Lake Redstone

by Hollyfield, J. D.

  “Well, color me shocked.” She cups her palms, and screams, “You got this, babe!” She waves at him and we all watch him make his rookie mistake. He takes his hand off the grab to wave back.

  “No, dude! Hold on with both hands!” Jason yells, but it’s too late. As he waves back to his wife, the boat hits a small bump in the water, sending a jolt of waves to shift. Jerry loses his balance, and when the board skids over the disruption in the water, Jerry goes flying in the air.

  All eyes widen as we watch him lose the board and fly into the air. Then they all suddenly clench shut as he belly flops at high speed into the water.

  “Holy shit, that had to hurt.” Jason’s face is scrunched in agony.

  “He had to have swallowed his balls,” Mick says in pain, turning the boat around to fetch him.

  Katie shakes her head and takes down the rest of her drink. “Idiot.”

  After fetching Jerry, all parts still intact, Mick found a secluded little man-made beach toward the opposite end of the lake—the way other end from the house on Bunker Hill. A group of young college kids take up the other half, but don’t seem to mind that we crash their party. The girls are set up in a row, each with their beach towels laid out, soaking in the blazing sun. Mick and Jason throw a football around down the way, while Jerry floats on a raft in the lake.

  Walking back from the tree-line after taking a piss, my eyes search out Casey in the middle of the girls, her cat ear inspired sunglasses hiding her eyes. Even though I can’t see them, I feel her watching me. I can sense it. Her body language gives her away, her legs bent, her thighs squeezing together with each step I eliminate between us. She’s perched up on her elbows, listening to something Katie’s saying, but if I had to guess, she hasn’t heard a single word. For my own personal pleasure, I rub my open palm across my chest, working down to my navel, and smile as her thighs clench tighter. Damn, she’s so sexy when she’s aroused. And I’d be lying if I wasn’t just as turned on playing this game. As much as I wish we were on this beach alone so I could rip that skimpy little bathing suit off and suck every single piece of her into my greedy mouth, I want to merely lay with her, get to know her, listen to her laugh, know what she likes to do, eat, listen to, what her first car was. I want to get inside her head and learn everything about her. It’s been too long since I’ve felt the creative tick of words and sat down and written new music. Casey has broken down the blockage suffocating my fruitfulness. If I had a pen and paper, I’d throw myself into words, all birthed by the way she’s brought the life back into me. Her smile is like this symphony playing in my head, each whimper or laugh forming words that create this beautiful melody, causing my fingers to ache for my guitar—to strum the strings as if I was strumming between her creamy thighs.

  Every step closer I get, the heavier this mass in my stomach gets, sparking questions I never thought to have answers to. How the hell did something so unconventional turn into something pretty damn amazing?

  “Dude, I think he’s coming to eat you alive.”

  “If you two start going at it, I’m outta here.”

  “I wouldn’t mind seeing what he has to offer—ouch! Man, you’ve become so violent in your old age.”

  Katie rubs her forearm as my feet hit the bottom of Casey’s towel.

  “Hey,” I say.

  “Hey,” she replies, her voice soft.

  “Room for one more?” I ask, dropping down to my knees. Without waiting for an answer, I start to crawl up, past her sun-kissed legs, and straddle her hips. Her eyes stay trained on mine as I work up her body, forcing her to lay back, her head hitting the towel. “Best seat in the house,” I whisper, then drop my lips to hers. Gone is the girl who once tensed up when I kissed her. In her place is the compliant firecracker who takes my lips against hers just as eager as my own.

  “Jesus, get a room. Oh, wait, that doesn’t matter, ’cause the whole house still can hear.” Poppy laughs at Katie’s poke, my smile growing along her mouth. I can’t help myself and deepen our kiss, mingling our tongues, hers sweet with the lingering taste of her raspberry spritzer.

  “Okay, yeah. I think maybe we should give them a moment,” June says, plucking at Katie’s arm.

  “Dude, I’ll meet up with you. Curious how this plays out—Jesus! June, when did you stop being sweet and harmless?” Katie grumbles, huffing, then gets up as the three of them walk off to the water.

