But...have you seen me swim or playing in it?"

Violet thought about it and realized she assumed everyone in the pool knew how to swim. Oh. Well, we can fix that this weekend. I’ll teach you.

Corey balked at the idea. Like that’ll happen!

I’m serious. I can teach you.

I’m sure you could, but it’s not gonna happen.

Why not?

Because I have a strict ‘don’t do anything that risks me drowning’ policy.

You won’t drown. I will –

– not be getting me in the water, Corey finished. Anyway, I only had a couple hours of sleep. It’s almost six o'clock now. I’m gonna get some breakfast and take a nap. You comin’?

Violet looked at the water and up the beach to see joggers making their way across the sand and fishermen heading to the pier. Well, I can’t quite get my quiet morning