by Xavier Neal
When my face breaks the surface, I immediately wipe my face and look up to see Hunter waiting. “Your turn, Cowboy!”
He gives me a nod, takes a few steps back and repeats my action, heading for the water feet first.
It only takes a moment before he's popping his body up beside mine. “Wooo!” He shakes his wet head. “'Bout as fun as I remember.”
“Used to do it often?”
“Every summer,” his answer is proceeded by a light laugh. “Nothin' like seein' chicks try to hold onto their bikinis as they swing across the water. There are a lot of tops floating at the bottom of that lake.”
I giggle, “You want me to take mine off? Remind you of home?”
Hunter gives me a crooked smirk. “I'll never say no to you takin' your top off, Sugar.”
After another snicker, I motion my head to the right. “Come on, Cowboy. This way.”
The two of us swim a short distance to a gathering of rocks that have created a makeshift cave area. Inside the covered area, an immediate feeling of peace washes over me and I pull myself up onto it to sit.
Hunter questions, “This is it?”
I run my fingers through my wet hair. “Don't sound so disappointed.”
“I'm not,” he rushes to say. “I'm just clarifying' that we're here and not jus' takin' a break before some English Channel swim or somethin'.”
Leaning against the rock, I shake my head. “No...we're here. My little carved out hunk of paradise.”
Hunter glances around once more, feet still treading water, smile as bright as ever.
Damn thing is contagious.
“How many other guys have you taken here?”
“I don't take people here. We just sort of migrated this way. And...to be honest, I haven't been in this cave with anyone else in years.”
His eyes land on me at the same time he hops up on the rock across from me. “Years?”
“Senior year of high school. It was ditch day, which was the only reason we were even hanging out that day. Mal's other friends wanted to take a road trip down to the coast, but she had a concert she didn't wanna miss that night. She convinced a couple guys to come out to the lake with us. After some mild teasing by asking them to rub lotion on her, I dared them to jump in. Both said they had the balls to do it yet I went in first. The only reason one even came in after me was because his best friend had staked his claim on Mal and he didn't wanna be a third wheel. He chased me over here and....my virginity became a thing of the past. Before him, Mal and I used to hang out in the cave any time we were at the lake. There were only a handful of times I could get out this direction, so any time I could, we took advantage of it.” I let out a deep sigh. “This is easily one my favorites places to be in the world.”
His foot brushes against mine and I try to hide my smile. “So, why'd you bring me?”
I innocently shrug. “Maybe I'm hoping if you see I'm okay with sharing parts of my past, you'll be okay with sharing parts of yours.”
Hunter glances off in the distance for a moment.
We both have secrets. It's expected. Truly open book people are so few and far between, but I'm quite close. With the exception of one very closed chapter, the rest of my past is a fair read. Him on the other hand? Everything outside of the basics is tied up pretty tight. The mystery does keep me intrigued, definitely keeps me wanting to be around him to discover the information, but if we're going to keep hanging out, I would love to know more than his excitement for rope and his hatred for steak sauce or as he calls it 'The Red Meat Killer'. Before you even let your mind wander, just because you learn information about other people doesn't mean you become attached to them. Simply lets you know if it's worth being attached.
“How'd you discover this place?”
I let my foot stroke the side of his calf, unable to resist the urge to constantly touch him or be touched by him. “We were with her parents at a lake house party one summer, think we were twelve, and rather than being cooped up, since so much of my time was spent cooped up, I convinced her to go exploring. Tempted her by saying I thought I saw shirtless guys tanning earlier. We wandered around and eventually found the cliffs, then the cave.”
“So Mal's the reason you're so daring?”
“Far from it. Her curiosity and spontaneous choices have always centered around guys.”
“And yours?”
“Being confined by death, makes you crave life.”
A softness returns to his eyes and he says, “Being constantly surrounded by lies makes you crave truth.”
No argument here.
“You wanna know what I miss from bein' a kid?”
“Besides topless teen tits?”
Hunter lets out a hearty chuckle. “Yeah. Besides that.”
“What?”
“Fishin',” he sighs and sinks back into the water. “My granddaddy used to take us fishin' every Sunday in the summer after church. Pops and my uncles liked to fish 'cause they enjoyed the silence. Granddaddy liked to fish 'cause he said it brought him closer to God to be in nature. My cousins loved any excuse to be close to the water while my brother, Sam, used to hate it. Never caught anything worth cookin'. Always complained on the way home Pop would never be proud of him like he was proud of me. That he would never be as good as me at it. But me....I jus' loved bein' around my family. The wild stories they'd tell. The misadventures they had. Hearin' how possibilities for us were endless. Hearin' how my family had come such a long way. Hearin' how they wanted us to keep it all goin' when the responsibility fell in our laps, how they longed for us not to only have the business they did, but the fun and closeness of a constantly growing family. Fishin' was never about fishin' to me. It was about spendin' time with them. Bein' surrounded by people who loved me. Who genuinely cared about me. Who wanted the bes' for me. People who don't give a shit if I had money or not.”
