Center your story around an unexpected summer fling.

Posted in Summer on Aug 2, 2024

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✍️ 53 stories

“I Guess” by Danielle Lennon

Submitted to Contest #262

Acknowledging your name would bring up too much so I left it out, but by the end of this I’m sure you’d know this was perfectly crafted for you. It was the perfect love story until this moment. The moment I realized and accepted you really ghosted me. Things were not supposed to go this way, but I guess that was your intention all along. You made my world stop. Inhale. Every breath I took was like inhaling every part of you. Exhale. Every release was with force signifying me exhaling all the othe...

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“Tiger Lily” by Tempest Phoenix Smith

Submitted to Contest #262

Candis was the last of the gathered poets to stash her notebook and assorted pens in her capacious bag after everyone else dispersed. The highlight of her week always ended too soon.She abandoned the picnic bench outside Scripps Cottage to head back to the main campus of San Diego State University. Glancing down, she paused to adjust her bag so the mermaid portrait trimmed with sequins would be displayed to any passerby. The opposite side only showed a curling wave, frilled with a filigree of foam, not half as interesting.She glanced at the ...

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“Perks of a Red Door” by Rachael Albert

Submitted to Contest #262

Having an affair is a stupid thing to do. Which is why I wont tell my husband I’ve been having one most of the summer. Let me roll it back to the beginning for you. I have this buddy, Carmine, who likes to go out… a lot. He’s honestly a borderline alcoholic but we let him know that too often, and he’s a good time, anyway. It was late June and Carmine called me up to go to a gay bar with him. Being a bisexual woman, this is totally my thing, plus my husband was away for a few days so I figured, “why not?” I wanted the company, too. My husband...

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“Life Beyond the Sea ” by Jirasol Casper

Submitted to Contest #262

My feet sway in the ocean’s cool waters and I watch as the sun paints the sky with its being, adding various shades of yellows and oranges. The breeze feels amazing against my clammy skin on this dreadfully hot day. Averting my gaze from the sea’s beyond, I turn to the ships at the docks wondering which one belongs to Luvenia, or Lovie as she has preferred this summer season. Oh Lovie. My mind starts to wander to the many smoldering gazes and subtle touches. The secret meetings and days filled with endless passion. I began to crave t...

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“Hear Wave in Miramar” by Lisa Kober

Submitted to Contest #262

The HeatwaveChapter 1: The MeetingAs the mercury soared to an unprecedented high, the radio crackled with a dire announcement: "A severe heatwave advisory is in effect for the next 72 hours. Stay indoors, stay hydrated, and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun."It was the hottest day of the year, and the small coastal town of Miramar shimmered under the oppressive sun, the air rippling like a fevered dream. Emma, who had always reveled in the warmth of summer, was now suffocating under its relentless blaze. She had escaped to her grandmother'...

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“Breath of Life” by Heather Congrove

Submitted to Contest #262

Author note, this story contains depictions of child birth and referencing to rape. “One, two, three push!" She bears down, pushing her body to its limit. Every fiber of her being joins in the effort with little control of her own. Waves of agony shake her as each contraction comes quicker than the last. She steadies her breathing, reminding herself that she is strong enough to make it through. The relentless wave comes again, strong at first, then growing to unbearable intensity. She wails in pain."It's okay Lucy. It's almost over. I can ...

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“ONE SUMMER AT THE BEACH” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #262

Fire, Island, the best place to be during the summer. My favorite place to be. I used to come here with my family every summer. Now I'm coming here alone. It doesn't feel right coming here alone. I am making it my mission to have fun and I am going to have fun. Wow, I can't believe Fire Island is still the same. Mama's Bakery is still in the same place welcoming visitors to the island. Mama's Bakery sells the most delicious pastries. My favorite are the eclairs. Maybe, I will have one later. Fire Island Ice Cream Shop is where the best ice c...

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“Heart Left Behind” by CJ Erb

Submitted to Contest #262

Niko absently ran his finger through drops of condensation on the side of his glass. He’d finished his second drink pretty quickly and was chewing on the leftover ice in an attempt to keep cool. “Uh, excuse me.” Niko’s head snapped up. “Huh? Sorry?” Behind the bar, the bartender smiled softly. “Last call. Can I get you anything else?” He was being polite, even though it was clear he’d asked this already. Niko just hadn’t heard him the first time. The heat didn’t help with his sleeplessness, but it sure made him feel...

