That One Summer (The Summer Series)

by Duggan, C. J

  Toby watched on as the two walked across the camp clearing. “The only way Ringer is going to get near that car is if Chris runs him over in it.”

  Stan laughed as he slung his arm around Bell and started toward the makeshift kitchen.

  “Well, the night is young,” said Stan.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “What is that?” I asked, though I knew the answer.

  I was no expert on camping paraphernalia, that was for certain, but my heart skipped a beat when I spotted something unmistakably familiar in the campsite.

  Adam followed my eye line. “It’s a solar shower,” he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

  The canvas bag was hanging from a tree not too far away from the camping kitchen, on full display; there was no privacy screen, just a bag dangling from a makeshift rope, the showerhead dripping onto the muddy earth where people had used it before. Right now it seemed like the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

  “Do you want one?” Amy asked. “It’s not very warm, but it does the job.”

  My eyes lit up. “I would do anything for a shower.”

  Sean’s brows rose. “Anything? Did you hear that, Chris? She’ll do anything.” A wicked smile plastered across his face as he waited for Chris’s reaction.

  The reaction never came. Chris ignored him and disappeared inside the large canvas tent.

  It was my cue to leave, avoiding Sean’s gleaming eyes. I didn’t have time to take the bait. I was on a mission.

  ***

  The walk back down the track to the campsite seemed a lot longer in thongs and a bright, floral bikini. I slung my towel over my shoulder and pulled my ponytail loose, the second most amazing feeling in the world. The first would no doubt be the shower I was headed for.

  I was almost giddy with excitement – having spent last night in my flannelette PJs in the back of the van had felt like the equivalent to wrapping myself in cling wrap and sleeping in a sauna.

  I couldn’t wait for this.

  “Don’t take too long,” Ellie called from her camping chair. “We’re heading into town.”

  My heart sank a little. “We are?” The last thing I really wanted to do was get back into the car.

  Amy took my towel and hung it on a tree branch. “Yep, us girls thought we would do some shopping,” Amy chirped as she handed me a bar of soap. “Plus,” she said under her breath, “we wanted to get Tess away for a while.” My eyes instinctively moved to Tess who was intently reading a book in the shade.

  Was something going on with Tess? No doubt Amy would tell me when she could. I thought that this was the whole idea of the road trip, to get away for a while, but apparently some of us needed to get away from the getaway.

  “Come on, tell the truth,” said Adam. “Now say why you’re really going into town.”

  Amy cut Adam a dark look that did little to intimidate him.

  Ellie straightened. “Well, you needn’t think I’m going out in my cut-offs and singlet top.”

  “Going out?” I questioned.

  “Uh, yeah, apparently there’s a great little pub in Evoka,” said Amy. “We thought we might head down there tonight.”

  “Bloody hell, is that why you’re going to town? To buy an outfit?” Sean laughed.

  “No.” Amy glowered. “We just thought we’d get some supplies, seeing as we were in such a rush to leave, thanks to you boys wanting to leave so bloody early.”

  “The early worm gets the fish,” Sean said.

  Amy scoffed. “I haven’t even seen your fishing rod in the water yet.”

  Sean wrapped his arms around Amy and nuzzled her neck. “That’s because I’ve had better things to do.”

  There was a collective groan. “Get a room, you two,” said Adam.

  I wrestled with the showerhead. “How does this thing …” and before I could finish my sentence a stream of cold water hit me in the face. I spluttered and gasped at the unexpected icy cold that ran down my skin.

  “Oh-my-gosh, oh-my-gosh,” I breathed out as I vigorously rubbed soap over my shoulders and stomach, thinking that maybe the friction would warm my skin, or just to get washed as quickly as possible. I whimpered through the motion.

  I wiped the water out of my eyes, only sensing that someone was standing near at the exact moment that they reached over my head and twisted the nozzle. The freezing water blasted hard and fast all over me and I gasped in shock again.

  I heard a chuckle. “Warm enough?”

