by S. E. Smith
“Brian, tack to the west and we’ll make a loop and head back to the inlet,” Henry hollered. “And keep your mind on the boat, not my granddaughter!”
Makayla laughed when she heard Brian mutter a curse that was swept away by the wind. She held onto the helm, fighting to keep it from being ripped from her hands. She was thankful for the dodger that Henry and Brian had snapped on when the winds began to pick up. It kept the splash of the waves breaking over the bow from drowning her as they went down into a trough.
“Bring her around to the port side, Makayla,” Henry yelled above the sound of the wind and waves. “You’re doing good.”
Makayla spun the helm around, feeling the change in the sails when Brian furled the jib and the boom swung around. A loud laugh escaped her when the wind caught the sail again and Brian released the jib. The Defiance jerked forward as the sails filled, cutting through the waves.
“We’re flying,” she breathed, grinning at Henry as he moved down into the cockpit. “Just like Captain Hook’s ship.”
“Just like the Defiance,” Henry chuckled. “Keep an eye on the compass. If you head north, you should see the marker buoys marking the entrance to the Inlet.”
*.*.*
“Hey, Makayla, wait up,” Brian called from behind her.
Makayla turned and watched as he jogged up to her. The journey back to the dock had been exciting. They had docked the Defiance out in front of Henry’s house. Henry had a moveable centerboard that allowed him to raise it in shallow water. Even at low tide, the Defiance wouldn’t draw more than three to four feet of water. Henry said there was about six feet at the end of the dock.
“What’s up?” Makayla asked.
Brian slowed as he came closer. “Listen, I was wondering if you’d like to go out tonight. There’s a group of us meeting over at Archie’s on South Beach. I thought we could grab a bite to eat. They have a band playing and we could go for a walk along the jetty,” he said, shoving his hands in the front pockets of his shorts.
“Sure, what time?” She said.
“Seven,” he said with a grin. “I’ll pick you up.”
Makayla nodded and smiled. “Sounds good,” she said, turning back toward the house.
Makayla knew she had a goofy grin on her face as she walked into the house. Dropping off the wet towels in the laundry room, she paused in the kitchen when Henry walked in and opened the refrigerator. He was muttering under his breath, his hand wavering back and forth between a bottle of beer and the pitcher of unsweet ice tea.
“I’m going out tonight,” she announced, reaching around him for the tea. “Brian asked me to go with him to Archie’s. We’re meeting up with some of his friends.”
“You’d better be,” Henry grunted, pulling the bottle of beer out. “The boy couldn’t keep his eyes or his hands off you today.”
Makayla’s lips curved at the corner as she poured herself a glass of tea and took a swig. She licked her lips before she replied to his observation. Henry was glowering at her like she was a specimen under a microscope.
“Are you playing the parent?” She asked in amusement, leaning back against the counter. “I’m almost seventeen.”
“Yeah, and I was nineteen at one time,” Henry growled. “I know what’s going through that boy’s head and I know where it can lead.”
Makayla chuckled and shook her head. “Please spare me your memories of that age. It might scar me for life,” she pleaded in a teasing voice. “I know what’s on his mind as well. I’m not stupid.”
Henry stomped over to the pantry and opened it, glaring at her over his shoulder. “I’m not saying you are. Neither was Mary Rose, but that didn’t stop us,” he mumbled as he turned back to the pantry and bent to look inside it.
Makayla choked on her laugh when he turned back around with a can of soup and pointed it at her. She swallowed as he fought with whatever he was trying to say. The second laugh escaped before she could smother it when he started to talk in an awkward, hesitant voice.
“How much?… Did your mom ever?… Aw, hell,” he mumbled, turning a little red. “What do you know about the birds and the bees?”
Makayla set her glass down on the counter and folded her arms across her chest. She debated if she should let him off easy or continue to enjoy his obvious discomfort. Deciding on a compromise, she went for the best of both worlds.
“I know that they can’t procreate,” she said in a thoughtful voice. “I’m not sure, but I believe both lay eggs where a human doesn’t. Humans give live birth.”
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Henry growled, staring at her.
Makayla laughed and nodded. “Totally,” she retorted. “I’ve lived with mom long enough to know the birds and the bees,” she teased. “What I didn’t learn at home, biology class in school filled in the gaps.”
“Hell, they didn’t teach us that kind of stuff when I went to school,” he muttered in disgust.
“Obviously! Otherwise, according to the math, Jason wouldn’t have come so soon after you married grandma,” she said as she picked up her glass and headed out of the kitchen. “You should have used protection, old man. Everyone knows that.”
Makayla knew her grandfather’s face would be beet red, but she couldn’t help that last jab. His face was priceless when she mentioned Jason’s early birth. Her generation wasn’t the only one who should have been careful.
*.*.*
Later that evening, Makayla checked her makeup and slid some lip gloss on her lips before she turned to look out the window when she heard Brian’s motorcycle pulling up out front. Grabbing her purse, she slid the strap over her head and adjusted it across her chest. She checked to make sure that she looked okay in the mirror.
