by Elicia Hyder
“Destiny isn’t my girlfriend.”
Journey’s brow crumpled. “Destiny? Geez, I didn’t know her name was Destiny. Is she a stripper?”
He rolled his eyes and turned on his heel. “She’s not a stripper.”
Journey followed him across the hall. “What does she do?”
He was quiet for a moment. “She’s a dancer.”
“Ha!” Journey laughed. “I knew it!”
He looked over his shoulder at her. “She’s not a stripper, and she’s not my girlfriend.”
Journey smiled and leaned in the doorway. “Surrrre,” she said, dragging out the word to mock him.
Marcus reached for the door and pushed it closed, forcing Journey into the hallway. “Sorry, no girls allowed in my room.”
“Marcus is dating a stripper!” Journey sang through the house.
There was a band playing on the rooftop of Coconut Joe’s when they arrived. Kara and Justin sat down at an empty table, but Journey walked straight to the railing that overlooked the beach. Marcus followed. The sun was setting behind them and casting a sparkling golden glow over the waves. The cool ocean breeze blew her hair back off her shoulders, and she could already taste salt on her lips. She stretched her arms high over her head. “This is awesome! Our whole group back together again.”
Marcus leaned on the rail next to her and adjusted his black sunglasses. “Yeah, all except Dave, I guess.”
Journey’s heart took an unexpected nose dive, and she dropped her hands like she had been punched in the stomach. Marcus didn’t notice; there was a blonde in a bikini on the beach.
Journey sighed. “Yeah, except for Dave.”
David had never been far from Journey’s thoughts, but the U.S. going to war in the Middle East erupted him back to the forefront of her mind. She had never forgiven herself for pushing him away like she had. She tried a few times to look him up online but never found any trace of him. For a while she had even continued to write letters to his old address without any response. David was a ghost, and Journey had all but given up the hope of ever finding him again. She could barely even tolerate the sound of his all-to-common name, much less the memory of their days together before she so definitively destroyed it all.
However, she was lucky enough to still be loved by some of the most amazing friends on the planet. She looped her arm through Marcus’s and rested her cheek against his shoulder. “I’ve missed you, Marcus.”
He leaned over and pressed his lips against her temple. “I’ve missed you, too.”
“Journey!” Kara called out.
The two of them turned to see Kara holding up a bottle of tequila.
“It’s birthday time!” she cheered.
· · ·
Two hours and half of the bottle later, the birthday girl was no longer able to sit completely vertical in her chair. She dug her fingernails into Marcus’s arm. “I wanna go on the beach!”
He laughed and nodded his head. “OK, I’ll get the check and we—”
Journey cut him off. “Kara!” she screamed. “Let’s go play on the beach!”
Kara was dancing with Justin, but she spun around when she heard Journey yell. “Yes! The beach!”
Marcus laughed as he watched Kara try and run back to the table. Her sandal caught on a plank on the floor, sending her sprawling forward. Justin caught her before she hit the ground. She pushed his hands away and laughed all the way back to her seat.
Journey stood up too fast and wobbled. Marcus jumped up to steady her, but Kara grabbed her arm. “Let’s go swimming!” she shouted.
Marcus caught Justin’s eye and pointed at them. “Please go with them while I pay the bill!”
Justin nodded. “I’ve got this.”
Leaning on each other for support, the two drunken girls staggered across the rooftop and knocked over a table and a tiki torch. Justin had to stop and pick up the burning lamp before it started a blaze, but the girls kept going toward the stairs.
“Shit!” Marcus said. He waved his arm and caught the attention of their waitress. He shoved a hundred dollar bill into her hands. “Keep the change!” he called as he ran toward the steps.
He caught up with the two of them just as Journey missed the top step completely. He was able to jerk her back into his arms before she plummeted down the stairs. He blocked Kara’s path with his leg. He let out a deep sigh as Journey giggled in his grasp.
“Maybe it’s time to go home,” he suggested.