The end of his sentence lifts my eyebrows in question.
“We fished every year 'til Granddaddy died then....well...Pops and my uncles couldn't bring themselves to go to the dock anymore.” His arms fold themselves in my lap and he places his head on top of them. “I miss those days. Sometimes I think...”
The way he balks tugs at the desire to soothe the lingering resentment. My fingers gently run through the back of his wet locks. Tension instantly begins to seep out as tranquility takes its place.
“Sometimes I think if I would've still had those moments to turn to, I would've never left. I would've stuck it out. I would've....stayed a member of my family.”
Unsure of what he means, but certain I can't ask him to drop his curtain completely if I won't mine, I simply whisper, “Maybe someday...you can take me fishin'.”
The words are met with a gentle kiss on my thigh and nothing else.
No that wasn't me making actual plans. Didn't you hear the word maybe and someday? No commitment here. Good try though. I just like to try new things. I've never been fishing before....and fine, maybe, I don't enjoy seeing him sad. He does such an amazing job making me happy that I don't know...I guess I feel like I wanna be the reason that makes him smile too. He's really fun to be around. He makes me laugh and life is best lived when laughing. Then there's the fact he makes it feel safe to talk about the little things I've convinced myself are better left in the dark. Maybe it's because he has his own little whispers where the light doesn't shine. Maybe it's because I feel his whispers call to mine. Either way, something inside of me has gripped onto something inside of him, and my natural curiosity refuses to give up any part of him until I figure out just what the hell this feeling is. Again, this isn't any kind of commitment. Just an unwavering curiosity...there is a difference.
Hunter
Rory tugs me along the narrow stairs of the older building, heading for the top.
Call me crazy, but this place doesn't look like a restaurant and I feel like I should be keepin' an eye on my wallet.
“No elevator?” I question and scoot to one side for a small Asian wo
man, carrying an empty tray, to slide by me.
“Can't climb stairs, Cowboy?” She shoots me a wink over her shoulder.
Woman could say anything with that nickname at the end of it and I'd fall to my knees to comply. Funny thing is, she's the only woman I've ever met who I liked hearin' that reference come out of her mouth. Could be because she doesn't know how true the term is. Could be because it's her own way of tryin' to make it feel like more than the one night stand she intended me to be. I'll tell you what...the light grip she’s keepin' on whatever is happenin' between us is gonna get tighter. I'm patient. Are you?
“It was legs day,” I counter as we finally arrive at the top where she opens the closed door.
On the other side, is a petite blonde waiting with menus. “Rory, party of two?”
She squeezes my hand. “That's us.”
“If you'll follow me, I'll show you to your table.”
The two of us cross the small roof top, passing a few empty tables for the one nestled in the corner. I pull out Rory's chair and help get her seated before settling down myself beside her.
“My name is Sarah and I'll be your waitress this evening.” She motions her hand towards the menu. “This is what we're serving for the evening. Please let me know if you have any questions or special requests. Can I start the two of you off with Sake?”
“Water for me, but what do you say, Cowboy? Wanna try Sake?” Rory turns her attention to me. “I know you've never had it before.”
My head tilts in curiosity. “What makes you so sure?”
I mean I haven't, but you know how I feel about assumptions. Hell, I'm guilty of it where she's concerned. Thought she was the innocent be in bed by 9:30 and wait seven months before sex time. My mistake.
“Call it a lucky guess.” When I don't counter she pushes, “Take a little risk. Life is better that way.”
I wet my lips and turn to the waitress. “I'll have Sake and a water, please.”
“Sure thing,” Sarah hums. “I'll be right back with your drinks.”
She strolls away just as Rory says, “They make it in house, which is impressive.”
Rather than bother looking at the menu because I know she's already made up her mind for us, I keep my attention wrapped tightly around her. Doing my best to stop my eyes from dipping down the front of the low cut pink top she's wearing without a bra, I sigh, “Won't lie, Sugar. I wasn't expecting this place to be here.”
From the outside it looks like a rundown town home or apartment. Even once you step inside, the dark décor and lighting lead you to believe you may be in the wrong area. But up here, on the small secluded roof where the edge is covered in lanterns and strings of lights, it's actually quite quaint.
