by Natasha Boyd
“Okay, well, it’s three weeks away. I agree you’d know by now if he was coming,” she said carefully.
I nodded. He’d said he would be. Said he’d come straight to Captain Woody’s Bar and buy me an illegal drink.
The bike path emerged out of the trees to the sand and shell gravel that covered the marina parking. My apartment complex was to the right and the path to the bars and the docks to the left. I was about to tell Keri Ann to wait for me at Woody’s so I could run to our ground floor apartment and dump my bag when I saw Chase, looking damn fine, leaning against a concrete post light on the walkway to Woody’s, wearing baggy cargoes, flip flops and an artfully distressed t-shirt that probably cost more than I made in an afternoon. He stood up when he saw me and gave a two fingered mock salute. I’d told him I lived at the Marina apartments.
I slowed, a leg coming down to balance me.
“Whew,” Keri Ann whispered. “He’s even cuter in daylight.”
“He’s certainly a distraction,” I whispered back.
“You told him where you live?”
I grimaced. “I may have mentioned it.”
“Are you sure about this?”
I realized upon seeing Chase that my father was instantly forgotten, and so was Joseph. Mostly. “Yeah, I’m sure.” He was a distraction I really, really needed.
I TOOK CHASE up to the bluff on the north of the island. It was one of my favorite places. There was a beach that was only useable at low tide, but there were rocks to sit on and old gnarly tree trunks that grew out over the water. Many times there were dolphins to watch, and this afternoon there was an awesome display of a lone kitesurfer flying across the surface of the water and kissing the tops of the waves.
I was bored of Chase within hours. Okay, no. Make that minutes. I just couldn’t keep my mind on anything he was saying.
I’d rather be out there with the kitesurfer, taking my chances of being taken by a hungry bull shark at feeding time than listen to a moment more of Chase’s plans to throw the biggest frat party the college had ever seen.
I’d brought my camera, and while I’d had this fantasy of taking sunset shots of my college hottie¸ I ended up being far more interested in the twisted trunk of the red cypress skeleton snaking over the rocks.
When the kitesurfer crossed my viewfinder again, I zoomed in and started snapping shots as he caught some air. His legs bunched, his back flexed, and his arms braced, the wind picking him and his board up into its arms. Almost in slow motion with the suspension of the kite helping him, he gracefully executed a somersault into the wind, coming back down to skim the water. I exhaled and realized I’d held my breath. I lowered my camera from my face hoping I’d captured at least some of that. I hadn’t set it up for action shots, but the kitesurfer, while on the surface water went super fast, had slowed when hanging in the air.
“That’s like the dumbest sport ever,” Chase observed, snapping me out of my trance.
I shook my head and put my camera away. “What sport?”
“That windsurfing thing. I don’t get it.”
“It’s kitesurfing. And what don’t you get?”
“Well, I mean, if you want to surf, go surf, right? Seems a bit dumb to have a kite pull you along.”
My eyebrows seemed to go up to my hairline without my consent. “Seems too easy, huh?” I happened to know a few people who did it. Apart from being ridiculously expensive as a sport because of the equipment—the last thing you needed was the kite coming apart or tearing loose as you were in mid spin at sixty miles an hour, you’d hit the water like it was a wall of concrete—it was also unbelievably difficult to get the hang of. It required a shit load of strength.
“No, I mean it’s dangerous too, right? Did you see how high he was? It’s an idiotic sport.”
I looked back out at the kitesurfer and saw he was heading the kite back to the rapidly narrowing beach.
“Yeah. I guess.” Actually, I thought it was pretty spectacular.
“So listen, babes, let’s—”
And that was all I heard because my attention was completely trapped by the kitesurfing guy skating his board toward the beach and then managing to quickly unstrap it from his feet and hop off onto the sand. It was freaking Joseph. He planted his feet, his muscles straining as he brought the kite into submission, landing it safely up the beach about fifty yards in the other direction from where we were.
