About that Night

by Keane, Hunter J.

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  Keep reading for an excerpt from Finding Serenity.

  PROLOGUE

  The impact of a storm could always be felt strongest by the water. As the clouds rolled overhead, the water began to churn. Sometimes, I would go and stand at the edge and let it lap around my feet. I would feel the earth move out from under me, the sand giving way to the pull of the ocean, and I would think that I could let it take me, too. I could stop fighting the pull, stop fighting altogether.

  The skies opened and the rain began to fall, but still I didn’t move. My mind, however, was a thousand miles away. Somehow, whenever the storms came, I couldn’t help but think of home. That wasn’t because I missed home; in many ways, I had already made a new home. Somehow, I found myself living in a picture perfect town- literally. I’d made my home in a small haven on the coast called Serenity Beach. But you couldn’t really settle into a new life until you let go of the old one. I had yet to figure out how to let go of something that had shaped the person I had become.

  Living on the beach had helped. Staring at the ocean every morning, watching yet another beautiful sunrise, I promised myself that I would leave the past behind me. I would live in each moment and be thankful for every breath. In time, I hoped to find serenity in the thousands of moments between those breaths.

  CHAPTER ONE

  “What’s on the bacon cheeseburger?”

  There was really no other way for me to answer the question than with my own special brand of sarcasm.

  “Cheese. And bacon. And a bun.”

  My customer- a badly burned, twenty-something tourist in town for excessive sun, reckless hookups, and binge drinking- didn’t seem to notice.

  “Hmm. Okay.” She tilted her head and studied the menu again. “I’m just not sure. Maybe I should get a salad?”

  I stifled a sigh and tapped my pen against the small notebook clutched in my hand. It was lunch time- the busiest part of the day at Seaside Bar & Grill, or as the workers like to call it- Seabag. “How about I order you a Seaside special? Off the menu?”

  “Oh! Is it good?” Her glassy eyes grew wide.

  I leaned over the table and lowered my voice. “Between you and me, it’s the best meal we offer. And, it’s our top-selling healthy offering.”

  “Healthy? That’s probably a good idea considering how many calories I’ve been drinking on the beach.”

  “You won’t be sorry.” I slapped up an order for a turkey club and fries and moved on to the next table.

  My salesmanship could not be denied. The girl would get a yummy and moderately healthy meal- compared to the bacon cheeseburger- and I would get a decent tip and the satisfaction of not carrying on the conversation any longer than necessary.

  This glamourous job was my career now- taking orders from tourists ten hours each day, four or five days per week. The hourly rate wasn’t impressive, and I was dependent on taking coworkers’ shifts for extra hours, but the Seabag was located right on the beach and the tips from drunk people getting even drunker more than paid the bills.

  When I had first stepped foot in Serenity Beach, at the beginning of March, the situation hadn’t been quite so rosy. After two weeks of no employment, I had been lucky to stumble into the Seabag one day and notice the “Now Hiring” sign in the window. For the first month, I’d been relegated to breakfast shifts and had made just enough money to pay for my meager lifestyle. But then spring break had hit in full force, and two waitresses had quit. I was upgraded to the lunch hour which meant that in addition to food, I could also take drink orders. Drink orders brought the easiest tips and with beach season right around the corner, we were busier than ever. People on beach vacations certainly enjoyed their fruity alcoholic drinks and I enjoyed my pockets full of tip money.

  After ten hours on my feet, I was ready to go back to my small apartment when my shift ended to wash the sand and salt from my body and watch some mindless television.

  Kennedy Collins had other plans for me.

  “You’re coming with me to a beach party tonight. You can’t say no.” She helped herself to a fry from the plate I was returning to the kitchen. Not salty enough, apparently. The fries, not Kennedy. Kennedy was plenty salty.

  She worked at the Seabag on occasion, filling in when we were under-staffed. But Kennedy’s real appeal to our customers wasn’t her work ethic- it was her effortless beauty. She spent most of the year in New York, picking up modeling gigs and auditioning for roles while appeasing her father by occasionally attending a class or two. She had been “going to college” for six years already.

  In the summer, she came to Serenity, pretending to be just another local. It wasn’t far from the truth because as a child, Kennedy’s parents had divorced and her dad had moved to Serenity to start over. Kennedy had spent her summers with him, building sandcastles on the beach and learning to surf. It was a part of her childhood she was refusing to outgrow.

  “A party? That doesn’t really sound like something I would do,” I said, taking a sip from my non-alcoholic drink. Another perk of the job was free food and drink.

  “That’s only because you are allergic to fun.” Kennedy tossed a fry at my head and I ducked to avoid getting it tangled in my hair. “Please please please. You have to come with me. I hate showing up to parties alone.”

  “Is it going to be a naked party again?” The last time I had agreed to party with Kennedy, we had ended up in what had seemed to be a mild orgy.

  Kennedy smiled innocently. “That was a one-time thing. I had no idea. This party will be way cooler, I promise. It’s at the Wrightwood Estate.”

  “Oooh. Fancy.”

  The Wrightwood Estate was the most expensive house in Serenity. It used to be a hotel before it was bought up by the Wrightwood family in the 1960s. Now, it was rented to only the wealthiest visitors.

  “How did you manage to get an invite?” I asked, untying my apron. “My shift’s over, Danny. I’m taking off.”

  “Thanks, Jordyn.” Danny gave me a knowing grin. “Make good decisions tonight, ladies.”

  The Seabag’s owner, Daniel Young, was easily the best boss I’d ever had. He was only a few years older than myself and he always found ways for us to have fun at work, even on the most annoying days. I loved working for him and considered him to be one of my friends.

  “Sometimes bad decisions are also good decisions,” Kennedy quipped, giving Danny a playful wink.

  “As long as I don’t have to bail you out of jail, have fun.” He turned back to the bar and wiped away invisible moisture.

  As I followed Kennedy outside, she said, “Is it just me or is Danny looking cute these days?”

  “He’s a cute guy,” I agreed. “What happened to Richard?”

  “Meh. We broke up.” She wrinkled her nose. “He was too clingy. Besides, can’t a girl appreciate a good view?”

  I laughed. “Fair enough. But don’t forget, Danny is our boss. He’s off limits.”

  “The good ones always are.” She sighed dramatically. “What were we talking about before I got distracted?”

  “The party. How did you get invited?”

  “One of the girls that summers here just got into town and she sent me a text.” Kennedy threw an arm over my shoulder and squeezed. “We have to go. You’ll love Cassidy and when are we going to get another chance to hang out at the Estate?”

  “Isn’t Cassidy that girl from the tabloids?” I asked skeptically. The people that summered in Serenity every year were loaded and semi-famous. It wasn’t uncommon to see them on the internet, standing five feet behind celebrities or working on the boards of Fortune 500 companies. These were the people that Kennedy called friends. But she had a point about finally getting to check out the Estate. “Fine. I’ll go
with you.”

  “Victory!” Kennedy did her happy dance which was more spastic movements than an actual dance. “I’ll pick you up. Nine sharp, friend.”

  With that, Kennedy bounded away. I didn’t have a car and hadn’t even needed one since moving to Serenity. I had a bike for longer distances, but almost everything was a short walk away from everything else. When I left work, I could follow the shoreline all the way to the little house I rented. At less than a mile, I could finish the walk in about ten minutes if I stayed focused.

  With the perfect weather and gorgeous views, I spent a lot of afternoons strolling slowly, appreciating the smell of the ocean and the squishing of the sand between my toes. This was going to be one of those afternoons I decided, kicking off my shoes and dipping my feet into the water.

  For a long while, I stood and let the waves lap my ankles. I could taste the salt water in the air when I tilted my head up toward the sun. It had been two months since I had first stepped on the beach, and I still couldn’t believe that this was my new home. I couldn’t believe that this was my life. Another minute passed, and then I continued my journey home.

  The house I rented was small, but comfortable. It was just a few yards off the beach, so I could hear the waves from its small balcony. I had a tiny living room, and an even smaller kitchen. My bedroom was a little larger, and it had a quaint little sunroom where I set up my desk and bookshelf. The bathroom was just big enough for one person, as long as you didn’t need to move around much. Basically, it was perfect.

  It had come furnished, which was perfect for me since I didn’t have a lot of furniture or possessions. I’d since added a television and a few dozen books. I had arrived in town with just a couple of suitcases, so I didn’t mind that it lacked closet space. Since it was so close to the ocean, the rent wasn’t exactly cheap, but because I didn’t have many other expenses it was affordable. Plus, it was all mine.

  Even though I was offered free food at work, I usually came home hungry. While I appreciated the generosity of a free meal, I had gotten tired of eating the same unhealthy foods over and over. Instead, I threw together a sandwich and took it out on the balcony without even using a plate. I liked to enjoy the sun while I ate. My thoughts trailed nowhere in particular. I made small plans- picked out a paint color for the sunroom, made a mental note to get my bike tires checked, and contemplated whether I should get a pet.

  It was nice to plan for the future, even if they weren’t grandiose plans. I was just glad I was going to have a future. After I finished my sandwich and dusted away the crumbs, I settled back on the lounger and closed my eyes. Before long, I dozed off.

  It wasn’t a rare occurrence. Something about the warm sun and lapping ocean waves never failed to make me sleepy. When I opened my eyes again, the sun was beginning to set.

  “Shoot.” I stretched and checked the time on my phone. “Kennedy will be here soon.”

  I had just enough time for a quick shower and I was glad to wash the salt and sand from my skin. One thing I was still getting used to in my new beach bum lifestyle was the unavoidable dusting of sand that seemed to be everywhere. The rest of my beauty routine was pretty simple- a quick blow dry of my hair and a swipe of mascara. I finished with a healthy dose of moisturizer, which was basically a necessity these days. Beach-themed attire also made my wardrobe decision much easier. I went with cut offs and a white t-shirt. It wasn’t like I was trying to impress anyone, and comfort was key.

  Kennedy looked me over closely when I slipped into her passenger’s seat. She was wearing a short sundress that showed off her curves and her tan. Her hair was curled, but she’d also chosen a natural look for her face. Then again, Kennedy was beautiful enough that she didn’t really need any makeup at all.

  “Is there a problem?” I said when her face twisted into a grimace.

  She shrugged. “Nope. I’m just glad you didn’t back out.”

  “I’m not a total hermit, you know.” My indignation was weak, however. Given the choice, I would’ve gladly stayed inside watching lame television. But I knew that Kennedy would never let me off the hook that easily.

  The Estate was located on the other side of the Serenity’s peninsula- too far to walk, but still not very far. Kennedy cranked up her radio and sang along loudly with the music.

  “For such a pretty girl, you have a truly ugly voice,” I teased, yelling over the music and whipping wind.

  Kennedy just laughed and I suspected that I wasn’t hearing her real voice. Knowing her, she probably had a pitch perfect singing voice when she wasn’t busy trying to annoy me. The song ended just as we pulled up in front of the Estate and it took me a moment to psych myself up for the funtivities awaiting us.

  “Are you coming?” Kennedy was already out of the car, and she leaned back in to see why I hadn’t moved.

  “Sorry. Just preparing myself for how much fun I’m going to have.”

  I followed Kennedy around the side of the house, heading for its private beach. We could hear music and laughter and we followed the sound until the party came into focus. A few dozen people were scattered in or near the water, kicking the waves at their friends who were squealing loudly. A smaller group was gathered around a large fire.

  “We don’t know anyone here,” I said, suddenly feeling very self-conscious. What if no one spoke to us?

  “Not true. I know Cassidy,” she reminded me, looking around with wide eyes. “We just have to find her.”

  The problem was solved for us when a striking redhead came skipping across the sand. “Ken!” she yelled, jumping on Kennedy.

  They giggled and hugged while I stood awkwardly, waiting to be introduced.

  “Oh my god, Cass. It’s so great to see you.” Kennedy instantly switched into model-mode, tossing her hair and placing a perfunctory hand on her hip. “This is my friend Jordyn. Jor, this is Cassidy.”

  “Nice to meet you,” I said.

  At the exact same time, Cassidy threw her arms around me and squealed, “I love that name. It’s so masculine. Very hot.”

  “Um, thanks?”

  Kennedy gestured to the party. “So what’s the deal? Whose party is this?”

  “I have no idea.” Cassidy laughed. “I know some people that know the people staying here this summer. Isn’t that always the case?”

  Cassidy and Kennedy both laughed knowingly. I had never heard Kennedy laugh so much in such a short amount of time.

  “Let’s get you girls a drink.”

  I was happy to follow Cassidy over to the bar, which was really just a plastic table loaded with all sorts of alcohol. Despite working around booze all day, I wasn’t a big drinker and I had no idea where to start.

  “Overwhelming, right?” Cassidy smiled sympathetically. “Don’t worry. I’ll hook you up. Boomer!!”

  Seemingly out of nowhere, an absurdly attractive guy appeared, holding a bottle of vodka and flashing a wicked smile. “Ladies. Allow me.”

  “This is Boomer,” Cassidy explained, as if that could actually be his real name. “These are my friends, Kennedy and Jordyn.”

  “Any friend of Cass’s…” he said, twirling the bottle in his hand as he filled three plastic cups. “I’m making you a Boomer special. This is going to change your life.”

  “I’m resistant to change,” I said, cautiously taking the cup from him.

  “You’re funny.” Boomer winked at me and smiled again. “I like funny women.”

  “Speaking of funny, how’d you get the nickname? Or is that a story I really don’t want to know?” I took a sip of the mystery drink and was pleasantly surprised. “This isn’t bad.”

  “Try not to sound so shocked.” Boomer played offended and then smiled. “I like fireworks.”

  “Fireworks?” It took me a second to realize he was answering my question about his name. “Oh, so things that go boom?”

  “Something like that.” He winked at me.

  I found myself not entirely annoyed by him, which was more than a
little surprising. The nearly empty drink I held in my hand might’ve had something to do with that. “Are you a professional bartender, Boomer?”

  “No way. That would be too much work.” Boomer nodded toward the other girls who were deep in conversation. “I’m a screenwriter.”

  I hid a smile by taking another drink. Boomer saw it anyway.

  “What? Is that funny to you?”

  “No, not at all.” I shook my head in disbelief. “It just figures that everyone at this party has lives way more interesting than mine. And jobs that aren’t nearly as pathetically boring.”

  Boomer laughed. “My life really isn’t that glamorous, I promise. I’ve barely written anything good. And you aren’t the only one here that has a normal life. Some people here have legitimate jobs. That guy over there, he’s a lawyer and agent.”

  “An agent?” I raised a skeptical eyebrow. “What kind of agent?”

  “Sports agent. He represents some pretty high-profile athletes.”

  Boomer refilled up my cup.

  “Let’s go over by the bonfire and I’ll introduce you to some people.”

  The other guests were nicer than I expected. Some of them were models like Kennedy. And some of them seemed to have no jobs at all. But the vast majority of them were from the city and seemed to be part of the sports agent’s entourage.

  “What about you, Jordyn?” Boomer’s friend, Tim, asked. “How do you spend your days?”

  “In a constant state of denial,” I joked. Then I remembered that I should be trying to make friends. “I’m a waitress at the Seaside Bar & Grill.”

  “Waitress?” Tim smiled. “A working girl. I like it.”

  I didn’t get the impression that he was being patronizing. He seemed genuinely impressed that I had a job that required me to do more than look skinny and pouty.

  “Tim!” Boomer yelled from the makeshift bar. “Flip cup!”