by Kristin Cast
“Going to get some red Solo!” Kirk yelled as he trooped off with the guys to find the keg.
“Okie dokie!” Mercy said as she blew him a kiss and dropped her purse with a seismic plop into an empty chair.
“Girlfriend, those jeans slay!” Emily said as she unfolded herself from the lounger she’d been sunning on and bent to mix Mercy a drink, displaying a whole lot of firm round ass, which had the football players who hadn’t already followed their quarterback to the keg crowding the dock behind Mercy and cheering.
Mercy turned and narrowed her eyes at the herd of football sheeples. “Bloody buggering hell! It’s just a girl in a bikini. Pick your tongues up off the dock. The keg is over there by the bonfire, which needs to be lit so we can toast wieners and marshmallows. So, light it or I’ll do a little bibbity-bobbity-bitch and the veggie wieners will be replaced by a meatier variety.” Mercy raised her hands and flicked her fingers at the football team, aiming for just below their belts.
As expected, the players backed off fast—heading to the keg and the heap of kindling and firewood as they rearranged their personal non-vegan wieners and sent her suspicious glances like they weren’t entirely sure she was kidding.
“You know Mom would lecture you about teasing them like that. She’d say, ‘What you put out into the world returns to you, and that goes for thoughts, acts, and energy.’”
Mercy grinned impishly as she turned to face her twin. “True, but Abigail’s not here.” She threw her arms around her sister—her favorite person in the world, though their mom was a close second. “Happy birthday, little sis!”
“I seriously don’t think being three minutes older makes me your little sister.” Hunter repeated the line she’d been saying for as long as both twins could remember, though she hugged her sister back and whispered, “Happy birthday.”
“Aww, twin love.” From a few feet behind them on the dock, a tall raven-haired player grinned a familiar crooked-toothed smile at the sisters.
Hunter broke the hug instantly and hurled herself into her best friend’s arms like she hadn’t just seen him at school a few hours ago.
“Jax! Finally! I thought you’d never get here.”
“Sorry. Meant to be here earlier, H, but football practice was hell, and then I was stalking my mailbox for your—” Jax paused and dramatically lifted a smallish rectangular box from behind his back. It was wrapped in swirly blue paper that had stars all over it and tied with a silver bow. “Birthday present! Ta-da!”
“Ooooh! You shouldn’t have, but I’m glad you did!” Hunter squealed and bounced on her toes.
Emily bumped Mercy’s shoulder. “I will forever think it’s weird that your sister’s bestie is a dude.”
Mercy shrugged. “Well, as my bestie, I’m expecting you to gift me an awesome birthday pressie with tons of girl power that will put Jax’s to shame.”
Both girls watched while Hunter tore open the box and then shrieked in pleasure as she held up a gorgeous fountain pen made of something that seemed to glow.
“Ohmygod! It’s opal! You got me a pen made of my favorite stone! You’re the best, Jax!”
Mercy looked at Emily and held out her hands expectantly. “Gift me.”
Emily shrugged and handed her the red plastic cup she’d just filled. “Happy birthday.”
Mercy took the cup, sniffed it, and sipped it. “It’s vodka and cranberry.”
“I know, right?” Emily said. “Your fav!”
“Em,” Mercy sighed. “You’re gonna have to do better at Yule. You can’t keep letting a dude out-gift you.”
Emily’s full bottom lip stuck out as she pouted. “But it is your fav.”
“True, so you do get some bestie points for knowing that.” Mercy handed the cup back to Em. “Which you immediately lose ’cause I cannot drink this—not tonight. You know H and I have to meet Mom in just a few hours for our special fam celebration thing—and I cannot be toasted for that. Gotta stick to beer—and just a little.”
“Well, shit. Sorry,” said Em. “Good thing my sparkling personality is a gift itself.”
“It’s something, that’s for sure.”
“Mercy, isn’t it perfect?” Hunter waved her new pen around.
Mercy grinned at her sister. “Yep.” She looked up at the guy who had been her sister’s best friend since second grade and shared the grin with him. “Way to go, Jax. You #nailedit.”
“And I got you this.” Jax ran his fingers through his black hair and tossed a tiny plastic baggie to her.