  I slow our kiss and open my eyes as I pull back. “Was it something I did?” I ask, the smirk unstoppable as it spreads across my face. I wait for her routine beat down, but it doesn’t come. I slide off her and lay on my side, facing her. “Favorite color?”

  “What?”

  “We didn’t finish our twenty questions. What’s your favorite color?”

  She eyes me, then adjusts her body to face me. “Black. So morbid, right? But I think my personality is bright enough. Have to offset it, ya know?” I laugh and slide her sunglasses off her nose, placing them over my face.

  “There. Now I can see.”

  “Ha-ha. My turn. The name of your pet growing up?”

  “I never had one. My parents didn’t like animals. I had a pet rock when I was a kid. I named it Rocky. Get it?” She shares in the humor, her eyes lighting up, accentuating the spec of hazel and green. “My turn. How old are you?”

  “Older than my maturity level. Thirty.” I did expect her to be a little bit younger, yet I’m pleasantly surprised we’re so close in age. “Good thing or bad?” she asks.

  “Is that your question?” My brow goes up in a playful inquiry.

  “Actually, no. Retract that one. How often do you sell yourself to crazy people for money?”

  A few seconds pass, then my chest rumbles, expelling a burst of laugher. “I can honestly say this is my first and hopefully last gig.” It makes me feel good to see the relief cross her face. “My turn. Why did you think I was a gigolo?” I chuckle after asking it. Damn, she’s cute when she’s embarrassed.

  “Well, you were so good at what you were doing. The sweet talking. The way you, ugh…this is embarrassing, but you just hit all the right points. There was no way you were only some random guy wanting to make a few bucks and be a stranger’s boyfriend for the weekend.”

  “Good thing I was. Best random decision I’ve made in a long damn time.”

  Our expressions mask each other’s. A smile full of warmth, gratefulness. Excitement for this insanely strange thing we’ve found. “I think I’m gonna break the first date one-oh-one rules. Not sure I can wait the three to five days to call and ask for that date I’ve been thinking about.” Color flushes her already sun-kissed cheeks. Her eyes become heavy. She approves. I lean in and kiss her. When I pull away, a pleasant sigh falls off her wet bottom lip. “My turn. What are the chances we can cover ourselves with these beach towels and continue where we left off this morning?” I nip her shoulder, the taste of cherry painting my lips.

  “I can guarantee up to second base, other than that is a bonus.” My laughter vibrates against her smooth skin as I go in for another nibble. God, I could devour her right here. “When we fess up to everyone, make sure to tell them it’s my impeccable charm that really won you over.”

  Her body tenses beneath me. “Whoa, that’s not happening.”

  I pull back, confusion in my eyes. Continuing this ruse would make sense if we hadn’t formed a real relationship. The longer we keep this lie going, the worse we both come off. And I’m starting to not feel good about all the deceit. “They’re gonna figure it out sooner or later. Might as well tell them all together. It’ll be fine. They like me. We’ll laugh about it and—”

  “Jim, we’re not telling ’em.”

  My smile wilts. “I’m not gonna continue to lie to them.” At least any more than I already have. I may have just met these people, but they don’t deserve to be lied to. My conscience eats at me the closer I become with each of them. Casey should feel the same. I wait for her to agree with me, but her mood shifts in the opp
osite direction.

  She pulls away and sits forward. “Newsflash, you already have. And telling them I hired you isn’t gonna make either of us come off any better. Please, just let it be for now, okay?” For how long? Our weekend is rapidly coming to an end. Then where does that leave us? Her defensive expression transforms into pleading. “Please. Let me figure it all out.” Struggling with right and wrong, I nod, and her tense shoulders relax.

  “It’s on, bro!”

  I sit up, our focus now on the loud voices coming from the other side of the beach. Jason and Mick are chest to chest with some young guys. “What’s going on?” Casey asks as I get up, catching her hand to help her up too.

  “Not sure. Let’s go find out.” I don’t release her hand as we walk across the beach to see what everyone is yelling about.

  “Dude, you’re injured, old news, man. I bet you can’t throw past that bobber in the lake.”

  Jason lets the insult fall off his shoulders with a loud laugh. “It’s on, Junior. I’ll run across that floating water mat, do a flip, and still catch that football. Tell me who’s old and injured then.”

