“You were doing fine by yourself,” he said. “I knew you were a strong swimmer. I would have intervened if you’d needed me.”
“Is there some kind of code amongst your kind? Don’t interfere with the weak humans unless absolutely necessary. Am I some kind of joke to you?” My cattiness was showing. But dang it, he made me feel like a starry-eyed sixteen-year-old in the throes of a major crush. Didn’t matter if it was the truth.
“Okay. I guess I’ll go back to my towel now. Since you know, I’m obviously invisible.” Ally walked backwards a few steps.
“Wait, Ally. I’m coming with you.” My pride wouldn’t allow me to sit here and moon over someone, no matter how badly I wanted him to take me for a ride again. I made to get up, but Jamie’s light touch on my arm held me in place.
“Stay.” The request came out in a near-whisper, and his eyes begged me with a softness that hadn’t been there before. “You’re not a joke. I’ve done my share of saving people when warranted, but I happen to subscribe to the philosophy, if you’re going to ignore the red flags and swim in dangerous conditions, you need to have the skills to get yourself to safety.”
So, now he was trying to teach me a lesson? Was he calling me reckless? “Well thanks for nothing.”
“Excuse me for being impressed that you didn’t panic. Most landers do. You kept your head and managed to save yourself. You were out there a good fifteen minutes, and in these conditions, that’s a long time,” he said somewhat exasperated.
His compliments weren’t lost on me, and while they made my heart go pitter-patter, I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet and declare my undying love.
“Then why intervene at all? Why come save the damsel when she no longer needed it?”
“That was to discourage the ten-foot hammerhead that was also watching you from snacking on one of your appendages. I happen to like your legs. And your arms.”
My eyes flew to the water where the waves tumbled over each other in a race to get to shore. Give me the rip current over a shark any day. When my eyes tracked back to his, I caught him checking me out. He didn’t even pretend as if he wasn’t.
“How old are you really?” He had a resigned look on his face like he wasn’t so keen on the answer.
“How old do you think I am?”
One side of his mouth quirked. “Your body looks well… old enough, but your face looks about fifteen.”
I frowned, feeling slightly insulted. “I’m sixteen.”
He exhaled slowly, looking down the beach. He was still crouched in front of me, his elbows on his knees. Water trickled over the tense line of his jaw. Even pursed, his lips remained full. When he looked at me, his eyes glided over every feature of my face.
“That’s a problem.”
“Is it?”
“As Marshall’s daughter, I’d say it’s a big problem,” he said as though he were just laying out the facts and deciding what to do about them, and if I were worth the trouble of the barriers standing in our way. “Why did you lie to me?”
I shrugged. “I thought sixteen sounded too young for you.”
I wasn’t sure what difference a year made. I knew plenty of girls in high school who dated guys in college. Walking down the halls at school, Jamie had always seemed so out of reach, larger than life, and more knowing than anyone else I knew. And I’d heard my dad talk about him. He didn’t talk about Jamie like he did the other guys. He talked about Jamie as if he were a peer, with obvious respect. It made those almost four years seem like so much more.
“It is young.” He reached out and picked up a tangle of wet hair from my cheek and tucked it behind my ear. His fingers trailed down my neck, down my collarbone and over my shoulder. Everywhere his hand touched, my skin sizzled. My breath caught and held when his eyes met mine, the silent message as clear as the sun was bright overhead. I may be only sixteen but I understood Jamie wanted me, maybe as much as I wanted him. Every time he looked at me, he looked as if he wanted to devour me.
“I don’t care. I…” I paused, weighing the wisdom of laying the truth, my desires, out there. Once voiced, I could never take it back. The respect my dad had for Jamie went both ways. If I told Jamie how I felt and he acted on it, the way he already had, that respect would be in jeopardy.
“You what?” he prodded as though he knew exactly what I was about to say but needed to hear me say it anyway. As though he were fully prepared to walk away if I didn’t say it. As though he were asking me for permission to do what his better judgment was telling him not to do.