  I blinked through the droplets of water to see Chris standing next to me. That had me gasping for a completely new reason.

  He was wearing nothing more than a pair of footy shorts. I took in the ripped lines of his biceps, and his impressive broad shoulders that narrowed in toward his waist. I took in his tanned, smooth skin that shone in the afternoon sun.

  Chris usually worked inside, or stood glowering by the sidelines on any one of our gatherings. I had never seen him so exposed before, and boy was he exposed.

  Dribbles of water ran down his arms as they worked, adjusting the stream some more. The clear rivulets splayed down his chest and rolled down his toned, taut stomach. I wanted to reach out and follow their line with my finger.

  Wait, what? I snapped my thoughts away from following the descending crystal beads.

  A cold shower right now was actually exactly what I needed.

  “Hang on a sec,” Chris said as he trotted back to the camp kitchen, disappearing behind the canvas flap. He returned with a full water jug.

  “Here’s something I prepared earlier,” he smirked. “Tilt your head back.”

  Without hesitation I did as I was told. He trickled a deliciously warm stream of water over my head, washing the suds from my drenched tendrils of hair.

  I closed my eyes, forcing myself not to groan with pleasure at such a welcome sensation as he slowly, almost teasingly, dribbled the stream over me. All too quickly it was over and the cool stream from the showerhead overtook any feeling of warmth Chris had thoughtfully afforded.

  I smiled brightly at him. “Thanks.”

  I almost felt the same heated warmth from Chris’s coffee-coloured eyes as he stared down at me. It was the first time I had held his stare, and it didn’t hold anything other than kindness.

  My stomach fluttered with butterflies.

  “Do … do you want me to leave it running?” I stammered.

  Chris broke into a smile, the tooth-exposing kind, as he eyed the showerhead. “Sure.”

  I nodded like a zombie, passing him the rose-scented cake of soap, his fingers brushing mine.

  “Thanks.”

  “That’s okay,” I said. I reached for my towel in a daze and stepped aside as Chris moved forward to take my place.

  Shivering I wrapped the towel around me before looking up and pausing. Everyone was sitting and standing around the campsite, watching with such deep-set, if not amused, interest.

  Geez. All they needed were some 3-D glasses and a bucket of popcorn.

  I blushed crimson; in those mere moments under the water I had completely forgotten we had an audience, that our exchanges were not just limited to us and us alone anymore, that we were part of a group – a smug, staring group.

  I wrapped the towel tightly around my body, pushing the soaked tendrils of hair over my shoulder. Amy came over with an extra towel for my hair, her brow curved with interest. I braced myself for the insinuating comments that might come as she handed me the towel.

  She folded her arms and looked at me as I rubbed my hair vigorously.

  “Wow,” she whispered. “If this is how you two behave in public, I don’t want to even know …”

  “I’m going to get dressed!” I piped up before marching up the track toward the panel van, my thongs squelching with every step as I dared not make eye contact with anyone.

  As far as showers went, that was definitely the most mortifying one I had ever had.

  ***

  “Come on, let’s g
o! Let’s go!” Amy called as she wound down the window.

  With my hair still wet, I jogged toward Sean’s Toyota twin cab ute where Amy sat behind the wheel. I opened up the passenger door and climbed inside. Ellie, Tess and Belinda sat in the back, all buckled up for the expedition.

  “I can’t believe Sean is letting you take his car,” said Ellie. “It must be love.”

  Amy was too busy adjusting her seat to reply. “Bloody legs like a spider,” she muttered under her breath. She pulled her seat forward so she could touch the pedals.

  “Who has legs like a spider?” A set of tanned elbows rested on the open driver’s window, startling us all.

  “Bloody hell, Sean!” Amy slapped at him.

  Sean flashed his pearly whites. “What time will you be back?”

  “Never you mind,” called Ellie. “This is women’s business.”

  Sean grimaced. “You’re going to talk about feelings and crap, aren’t you?”

  Amy smirked. “Most definitely.”

  “Well, in that case,” he said, pecking her on the forehead, “take your time.”