  The young punk slaps his palms together. “Yeah, you got it. You miss it, we get all the booze on that fancy boat of yours.”

  “Deal.”

  Everyone starts to huddle around as Jason stretches his arms, then kisses June before walking toward the small dock, a water mat at the end of it. He positions himself, his foot digging into the sand, preparing to run out the play.

  “Ready, old man?”

  “Whenever you are, Junior.”

  “Ready, set, hike!” The kid twists, taking a step forward as he pulls his arm back and launches the football. It soars through the air, and Jason takes off down the dock, his hand shielding the sun from his eyes so he can keep track of the ball. Once he hits the water mat, like a goddamn acrobat, he throws himself into an impressive flip, twisting his body in the process, his hands out, the football falling right into his grip. He lands in the water, and everyone goes wild.

  “Holy shit! That was awesome!” Their little fan club of girls all clap and scream. I peek over at June, but she’s simply smiling at her man, not a smidge of jealousy in her sweet smile.

  The kid slams his hand to his side as Jason pops up, a huge grin on his face. “Looks like you’re gonna stay thirsty.”

  “Screw that!” he scowls. “Best outta three.”

  Jason climbs up the ladder to the dock and struts toward the crowd. “Deal. I can do this all day.”

  “No way.” He snaps around, his attention on me, then goes for the kill when he eyes Mick and Jerry. “These fools. Each one makes it, or we get the booze.” My brows go up. Yeah, not sure how good I’d be at—

  “You in, Jim-Bob? Jet-setter over here can probably do this in his sleep!” My eyes shoot to his. “My boy’s gonna smoke you.”

  I side-eye Casey, that pleading flicker of desperation back in her eyes. Dammit. I guess them finding out I’m a fraud by sabotaging this competition is one way to come clean. “I’m in,” I reply, and step forward, as does Mick.

  “Totally in. Last season’s swimsuit shoot had me doing this all day. Got this in the bag, baby.” The kid regards Mick strangely, shaking off his comment and Jason tosses him the football. Mick goes first, preparing his stance, and with a toss, he’s off, impressively flipping in the air and catching the football, tucking it into his chest as he plunges into the lake.

  When I’m up, I slap Casey on her cute ass for luck, since I sure need it, and adjust my form, ready to run. I’m betting twenty-eighty on myself, but I keep that low percentage to myself. Mick and Jason are already glowing with victory. When the little teeny bopper yells, “Hike,” I take off down the dock. The second my foot pushes off the dock, I suck my abs in and curl into a spin. My body follows through perfectly, and when my hands reach out, my fingers snag the football. My grip isn’t on target and I almost lose it, but by the time I land in the water, I have the football tightly pressed to my chest.

  Hollering booms through my eardrums as I resurface, and I can’t help but scream myself. Damn, that was awesome! I swim to the dock and climb up, tossing the ball.

  “All right, boys. Have fun. Sober life is the worst life.” Jason laughs, throwing his arm around June. I grab for Casey, and we all retreat to our side of the beach.

  “Not so fast. That dude didn’t go.” We all glance over to take stock of who he’s talking about. Shit.

  “You said best out of three, Junior.”

  “What? Think your friend can’t do it? That’s messed up.”

  Jason looks over at Jerry and sighs. Mick does the same, then mumbles something under his breath. Katie throws her hands up in the air. “Oh, come on! Casey just filled that whole cooler with her entire stock of spritzers.”

  Case whips her head in her direction. “How was I supposed to know we were going to go to battle over our stash?”

  Katie huffs under her breath. “Oh, come on! Who takes up all the cooler space to begin with? Learn to drink real booze.”

  Casey gasps. “I drink real booze!”

  The punk rolls his eyes and throws his hand in the air. “I don’t give a shizzle what’s in the cooler. Make him do the jump or it’s ours.” Why are we even bothering with this kid? He’s like eighteen, and we’re adults. We make the rules! “You got somethin’ to say, daddio?”

  “Nope. All good.” Dammit! I just chickened out to a kid. I check around to see if anyone’s sticking their hand out, demanding my man card. Also, nope. All are still staring at Jerry. Good.

  “So, what’s it gonna be? Me and my posse got some spritzers to murder.”