“I want you,” I declared, laying it out for him to reject or not. Something shifted in his eyes. The seriousness of his expression eased into something softer yet no less intense. He looked happy. I’d made him happy and I’d made him smile, and his face, when he smiled, made my heart soar.
“Well, you have me.” They were really growing on me, these unannounced, no- hint-they-were-coming kisses. It was over too quickly and I was left watching Jamie make a grand exit back into the wild surf, my heart pounding. Take me with you.
After I caught my breath and regained my senses, I got up and walked back over to my towel.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Ally said, her tone laced with disapproval.
I didn’t. And I didn’t care. Jamie was mine.
Chapter Five
My dad and I had a deal and it went something like this: he trusted me and would continue to trust me until I gave him a reason not to. And I was determined not to give him a reason. I liked the relationship we had. And unlike Ally with her parents, there’d been no need for me to lie when I’d left to go pick up Noah. No need to provide a false destination or a false alibi. I'd told him I was going to a party that may or may not have adult supervision—it didn’t. There’d probably be drinking—there was. I also smelled weed, the aroma of which led to the dock in the back of Jax’s lake house.
The keg was around front, in the back of Derrick’s truck, credit to the older brother who willingly supplied the underage attendees. A constant stream of traffic had formed around the side of the house, like a line of ants, marching back and forth for refills. Noah had been in that line and now headed toward me, his red cup tipped to his lips. Charlene hung on his arm, and I was still trying to decide if I thought a hookup between the two was a good idea. I liked Charlene well enough; she just wasn’t good enough for Noah. But as his best friend, I might not feel like anyone was good enough for him.
Noah might be smiling down at her, but it looked more indulgent than engaged, and when he disentangled her arms from around his neck, I knew I'd just witnessed a major rejection. Her bottom lip stuck out as he walked away from her, as if she just didn’t understand why he’d rebuff her drunken advances. It kind of gave me faith that the males of both species weren’t all jerks that took advantage of a girl’s drunken sexual overtures. When Noah turned around, his eyes latched onto me and he mouthed “save me” as he walked across the cushy grass.
“You’re a heartbreaker,” I said when he came to stand beside me. I leaned toward him and inhaled. “Have you been smoking weed?”
“You can’t bring me to a party and get on me for partying. And Charlene is a Kisser. See.” He pointed his cup at her. She was now zeroed in on Tyler. Well, her lips were zeroed in and locked on Tyler’s.
We’d discussed this on the ride over. Noah seemed to think all girls fell into a certain category when under the influence. Girls cried. They got angry. Or mean. Some were Kissers—those girls who kissed anyone and everyone. Others were Dancers, like Ally.
“Speaking of which,” he said. “Give me the keys.”
Then there was the Loser, the girl who lost anything not bodily attached. Cell phone, car keys, money, you name it, I’d lost it. Actually, I didn’t have to drink to lose things, but it did raise the odds quite a bit.
I reluctantly fished my keys from the pocket of my denim shorts, complete with a dramatic eye roll. “I’m the DD tonight, remember?” Which wa
s a useless announcement since I was always the DD. I saluted my half-full cup at him, still in possession of said keys. “I’m done.”
More than likely, I’d end up pouring the contents of the cup out anyway since it was already warm, and I hated warm beer. And that was part of the deal I’d struck with my dad when he’d bought me a nice, fully loaded 2013 Chevy Tahoe for my sixteenth birthday. He’d handed over the keys with the stipulation to never drink and drive. Which explained the still almost full cup of beer.
“We both know that has nothing to do with it. Hand them over,” Noah said, his palm skyward.
“And why aren’t we labeling the guys?” I raised my eyebrows in question as I slapped the keys into his hand.
“Because the categories for guys aren’t as nuanced. I think there’s horny, horny, and then there’s horny.” Noah tucked my keys safely in the front pocket of his shorts. He took a sip from his cup, eyeing me speculatively over the rim. He had these ocean-green eyes that gave the illusion of shifting water.