Her smile brightens. “I know. It's one of the things I love about the city. There are a million little gems right in front of your eyes you miss because instead of looking for them you let yourself get caught up in every day bullshit.”
“But you don't.”
“Death is funny like that.” She bites her bottom lip briefly. “Gonna look at the menu?”
“Somethin' tells me you've already decided for us.”
“Maybe...”
Her need for control when we make plans is an interesting balance to the lack of control she needs during sex. I may not get much of a say about what we're putting in our bodies for fuel, but I get most of the domain over what we do with them afterwards.
With a crooked smile, I ask, “So what are we havin', Sugar?”
The waitress returns to the table and we politely thank her for the drinks. As she begins to fill the small white cup she's placed in front of me, she asks, “Did you two decide on something?”
My eyes drift away from the drink to my dining partner. In a cheerful voice she declares, “We're going to share an order of the fried Starfish.”
I let my jaw crack open.
You can fuckin' eat that?
“Excellent choice,” Sarah insists. “Anything else?”
“Nope.” Rory hands her the menu.
I follow the action. “Thank you, Sarah.”
“Of course. Your meal will be out shortly.”
The moment she's far enough from the table, I question, still baffled, “We're gonna eat Starfish?”
“Yeah.”
“As in the shit you find in the ocean?”
“You wanna tell me you don't eat other shit you find in the ocean?”
Damn. She's got me there.
Having proved her point, she leans back, and folds her hands in her black skirt covered lap.
“How'd you find this place?”
“Brian,” she casually answers.
Unconsciously, I grunt.
Still don't know much about him other than he should be slapped upside his head for workin' alongside her and never tryin' to tie her down. Then again...got the feelin' ropin' this one ain't easy.
“No need to worry, Cowboy,” Rory reassures, her small foot stroking the outside of my jean covered calf. “Try your Sake. Curious if you like it.”
I lift up the small cup up in cheers. The clear liquid touches my taste buds and an immediate grimace hits my face. After another sip, I put it down, and shrug. “Well that's...different.”
She giggles. “Bad different?”
“Can't say I'd order it again.”
“But it was fun to try something new, right?”
“Everything with you is fun, Sugar.”
Rory blushes as she rolls her eyes. “You're so sappy.”
“You're so sexy.”
The compliment returns her to a more comfortable zone by the way her shoulders relax. “You know, you should take more risks in your life. Taking risks is how you know you're still alive.”
I try another sip. “Can't you tell that by your heart beating?”
An unusual look crosses her bright blues. “Your heart can be beating, eyes wide open, brain working and still be more dead than those who land on my table. There's being alive...and then there's living.”
Ever wonder which one you are? Before Rory, I wanna say I've had more of a track read being alive than actually living. Doin' shit because it was what I thought I had to do. Doin' shit because I felt it was the only thing I could. Trapped in my own life...Havin' Rory around reminds me otherwise. Also yanks at the idea of the importance of havin' those who mean somethin' to you tied close to your heart.
“To living.” I lift the cup again, have a sip, and immediately gag afterward.
She snickers and insists, “If you hate it, don't drink it. Do what makes you happy.”
“A beer right about now would make me happy.” I push the cup away. “Beer and a football game. It's fall. Two of my favorite fall things. That and huntin'.”
Rory hums thoughtfully, “Can honestly say...never been hunting. Never shot a gun before.”
Intrigued, I declare, “Then we're gonna fix that.”
“Hunting?”
“Shootin'. I'll make a date for us in the near future.”
She hesitates to agree. “Like...how near? We can't just go if we feel ready one afternoon?”
She gets like this any time I try to plan something. Slightly frustratin'.
“We'll figure somethin' out.” Not wanting to ruin the evening or scare her away, I try to smile. “I think you'll like it though.”
“Do you miss hunting like you do fishing?”
Impressed she remembers, I nod. “Huntin' was somethin' I did with my pop and brother. Usually jus' deer.”
Rory sits up at the sight of the waitress headed our way. “You cook it?”
“You don't kill for sport in my family. You kill it. You clean. You cook and eat. Too many hungry mouths to waste perfectly good food.”
“I like that,” she whispers.
Sarah puts a plate of fried starfish in front of us and my stomach twists in objection.
Do you blame it?
“Enjoy!” The waitress cheerfully declares. “Let me know if can get you t
wo anything else.”
Rory nods for both us, picks up her silverware, and gives me a soft smile. “I know it looks weird-”
“It's a starfish. Of course it looks weird. Belongs in the water, not on my plate.”
She rolls her eyes. “Don't be a prude.”