by L A Cotton
After going to the kitchen to grab a drink and snack, I went to the pool house. Dad still wasn't home, and I had noticed Gentry's car wasn’t in the driveway. What time did they work until around here? Back home a late finish was around eight. It was almost eleven. Still, I sent my dad a quick text letting him know I was home, and went to my room. Stripping out of my clothes, I pulled on my favourite Oxford University t-shirt letting its familiarity seep into my skin. It had belonged to my brother, Elliot. I’d stolen it one weekend after visiting him during his freshmen year. I had quite a collection. Now I lay on the bed imagining what he'd make of all this. He would have given Maverick a piece of his mind. Macey too, if he hadn’t tried to sleep with her first. I swiped the tears falling with the pad of my thumb. I couldn't think about Elliot without feeling swamped with grief.
Which is why I rarely let myself remember.
~
“Morning, sweetheart. How was your first day?” Dad was already up, fiddling with the puce tie hanging loose around his neck.
“It was fine,” I said. “Here.” I went to him and took the material, folding it into the perfect knot, stepping back to survey my handiwork.
“Thanks. You'd think after all these years, I'd know how to get it right. But your...” He didn't finish. Sometimes it was easier to not talk about the things that once meant the most to you.
“I know, Dad. Late night? I didn't hear you come in.” I smoothed my hair into a ponytail and stretched my arms in front of me working out the kinks from the restless night’s sleep I’d had.
“Gentry organised drinks with the team. One became two and, well, you know how that one goes.” I heard the accusation in his voice but his expression wasn’t scathing. We’d had that argument enough times.
“And yet here you are, looking as fresh as a daisy.”
He came over to me and dropped a kiss on my head. “Oh, trust me, on the inside I'm dying. The party was good? You got home okay?”
I pressed my lips together and nodded, feeling the taste of bitterness on my tongue.
“Oh no,” Dad chuckled. “What's that face for?”
“Nothing.”
“Lo?”
“You could've warned me about them.” I leaned back against the counter of our small kitchenette.
“Who?” He feigned ignorance.
“Oh, come on, Dad. Maverick and Macey. What’s their deal?”
“You caught that, huh? Gentry mentioned there was some tension, but I didn't expect it to be this bad. They're being nice to you though, right? Because if they're not I can—”
“No, no, it's fine. I can handle them. Besides, what they lack in personality, Kyle makes up for in droves.”
“The kid has zest, that's for sure.”
A comfortable silence settled between us as we carried on getting ready. When I grabbed my bag off the floor, Dad held the door open for me, and I slipped underneath his arm as we made our way to the main house.
“Did the agent give you a date, yet?”
“She's working on it. There was a delay with the final paperwork. Hopefully we'll be in our own place soon enough.” His eyes darted around. “It's not so bad here, is it?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “It's alright, I just don't think I'll feel settled until we're in the new house, you know?”
Dad paused when he reached the kitchen door and turned back to me. “I know it's been a big upheaval, but I know we can be happy here, kiddo. If you just give it a chance.”
“I know, Dad. I'll try.” Though I couldn't make any promises. We'd left so much behind it felt wrong being here, but maybe with time, things would get easier. His eyes lingered on me, and I saw doubt there.
“Guess what?” I grinned, wanting to reassure him I could do this.
“What?” He opened the door, and we entered the kitchen.
“I made a friend. Three, in fact.”
“Wow, three, and were these friends girls or boys?”
I punched his arm playfully, but froze when my eyes landed on the two figures sitting at the island.
“Something smells good,” Dad said seemingly oblivious to the tension.
Macey shoved her plate away and rose from her stool. “We ate all the pancakes.”
Well, okay then.
“Maverick?” She barked, and I half expected him to jump to attention. But he didn't.
“I'll meet you at the car,” he said coolly, and her expression slipped for a second as she murmured 'whatever' under her breath, before spinning on her heels and marching out of the room.