“Noooooo!” she protested. She pointed back toward the ocean. “It’s my birthday, and I wanna go to the beach!”
He groaned. Finally Justin caught up with them and took hold of Kara’s hand.
When they finally made it down the twenty-seven harrowing wooden steps to the ground below, Marcus released his hold on Journey. She took off in a sideways sprint almost in the direction of the beach. Kara followed after her, screaming like a banshee.
“This is going to be a long night,” Justin said.
Marcus laughed as Kara fell on top of Journey, and they both landed laughing in a sand dune. “Maybe we can get them to walk some of it off,” he wondered out loud.
Justin sighed as they began to walk toward them. “I dunno. Kara’s already reached the point where she keeps calling me ‘bitch’.”
Marcus rubbed his hands down his face and laughed.
The girls were heading toward the water, and Journey stripped her t-shirt off over her head. “Uh oh,” Marcus said and took off in a jog.
He picked up her shirt but couldn’t catch her before she dropped her jeans shorts to the sand and kicked off her flip-flops. He scanned the area for onlookers or worse, the police. Her arms were flailing over her head as she ran into the waves. At least her rainbow bra and panties could almost pass as a bathing suit. Kara ran into the water fully dressed. Marcus folded his arms over his chest as Justin joined him at the water’s edge. “Damn it.”
Justin just laughed.
“Marcus!” Journey yelled from where she had waded out to waist deep water. “Come swim with me!”
He shook his head. “No! And stop yelling!”
“I won’t! Not until you come get me!” She started slapping the water with her hands. “Marcus! Marcus! Marcus!”
Kara pointed her long finger at Justin. “You too, you little bitch!”
Marcus doubled over laughing and grabbed his knees for support.
Justin shook his head. “We’d better get out there before someone calls the cops.”
Marcus groaned and unbuttoned his shirt. “I’m going to get fired.” He pulled off his tennis shoes and socks and tucked his wallet and keys into his shoe. He walked into ankle deep water and held up his arms. “OK, I’m in!”
Journey was slinging her wet hair back and forth. “No! Come here!”
“You come get me!” he called back to her.
She laughed and started sloshing toward him. When the water was shallow enough, she started to run. When she was close enough, he grabbed her around the waist and carried her out into the ocean. She squealed in his ear till they were both knocked down by a wave. She splashed her way toward him in the water when he came up laughing.
He wiped salt water off his face. “I’m in. Are you happy now?”
She looped her arms around his neck, and her body bobbed in the surf against his chest. She tossed her head back. “I’m deliriously happy!”
The way that the water drizzled down the smooth skin of her neck was making Marcus dizzy. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “Can we please go home now before you get us all arrested?” he asked.
She kissed his cheek. “Yes. We can go home now. Will you carry me?”
He sighed. “Only if you put your clothes back on.”
“Deal.”
When they reached the beach, he put her arms into his shirt and buttoned the buttons. Justin was dragging Kara in from the water. Marcus put his shoes back on and then turned his back toward Journey. “Hop on,” he said. “Let
’s get out of here before you change your mind.”
When they got back to the car, he buckled Journey into the passenger’s seat, and Justin and Kara got in the back. Journey turned sideways in her seat toward him. “You’re so pretty, Marcus.”
He laughed and rolled his eyes.
When they got back to the house, Journey spilled out of her door before he could get around to her. “Hey Kara,” she called out. “Let’s go jump in the pool!”
“Oh yes!” Kara agreed.
Marcus shook his head. “No swimming.”
Kara pulled on his arm. “What if it’s skinny dipping?”
He paused to think about it. Just then, Journey sat down in the middle of the sidewalk for no reason at all. “Definitely no swimming,” he repeated. He stretched his arms down toward her. “Come here.”
Journey slapped his hands away and staggered to her feet. “I can walk,” she argued.
She took one step and then nearly fell over laughing. Without a word, he bent over, grabbed her around her hips, and slung her over his shoulder. She laughed and pounded her fists on his back. “I can walk!” she squealed.