“Oh, hey, isn’t that your friend from the beach the other night?” Chase said when he realized I was paying him zero attention.
“Yeah. My best friend’s brother.” My tone was incredulous. He was such a stick in the mud about anything risky. And here he was freaking kitesurfing? I’d had no idea, and I bet Keri Ann didn’t either. She was gonna freak out.
“Oops. I’m gathering you didn’t know he did this?”
I shook my head, my mouth still open. I snapped it closed as soon as I realized how I must look. “No. Jeez. His sister is gonna be so mad at him.”
“You don’t need to tell her.”
I looked at him. “Um. I tell her everything.”
“Everything?”
“Yes. Everything. That’s what best friends do.”
His expression said he was unconvinced. Whatever. I looked back toward Joseph who’d reached his kite and managed to roll it so it didn’t catch the wind again. He detached the ropes. Then he stood and his head turned toward us.
I swallowed.
“So is that cool?”
Was Chase still talking? “Huh?”
“You coming back to my place this evening? My fam’s in Savannah for some show.” He cocked an eyebrow, and taking my hips in his hands, pulled me in close. “We’ve got the place to ourselves.”
“Oh, uh …”
He leaned in and nuzzled my neck. Regardless of the fact that Chase getting into my pants had been my motivation to get to know him in the first place, I honestly couldn’t have felt less like giving up my V-card. I didn’t even want to kiss him again. I actually felt a bit nauseous when he leaned in for a kiss. I blamed it on the fact I hadn’t eaten anything other than a banana from the school cafeteria at noon.
I glanced back toward Joseph. He’d turned away and was dealing with his board and kite.
“We should go,” I said. We should go before Joseph felt compelled to come over and say hello. It was awkward enough when all I could think about was the fact I’d kissed both these boys within the same week. And I was comparing kisses. Chase definitely wanted me, and Joey had only kissed me to avoid a stalker, but now his lips were all I could think about. It must have been because of his impressive display out on the water.
Chase chuckled. “Enthusiastic. I like it.”
I cringed inwardly. Now his confidence started to seem smarmy, where before I’d found it cool and flirty.
We walked to where we’d parked our bikes. He’d rented a lime green one from Road Fish on the south end of the island. “So you’re a senior next year, right?” I asked conversationally, trying to salvage what was left of my attraction for him. I had a mission to accomplish after all. Operation V-card. And now that I’d told Joey I’d done it, I really needed to get on with it. “What are you doing after you graduate? Are you traveling or anything?”
We rode side by side, heading toward the bike path that bordered the main road cutting across the island. An evening breeze had picked up, but it was still warmer than the wind had been up at the head.
“God, no. I hate to travel. I can never find Diet Dr. Pepper in any of the countries I visit.”
I glanced at him to see if he was joking, but he was dead serious.
“I’m going to work with my father in New York,” he went on. “He runs a hedge fund.”
“Oh yeah? What does that do exactly?”
“Fuck if I know. He just makes a shit ton of money, so I figure I may as well get in on it too.”
“Right,” I said. “At least you’re honest.” I laughed uncomfortably. “So why g
o to college if you already have a job lined up? Seems like an expensive waste.”
He shrugged. “My dad told me I needed to party it up and get it out of my system so I didn’t go off the rails in New York. Apparently the parties are sick up there. Guys get hooked on coke and shit and go nuts. He needs me sober.”
“Smart advice from your father,” I said. My tongue was so far stuck in my cheek I was surprised I didn’t gag.
“Right? He’s the coolest. And I fucking love New York. The clubs are beast. So it’s, like, totally good advice.”
“Right.” Oh God, was this guy for real?
“Anyway,” Chase went on, oblivious to the fact he’d verbally snuffed out any lingering attraction I may have had for him at all. “My dad was Phi Delt. A fraternity,” he clarified. “And being Greek goes a long way in business. He still gets deals done with fraternity brothers or other Phi Delts from other schools. So obviously I had to rush Phi Delt too.”
