by J D Worth
Smiling, I tease, “You tear apart greasy engines and try caviar on a whim, but you won’t touch a slimy frog?”
The corner of Mace’s lip lifts up. “Have you seen how dang big the bullfrogs are ’round here?” He holds his hands at least two feet apart. “And they can reach up to three pounds.”
“Okay, that’s the size of a toy dog in the city.” I shiver. “I guess everything is big down here.”
A contented smile crosses my lips as they share their entwined histories. The warmth of the bonfire overtakes me, filling me with a sense of peace that I’ve never found in the city. I close my eyes, letting the calm evening wash over me.
Cal’s deep voice filters through my groggy brain. “Fuck,” he shouts loud and angry. Hearing a scuffle, my eyes fly open. Cal’s anger flares as he faces off with Mace. His face turns bright red as he twists Mace’s shirt in his fists. Mace presses his hands against Cal’s chest, keeping him in his spot. Cal pushes back against Mace, but Mace refuses to move an inch.
“Not here.” Mace lifts his hands up and takes a step back.
“What are you trying to pull, Mace?” Cal’s voice creeps low and dangerous.
“Is everything all right?” I ask, pushing myself upward.
“You’re wearing your battle scars, Princess.” Mace nods at my chest.
I look down, cringing at the sight. Forgetting the bruises blooming across my skin, I removed my long-sleeved shirt to use as a pillow, exposing the crude evidence of my attack in the process. My snowy white pale skin make the bruises look ten times worse.
“I’m okay, honest.” Everyone apart from Cal and Mace looks my way. Cal and Mace are embattled, about to throw punches at any second. Cal didn’t know what Chaz had done to me. What he’d tried to do. “You can’t expect to slay a dragon without getting singed.”
“Cal, it’s not what you’re thinking, so calm the fuck down,” Mace says. “I was saving your ass, brother. You think you could’ve stopped yourself in that situation? I don’t think so. You’d kill that pretty boy and land your ass in prison or worse. Is that what’s best for Martin? How ’bout Aiden?”
“I don’t need a guilt trip on top of everything else!”
“What ’bout Princess? She’s the real innocent party here.”
These two friends shouldn’t be fighting over what has already happened. I cover Cal’s poised fists with my firm hands. “Cal, the situation could’ve been much worse if Mace hadn’t stepped in when he did. But things didn’t get that far, honest.” I plead with my eyes, and he relaxes his stance. He drops his fists and takes a huge step back. The stiff muscles across my shoulders slack, releasing the trapped stress from the last few days. The truth may no longer be hindering me, yet an endless pit of rancid anxiety remains. Mace puts his hand on Cal’s shoulder, reassuring him.
Mace growls low, sharing, “He’ll never get that close again, brother.” Cal and Mace exchange respectful nods.
Still, Cal hasn’t softened up yet.
“Look,” I say, “I don’t have any comradery like this in New York. I was enjoying myself. What happened hasn’t crossed my mind once tonight, and I know it’s because of all of your help. Everyone here.” I smile at Trent, knowing Cal enjoys a good joke. “Except you, Trent. You still owe me a bottle of Jack and a Benjamin.” The crew cracks up, putting an end to the intense showdown.
“See?” Mace says to Cal. “Things were dealt with, and no blow back will touch us. Got me, brother?” Cal nods his head, and they share a man hug. Settling back into their chairs, Cal takes a swig of vodka from the bottle while Mace joins him with the bottle of Jack.
“Slaying dragons?” Cal asks, shaking his head at me.
“Cal, you didn’t have to smell his breath. He reeked of expensive cologne, hair product, and gin, so not far off. I do know a thing or two about dragons. You can ask Mace. He believes in fairy tales, and that I’m from a magical kingdom known as Candy Land.”
“You do have a thing for sugar,” Mace says.
“Are you serious right now, Goof?” Cal asks me. I offer a lopsided grin, and he loses his rigid composure with a crack of a smile.
“Here’s something serious: you all think it was Mace who beat Pretty Boy. That was all me saving Mace from being hit on. Turns out, I’m a Southpaw.” A sly smile covers my lips as I fist my left hand. The gang loses it. Mace even smiles at my joke. I bow my head towards his amused green eyes. “Well, come on, look at him! I don’t blame Pretty Boy for trying. Once you see a real man, you can only hope that one day you’ll get to ride Darla if you can handle her.” Mace drops his head, stifling a laugh while another roar of merriment erupts.
Trent says, “Ms. Daniels, you rode Darla, and you most certainly aren’t a man.”
“Yes, and I also had Mace’s balls in my hands the whole time. I can take you for a ride in my Benz, but you’ll wind up on the side of the road the moment you tick me off.” Slinging back in my chair, I toss a marshmallow in Trent’s direction and he ducks. “Just ask Mace how our car ride went for him today.” I snort.
“Trent, the rate you’re going, you wouldn’t make it out of her driveway!” Jax chides his friend, winking at me.
“Mace wound up at a diner alone after he tried swiping my balls.” I smirk at Mace, holding up two marshmallows. Violet and Payton hoot and holler at me.