“I don’t want you to break your neck trying to get up the steps,” he told her as he followed Kara and Justin to the front door.
Once inside, he carried her to her room and deposited her on the mattress. He looked down to where she was sprawled out. “You’re not going to be sick are you?”
She shook her head. “No.”
He looked at her wet hair and then at the bathroom. He knew she needed a shower before bed, but he decided he didn’t have the honorability or willpower to supervise. He looked at the alarm clock. It was almost one in the morning. He pointed at her. “Go to bed.”
“Where are you going to sleep?” she asked.
“In the other room,” he replied.
She held out her arms toward him. “No, sleep with me,” she slurred.
That’s not a good idea, he thought to himself. “No, you sleep in here. And maybe I’ll make breakfast for you in the morning.”
She smiled and closed her eyes. “I haven’t had Marcus-pancakes in a long time.”
Marcus unzipped her suitcase. Lying on top was an old, familiar Metallica t-shirt. He held it up. “Is this my shirt?”
She giggled. “Not anymore.”
He laughed and pulled her to her feet. “Can you get changed or do you need help?”
She smacked his hand again. “I can do it,” she said.
He breathed a sigh of relief. He nodded toward the hall. “I’ll be in my room if you need me.”
“Mm-kay,” she said.
He watched for a moment as she fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, and then he smiled and slowly backed out of the bedroom. Before bed, he forced himself into a cold shower. When he got back to his room, Journey was under the covers.
An irrepressible smile crept across his face. “Are you lost?”
“You can’t go to sleep without me,” she said.
He walked over and pulled the covers back. She was wearing his shirt and not much else. “Scoot over.”
She rolled onto her side with her back to him. When he stretched out next to her, she looked back over her shoulder. “I get to be the little spoon.”
He laughed and curled his arm around her. Her body was warm against his, and their legs tangled together under the blankets.
She’s drunk Marcus, he silently reminded himself.
He moved his lips against her ear. “That was one of my favorite shirts,” he whispered.
She giggled. “It’s been one of my favorites for five years.”
Her hair fell away from her neck exposing a small patch of creamy skin just below her ear. Unable to stop himself, he kissed it. She tasted like the sea. To his surprise, she sighed and nuzzled back into him. As if on its own accord, his hand crept up under the t-shirt to her bare stomach.
“Journey?”
No response.
He sat up a little and leaned over to see her face. “Journ?” he asked again.
Nothing. She was asleep.
He groaned and fell back onto his pillow.
· · ·
The distant sound of a phone ringing jarred Journey from a hard sleep. She opened her eyes and had to think for a second to determine where she was. She was alone in a strange bed, in a strange room that smelled like maple syrup and bacon. She sat up and saw Marcus’s clothes from the night before scattered across the hardwood floor.
Oh crap, she thought, quickly picking up the edge of the blanket to make sure she was dressed. Cotton panties, check. T-shirt, check.
She laughed with relief before swinging her legs off the edge of the bed. Marcus’s suitcase was open on the floor and a pair of black gym shorts was laying on top. She bent to retrieve them and thought her brain might explode. She gripped her forehead and winced with pain. She pulled the shorts on, rolling them at the waist three or four times to make them fit better and then walked barefoot out of the bedroom. She shuffled down the hallway toward the sound of her friends’ voices.
Justin and Kara were at the kitchen breakfast bar eating pancakes. Kara cocked her head sideways and took in Journey’s attire before smiling wide.
“Shut up,” Journey said as she walked to the coffee pot and picked up an empty mug.
“I didn’t say a word,” she said.
Justin laughed. “Looks like your evening got interesting.”
She held up her middle finger in response.
Marcus walked in from the balcony, snapping his cell phone shut. He saw Journey and smiled. “Morning.”
She sipped the black coffee. “Morning.”
He put his phone down on the counter.
“Looks to me like someone had a good night,” Kara teased.