I gave a nod. “Obviously.”
“Can you imagine if they hadn’t accepted me?”
“No.” I sucked in my cheeks to keep from laughing. “That would have been terrible. You would have been resigned to making deals on the golf course. Totally old school.”
“I know, right?”
“I need to send a text. Mind if we stop?”
“Nah, sure.”
We slowed our bikes, and I dropped a foot down to stop moving, slipping my phone out my back pocket. Chase stopped a bit ahead of me just before the path emerged out of the trees toward the main road.
To: Jay Bird.
I fucking hate it when you’re right.
There was a text from Mom asking if I’d be home for dinner. Damn. I hated to miss nights she was home. She’d sent it two hours ago. That meant she’d probably gone out with one of her friends by now. Maybe I could catch her at Woody’s back at the marina.
An incoming message displayed across the top of my phone.
Jay Bird: I’d ask what you mean, but I know. He’s a dick. Also? When will you learn I’m always right.
I rolled my eyes.
Jazzy Bear: Not true. When you are it’s a rare and major event. Hence my text. It deserved a mention.
Jay Bird: Need an excuse to ditch him? Coz I think I saw Courtney loitering at the house *scared face* I might need you.
Jazzy Bear: I think you redeemed all three favors in one go. That kiss was not sanctioned.
Jay Bird: It was necessary.
Jazzy Bear: It was gross.
Jay Bird: It was a surprise.
Jazzy Bear: A hideous one. Did I mention I hate surprises?
Jay Bird: Whatever. You loved it.
My belly flipped over.
Jazzy Bear: About as much as I love being at the dentist.
I looked up at Chase. He raised his eyebrows as if to ask if I was coming.
Jay Bird: Being at the dentist doesn’t taste like chocolate and strawberries.
Jazzy Bear: I have to go.
I pocketed my phone and caught up with Chase.
“Hey,” I said. “So my mom texted. She was expecting me for dinner tonight.”
“Ah, really? That sucks.” He climbed off his bike and leaned it against a tree trunk.
“I know, sorry. I better just ride home from here.” I smiled apologetically.
He shoved his hands in his pocket. “So can I call you? You’ve been hard to catch up with the last few days.” He looked away and back at me. A cute and unsure grin teased his mouth, and for a moment I was reminded of why I thought he was cute in the first place. He had a knack for looking innocent. Like a mischievous child. I’d bet he’d get away with quite a lot in his lifetime. If he hadn’t already. “I was beginning to think you were blowing me off,” he said.
Right then would have been the time to let him know he should probably find someone else to chalk his cue, but for some reason I chickened out.
“Nah, I’ve just been busy.”
He nodded slowly, his lips pursing. “Okay. I mean, it’s cool. If you’ve got something with your best friend’s brother, or whatever. I mean I’m leaving next weekend. I’m not gonna stand in your way.” He stepped in close and before I knew it, brushed his lips across mine. “He never has to know if we get together, you know?” He nipped at my lips again, his hands slipping around my waist.
I guess it was his comment about having something going with Joey that paralyzed me momentarily. The fact that someone else had noticed there was something going on with us. “There’s nothing going on with Joey.”
“Okay, babe. Just, I’m cool with it, yeah? You seem like you’d be up for some fun. We’d have fun together.”
What did looking like I was “up for some fun” mean?
Chase smoothed a finger between my eyes. “Stop over thinking. Go do what you’ve gotta do tonight.”
He was right. For some reason, I’d been looking at him to see if we were relationship compatible. Clearly we weren’t. But fun? Yeah, we’d probably have fun together. I wasn’t looking for someone who’d want to stick around. I didn’t want that danger. I’d asked for this. If he was any nicer, or we had more in common, I’d be charmed. And sad when he left. This was what I wanted, an affair without messy feelings. I was being an idiot. It was just sex. One time and my virginity was gone. I wouldn’t have to think about it anymore.
