I stopped and evened my breathing, wishing I had thought to bring a water bottle. I had walked a lot further than I’d intended. I sat down on an available rock that jutted out of the sandy terrain.
It all felt real. All of it.
The wind on my face. The warm sun on my shoulders. The sound of waves against the shore. My heart beating.
“What is going on?” I yelled at the sky. “If you’re real, why aren’t you helping me?”
My loud voice startled a bird beside the rock. It took off, its wings flapping against the wind.
I watched it fly away. “If this isn’t real, then what is?” There was no answer, but what did I expect? That a voice would come from the clouds? Still, I said the words, “I don’t want to live in fear anymore.”
My phone vibrated. Jayce had sent a text. Did you give Heather a call?
No, I hadn’t. Was fear holding me back? Taking a deep breath, I dialed the number Jayce had given me.
“Hello?” Heather’s voice sounded annoyed. “Is this a sales call? Because I’m not interested.”
“No, it’s not a sales call. It’s me, Brooke.”.
“Brooke McFadden? Hey! What’s up? Sorry I didn’t recognize your number.”
“That’s fine. I’ve never called you before.” There was an awkward pause. “Listen, I was hoping to hang out with you. My mom wants me to not work so much. If you’re busy, I understand.”
“You do work too much! Come over to the pool. Right now. I insist. I’ve been wanting to hang out since we met! See you in five.”
She hung up before I could say anything more. “It looks like I’m going to the pool.” I glanced back to the direction I came. It was going to take a lot longer than five minutes.
19
I stood outside the pool gate and observed Heather with Paige and Sierra sunbathing together. I had been trying to talk myself into opening the gate and walking to them, but I’d already been standing here for fifteen minutes, and I had yet to listen to myself.
Why did I hesitate?
Then I thought about how I stood by myself at the deserted beach while listening to their laughter from her second-floor window. I didn’t want to talk to her. I had not one ounce of desire to play nice. She even pranked Jayce in this re-do of summer, then dumped him. I turned to leave the pool. There had to be some other answer. Heather Fairchild would never jump in the water to rescue someone, especially if that someone was me.
“Hey, Brooke.”
I glanced up to see Lucas approaching me. I smiled at him but quickly looked away. I felt embarrassed at how I behaved at breakfast last week. Plus he really did have a way of making my insides feel all fluttery.
“Looking forward to tomorrow?”
“Yes,” I said nervously, not admitting that I had forgotten about that too. “Of course. And where might you be taking me?”
“It’s a surprise,” he said. “But where something that you don’t mind getting dirty.”
“What? Whatever happened to candles and flowers?”
“I changed my mind,” he said with a shrug. “I thought we’d go have some fun and forget all the formalities.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I said, now curious as to what it could be. “By the way, did you tell Maddie that she and Jayce could join us?”
“No,” he laughed. “Is that what she told you?”
“Yep. She said it’s like a double date.”
“I hate double dates,” he said with a groan. “I told her I’d think about it, and after I talked with you, I’d let her know. I was hoping for the passive-aggressive approach.”
“Well, she didn’t get the hint.”
“I’ll talk to her,” he said. “Tomorrow night, it’s just me and you.”
My stomach did a little flip again.
“There you are,” Heather said from the gate.
Before I could say anything, Lucas said, “I told you I would drop off your car, and I’m a man of my word.” He handed her keys.
“You better not have damaged it,” she said. “I know how rowdy you can get with the guys.”
“It’s not damaged,” he said. To me, he said, “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
As he left, Heather opened the gate. “Brothers can be so annoying. You coming in?”
“Sure,” I said. “Sorry, it took me so long. I’d taken a walk in the other direction when I called you.”
“We’re over here,” she said. “I’m so glad you called. Our parents are such good friends that it only seems right that we are too.” Once at the lounge chairs, she introduced me to Paige and Sierra. “This is Brooke. The one I was telling you about.”
They both smile up at me. “Come sit over here,” Sierra said, motioning for me to move. “You’re in my sun.”
Paige lightly smacked her arm with a magazine. “Don’t be such a diva.”
I hurriedly moved to a lounger by Heather.
“You better put on some lotion,” Heather told me. “You’ll burn with that skin of yours.”
I hadn’t thought to bring lotion. “Oh, I’ll be fine,” I said. “I’ll throw my shirt back on in a half-hour.”
I lay back on the lounger and took a moment to soak up the sun. I also took that time to come up with the best way to ask about Heather’s swimming.
The three of them chatted about fashion in their magazines, and now and then they’d cast a glance my way. “Do you like fashion?” Heather tried.
“Not really. I mean, I like to look good, but Mom and I shop clearance racks.”
“So, how’d you and Jayce get to be friends?” Sierra asked.
Heather shot her a look of exasperation.
“What? How much small talk we’re we supposed to do?”
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want,” Heather said. “Sierra can be a little pushy.”
“I don’t mind.” I was thankful for something to talk about. “We’ve gone to school together most of our lives.”
“What do you think of him and Maddie?” Paige asked me.
All three girls were all focused on me.
“They seem happy,” I said. “He doesn’t talk to me about all the girls he dates.”