“There's fresh coffee in the pot.” Maverick spoke again and Dad searched for cups. I was too confused to move. He was being amicable now? This was new.
“So, Maverick, Gentry tells me you’re captain of the Wreckers? I hear you're tipped to do great things this season?”
I slipped onto the stool opposite the eldest Stone-Prince son and peeked at him through my lashes. He shovelled another spoonful of cereal into his mouth and washed it down with juice. “We have a good shot at the championship, yeah.”
“Maybe you can get us some tickets? I'd love to come and watch you play. Back in school I used to play myself.”
I felt his heated glare on the top of my head as I stared at my empty plate. What was happening right now?
“The season doesn't start for another couple of months, but I'll see what I can do.”
Dad pushed a cup of coffee in front of me and I smiled, my eyes sliding to Maverick's as he watched the interaction.
“Good morning. Please tell me there's coffee.” Gentry shuffled toward the counter with his head in his hands.
“Still suffer after a skinful, brother?” Dad chuckled beside me but I was too busy watching Maverick. His body was rigid, his hand gripping the spoon so tight the colour had drained from his knuckles. He didn't say a word as he got up and stalked out of the room. Gentry didn't acknowledge his behaviour, and neither did Dad, they were too busy joking about the night before.
“Hey.” Kyle poked his head around the door. “Ready to go?”
“Yes.” I downed the rest of my coffee and said goodbye to Dad, relieved Kyle planned to give me a ride into school instead of forcing me on Maverick and Macey again.
“Let me shout for Summer again and then we'll head out. Dad, Uncle Robert.” He tipped his head in a salute and disappeared again.
“Don't wait up tonight, Lo. It could be a late one again. Do you need any money?”
I waved Dad off, ignoring the prickle of annoyance I felt. He'd slipped into this new life so easily it was hard to believe he had been away for so long. I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel so at home here.
When I got outside, Summer was already standing by Kyle's bright yellow jeep. She lifted her hand in a small wave and I was about to say hello when I noticed the buds jammed in her ears. The Jeep bleeped and Kyle appeared, keys dangling in his hand. “Shall we?”
I hovered waiting to see what Summer would do, but she slipped into the back without protest so I took shotgun.
“How'd you like the party last night?” Kyle eased the Jeep out of the drive and pulled onto the street.
“Shouldn't I be asking you that?” I struggled to hide the amusement in my voice.
Kyle’s face transformed into a cocky smile and he flicked open a pair of sunglasses with one hand, sliding them over his face. “Rule number one, I never kiss and tell.” His smirk softened. “Did you get home okay?”
“I survived.”
A throaty laugh rumbled from his chest. “I'm sorry about that, Rick can be... well, I'm sure you've realized he has a giant stick up his ass. Macey too, but once you get to know them they're not so bad.”
I pressed my lips together. He had no idea I already knew what a dick Maverick could be. And I couldn't imagine a world where Macey was anything but a mean bitch. She wore it too comfortably, like a second skin.
“Laurie is good people. Stick with her and you'll be okay.”
“I like her, she seems
cool.”
Kyle glanced at me over his glasses, and waggled his eyebrows. “I like her too.”
I rolled my eyes. “You're so gross.”
“Welcome to the family.”
Less than ten minutes later, Kyle pulled into the school, found a parking spot, and we all bailed out. “Listen,” he said. “I have practice after school. Can you two manage to get home without getting into trouble?”
“Seriously, Kyle,” Summer huffed. It was the most I’d heard her speak. “You act like I’m a baby. It’s bad enough with Maverick, I don’t need this shit from you too.” She stomped off with Kyle gaping after her.
“Whoa, baby sis grew up.”
“What just happened?” I asked watching Summer as she approached a shaggy-haired boy and disappeared inside the building with him.
“I’m as clueless as you.” He rubbed his jaw. “But that isn’t good.”
“What? The boy?”
“If she’s dating, Rick will—”
“Oh, my God, what is wrong with the two of you? She’s fifteen, of course she’s going to date.”