Mercy opened it and out slid a button that quoted, “I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.”—RBG. She looked up at Jax. “I love it. Seriously. Thanks, Jax!” Mercy pinned the button to her giant purse and then hugged her sister’s broad-shouldered bestie tightly, enveloping him in her signature scent of spring lilacs as he grinned and patted her back affectionately.
A deep voice boomed with mock heartbreak down the dock at them. “Hey, whoa! I’m gone for, like, two minutes and I’ve been replaced?”
Mercy moved out of Jax’s hug and turned to grin at Kirk. He carried two full cups of beer. Somewhere between the keg and the dock he’d taken off his shirt and the waning light of the setting sun caught the chiseled ridges of his pecs and biceps. His blond hair was shaggy and thick, and a lock had fallen over his face to obscure one of his perfect cerulean eyes.
“Oh, please Kirk. It’s Jax.” Mercy met him and tiptoed for a kiss before she took the beer he offered her.
“Who has been our friend for literally years before you managed to acknowledge Mercy even existed,” said Hunter with an eye roll.
Kirk lifted the hand not holding his beer in surrender. “Ow!! I was just kidding around. Right, Jaxie?” Kirk leaned over and punched Jax in his shoulder, which had Hunter frowning and putting her hands on her hips. Jax let out an awkward laugh and furrowed his thick eyebrows.
“Of course Kirk was kidding!” Before her sister could start another argument with Kirk, Mercy stepped between them. “Guys, check out what Kirk gave me for my birthday.” Mercy fished the cheap stainless steel ball chain out from under her shirt—making a mental note to swap it for something nicer when she got home—and lifted the ring that dangled from it. “As of this afternoon I am wearing his class ring.”
“That’s right, babe. You and I are official!”
“I’m your girlfriend, not your property. Remember? We talked about how saying that makes you sound douchey,” Mercy said.
“That’s why I don’t.” Kirk opened his arms while his blue eyes sparkled mischievously. “Come here, beautiful.”
As Mercy melted against the quarterback’s perfect body she heard her sister mutter, “Nice. A present that cost him nothing, but gets him everything.”
Mercy ignored her sister’s typical grumble—wishing that for once she could just get along with her boyfriend without constantly picking at him. Over Kirk’s shoulder she saw a flash of orange and yellow. She unwound herself from him. “Hey, the bonfire’s lit!”
“Oooh! Yeah!” Emily said. “Let’s start roasting some of those wieners!”
“Good idea. Football practice made me puke, which means I’m starving,” said Jax.
“Eww,” said Hunter. “I don’t understand why you’d play something that makes you hurl.”
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!” said Kirk. He wrapped his arm around Mercy, barely giving her time to snag her giant purse before he led her from the dock. As the large group followed him to the picnic grounds that overlooked the placid lake, Kirk said, “Hey, babe, I got your wiener right here.”
Mercy giggled and elbowed him. “Stop! And you know I’m a vegan.”
“I’m hoping I can add a little more protein to your diet.” He pretended to whisper, but his comment easily carried behind them to Emily, Hunter, and Jax.
Emily made retching sounds. Hunter didn’t say anything, but Mercy knew she’d hear about Kirk’
s silly comment later and made a second mental note to remind Kirk—again—to watch his mouth. He didn’t pose and bluster when it was just the two of them. He was sweet and sensitive and funny, but add a few people and his insecurities crept out in the stupidest ways.
It’s okay, Mercy told herself. He’ll be better after we’ve been together for a while and he knows I’m not gonna take off like his mom did.
“Happy birthday, Mercy and Hunter!” The growing group that was congregating around the bonfire greeted the twins with a planned shout.
“Veggie wieners, chips, and marshmallows for everyone!” Mercy shouted. “Let the music play!” She pointed at Emily.
“Syncing!” Emily pulled out her phone and then shouted victoriously when Taylor Swift’s latest blasted from the Bluetooth speaker perched amongst the bags of chips.
“Ooooh, Come on, H! Let’s dance!” Mercy grabbed her sister’s wrist, but Hunter shook her off, laughing.
“Um, no. I will not dance with you because you stripper dance.”
Mercy backed toward the bonfire where football players coupled up with cheerleaders and the pom squad, who’d just arrived amidst a lot of squeals and whoops.