“I told you,” Heather said to Paige and Sierra. “I knew he was a player.” To me, she said, “He gets around, huh?”
“Um…I don’t know. Last I knew he was dating you. But after you broke up with him, he started seeing Maddie.”
All three girls gasped.
“What?”
“He told you I broke up with him?”
“Yeah, he said that you had moved on to another guy.”
“He told me that it wasn’t working,” Heather said. “I thought it was because we pranked him, so I told him, ‘Sorry, we prank everyone who we want as friends.’ It’s like an initiation. Anyway, he said that wasn’t it, but that there was someone else.”
“I wonder if he and Maddie were seeing each other before Lucas dumped Maddie for you,” Paige said.
“Lucas did that?” I asked, feeling bad for Maddie. She had really liked him.
“Yeah, well, he always goes for charity cases,” Heather said. “No offense.”
“I almost wish I didn’t have any money,” Sierra interjected. “Just so he’d look my way.”
“I’m not a charity case,” I said in defense. “And neither’s Maddie.”
“Oh, not you,” Paige said quickly. “But ever since he helped Maddie get the job at the restaurant he’s had a thing for her. Well, until she started pressing the family for money due to injuries.”
“It didn’t help that Heather practically ran her over,” Sierra told me.
“It was an accident!” Heather said. To me, she added, “I promise it was an accident. I was looking at my phone, trying to find a song, and I didn’t see her. Besides, I made sure she didn’t get fired, didn’t I?”
“You did?” I asked in surprise.
“Oh, I know that Lucas got the credit, but I’m the one whose daddy’
s girl. I told him that it was my fault. Not hers.”
“Maybe you should have let her get fired.” Paige explained to me, “A couple of months after it happened, Maddie started pressing Mr. Fairchild for money. Said she had continued medical bills.”
“Greedy, little monster,” Sierra said. “There’s nothing wrong with her.”
“We had to remind Lucas of that this summer. He was starting to look her way again, but all we said was to be careful. A lot of girls are attracted to him simply because he’s rich.”
The three girls continued to gossip while I tried to listen and do the occasional nod. I didn’t know whose side to be on: Heather’s or Maddie’s. Heather caused the accident, but Maddie looked completely fine. She had never once mentioned being in pain or anything. And she was extorting money from the Fairchild’s?
As the three of them talked, they included me in the conversation, showing me pictures of different outfits that they wanted to buy on their next trip to Paris. I found myself enjoying their banter. It had been too long since I had hung out with girls.
“It’s decided,” Heather said. “We’re taking you shopping. What are you doing tonight?”
“I…well, I’m going out with Lucas. But I can cancel plans.”
Sierra and Paige acted like their eyes would fall out of their heads. “Cancel on Lucas? Are you crazy?”
I was torn with what to say.
Luckily Heather chimed in. “That’s why he likes her. She’s not swooning over him. He likes the chase. But word to the wise,” she said, leaning in closer. “Once he catches you, he loses interest pretty fast.”
Sierra and Paige nodded.
“I’m not sure that I like him in that way.”
Now all three of them stared at me as if I grew two heads.
“Don’t get me wrong. He’s a nice guy, and hot, and all, but I don’t know. There’s someone else.”
Sierra, Paige, and Heather sat at the edge of their loungers. “Who?” Heather demanded. “Who beats out my legendary brother?”
Before I could conjure up an answer, someone’s shadow fell on us, covering the sun. “Hello, ladies.” Jayce smiled at all of us but grinned at me the longest. “Would any of you care for something to quench your thirst?” He handed me a blue-raspberry slushie.
“I forgot my wallet,” I told him.
“I figured as much,” he teased. “I’ll cover you this time.”
“Ha, ha, very funny.” I sipped the cool drink while the other three ordered.
As he was leaving, Jayce said to me, “Miguel finally got back with me. I start training at the restaurant tonight.”
“What about your date with Maddie?”
“I guess I’ll have to cancel. I can’t skip out on training. Tonight’s your night off, right?”
“Yeah, I’m going out with Lucas, remember?”
Jayce paused. “Oh, that’s right.” He didn’t say anything more but left us.
Once again, the three girls were watching me. This time with raised eyebrows and pursed lips.
“I wonder who you like more than Lucas,” Heather said. “And here I thought Jayce left me for Maddie.”
“Are you two like friends with benefits?” Sierra asked, clearly engaged in the conversation.
I gave a nervous laugh. “No,” I said. “We’ve been best friends since sixth grade.”
“Uh-huh,” Heather said.
“It’s not like that,” I said quickly. “I don’t like him like that.” I hoped they couldn’t see my face turn red.
“Then who do you like more than Lucas?” Paige acted all confused as if Lucas was the end-all-be-all.
Jayce came back with their drinks, then looked at me and motioned with his head.
“I’ll be right back,” I said to the girls. “I’m going to make a quick call and make sure my mother’s okay.”
“Why wouldn’t she be okay?” Paige asked.
“You know, um, we sort of got into a big fight.” I left before I could hear any more questions. Once at the concession stand, Jayce stepped to the side of the counter where there weren’t customers.