She had pulled her long hair back into a French braid that fell down over her left shoulder. The shirt she was wearing was a soft blue cropped top with a white lace fringe around the bottom of it. She had a pair of low, hip hugger jeans and her white tennis shoes on in anticipation of riding on the back of Brian’s bike. Leaning forward, she checked her makeup in the mirror. She had only put a touch of it on, mostly to highlight her dark eyes. The suntan she had from being on the sailboat everyday had darkened her skin to a soft golden glow. She finished off her outfit with a pair of large, silver hoop earrings and a silver sailboat pendant that Henry had given her. She fingered it, smiling at her reflection as she stared at it.
“It belonged to Mary Rose,” he had informed her in a gruff voice. “She saw it when we were down in the Keys one year.”
“It’s beautiful. Thank you,” she remembered whispering as he told her to turn around so he could fasten it around her neck.
“Makayla!” Henry called from the bottom of the steps.
“Coming!” She answered.
She adjusted the sailboat pendent before turning away to grab her jacket off the chair by the door and hurried down the stairs. She pushed open the screen door and stepped out onto the front porch. Both men immediately stopped talking. From the intense look on Henry’s face and the bemused look on Brian’s, she suspected Henry was giving his awkward birds and bees talk. It was either that or he was telling Brian what he would do to him if he didn’t behave himself.
“Ready?” She asked, shooting Henry a sharp, questioning look.
She almost groaned out loud when Henry grinned back at her. It wouldn’t have been bad if it had been a natural smile. The problem was it looked like a very devilish one with lots of teeth.
“Yeah. We won’t be too late,” Brian muttered under his breath, sliding his arm around Makayla’s waist. “See you later, Henry.”
“I’ll be waiting up,” Henry called out behind them. “Won’t we, Breaker?”
Woof!
Makayla grimaced even as she thanked Brian for the helmet he handed her. She slid it on, shooting Henry another meaningful look before she climbed onto the motorcycle behind Brian. She shook her head and wrapped her arm around Brian’s waist as he pulled away.
&n
bsp; At the end of the road, Brian reached his right hand down and squeezed her clasped hands. A low chuckle escaped her. The squeeze said it all; Henry had given him the lecture.
Raising her face to the breeze, she laughed when Brian pulled out and took off down Old Dixie Highway. She stared at the buildings as they passed them. There was something about the small community that her grandfather lived in that she would miss. Unlike Tampa, neighbors knew each other and actually talked without being afraid. Over the past two months, she’d had a chance to meet a lot of the people down at the marina, but also a lot of people that lived in the village as she took Breaker for a walk or they stopped to chat with her and Henry when they sat outside in the evenings.
Her arms tightened around Brian’s waist when he stopped at the traffic light before the tall bridge that went over to South Hutchinson Island. She looked around at the people walking along the bridge. Brian must have noticed her looking because he made sure he drove slow as they went up over the river.
It was beautiful. Along each side of the river, lights glittered, showing off the beauty of the area. It was still light enough for her to see the marina on the west bank of the river and the condos along the east bank. They picked up a little speed going down the other side until Brian saw the police car parked to the side. Makayla grinned when she saw the mannequin sitting in the driver’s seat.
“You never know,” Brian said with a grin. “A friend of mind thought it was a mannequin once and it wasn’t. That mistake cost him about two hundred and fifty dollars. I like my money too much to give it away.”
Makayla nodded and laughed. She smiled when she saw the families playing in the water along the sandy shore of the inlet. They slowed for the roundabout. She giggled when Brian did an extra loop around before heading toward the ocean. A block before the entrance to the Jetty Park, he turned right and went down about a mile.
Her arms tightened when he turned into the uneven parking lot. They dipped and bounced around the unpaved parking lot topped with broken seashells, pulling into a parking space near the street. She released Brian and sat back, unclipping the helmet and pulling it off.
“Here,” Brian said as he gently brushed the hair that came loose back behind her ear. “You know some of the people we’re meeting. They were at the beach the day we went.”
“That’s fine,” she said with a smile. “I liked them.”
“Brian! Makayla, over here,” one of the guys called out. “Who’s up to a game of pool?”
*.*.*
Two hours later, Makayla looked up from where she was listening to the two girls across from her talk about starting college in a little over a week. It reminded her that the school year would be starting soon. Her eyes moved to where Brian was standing next to the pool table. Confusion swept through her as she wondered what his plans were.
“So, what about you, Makayla? What are you going to be doing?” Sheila asked.
Makayla smiled. “Head back to Tampa,” she said. “I have one more year before I graduate from high school.”
“Wow!” Kim said, staring at her. “I didn’t realize that Brian was robbing the cradle.”
Makayla just smiled back at Kim. She had been making bitchy comments and sly innuendoes all evening. She suspected that Kim had her eye on Brian and was upset that he hadn’t said more than two words to her all evening. She wasn’t even trying to hide the fact that she was jealous of Makayla now.
“Hardly,” Makayla replied dryly before she smiled up at Brian as he walked up to the table.
“Hey, you ready to go? I promised Henry we wouldn’t be out too late,” Brian said with an easy grin.