“I do not stripper dance,” Mercy said as she gyrated her hips and flung her hair around—like a stripper. “Plus, it’s our birthday! Dance with me, woman!”
“She’s definitely stripper dancing,” said Jax, smiling crooked teeth at Hunter.
“As always,” laughed Hunter, and she looked up at her tall best friend. “There’s no way I’m going out there.”
Jax leaned into Hunter. “Stop turtling and go and birthday dance with your sister!”
Hunter frowned and stared down at her feet as if the earth below would supply her with answers. She shook her head and sighed, the corner of her mouth lifting a little as her hips began to twitch. As Hunter started to dance her way toward Mercy the music abruptly changed and “Witchy Woman” blasted across the campground.
“Yaaasss! That’s my song!” Mercy twirled around, getting closer to the fire.
“That’s right, it is, babe! That’s why I played it.” Fireside, Kirk crooked a finger at her.
As Mercy danced to him she surreptitiously stuck her hand into an outer pocket of her purse and spun her way closer to the fire. She flicked a handful of club moss quickly into the blaze as she raised her hands over her head and moved liquidly with the music, whispering to the fire, “By tree and leaf—wood and fire—burn bright, burn brilliant then fade to ghostly wisps of what you once were and what you shall be again.” Mercy felt earth energy lift around her, like fireflies darting into the night sky.
There was a big flash and a fireball shot up, making everyone—except Mercy and Hunter—gasp.
“Come here, my little witch!” Kirk danced with her as the fireball gave way to white smoke that billowed up from the bonfire, forming the outline of the big oak that the logs had once been.
“Hey, that’s cool! Doesn’t it look like a tree?” someone shouted over the music.
Mercy smiled to herself as she let Kirk run his hands down her hips to cup her ass. Gracefully, she spun away from him, and as she did she caught a glimpse of her sister’s face. Hunter had been watching the smoke with a knowing smile, but that smile suddenly changed to openmouthed shock. Her eye found Mercy and she jerked her chin at the bonfire as several of the kids shouted.
Mercy turned to the fire in time to see that the smoky outline of the oak had changed to become a nightmarish face that looked like a slavering wolf—or worse. Something with impossibly long teeth that shouldn’t exist in this world. Quickly, Mercy plunged her hand back into the outside pouch of her purse and snagged the little bag of copper chloride she’d prepared for later. While everyone was gaping at the fanged thing in the smoke, Mercy threw the bag into the fire. Instantly the flames changed from yellow to blue, dissipating the smoke and sending the creature back to whatever hell it came from.
Mercy spun around, meeting her sister’s gaze again. Hunter gestured for her to come here, but Kirk was there again. He pulled her against him and nuzzled her neck while he sang, “Oooh, oooh, witchy woman,” out of key into her ear. Over Kirk’s shoulder she mouthed to Hunter, I don’t know what that was! Hang on—be there in a sec!
Hunter rolled her eyes and mouthed, never mind. Before she turned her back on Mercy to take a hot dog from Jax she pulled Tyr’s pendant out from under the collar of her tee and let it fall against her chest like it was a shield.
Well, she’s pissed, but how am I supposed to know what that was? Mercy stewed as Kirk moved her around the bonfire. Probably something to do with what’s happening with our powers tonight, but I don’t know any more than Hunter about it. Goddess! She’s such a worrier. I really wish she’d learn to loosen up. Instantly Mercy felt crappy about being frustrated with her sister. Of course Hunter worried—that’s what happened when girls got bullied. Even when they weren’t so little anymore they still had to deal with the emotional garbage left by jerks and assholes. Mercy sighed. I tried to protect her, but I was only a kid, too …
“Hey, are you not into dancing?” Kirk asked as he pulled a little away from her.
“I am. It’s just…” Mercy’s gaze automatically found her sister.
Kirk took her chin in his hand and gently turned her face up. “Don’t let Hunter stress you out. I’ll try harder to make her like me. Promise. And you know how charming I am.” He kissed her then, softly—sweetly.
“I absolutely do and you absolutely are.”
“Sorry I was kinda douchey before,” he whispered as they swayed together. “I’m a dick when I’m nervous.”
She pulled back to look into his eyes. “You were nervous?”