“Lo, cous.” He slung his arm around my shoulder and guided me to the door. “You have so much to learn. This will be fun.”
Fun?
There was no time to ask as a crowd of girls and boys descended on Kyle Stone, class clown and incessant joker.
“I’ll catch you later.” I ducked out of his hold and disappeared down the hallway. Laurie was waiting next to my locker.
“I see you’ve experienced the Kyle effect,” she said with a hint of sarcasm. I didn’t understand what was going on with the two of them but the girl had it bad.
“It’s an actual thing? And here’s me thinking he just liked the sound of his own voice.”
She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m sorry I bailed last night, it was a shitty move.”
“Hey, no apology needed. I got to ride with Maverick and Macey which was…” I searched for the right word, but she beat me to it.
“Life altering.”
“Something like that.”
“Come on.” Laurie linked her arm through mine. “Autumn and Devon are waiting with Liam. I swear he can’t do anything before his morning smoke.” She yanked me in the direction of the door at the end of the corridor.
And I realised Dad was right, maybe it could be that simple. Maybe all I had to do was want it bad enough and life in Wicked Bay would work itself out.
Maybe.
The rest of the week passed without too much drama. Summer didn’t have any more outbursts, Dad was MIA most nights, and I rode to school with Kyle. Laurie and Autumn treated me like one of their oldest friends, and I avoided Maverick and Macey as much as possible. Which was pretty easy given their complete lack of interest in me.
But something was missing, and I felt restless. It was like living a split life. The kids at Wicked Bay High got the mysterious girl from England who smiled at the right times and laughed when someone cracked a joke. Then behind the closed doors of the pool house I became withdrawn and sombre. Dad’s absence didn’t help. He was the only person I had to talk to about anything here. Laurie had good friend potential, but it was still new. She didn’t know me—didn’t know about what I’d left behind in England. Dad was the only person who understood, and his answer was to bury the pain and throw himself into work leaving me to fend for myself. He might as well have thrown me to the wolves.
So, I did what any seventeen-year-old with a shed load of emotional baggage did. I pulled on my favourite outfit, smudged some gloss over my lips, and headed to another party.
“You look hot,” Laurie smiled as I ducked inside her car.
“Thanks. So, remind me whose party this is.”
“JB Holloway's, the football captain; and his sister, Caitlin. She's a junior with us.”
She was? I must have missed that memo when Laurie was giving me the who's who of Wicked Bay High.
“Right, and the team will be there?”
“Yeah, it's like their pre-season party. The Holloways are rich, their house is like a freakin' palace. Seriously, the pool, ugh. I told my dad we needed something that size in our life and he told me to keep on dreaming...” She kept going but I tuned out. I was only here because it beat spending another night in the pool house alone.
When her car rolled to a stop, I immediately saw what Laurie had been talking about. The two-storey house resembled a mansion with imposing alabaster pillars and a second-tier wraparound balcony. Holy crap. It was like something straight out of a magazine minus the streams of kids coming and going. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any more extravagant here, it did.
“Come on, let's find the others.”
I followed her up the winding driveway, my eyes dancing over the house. Surrey had some pretty posh estates, especially in the countryside, but this place was ridiculous. Laurie guided us around the side to a wrought iron gate and we slipped inside. Music blared out of the speakers positioned in the corner under a wooden gazebo, and a boy I didn't recognise stood behind a laptop bobbing his head to the beat. The huge pool had been turned into a water polo match and half-naked boys jumped and lunged for the ball while girls huddled at the edge in little bikinis shrieking every time the water splashed up around them.
I suddenly felt very overdressed in my jean shorts and sparkly vest top, and very out of my depth.
“This is crazy,” I murmured under my breath sticking close to Laurie. People waved and smiled at her, maybe at us. It was impossible to tell amidst the chaos.
“You came,” Devon grinned sloppily when we reached him and Autumn.
“You're drunk,” I said poking him in the chest. He stumbled back and chuckled.
“Busted.” It came out slurred.
“Where's Liam?”