Cal howls. He says to Mace and Trent, “Yeah, good luck catching another ride.”
“Princess, is this an example of all that broker charm rubbing off on you?” Mace asks. “Shouldn’t you be prim and proper with all of your fancy schooling and shit?”
“For one, I didn’t attend princess charm school. Obviously, I was too busy freebasing sugar.” Mace tips his head at me as I spin his own joke back. “Instead, I had to join the pretty-boys-in-training club when I moved to the city.” I can’t help but roll my eyes. “Otherwise known as the wealthy sons of my father’s business associates. They run their mouths while playing pool, drinking expensive scotch and bourbon, and pretending to be big shots. Surprisingly, these boys will grow into ‘men,’ and I need those men to respect me if I’m to survive in their world. Remember, not trophy wife material here.” I point my finger at myself for emphasis.
“Damn, you can be my trophy wife!” Trent says, and I raise my eyebrows.
“I had to learn a few things to keep them on their toes. They often forget who they’re dealing with and need reminding.” I stand up and pelt the rest of the marshmallows at Trent while giggling.
“The Princess of Wall Street,” Mace teases.
I shake my head no. “I learned to drink, shoot pool, and serve their crap back to them on a silver platter. I served them shots of JD and told them that if they didn’t like my presence, they could go cry to their daddies.” Mace’s eyes simmer as a grin spreads across his handsome face.
Cal asks, “What happened next?”
Trent bellows out, “She taught those prissy boys how to swallow! What do you think happened?” Trent ducks with his hands over his head as the others pick up the marshmallows and join my crusade. “Shit, I already blew it!”
“You spend more time on your hair and wear more makeup and jewelry than I do.” I laugh. “You certainly make a better trophy wife than me.”
“Finally, some relief.” Violet rolls her eyes. “It’s only been the two of us ladies for the last few years against all of these scruffy guys. Before Payton, it was just little ole me. Audrey, you’re more than welcome to join our merry band of—”
“Thieves, thugs, and beauties?” Smirking, I say, “Only if you promise not to get me arrested. Harvard will retract my acceptance.” I mean it to sound like a joke while realizing I’m not quite sure how much trouble my new friends may enjoy whipping up.
Payton asks, “Really, Harvard?”
“Yes, I’m majoring in business this fall. How about the three of you?” I glance between Jax, Violet, and Payton. “We’re about the same age, so you must’ve
graduated as well. What are your majors?”
Payton relays, “Colt, Jax, Violet, and I actually have another year of high school. Cal, Mace, and Trent were all in the same year.”
“Oh, sorry. I assumed wrong.” I hide my grimace and look to Cal and Mace. “Didn’t you say Payton was studying Criminal Justice at BCC, and Violet entered high school four years ago?”
“We attend Early College.” Payton chuckles. “And I’m not sorry I’m eighteen and still technically in high school. Not when the state is paying for my books and classes while I earn my degree at Bell Community College.”
“What’s Early College?”
Payton explains, “They’re special high schools all across North Carolina that provide unique five-year programs. You take honor level and college classes so you graduate with a high school diploma and an associate’s degree. The credits transfer to most colleges for a four-year degree. Students usually continue at community colleges, so it’s a win for the smaller schools too. Our state is so poor that college is out of reach for the majority here. The program is supposed to give students a step up. Unfortunately, there are no funds to build a new Early College High School for the next twenty years on the peninsula. Given that our school district is one of the poorest, the state still provides the opportunity for duel enrollment at Bell Community College, which isn’t far from Harbor Bay High School.”
“That’s a brilliant program.”
Payton grins at Mace. “All thanks to Mace for pushing each one of us to enroll, we’ll save thousands on our degrees.”
Cal lifts his drink. “I’ll second that, even if I can only attend BCC part-time. Every bit helps in the end.”
“And, Trent, are you in college as well?”
“Nah, I’m working and saving money right now. Might try to attend a college in Northport this fall.”
“You better.” Mace sends Trent a look. Trent nods and lifts his drink towards Mace. The others join the toast. Mace’s eyes twinkle towards his friends before he drops a huge grin upon me.
Smiling, I nod at him and glance back to his friends. “We’re all attending college at the same time. That’s great.”
“Yup. All of our classes are at BCC.” Violet asks, “Will you return next summer?”
“I don’t know when I’ll have another summer like this one,” I say, my voice growing quieter. “My life is mapped out for years to come.”
Violet’s face falls. “What about the cottage? Will you have to sell the property?” I shake my head no. How could I ever sell? This is the last and deepest connection I’ll ever have to my mother.
Cal says, “Audrey, you can rent the cottage out if need be. You don’t have to sell.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Cal shines a devious smile. “Anyway, Goof and I are planning a bucket list of things to do while she’s free from Rikers Island for the next month.”
“Hey, don’t make it sound as if I’m on a furlough.” I wince at Cal who hits closer to the truth than I’d like to admit. He shrugs his shoulders, making his point.