“Fun sounds good.” I smiled. “Just fun is what I’m looking for.”
CHASE LEANED DOWN under the shade of the trees on the bike path and kissed me again. It was okay. No sparklers. His hand slipped down to my ass. The only thing I could think of was I hoped we were still sufficiently hidden in the trees and no one I knew was driving past. We lived in a small town after all.
He pulled away. “I can’t believe I’m going to ask this, but you’re not a virgin or something are you?”
Blood rushed to my cheeks, then to my feet. I guess my face showed it.
“Ah, shit. Really?” Chase took a step back.
I shrugged as I figured out what to say. I wasn’t going to lie about it. “So? It’s not a big deal. Here one minute, gone the next.”
“Yeah, but … shit I thought you …” He blew out a breath.
“What? You thought all us small town girls started early and often. I mean what else is there to do around here, right?”
“No, of course not. You just had this confidence about you, this … sexiness.”
“And now I suddenly don’t? Thirty seconds later?” My tone betrayed my skepticism. And I was still a little mortified. God, was virginity suddenly that obvious.
“Have this sexiness about you, not had. I totally cocked this up. I really didn’t mean to make you feel bad. It’s just …”
“Don’t tell me. You think I’ll fall in love with the first person I sleep with. You think I might follow you up to North Carolina or something. Like flipping Courtney. Holy shit. Do all guys think they have magic penises?”
Chase was staring at me like I’d gone mad.
“Fucking, Joseph,” I muttered.
“Which clearly you haven’t.” He smirked.
“Hahaha,” I said. “You’re funny. I can appreciate that. It’s the kinda thing I would have said. Except I really don’t feel like laughing.”
“Look, I like you. I just don’t think I should be the one to, you know … I kind of have a rule about that.”
I scowled. Dammit. Mission V-card was turning out to be Mission Impossible.
“But, hey, messing around is cool, and I don’t have a problem with virgins giving blow jobs.” He waggled his eyebrows at me.
“Chase, sweetie, I preferred it when you acted honorably.”
He winked. “It was worth a try.”
“There’s always next summer,” I deadpanned.
We said our good-byes and I began cycling home. My phone buzzed. I stopped and pulled it out.
Jay Bird: You ditch the dick yet?
And suddenly Joey’s text just made me mad. Even though I’d gone a
long with it before. Who the hell was he to call Chase a dick?
Jazzy Bear: Actually he turned out to be very, very far from a dick.
There was no answer. Good. Let him stew on that for a while.
I GAVE CHASE’S rental house to Tamsyn to clean on Saturday morning. Maybe they’d hit it off. Chase and I had texted a couple of times since our good-bye. I’d invited him to another beach bonfire we were having the following Friday, our last day of school and the day before our little island town got inundated by Memorial Day Weekend tourists. It was also the night before my eighteenth birthday.
Instead of spending a few early hours before housekeeping on my dad’s boat, I had to go do lifeguard training down at the beach. By nine-thirty in the morning, I’d swum out to the buoys and back four times and run three miles as well as countless small sprints and piggy backs. My calves burned and my arms felt useless. I cringed with pain through my cleaning schedule, so by the time I was done and had dropped off the van filled with laundry at the Housekeeping office, I felt like a dead fish. Crusted in salt and practically in rigor mortis.
I limped into the Snapper Grill to see Keri Ann and collapsed onto a bar stool. She was probably in back loading the dishwasher since it was toward the end of her shift. Paulie, the owner, finished a perfect head on a beer, and then came over to me. “Darlin’ you ain’t old enough to be propping up my bar. And though you look like you could use a drink, I ain’t serving’ you one.”
“Gee thanks, Old Man. I was gonna order a Coke straight up, but I guess I could take my business over to Woody’s.” I made to get up, hiding my grin that turned into a grimace as my muscles screamed in protest.
“On the rocks with lemon?” he asked.