“Marcus, tell them nothing happened,” Journey instructed, leaning against the counter.
Marcus playfully slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Baby, you were spectacular.”
She shoved him, and they all laughed. Marcus handed her a plate.
She held the plate close to her nose and took a deep whiff. “Mmm, pancakes.”
“Hurry up and eat. I wanna get out on the beach before we have to head home,” he said.
She looked around at all the food. “Did you go shopping?”
“Yes. I’ve been up since seven.” He pointed to the clock. “It’s almost lunchtime. I’m going to go get my swimming trunks on.” As he passed, he smacked Journey on the butt.
She rested her plate by Kara who was still laughing. “Shut up!”
Later that day Journey stretched out on a beach towel in the sun next to Kara. Out in the water, Marcus and Justin tossed a football. Journey smiled. “This has been a really great birthday.”
Kara grinned. “Including last night?”
Journey rolled her eyes. “We fell asleep together. That is all.”
“Could’ve fooled me by that outfit you were wearing when you came stumbling out of Marcus’s bedroom,” she teased.
“Let it go,” Journey said.
Kara reached over and smacked Journey on the back of the head.
“Ow!” Journey shot her friend an ugly look. “What the hell was that for?”
“You’re such an idiot!” she shouted. “What’s the matter with you?”
Journey rubbed the back of her head. “What are you talking about?”
“You know what I’m talking about.” She pointed out to the water. “I’m talking about you and Marcus.”
“What about me and Marcus?”
“Look at him,” she said. When Journey didn’t obey, Kara reached over and forced Journey’s head in Marcus’s direction. “Look at him.”
“OK! OK!” Journey glanced out into the water. Marcus was in black and blue swimming trunks that hung low on his hip bones. Each dark tattoo on his perfectly tanned skin accentuated a different muscle group.
Kara laughed. “You look like you could eat him for lunch right now!”
Journey cocked an eyebrow at her. She knew Kara had a point that she was slowly getting to.
Kara took a deep breath and pulled off her sunglasses. “Journey, I sat back and watched you do the same damn song and dance with David for years.” Journey flinched, but Kara didn’t stop. “I know you don’t like talking about David, but you were too stupid to admit how you felt about him and look where it got you! You’re still cringing at his name years later. Now you’re doing the same damn thing with Marcus, and I’m not keeping my mouth shut this time!”
Kara’s intervention was much more dramatic than Journey had expected, but she knew Kara was right.
“He’s been in love with you for years and whether or not you want to actually admit to it, you love him too. We all know it.” She shoved Journey again in the shoulder. “Don’t screw this one up.”
Wow, Journey thought.
Kara finally pointed at her. “You know I’m right.”
For a long time Journey was silent. She watched Marcus doubled over laughing at something Justin was saying. By the way Justin kept cupping his hands at his chest, she could only assume he was talking about boobs. Journey loved it when Marcus laughed.
“But what if it doesn’t work and I lose him?” Journey finally asked, not meeting Kara’s eyes.
“You don’t know that’s what will happen,” Kara replied. “But we all know that you two can’t keep this crap up forever. He will eventually get serious with someone else, and you will really lose him.”
“But what about David?” Journey asked. “Being with Marcus seals that forever. I can’t go back from that. And I don’t know what happened to him, Kara.”
Kara sighed. “Journey, you’ve searched for David for years and have found nothing. If David wanted to find you, it wouldn’t be that hard. The truth that you need to realize is… he hasn’t even looked for you.”
If Kara had just punched her in the face, it couldn’t have hurt any more than her words. But Journey refused to cry. Kara put a gentle hand on her forearm. “David’s gone. It’s time to move on. It’s time for you to be happy.”
· · ·
Journey couldn’t shake her conversation with Kara for the rest of the day at the beach. That afternoon, they made the drive back to Emerson. She said goodbye to her friends when they all arrived back at her parents’ house. Marcus was the last to leave.