“Around.” Devon answered Laurie, but his glassy gaze didn't leave my face.
“Do you want a drink, Lo?”
A drink sounded like a very good idea. Anything to tamp down the nerves vibrating through me. I nodded at Laurie and she disappeared.
“Come sit with me.” Devon dropped onto a big chair. “Whoa, is everything spinning?”
Autumn rolled her eyes. “I can't believe you're already wasted. It's not even eight-thirty. Ignore him, Lo, he's a goofy drunk.”
Devon caught my arm and pulled me down beside him. The close contact startled me. Sure, we'd hung out at school and chatted some, but this felt a little too close for comfort. “Devon,” I scolded, my hand pressing against his chest as he tried to wrap his arm around me. “Not cool.”
He immediately backed up giving me room. “My bad, maybe I drank more than I thought. Someone get me some water.”
“Here.” Laurie arrived with drinks. A cup of something for me and her and a bottle of water for Devon.
“You read my mind.” He swayed as he reached for the bottle.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have come if you were going to get like this.” Laurie narrowed her gaze on him and I got the impression I was missing some piece of the drunk-Devon puzzle.
“I’m good.” He waved the bottle. “This’ll sort me out and I’ll be fine. Don’t sweat it.”
“Whatever.” Laurie turned away to face the pool and Devon squeezed his eyes shut. I threw Autumn a ‘what the hell’ look, but she pursed her lips with a quick shake of her head.
“Eloise is in the house,” a voice boomed across the pool and Kyle sauntered over to us as if he owned the place. I groaned into my hands.
“I can still see you,” he said with a hint of amusement.
“Seriously, Kyle, do you have to do that?” I peeked up at him. “I’m trying to blend.”
“Why? You’re like the new shiny toy everyone wants to play with.” He arched his eyebrow toward the drunken boy who sat beside me.
“What do you want, Kyle?” Laurie sighed.
“I miss you, babe. Is it a crime to want to spend time with my girl?” He closed the distance between them, crowding he
r against the ornate brick wall.
“Kyle.” She slammed her hands into his chest and he staggered back. “Don’t do that, not in front of my friends. You’re drunk. Go feel up some other girl or play beer pong with the guys or whatever it is you do for fun.”
Kyle blinked as if she’d slapped him but his trademark smile slid back into place. “Oh, it’s like that? We’ll see.” He winked at her and then pointed at me. “Don’t be a stranger, Cous.”
“Lo. It’s Lo, arsehole,” I murmured knowing he couldn’t hear me. “Is he always so…”
“Hyper? Annoying?” Laurie said. “Take your pick.”
“He misses you,” Autumn stated. “It’s his way of forcing himself back in.”
Laurie folded her arms over her chest, glancing over at where he stood with a group of girls. “Yeah, well, it will take more than that.”
“Okay,” I said jumping to my feet. “I thought we were here to party.”
I could do this. It was crammed, sure, but we were outside. There was plenty of space and fresh air. Besides, the alcohol had already begun to calm my nerves.
Laurie and Autumn glanced at one another and back at me. “Well, yeah.”
“So, let’s go party. Devon, are you coming?”
He waved us off, looking a little green. “Go have your fun, I’ll be here, puking into the plant pot most likely.”
The girls followed me as I moved through the bodies. The pool was surrounded by a long lawn on one side and a patio area on the other. A huddle of girls had already carved out a dance floor, and I didn’t give myself time to think about it as I moved my body to the beat. Laurie beamed, spinning seductively, dropping down, and gliding back up. Autumn joined us and the three of us danced. I felt the stares from around the pool. Girls green with envy. Guys hot with desire. But I shut them all out, letting myself get lost in the moment. I’d done this plenty of times in the last few months. Gotten drunk or high and partied until the break of dawn. This was different. I’d made a conscious choice to step up next to the other girls dancing. I wasn’t motivated by the need to forget or drown out the pain. Sure, it was still there—it probably always would be—but this was a step toward healing.