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“A Second Chance at Summer” by Hannah R. Newberry

Submitted to Contest #262

“Can I get the play station?”“You have fifty seven tickets.” The boy, a short round thing of about twelve, stared at me blankly. His red stained mouth hung open slightly, the same cherry stain dribbled down the front of his shirt. “The play station costs 115,000 tickets,” I explained. “Okay!” He said with an empathic nod of the head, comprehension eluding him.“You know what, how about fifty seven army men?” I pulled out one of the small green figures from a container under the counter and handed it to the boy. He stared down a...

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“Tahitian Sands Turn Back Time” by Arpad Nagy

Submitted to Contest #262

John Wallinger stood on the beach of the tiny, isolated atoll, staring at the horizon of an azure sea. But beyond where the water turned dark and deep, he sensed change on the way. Here on the western edge of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, the transplanted Canadian wondered what the day would bring. Unlike the mere palmful of sky available to the eye above his Rocky Mountain hometown, in this place, the sky was without end in all directions. And though he could see as far as forever standing on his beach, knowing what would c...

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“The Complete Cowboy-Romance Experience” by Suzanne Jennifer

Submitted to Contest #262

It was a brisk morning in early summer at the Whiskey Creek Ranch, a dude ranch/working cattle ranch in the Montana Rockies. Another week had begun and the staff was ready. It was orientation for the next batch of guests, and the mountains surrounding the valley held witness as a group of greenhorns gathered for instructions.Two men and three women circled around a cowboy, listening as he explained the rules of trail etiquette. Vivienne wondered if the cowboy’s demeanor was as insulting to the other four guests as it was to her. She was in s...

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“A Tale of a Starry-Eyed Princess” by Tara D. Wilson

Submitted to Contest #262

I lay there in my crown of flowers, the purple velvet coat soft under my body. The silver beads in the sleeveless bodice of my ivory dress twinkled in the sun as the tulle skirt fluttered in the breeze. My handsome prince stood above me. He, with his ivory skin, sky blue eyes, and blond hair, slowly leaned down. This was the magic moment, our first kiss. And just as our lips were about to touch, he started poking my shoulder. Huh? I thought. Then I woke up. My eyes opened and I saw the poking perpetrator. My friend, Jason, was...

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“The Boy at the Lake” by Madison Tirrell

Submitted to Contest #262

I've given up on love. Ever since my ex and I broke up a few years ago, I’ve lost all hope in finding ‘the one.’ I drown myself in work and hobbies, which include reading and spending time by the lake in the summer. I go to the lake a few times a week. I focus on the sounds of families having picnics and the rattle of bike tires over the wooden bridge. There’s this one rock that sits a few feet up the shore, a patch of grass in front of it before it dips off into the murky water. It’s just tall enough for me to lean against it. I lay a blank...

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“Even Swans Make Mistakes” by Oscar Lozano

Submitted to Contest #262

Has any other well-to-do girl ever seemed like as much of a criminal as me? Camille pondered, sitting in the garden, watching her trembling hands. She felt like she had stolen something. In fact, she knew she had. Not something, however, but someone. All she could do now was wait until he woke up.***An experienced dancer since she was six, Camille took new members of her class under her wing. They were usually complete beginners, more interested in having fun than anything else. She stuck to the basics with them. That afternoon, she taught a...

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“It must be love” by Justin Diaz

Submitted to Contest #262

It must be love “We’re here” called out Carl, the father of the Fox family as he put the minivan into park just outside of an old house. Matthew was zoned out typing away on his phone chatting with his friends who were now hundreds of miles away by now back in his hometown. He hated the idea of being dragged all this way from his home to a place he had never been before. His friends had plans for summer vacation, and he was looking forward to joining them in those plans but when one day his father announced they were going to spend the summ...

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Center your story around an unexpected summer fling.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 53 stories

“I Guess” by Danielle Lennon

“Tiger Lily” by Tempest Phoenix Smith

“Perks of a Red Door” by Rachael Albert

“Life Beyond the Sea ” by Jirasol Casper

“Hear Wave in Miramar” by Lisa Kober

“Breath of Life” by Heather Congrove

“ONE SUMMER AT THE BEACH” by Melinda Madrigal

“Heart Left Behind” by CJ Erb

“A Second Chance at Summer” by Hannah R. Newberry

“Tahitian Sands Turn Back Time” by Arpad Nagy

“The Complete Cowboy-Romance Experience” by Suzanne Jennifer

“A Tale of a Starry-Eyed Princess” by Tara D. Wilson

“The Boy at the Lake” by Madison Tirrell

“Even Swans Make Mistakes” by Oscar Lozano

“It must be love” by Justin Diaz

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a summer vacation gone wrong.

Start or end your story with a heatwave announcement.

Write about a character who is allergic to heat.

Set your story during the hottest day of the year.

Contest #262

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

266

Contest entries

91

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: