The Keys to Jericho

by Ren Alexander

  “Right, Jare?”

  Shaking my head, I glance at Rio. “Huh?”

  Rio peers past me, but doesn’t seem to notice where I was looking. “I was saying how saltwater lures are different than freshwater. The metal should be a stainless steel or galvanized metal.”

  Dash takes the empty sucker stick out of his mouth and blows out a petulant sigh. “And I said that the paint should be more durable because of the saltwater, but Diet DP says the kind of metal is more important. Settle this.”

  Incredulous, I scowl at the both of them as I push up on my fitted cap. “You called me over to argue about this shit?”

  Dash laughs as he tosses the stick into a nearby trashcan. “Why? What were you doing over there? Picking out a new set of seashells for your kitchen in Philly?” In a nasally voice, probably imitating me badly to piss me off, he says, “I’ll take the scallops in a place setting of one, please.” He laughs more, smacking Rio’s arm, but Rio doesn’t join in his merriment. He knows better.

  My frown escalates. “No, but I’m sure I can figure out how to use a conch shell as an ignition source, so if I were you, I’d shut the hell up.”

  Still fucking laughing, he says to Rio, “By the way, I caught Jericho and Kat in the Jacuzzi together.”

  I’m not amused.

  Rio raises a surprised eyebrow. “Oh, yeah?”

  Looking around us, noticing Kat isn’t at the shells, I growl, “You didn’t catch us doing anything. We were talking. What’s the big deal? Wasn’t she invited here for me to hang out with? There. I’m hanging.”

  Rio grins, which unsettles me, so I search our area again to see where Kat went.

  Dash shakes his head. “You’re hiding something again.”

  Putting my hands on my hips, I nod. “Yeah. Apparently, the wrong bodies.”

  Liberty comes up behind Rio, wrapping her arms around his waist. “You getting some fish thingies?”

  Still laughing, Dash says, “I think only the pros call them that, Liberty Island.”

  I roll my eyes and look around us for Kat. I see her leaving the checkout counter with a small bag, tucking it into her loose pocket.

  Liberty squawks, “Ready, Kat?”

  She nods and follows Rio and Liberty out, with me trailing behind, but as soon as we’re outside, Kat falls back to walk with me.

  I ask, “What’d you buy?”

  Kat shrugs. “A thimble for my mom. She collects them.”

  I nod as we walk beside each other. She puts on her sunglasses and the air between us feels cooler.

  Unexpectedly anxious, I lift my hat, running my hand through my hair, and when I drop my arm back to my side, Kat grabs my hand. I instantly look at her as she intertwines our fingers together, but doesn’t look at me. It’s unbelievably absurd how just the feeling of her fingers locked between mine makes me smile, and fight a goddamned erection, especially when she slides her fingers back and forth over mine. I squeeze her hand, while we both watch the three snoops in front of us.

  With Liberty’s senseless babbling, and Dash’s phone ringing, distracting him, I take the opportunity to land my mouth on Kat’s, feeling her surprised gasp when I deeply tongue her, taking more time to do it, but still keeping it quick and covert. Moving away, I instantly look to check if any of them had seen us, but not really caring if they did. Yet, I need to watch myself more so I don’t blow it for Kat.

  When he hangs up his phone, most likely talking to Mommy, seeing a multiple passenger, double-bike contraption filled with people approaching us on the boardwalk, Dash laughs. Putting us on guard, we loosen our grip on each other. As he turns to watch them drive past us, Kat and I completely drop our hands at the same time.

  “Jericho, does your training include showing Kat how to drive one of those things? She might want to bring her husband and kids here someday, and she’ll need to know how to handle one.”

  I scowl at him and Kat says, “I’m still trying to get him to show me how to handle his stick.”

  Liberty snorts, as again, Dash is rendered speechless. After a lot of gaping and backward glances at us, he dubiously laughs. “You’re on it, Merrick. What’s gotten into you?”

  Liberty laughs. “Maybe you should ask who’s gotten into her.”

  Kat winces, shaking her head. “Okay. That’s enough. I meant his car. I was only joking anyway.”

  Dash says something to Liberty and I lean to whisper in Kat’s ear, “You handle my stick like no one else, Kitty Kat.”

  She giggles and checks for clearance, before returning the French kiss I gave her earlier, slowing us somewhat, but since we have to keep our kisses short, I maintain a cool level, and we catch up with little effort. However, it seems we’re inspired to push the boundaries more.

  Picking up my hand, Kat coaxes me to her. Raising her mouth to my ear, I lean closer and she says, “I want your kisses all over me.” I groan and promptly jerk my head away, eyeing the audience in front of us.

  Inclining to her again, I whisper, “They’ll get suspicious if we’re gone long. Look what happened earlier.”

  Dash shouts, “I’m hungry! Who wants pizza?”

  Liberty shrieks, “I do!”

  Rio nods, and before Dash turns to us, we drop our hands, with Kat shoving hers into her back pockets, as I push my bill up and mess with my hair again. He asks, “What do you two want?” Not this shit.

  “A burger and fries.” I turn to Kat, vaguely seeing her eyes behind her sunglasses. “What about you?” Hoping she again can read my mind, but knowing she can’t, I subtly dart my gaze behind us.

  She eagerly nods with a sudden grin. “That’s what I want, too.”

  Smiling back, thankful she got my message, I say to Dash, Rio, and the nameless wench, “I saw a place back there. We’ll meet you guys here in 30.”

  Dash skeptically tries to figure us out, Liberty’s eyes widen, while Rio coolly grins. He holds my gaze, giving me a slight nod. Feeling like he sees through my scheme, I avert my gaze to Kat, who smiles and says, “Come on.”

  Turning the other way, we separately dodge among the thick horde of people, losing sight of each other, before we come up for air in a clearing. Even though we cleared a mass of tourists, we still look behind us for spies, and I think we both breathe a sigh of relief when we don’t see any of the three.

  Seeing a hamburger and fries stand without a line, I grab Kat’s hand, leading her to it, not wanting to eat, but since we’re in the sun so much, and even though Kat’s a teacher herself, having an ex-lifeguard/gym teacher, and a faux doc for best friends, who will undoubtedly ride us all day if we don’t eat, sucks. Assholes. At least we’ll be alone.

  After we get our food, we cross the people stream at our own risk, landing on the other side of the walk, and finding an open space on the gray wall. Setting down our food, Kat takes in a deep breath.

  “What?” I spin my hat around and she smiles as she puts her sunglasses on the wall.

  Kat tucks stray purple stands behind her ear, but the breeze unpins them anyway. “I love the smell of the ocean. Don’t you?”

  Chewing on a fry, I shrug. “It’s nice. It’s not my favorite.”

  “What is? French fries?” Picking up one from her cup, she contemplatively looks at it before turning to me, wistfully saying, “I love…these fries. I would die happy if they loved me back.”

  I roll my eyes. “That’s quite extreme.”

  “Not if you love French fries that much.”

  I uncertainly laugh. “I’ll pass on laying down my life for them.” I shrug. “Maybe hot wings, but definitely not fries.”

  She heaves a sigh and I laugh, feeling more relaxed now that we’re alone.

  Taking another one, Kat teasingly clamps one between her teeth, dangling it at me. Dropping the fry I’m holding, I impulsively swoop in, biting hers, but laughing as I chew it. She laughs with me, but when I begin to talk, she suddenly grabs my face, pulling my mouth back to hers. Forgetting the food, I kiss her withou
t restraint, since we’re not under scrutiny for the time being, except for the public, but fuck them.

  These French fries taste a million times better with Kat Merrick.

  Needing to take a break before bystanders see how turned-on I’m getting, I cut off our long kiss, with a short one, then moving my lips to her forehead. Leaving my lips against her, I watch how the sun plays upon the purple in her hair, making it glow.

  Kat asks, “What is with you today?”

  Genuinely stumped, I straighten and step back to see her face. “What do you mean?”

  She laughs and puts her hands on my chest. “You can’t keep your lips off of me.”

  I shake my head over hers. “I told you that I’m obsessed, and you taste good.”

  Her tempting lips smile. “What do I taste like?”

  “Kat Merrick.”

  She quietly laughs, but scrunches her nose. “I don’t taste gross?”

  I smirk and grabbing her waist, I whisper, “Nope, and I intend to taste more of you.”

  Leaning down, I kiss her neck, hearing Kat’s faster breathing, even over the crowd and the ocean. I move to her ear and whisper, “I want you to fuck my tongue.”

  She clutches my shirt and moans, “God, Jared. You can’t say that to me here.”

  “I know. Shit, it’s backfiring on me.” I shift her so her back is against the wall, and my back is to everyone. Kat heavily sighs, releasing my shirt, appearing to be in sudden thought.

  Staring at her lips, I whisper, “What am I going to do with you?”

  Looking up at me, Kat smiles, though, seemingly in resignation, as she softly says, “Anything you want, Jared.” It doesn’t sound like a sexy tease, but more like an endured fact.

  Knowing there’s something wrong, I anxiously press her for the truth. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”

  She shakes her head and looks to the crowd behind me, but I steer her chin so she looks at me, and raising my voice, I implore, “Tell me. Are you hiding something from me, Kat?”

  Suddenly restless, she props her hands on the wall, leaning against it, so there is more space between us, and looks up to the sky. I peer up, but don’t see anything, but I do feel alarm slinking into my body. I’ve been all over her since Thursday night. Maybe she wanted me to keep a distance from her by only having a one-night stand—what I knew I couldn’t do.

  “Jared, I…” She sighs, possibly reassessing what she wanted to say.

  “What?” I impatiently ask, feeling like she’s trying to deliver an It’s Me, Not You speech.

  Her eyes close as she asks, “What are the feelings you have for me?”

  That’s not what I had expected her to say, but I remain on guard. “You want me to describe what I feel for you?”

  Slowly opening her eyes, Kat cautiously nods. “I want to hear your take. Maybe compare notes.”

  I unwillingly laugh; thinking about Dash’s fucking questions this morning. “Notes?”

  “Just, please. Give me something.”

  I scratch my jaw and peer over her head to the ocean. “Uh, I like you. We’re friends.” When I look back to Kat, her lips twitch, but I can’t tell if she wants to smile or frown because her eyes confirm nothing. “I like spending time with you.”

  She nods, and asks, “But how do I make you feel?”

  I roll my eyes. “You sound like my damned shrink.”

  Her gaze studies me. “Do you still see one?”

  Taking on a sour expression, I shake my head. “Uh, no. I stopped going a few years ago.”

  She asks, “Why?”

  I shrug, reaching for a fry. “What’s the point? All I did was rehash old shit.”

  Kat’s lips pull to the side as she considers that, while watching the passing people behind me. “Oh. Okay.” She looks up to me. “What else do you feel? About me?” What’s this? A fucking pop quiz?

  I sigh, searching the sand behind her for an answer. “Uh, you make me laugh, which is not an easy feat.”

  “So, laughing. You’re happy then?”

  Looking into her brown eyes, I clarify, “When I laugh?” This is harder than certifying to be a civil engineer.

  “Yeah, or any other time when you’re with me?”

  Actually thinking about that, I smile because I just can’t stop it. “Yeah. I’m happy when I’m with you.”

  “And when you’re not with me?”

  Blinking at her as I try to come up with an answer, I ultimately say, “I… I’m not.”

  She again nods, and seems to be somewhat satisfied, so I turn it around on her. “What about you? Are you happy?” I don’t want to go to deep into it, because I know she wants me to wear a big hat that says boyfriend across it.

  “Sometimes.”

  Taken back by her answer, I ask, “Why only sometimes?”

  She crosses her arms and shrugs, looking down to the weathered, brown boardwalk planks. “Because sometimes I’m only with you, but it’s not enough.”

  I scoff, “You’d get tired of me.” I can’t believe she hasn’t already.

  She whips her head up. “Would you get tired of me?”

  I sigh, which turns into a laugh. “No. I’ve never been with you enough to be tired of you.”

  Doubtful, she shakes her head. “I’m with you most of the day now.”

  I deliberately smirk. “I know.”

  Her smile sparkles more than the ocean behind her. “Jared, that’s… That is so sweet.”

  Laughing, I tease, “I am bee crack, remember?”

  “You are.”

  “Okay. What else do you feel? You do like me?” This question makes me feel like I’m in middle school again. Fucking Calder.