  Amy rolled up the window before starting the car.

  “Dare you to drop a big wheelie,” I joked.

  “No way!” she said. “It wouldn’t be worth my life.” Instead, she settled for a polite double toot, waved goodbye, and pulled out onto the road.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  So we didn’t exactly launch immediately into talking about our feelings.

  But by the glimpses I caught in the back seat through the rear-view mirror, maybe we needed to.

  Ellie looked bored, Tess looked sad and Belinda looked like she would rather be anywhere else.

  I cleared my throat. “So! What’s our first port of call?” I said in my best upbeat voice.

  “I don’t think there’s a lot to choose from in Evoka, but it’s the closest thing we have at our disposal,” grimaced Amy.

  “I know what is in Evoka,” sighed Tess. “Hippy shops with wind chimes, stress balls and crocheted beanies.”

  “How do you know?” asked Belinda.

  “My mum dragged me to the Mother’s Day market here one year. Not a lot to choose from.” Tess shrugged as if she didn’t particularly care, though.

  “If the only dress shop in town is limited to tie-dyed products I will be so annoyed,” said Ellie.

  “Surely it won’t matter. I doubt the Evoka pub is black tie,” I said reassuringly.

  Ellie examined the end of her blonde ponytail for split ends. “It’s only the second day and I am already bored out of my mind.”

  “Well, don’t you dare say that in front of the boys.” Amy flicked a warning look in the rear-view. “The last thing I need is Chris saying, ‘I told you so.’”

  I wanted to defend Chris’s honour, I don’t know why, to say that I didn’t think he would say that, but then I thought better of it.

  It was twenty minutes down a winding dirt road before we hit the smooth bitumen that led into town. The first sign of civilisation was passing a shack set back off the road among thick bushland.

  Amy started laughing hysterically.

  “What’s so funny?” I asked, glancing at the others. They looked just as perplexed by the outburst as I felt.

  Amy fought to contain herself. “Did you see that place back there?”

  “What about it?” asked Belinda.

  “That’s the pub.” Amy slapped the steering wheel.

  “Whaaaat?” groaned Ellie.

  “Definitely not black tie,” added Tess.

  I glanced back, seeing nothing but a line of bitumen as we sped forward. “Did the sign really say ‘Villa Co-Co’?”

  “Better grab ourselves some tie-dye, ladies,” Amy continued to laugh.

  Ellie shook her head. “I would sooner die.”

  ***

  Evoka was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of town; it housed a small local supermarket, post office, pub, butcher and a one-stop tourist shop with said hippy incense and scented oils, woven baskets and postcards. After seeing the ‘Villa Co-Co’ pub, we reached an unspoken agreement that finding an outfit for a night out seemed less important than it had before. Instead, we opted for some peaceful roaming around the tree-lined streets. Regardless of its humble setting, Evoka was a beautiful place and the last stop before the towns that dotted the coast along the way toward Point Shank.

  We pushed our way through the front door to the tourist shop, assaulted immediately by the powerful fumes from the incense that burned on the counter. The shop was cluttered with an array of interesting artefacts, from bejewelled elephant statues to wind chimes and dream catchers; you had to really look amongst the collection in order to take it all in.

  I sidestepped between two tables piled high with tea towels and gem stones, and took extra care as I manoeuvred my way through the small space. I spotted a cardboard sign on the counter that stated in permanent black texta: ‘You break. You buy.’ I tucked in my elbows. I really didn’t want to be stuck with buying a dragon sculpture holding a crystal ball or something equally hideous. And a broken one, at that. My gaze skimmed along the cluttered shelves as I edged my way toward the back of the store.

  I was open to the idea of finding a souvenir for my parents, perhaps, and paused at a stand that housed guardian angel pendants. I tilted my head to read the scripture on the little cards and froze.