Kim looked at Makayla and released a soft laugh. “I rest my case,” she said with a saccharine smile. “Are you coming back out, Brian?” She asked, turning her smile on him and giving him an inviting look.
Brian frowned and shook his head. “No, it’s been a long day and I’ve got to be up early tomorrow,” he responded. “I’ll see you later.”
Makayla rose when he stepped back. She smiled at Brian’s inquisitive look and shook her head when he glanced over his shoulder at Kim. From the pained expression on his face, she suspected that Kim had given him a suggestive gesture.
“She isn’t happy that I tagged along tonight,” Makayla chuckled in amusement.
Brian shrugged his shoulders. “You didn’t tag, I brought you,” he muttered in an uncomfortable voice. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand girls.”
Makayla laughed at his confused expression. “I don’t think you’re supposed to,” she admitted, taking the helmet from him. “So, are you really taking me home? It’s barely past nine o’clock.”
He grinned and shook his head. “I thought we’d walk along the jetty, and then I’d take you for a walk along the river downtown. You haven’t had a chance to see very much of the area and it’s actually pretty nice at night. We could even walk the bridge if you’d like.”
“What time did Henry tell you I had to be home?” Makayla asked as she threw her leg over the back of the motorcycle.
“Midnight,” he admitted. “He said otherwise you turned into this scary beast.”
Makayla rolled her eyes. She had a feeling Henry probably said something else, but she didn’t push it. Being home by midnight still gave them time to enjoy being alone. She slid her hands around Brian’s waist as he started the motorcycle and walked it backwards until he had enough room to turn it around on the uneven ground.
*.*.*
Makayla was surprised by how many people were at the Jetty Park when Brian pulled into the parking spot reserved for motorcycles. She removed her helmet again and handed it back to him with a wry grin. Stepping off the bike, she turned and waited for him to secure it.
“We could have walked down here,” Makayla observed.
“Yeah, but then, I would’ve had to deal with Kim again,” Brian said, holding his hand out to her. “Come on. The moon is full tonight, so you’ll be able to see offshore pretty good.”
Makayla slid her hand into his. The same warm, confusing feelings filled her again. She knew enough to recognize that she was in danger of becoming infatuated with Brian. She ruthlessly pushed the thought away. With her return to Tampa soon, it would be pointless to fall for him. After all, relationships were hard enough without trying to put a state between them. She had learned that from listening to the kids at school.
They walked along the sidewalk that led out onto a large, paved section of rock. A sigh of contentment escaped her as they walked in silence. Every once in a while, they would pause to watch one of the numerous fishermen either bring in a fish or throw a cast net.
“The winds have died down a lot from this afternoon,” she commented. “It’s amazing how fast the ocean can be flat as a lake one minute and rough the next.”
“The ocean is pretty awesome,” he said, looking out over the rippling waves. The light from the moon glittered like diamonds on the light chop of waves. “When I was ten my mom and dad took me to the beach. It wasn’t real rough, two to four foot seas at the time. I was learning to surf, so they were pretty good for a newbie. A late afternoon storm built just off shore and before we knew it, those two to four foot swells turned into six to eight foot ones with a rip current. I took a dive off the board and could feel myself tumbling over and over in the waves. I didn’t know which way was up. I finally popped up to the surface only to find I was further out than I thought I was.”
“What happened?” Makayla asked as she stopped and turned toward him. She gazed up at him in concern. “What did your parents do?”
Brian wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her closer. He looked over her head at the ocean again. For a moment, Makayla could tell he was reliving that day.
“They lost sight of me,” he replied in a quiet voice. “Luckily, I still had the safety line of the surfboard attached to my ankle. I pulled the board close and climbed back on. My dad had always been good about warning us what to do in the event
we got caught in a rip current. I paddled down the beach until I could feel the difference and could make it to shore. Some other surfers saw me and ran down to tell my parents. From that day forward, I’ve always had a respect for the ocean.”
“Wow, you’re lucky to be alive,” she said, tightening her hold around his waist.
“Yeah,” he whispered, looking down at her. “I am.”
Makayla knew he was going to kiss her again. She slid her hands up his chest and wrapped them around his neck when he bent his head toward her. Their lips met in a surprisingly fierce kiss that left them both breathless. She tilted her head, pressing her cheek into the palm of his hand when he caressed it.
“You make me feel things, Makayla,” he muttered in a hoarse voice. “Henry would shoot me if he knew what those feelings were doing to me.”
Chapter 12
The feel of Breaker licking her hand woke Makayla several days later. She released a groan and blinked sleepily up at the Akita with a rueful smile. So much for the wonderful dream she was in the middle of, she thought in disappointment.
With a sigh, she threw back the covers and rolled out of the bed. Grabbing her clothes, she headed for the bathroom. She muttered for Breaker to stay when he tried to get into the bathroom with her. There were some things a girl liked to do without an audience, even if it was a furry one.
Twenty minutes later, freshly showered and dressed in a pair of soft khaki shorts and a white, button-up sleeveless blouse, she hurried down the stairs on silent feet. She was surprised when she heard voices in the kitchen. She slowed as she stepped into the dining room when she heard her name.
“Have you told Makayla?” Henry asked.