“Sorry, Candy Land Kingdom,” Cal replies, smirking. “I can’t wait to burn through your bucket list.” Gruff laughter passes between Cal and Mace.
“You two!” I shake my head at them, giving them side-eyes. “Now this bucket list is making me nervous. I’m serious about not being arrested!”
Mace leans forward, nipping my ear. “Did you miss the part where Hal’s a good friend?” I slide my eyes back to him. “We’ll vouch for you, Yankee. You’re nothing but trouble.”
Cal chuckles. “So far, I added a low country boil with blue crabs on the beach. Feel free to include your ideas. I’m jotting down twenty more. The longer the list, the more likely Audrey will have to return to complete every single last item.”
Payton asks, “Ooh, sounds fun! What else do you wanna do, Baby Girl?”
“Everything.”
Cal leans forward and squeezes my shoulder. “Audrey has led a mighty sheltered life. In fact, she had no idea that Twinkies came in a box until today.”
“Before this week, Princess had no idea Twinkies existed at all.” The group cracks up. Mace goes to take a sip of whiskey, but I yank the bottle before he can. Grasping ahold of my beloved Jack, I glare at him.
“Reverse cupcakes are brilliant.” I lift my chin up in defiance. “Hostess Brands was acquired by a private equity firm after a crushing eight hundred and sixty million debt sent them into bankruptcy a few years back. Hostess has a respectable market share in a thirty-seven million dollar sweet bakery treats industry. That puts them at about nine hundred million in annual sales. They were close to a billion before, and they will be again, largely due to the modern Twinkies rebranding. They hold the number two spot in sweet baked goods. I neither had the opportunity to try the golden treat, nor came across them before. My mother grew up hyperaware of her father’s genetic heart condition. Therefore, she was always conscientious of our diets. I happened to have a sugar craving for like most of my life. The gas station I stopped to refuel happened to be peddling Twinkies. I bought a few.”
The group gawks at me.
“That was also my first stop at a gas station. Technically, that one counted as a ‘convenience’ store. Again, a first stop for me.”
Jax scratches his chin. “Shit! You guys are friggin’ serious!” Mace eyes me in appreciation while the group laughs.
“I didn’t have the pleasure of growing up like you guys did. I’m proficient in ballet, piano, and equestrian jumping. I dominated the sport of competitive riding when I was younger. I speak four languages and received years of graduate-level tutoring in mathematics. Other than that, I spend my time with internships, private lessons, and charity events. There’s no room for a life or friends. This is the first down time I’ve ever had, and I’m supposed to be studying for difficult broker licensing exams.”
Cal winces. “That sounds a bit crazy.”
“An over-scheduled lifestyle is common where I come from.” I notice Mace and Cal exchanging looks.
Violet remarks, “You don’t act like a spoiled rich girl, not that you are. You act like one of us, maybe better spoken, but still.”
“Violet, that’s the best compliment I’ve ever received.” Even better than Mace’s suggestion about padding my rear.
“Harvard,” Violet says, whistling in appreciation. “I bet your family threw you one hell of a party for getting in there.”
“Achievements like that are expected, and my family isn’t all that celebratory.”
Violet furrows her brow in confusion. “But they had a huge wedding. The whole resort was remodeled for that one event.”
“Yes, but my father also spent most of the reception prioritizing business matters for when he was away. He finalized several impressive deals. There was an upsurge in the markets today all because of his wedding.” It dawns on me that their wedding was the same day as my graduation ceremony. Not that I cared about attending. I don’t have real friends to share the achievement with. A gnawing sensation sends a tremor up my spine. Lilith was the one who cleared my father’s schedule for the wedding. Lilith was the one who handled the massive renovation deadline at the resort. Lilith was also the one who orchestrated my date with Chaz. “Hey, what were you guys celebrating the other night? The end of school? Sorry I wrecked things.”
Violet shares, “Oh no, we got out a week ago. We were—”
“We were just shooting the shit, Princess,” Mace speaks up. “You didn’t wreck a thing. In fact, you’re the gift that fell into our collective laps. The perfect gift.” Cal, Trent, and Jax share looks of surprise while Payton and Violet gaze at me with stunned smiles.
I shrug off the lingering unease as a thick layer of silence settles amongst the group.
Violet shines a ginormous smile my way, asking, “Audrey, will you join my family for supper this Saturday? I promise we’ll have loads of fun.”
“
Sure.” I offer a polite smile.
“Great!” She tips her head at Mace before twisting in Jax’s lap and discusses bowling at great length. The group includes more local activities to my bucket list, sharing what they do for fun around here as we talk long into the night.
The party breaks up when Payton takes Violet and Jax home while Cal drags a drunken Trent back to his cottage, crashing for the night.
“Walk me out, Princess?” Mace holds out his hand. I brush my fingers over the rough calluses on his sturdy hand. The stark contrast strikes me again.
When we reach my cottage, he backs me up against the door, gazing into my eyes. Penetrating desire burns between us as his lips slam against mine and take everything I give him. He pushes my desire to its breaking point. Sensing the shift, he pulls back.