  The hair on the back of my neck rose at the low growling from behind me. A deep, guttural growl that taunted me, practically dared me to move. My eyes widened as I caught the reflection in one of the outlandish gold-plated mirrors on the wall of the most massive dog peering at me through the beaded curtain from out back. I locked eyes with the beast and realised I had made a big mistake. It flinched back and barked an ear-piercing bark.

  I screamed.

  The others raced around the corner and paused, seeing me pressed up against the wall on tippy toes.

  “Aww, look at the puppy,” Ellie crooned.

  “Puppy?” I squealed. “It’s a bloody monster.”

  “It’s a Saint Bernard.” Amy waved me off like I was being overdramatic. As she edged closer to the bead curtain she held her hand out tentatively for the beast to sniff it.

  “Hello, beautiful, what’s your name?” she cooed.

  The giant stepped forward and sniffed the air, before flinching back and barking incessantly.

  “Aww, it’s okay, we won’t hurt you,” Amy said over the noise.

  “WINSTON! NO!” a woman cried. She parted the beaded curtain and pulled on the dog’s collar, edging him into the back room. “Go on, you know you’re not allowed in here.” She groaned as she pushed the resisting eighty-odd-kilo beast away.

  The woman closed the door behind her, muffling the outraged barks from behind. Breathless, she smoothed over her frizzy, salt and pepper hair as she smiled at us with coffee-stained teeth.

  “Can I help you?” she asked brightly. Aside from us disturbing Winston, she seemed utterly delighted to see us.

  “Um, we were just looking, thanks. Sorry to frighten your dog,” I said.

  “Oh, not at all.” Her bangles jingled as she waved off my sentence as if it were nothing. “He likes to think he’s a guard dog, but he’s nothing but a giant teddy bear. Are you ladies passing through?”

  “We’re camping near here; we thought we would just pop into town to do some shopping.” I smiled.

  “We were kind of looking for a clothing store,” Belinda added. Ellie cut her a dark look as if to be quiet, which Belinda ignored. “We were wanting to go out tonight, but we didn’t really pack anything suitable.”

  “Going out?” the lady asked. “In Evoka?”

  I wanted Belinda to shut up, too. Somehow handing out all our personal information didn’t sit right with me; it was the kind of scene you would see in a horror movie. You know, where there’s a group of campers that stop off at a gas station and tell the innocent-enough shop man exactly what they were doing and where
they were going, only to be picked off one by one in the dead of night by a masked, chainsaw-wielding psychopath. I glanced around to see any sort of apparel in the shop.

  “Villa Co-Co, is it?” asked Tess. “That’s the pub, right?”

  The lady’s eyes suddenly lit. “Of course! Villa Co-Co … What fun!”

  “Really?” I asked sceptically.

  “Oh yes, Peter and Jan have just come back from Bali and they throw one hell of a party.” She walked around from behind the counter, her long velvet skirt swooshing along the floorboards. “Follow me, ladies,” she sing-songed as she walked toward the back of the shop.

  We all looked at each other, uncertain exactly what to do, when Ellie shrugged and made the first move after her.

  In a tentative line, we manoeuvred our way to the back of the shop, where the lady unravelled a plastic sheet off a clothes rack and wheeled it out from the corner.

  “If you’re going out, you’re going to have to look the part,” she said.

  Amy smirked as she folded her arms. “It’s not black tie, by any chance?”

  The lady looked puzzled at the question. “Yes, you’re not from around here, are you?”

  “No. No we are not,” I agreed.

  ***

  After being pointed in the direction of a changing room, we took turns in flicking through the clothes of the woman’s hidden stash, giggling over the eclectic array of fashion.

  “Oh my God, is she for real?” whispered Amy as she held up a bat-winged ’80s power suit.

  “I think it’s hilarious,” added Belinda as she pressed an electric blue Lycra dress against herself.

  “Hey, can I have a look at that?” asked Ellie as she took it from Belinda. “You know, if you took the shoulder pads out of this, it wouldn’t be so bad …” she mused.

  Amy disappeared into the changing room, which was really just a curtained corner. “Villa Co-Co won’t know what hit it,” she called.