  Kat’s grin only spreads. “Yes. I like you so much that I don’t want anyone else. You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted.” Her smile abruptly takes a dive and her voice shakes. “So, when you leave…”

  Shaking my head, I fold my arms over my chest, mirroring her. “Don’t do that. We’ll still see each other.”

  “As what? Friends on the street, passing each other occasionally, asking how life is going and promising we’ll get together sometime soon, but don’t?”

  “No.”

  “Your new job will be even more demanding and stressful. You won’t have time to come back to Annapolis so much.” Her eyes sparkle more, but it’s not a good thing.

  “I’ll make time.” Kat fucking underestimates me.

  “Why would you? We’re not in a relationship, long-distance or same-town.”

  “Kat…” I sigh, glancing to people standing near us, carrying on their own drama.

  She grimly laughs. “What? Your arguments aren’t working for you anymore? You want to be with me, but not with me.”

  Through my teeth, I say, “We’re not spending any more time arguing about this. I want to spend time with you, even not talking works for me. Just no arguing.”

  “We’ve spent enough time not talking since high school.”

  Frustrated, I inhale the salty air and French fries, mixing with Kat’s perfume. “What else do you want to say to me then?”

  She anxiously licks her lips. “It’s not just us talking. I want you to have an open mind. To see things in front of your face that won’t be there before you even realize it. I want you to feel.” The only thing I feel is a dissertation coming on about me being a robot.

  Irritated at her apparent riddle, I scowl. “Feel what?”

  “Everything, Jared.” She pats my chest. “Feel with your heart and not so much with your head.” She glances down. “Both of them.”

  “What do you want me to feel then?” I repeat, struggling with her to give me a specific answer. “See? I can’t live up to your expectations.”

  Kat swiftly nods. “Yes, you can. You do.” She reaches down, weaving our fingers together, holding our hands on either side of her hips. “Feel with your heart. Only your heart. Nothing else.”

  When I blankly stare at Kat, she patiently wai
ts, but I still don’t know what she wants me to do.

  Tilting her head, she whispers, “Like this.” Tentatively, she kisses me, and I instinctively kiss her back, since I’m like a fucking robot. Her lips are slow and gentle—too gentle—yet I remain steady. I’m trying to understand what she means; however, both of my heads can’t stay out of it.

  As we idly kiss, Kat lets go of my left hand to touch my cheek, distracting my unruly thoughts. When she lightly trails her fingertips into my extended weekend’s beard, down to our joined mouths, and tracing the edge of my lips, I incorporate the tips of her fingers into our kiss, feeling her smile.

  When she pulls away only shortly after we began, probably since we’re in public, we lean our foreheads together. Without thinking, I tell her, “You’re the only one I’ve ever kissed.”

  Sensing the confusion coming off of her like smoke, she asks, “What? You’ve had girlfriends.”

  I slightly roll my forehead over hers. “I didn’t kiss them on my own free will. They always had to kiss me first, and even then, I was never into it. Ever. I always cut them short. I hated kissing with a passion, and avoided it at all costs.”

  “Why is it different with me then?”

  I shrug. “Because.”

  “There has to be a reason, Jared.”

  Exasperated from her pushing me so much, I straighten and nearly snap, “Because I like kissing you. I’ve always wanted to kiss you. Only you. Shit. After I met you, I refused to let anyone kiss me. I literally pushed them away.” Her eyes widen in shock or horror. Not sure which.

  “Jared…” Her eyes drop to my chest. I wish I knew what was going through her head, but then again, it’s probably better that I don’t.

  When she looks up, she wipes at a tear.

  Not intending to make her cry, I try to lighten the mood by ruefully smirking. “Obsessed.”

  Kat takes a deep breath and says, “I have a confession, too.” The anxiety builds as I wait for her to tell me something bad. Glancing at the ground, I close my eyes. “My kisses actually mean something when I kiss you. I’ve never done that with anyone else.”

  Looking up at her, I warily ask, “And what’s that?”

  “You tell me. I want you to feel it.” She lifts her lips to mine, and I take them, kissing her, hungrier this time, not just for sex, but I guess, for more of Kat overall.