His blue eyes pulled her in and trapped her. “Yeah, of course. I know I’m not your sister’s favorite person and I wanted everything to be perfect for you tonight. I shoulda gotten you something besides my ring. It was stupid of me to think that—”
“Shh.” Mercy cut his words off by pressing her finger against his lips. “I love that you gave me your ring. Best present ever. And don’t worry about H. She’ll come around. Now I need a wiener!” He opened his mouth to say something she was sure would be douchey—again—and she pressed her finger back against his lips. “This is one of those learning experiences we talked about. Every time I say wiener you don’t have to make a dick joke.”
He laughed. “Got it! Now let’s go get you some sausage!”
Mercy decided that was an improvement, albeit small. She searched for Hunter as she and Kirk made their way to the grills and the hotdog dressing station, but her sister had her head together with Jax and didn’t look her way. Mercy squelched a sigh. It’s going to be okay. Hunter will get used to Kirk and Kirk will get used to Hunter, and I’ll get my happily ever after.
Three
Mercy finally spotted her bestie coming from the direction of the porta potties and hurried to intercept her. “Hey Em, have you seen Hunter?”
“God those things are so fucking gross.” Emily grimaced and wiped her hands delicately on her jeans. “Sorry, what’d you say?”
Mercy sighed. “Hunter. Have you seen her?”
“Oh, yeah, she’s been with Jax all night.” She fluttered her fingers at the lake. “I think they’re taking pics of the moon over by the dock, which is weird, but definitely the norm for your sis.”
“Mom’s present to her was a bunch of attachments for her phone so Hunter can take night sky pictures.” Mercy dug into her bottomless bag and checked her phone. “Sod it! It’s eleven thirty! We gotta get outta here now so we can be home before midnight.” Quickly, she texted:
WHERE R U?!
Then Mercy looked around the groups of semi-drunk kids. Some danced by the fire—some made out in the shadows—and a big group of the pom squad was skinny-dipping—or whatever it was called when you left your panties and bra on and jumped, squealing, into the lake from the dock. “Oh, bloody buggering hell! Is that Hunter over at the edg
e of the dock? She’s not skinny-dipping, is she? She’ll never dry before Abigail sees her!” Mercy started to rush toward the water, but Kirk’s big hand on her shoulder stopped her.
“Did I hear you sssay those two magic words—sssskinny-dipping?” He leaned heavily on her and slurred his words.
Mercy turned to frown up at him. “Not tonight.” I asked him not to get wasted! She shrugged his hand off her shoulder. “I gotta get Hunter and go. You know Mom wants us home before midnight.”
He bent and booze-scented breath wafted over her. “Can’t you be a little late?”
“No.” Emily stepped between them and put her fists on her hips like Wonder Woman. “They can’t. Abigail is cool, but when it comes to family traditions she does not play—just like she doesn’t play about dudes who drink too much when they’re out with her daughter. Go away, Kirk. Sober up. Byyyye.” She hooked her arm through Mercy’s and pulled her around Kirk.
“I’ll text you tomorrow. Be sure you don’t drive home.” Mercy blew him a kiss and waved.
“Hey! I thought I was taking you home!”
“Not drunk you’re not,” Mercy said, but she smiled at him. “It’s cool, though. Stay. Have fun. Just don’t drive. Later!”
Emily didn’t say anything, which made Mercy sigh. “You hate him, too, don’t you?”
“Nope. He’s tall and hot and captain of the football team. Nothing to hate about that.”
Mercy waited and when that’s all Em said she prompted. “But?”
“No buts. I’m your bestie. If you want him I’ve got your back. I’ve also got your back if he tries to do something stupid like drink and drive with you in the car—I mean, I knew I was driving you two home before midnight so I switched to water hours ago. If he can’t figure out how to be responsible, too, then you don’t get in the car with him. That’s all.”
“I wish Hunter felt like you do. I hate that she’s such a bitch to Kirk.”
Emily stopped and faced her. “Hunter is your twin. She’s just protecting you—like you’ve always done for her. That’s what you two do. You’re there for each other. I know. I’ve been jelly of it since the first day of second grade when we met. Stop being so hard on her about it and start working on Kirk making a better impression.”