“What?” I asked as my self-conscious meter rose.
“I had an interesting conversation with Jamie earlier today,” he said.
To my disappointment, I hadn’t seen Jamie when I’d picked Noah up, which could have been really awkward. My relationship with Jamie was still unclear to me. I knew what we’d said to each other on the beach, but still. He hadn’t texted or called. He hadn’t come out to say “hi” while I’d been sitting in his driveway, waiting for Noah, and I was pretty sure he’d been home.
“Oh yeah?” My eyes scanned the yard and the house behind us. Jax’s family lake house, if a little rustic, was equipped with lots of outdoor lights and a speaker system someone was using to full advantage.
“He was really interested in our relationship,” Noah said. “As in me and you.”
“What did you tell him?” I blinked at him, keeping my face passive. Though Noah was my best friend, I wasn’t sure how he would feel about me dating his older brother. Though at this point, “dating” was too strong a word.
“That we’re friends. What’s going on between you two?”
“Nothing really. We’ve just talked a few times.” And kissed. And I told him I wanted him.
Noah really was beautiful. A true golden boy. Most girls would have said he was the better looking of the two brothers. So just to be sure, since we were such good friends, and we were kind of perfect for each other, and I kind of felt like I owed it to myself and Noah and Jamie, I kissed him.
It was pleasant. Nice. No fluttering stomach. No accelerated heart rate. Totally benign as far as kisses went, even when Noah introduced a little tongue. I thought he might have been as curious as I was and willing to explore whether there was anything deeper between us. When he lifted his head, he frowned at me.
“You know,” he mused, “as much as I like you, that should have been better.”
I patted his cheek, my conscience totally absolved and at ease. “You’re a frog, Noah.”
“God, that’s a relief.” He sighed as if he knew exactly what I was saying. “I got more of a reaction out of kissing Charlene.”
“You kissed Charlene? Tonight?”
“Yeah.” He looked a little sheepish. “Kisser, remember? And no, she’s not my type.”
“What is your type?” I asked, genuinely curious. I’d never known Noah to have a girlfriend. I’d witnessed some random hookups, but as far as a steady girlfriend, I was it. As in, I was a girl, and I was a friend.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged and his hair fell over his shoulders, curling at the ends like little waves. “I guess I haven’t met my type yet.”
I was about to tell him when he finally did meet her, she would be one lucky girl, when a scream rent the air. Noah and I turned toward the hoarse cry. A handful of people rushed to the end of the dock in a stampede, more joining as the screams grew more frantic. Hands scrambled for phones to illuminate the dark expanse of the lake. Water splashed, but I couldn’t see anything. I heard him though. I thought it was Jax but his voice sounded funny, choked and terrified. Water continued to thrash.
“Jax?” Ally called over the music that was suddenly way too loud.
“Gator’s got him!” someone yelled. “Damn gator’s got him.”
Another round of splashes sounded as Derrick and Tyler jumped into the lake and swam after Jax. Noah ran toward the end of the dock, shoving people out of his way. He dove before he’d even reached the end, a twenty-foot leap into the inky lake, and then he disappeared into the darkness, leaving us all staring at the rippling water.
People continued shining their phones over the lake, but the overwhelming darkness ate it up. All we could do was stand there and listen to Jax’s gargled cries for help, and to Derrick and Tyler calling for him in a string of obscenities.
“Punch the son of a bitch in the nose,” someone offered.
“He won’t let go,” was Jax’s response, coinciding with another round of obscenities.
Then Jax’s screams stopped, and my heart lurched as a sudden silence fell and every one of us held our breaths. My heart beat so quickly I couldn’t swallow.
“Jax!” Derrick yelled, but there was no answer. Someone was crying. Another lamented, “Oh God.”