  Jason’s gaze ping-pongs back and forth between Jerry and the punk, preparing to do some heavy negotiations, when Jerry steps forward.

  “We’re gonna murder those drinks, not you, homeboy.” Katie’s eyes roll up, shaking her head. Mick and Jason wear worried expressions. “Don’t throw like a girl, though, ya hear me, fool?”

  “Oh my god, I’m going to the boat,” Katie sighs and walks off in the opposite direction.

  “Jerry, you sure about this? We can just give them the coolers. We have more at—”

  “No way. Those are our spritzers. I had a cranberry one earlier, and it was damn tasty.”

  I accidently let a chuckle slip. Jason follows Jerry to the starting area. “Okay, man, just run fast. When you’re about a foot from the edge of the dock, take a light jump onto the mat. A few steps, jump, and turn, hands out. Got it?”

  Jerry turns and pats Jason vigorously on his shoulder. “Got it. Don’t worry.” Jason’s expression a mix between uncertainty and worry, he nods and steps back. We all watch as Jerry sets his stance. When “Hike” is yelled, everyone holds their breath. He takes off fast, running through the small patch of sand before hitting the dock, looking really promising at the speed he’s going. The end of the dock comes quick, and we all stare in anticipation, until his foot pushes off too soon.

  “Dude, too soon!” Jason shouts.

  But it’s too late. Before even hitting the water mat, Jerry jumps, his body twisting. When the football goes flying, he thrusts his hand out.

  Poppy’s mouth opens in shock. “Holy cow, he’s actually gonna catch that.”

  “What he’s not gonna do is clear that water mat.”

  Behold everyone’s amazement, the ball lands in his grip. Everyone goes berserk. Pride shines thick for my new pal. Then—oh crap.

  “Oh crap.”

  Gravity kicks in, and he starts to drop.

  “He ain’t clearing that mat.”

  Definitely not clearing—ouch!

  His body slams into the mat. With just the right landing, the middle of the mat splits open and Jerry rips through the center.

  An animalistic screech blares from the kid next to us. His eyes wide in disbelief, he frantically jams his hands through his wild, boy-band hair. “He broke my mat! He broke my mat! My dad’s gonna kill me!” he shrieks, his voice ear-pi
ercing.

  We have our ears covered as the kid curses. We all watch as Jerry pops up from the side of the mat. “Did I do it?” he shouts, still cradling the ball.

  “Uh…not so much, man,” Jason sighs.

  “You broke my mat! You’re gonna get it! All of you! Gonna break all your faces.” He veers his murderous glare on us. “Who’s first? You’re all dead!”

  Mick backs up. “Not it. Money making face over here.”

  The kid’s brows shoot up, the same strange look as before, then he casts his focus on me. “You—you’re dead.” I debate on taking one for the team. How hard can this kid hit anyway? Jason steps forward and points to something over the kid’s shoulders.

  “Hey, who’s the dude making out with your girlfriend?”

  The kid shrieks again, deafening me in one ear. He spins in the direction of his friends, throwing his daggered stare at his posse, and screams, “What? Who’s messing with my lady!”

  “And…run,” Jason says. Like déjà vu, I hit the sand hard, turning as we all run toward the boat. “Swim to the boat, Jerry!” He doesn’t think twice before tossing the football, his breaststroke impressive as he swims away from the havoc.

  Poppy runs ahead and grabs the towels.

  We’re all booking it through the water, and thankfully, Katie is already on the boat and starts the engine.

  “Hey, get back here! Fist sandwiches! You’re dead! All dead!”

  “Jesus, he’s an angry little guy.” I laugh at Jason, ducking as the football wizzes past my head. We swim up to the boat, letting the girls climb up first. Casey slips, rushing, and I grab her ass and push her up. Once we’re safely on board, we all search for Jerry.

  “Hurry!”

  “You got this!”

  “Swim faster, you moron!”

  The little thug has now gathered his posse and they’re headed our way. They’re vigilant in their young age and making pretty quick headway on catching us.

  “Go! Go! Go!” I shout, feeling the pressure.

  “We need to leave him.” Casey slaps Katie’s arm. “We’re not leaving your husband, Jesus.”

  “His fault. He shouldn’t have gotten us into this.”