“So, did you find out anything?”
“No. I don’t know how I should bring it up. I keep waiting for there to be this perfect segue into ‘Hey, so I hear you’re a long-distance swimmer. Any chance you remember trying to save my life?’”
“I bet you find it torturous listening to them. I’ve been watching you and trying to think of ways to save you.”
“It’s not that bad.” I surprised myself with those words. “They’re arrogant and spoiled, but it’s been nice to be around girls and talk about boys and not worry about drowning and crazy nightmares.”
“I get it,” Jayce said. “Maybe you should just enjoy yourself, and if the opportunity arises, then take it.”
“Maybe I will.”
“By the way, what’s up with you and Lucas? Are you two a thing?”
I felt the heat rise on my face. “No, I don’t think so. We’re only going on a date.”
“But didn’t you already go on one? Going on a second one gets you definitely closer to relationship status.”
“Honestly, with everything going on, I can’t focus on Lucas right now. But when he looks at me, my insides flutter, and when he asks me out, the word ‘yes’ sort of stumbles out.”
“I’ve heard he has that way with the ladies.”
“Like you should talk,” I said, becoming a little indignant. “From Heather to Maddie, you keep yourself busy with girls too. Which reminds me, Heather said that you broke up with her because there was someone else. How come you didn’t tell me that?”
Jayce looked away, acting guilty. “Didn’t seem important.”
“It’s not like you to straight-up lie to me. You said she dumped you and moved on to another guy.”
“Okay, okay, my heart was someplace else. She wanted to get serious and take things to the next level, and I wasn’t comfortable with that. I thought it’d be leading her on.”
I smiled sadly. “I guess you like Maddie a lot, huh? I’m not sure Maddie is all she lets on to be.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? She’s a nice girl.”
What could I say? I wasn’t entirely sure what Heather and her friends said was true. Shoot, I wasn’t entirely sure of anything at this point. “Never mind. I only want you to have the best of the best. Heather said something about Maddie pushing the Fairchild’s for money. Because of last year’s accident.”
Jayce acted surprised. “She’s never said anything to me.”
“Just be careful, that’s all.”
Jayce finally looked back over at me. He pressed his lips together as if trying to keep from saying something. Until his manager came over to him and told him they needed his help at the register. “How about we talk later?” He left me standing there without waiting for a reply.
I walked back over to the three girls and noticed I had all of their attention.
“What was that about?” Heather asked.
I decided to dive right into the topic. “Jayce asked if you gave swim lessons. I was like, ‘Ask her yourself.’”
“But he knows how to swim,” she said, a little confused. “We went swimming together.”
“Skinny dipping,” Sierra said under her breath.
“You went skinny dipping with him?” I felt the jealousy creep up on me. It was such an intimate detail, and it bothered me more than I wanted it to. Partly because how could I ever hope to compete with girls like Heather or Maddie or anyone if I was scared most of the time. I remembered the reverend’s words about letting go of fear.
“Not quite. I wanted to pay him back for the prank we pulled, so I offered. But he didn’t go for the idea. Instead, he grabbed me, ran into the water, and dunked me. He got me back, that’s for sure. Anyway, since we were wet, we went swimming. He tried to race me in the water, not that he even came close.”
“Like anyone would ever come close to beating you at swimmin
g or anything else?” Paige asked. “You probably let him so that you could win.”
“Of course.” Heather turned back to me. “So why did he want to know about swim lessons?”
“Maybe it’s code for swimming with you,” Paige said.
“Yeah,” Sierra added. “Maybe he wants to take you up on your original offer.”
“It’s about me,” I said before they got any ideas. “He wants me to ask you for swimming lessons, even though I know how to swim.”
None of them said anything.
“I’m afraid of the water.” I hated embarrassing myself in front of them, but I needed to find out if Heather knew anything about me falling from the yacht. From the looks of it, it seemed highly unlikely.
“Why?” Sierra asked.
“Because of her dad,” Paige whispered to her. “Remember?”
“Not really,” I said to Paige. “I’ve been afraid of open water for a long time. My dad was trying to help me overcome it. That’s why I went kayaking with him. But I didn’t overcome my fear. If anything, I hate the water even more.”
The three of them sat there, suddenly very quiet.
I knew I needed to change the subject. I didn’t want to be a wet blanket on their happy day. “Anyway, Jayce said something about you being a long-distance swimmer. Which is very cool by the way.”
Heather smiled sadly at me. “If you don’t mind me asking, when did you become afraid of the water?”
“Mom and Dad told me that when I was around four, we were on a pontoon with some friends on Lake Cadillac. Mom turned away for a minute, and I leaned over the rail to touch the water. I guess I fell in. I had a life jacket on, and Dad jumped in immediately to get me. I don’t really remember it. They got me swim lessons at the YMCA, and I was fine in the pool, but I never wanted to go to any beach or on a boat or anything.” I shrugged.
“Do you know why I’m a long-distance swimmer?”
“Because it burns a ton of calories which lets her eat without puking it up,” Sierra said, grinning sarcastically at Heather.
Falling Too Deep Page 17