As quickly as he’d gone under, Noah emerged from the water in an explosion. We all stumbled to get out of his way when he landed on the dock with Jax in his arms, bringing half the lake with them. Water streamed across the wooden boards as Noah laid Jax down, splashing water on my feet.
“Somebody get me a towel,” Noah yelled.
Jax’s left arm was a mass of torn flesh. Jagged, gaping wounds gushed blood. His chest heaved, each exhale a curse. His eyes were glazed with pain and residual terror.
“Fuck,” Jax said as Noah took the towel someone tossed him and applied it to his arm. Derrick and Tyler drug themselves back on the dock and stood over Jax, water dripping and eyes wide.
“Erin,” Noah barked my name and looked right at me in the protocol we’d learned in health class. “Call 911.”
I fumbled for my phone and dialed the number, waiting for it to connect.
“911, what’s your emergency?”
“We need an ambulance. My friend was attacked by an alligator. Bite to the arm. He’s bleeding pretty bad. The address is…” My mind went blank. “What’s the address?” I yelled to no one and everyone.
“112 Cypress Lake Road,” a voice behind me answered. I relayed the information.
“What’s your name?”
“Erin Shaw,” I said and listened to the dispatcher as she gave me instructions on how to bind the wound. I relayed them to Noah, though he seemed to be doing a pretty good job on his own. He’d done his best to stop the bleeding by putting pressure over the wounds, but blood was seeping through the cotton towel at an alarming rate.
“We should take him to the hospital ourselves,” Derrick offered, fidgeting over Noah.
“You want to risk driving?” Noah shot him a hard look before he jerked his chin. “Somebody ought to get rid of the keg. Fire department will show up, along with the sheriff.”
Derrick sprinted for his truck, more than likely thinking this was a good idea. Cups were upturned and emptied onto the grass or into the lake.
“Get off me, man.” Jax pushed at Noah with his good arm.
“Chill, dude. I’m trying to help,” Noah said, wrestling to hold the towel in place.
Jax scooted away, his face set in a hard grimace. “Get your hands off me. I don’t need your help.”
“Come on, Jax. Relax and try to stay still,” Ally said, kneeling beside him, her expression calm, and her voice steady and comforting.
Jax’s head fell to the wooden deck with a thud, his eyes focused on the sky. “Jesus,” he breathed.
“It’ll be okay, Jax.” Ally knelt, securing the towel around his arm while everyone else stood around in a haphazard semi-circle.
Noah’s announcement that the sheriff would probably show up
spurred an exodus. Only a dozen or so of us chose to stick around.
I still had the dispatcher on the line and she asked whether I could hear the sirens.
“Yeah, I can see the lights too,” I told her and ended the call after a mumbled, “Thanks.”
Tyler sprinted for the front of the house to show the paramedics where we were.
Noah backed away and came to stand beside me. I looked into his face, my hand on his forearm. “You saved him.”
“He doesn’t seem too happy about it,” he said, his mouth pressed in a tight line. His wet t-shirt clung to his chest and shoulders, and water dripped from his shorts.
“He’s just scared,” I said. And hurt. The damage looked bad, like he might lose his arm.
Ally continued to utter soft, nonsensical words to Jax. It didn’t seem to matter what she said. His eyes stayed riveted to her face. His breathing had slowed to a more normal pace. He was looking at her as though she were his only hold on sanity.
It seemed to take forever, but in reality it was probably no more than thirty seconds before Tyler was back with the EMTs. We all numbly moved out of the way as they worked to make sure Jax was stable before strapping him to a gurney, rolling him through the yard, and loading him in the back of the ambulance. Charlene was crying and by then, so was Ally. Silent tears fell in rivulets over her cheeks.
“Will you take me to the hospital?” she asked, lips quivering.
“Sure.” I groped for my keys then realized I’d given them to Noah.
“Noah. Keys,” I said, as I wrapped my arm around Ally’s shoulders.
He patted his pockets, his mouth falling open. “Shit. I must have lost them in the lake.”
Summer's Last Breath (The Emerald Series) Page 4