Chapter 20
A s the sun went down, Phoenix’s bonfire began to blaze, lighting up the sky.
People came out of nowhere, seeming to see the fire and know.
Down the beach from all directions, neighbors streamed into their private oasis, making the space crowded all of a sudden.
I sat on a blanket and watched the scene with my toes buried in the sand.
One of the Lents stayed by my side at all times, which in my current mood might not have been a great thing. Charity case.
How long until they all agreed? I didn’t fit in their world, not really. Probably because they are rich and good lookin g, I thought with a snort. It made sense, since I wasn’t part of their group, wasn’t brought up with them, but I didn’t know what she meant about the Lake …
“You’re quiet.” Julian nudged me. “You have been since dinner. Something happen?”
I shook my head. “No, I am just contemplating things. You should go be with your friends.”
“These aren’t my friends. These are neighbors or people staying around here who have come to get fucked up on our beach tonight.”
The bonfire blazed, sparks shooting off as a burl popped within the flames.
I had to admit, they built an impressive fire, especially since they only threw it together at the last moment.
It roared with an intensity that matched my mood, smoke curling from the tendrils in clouds of black.
The smell of burning wood mingled with the salty sea air, a strangely exciting smell, if I was entirely honest. I wasn’t sure I cared for the scent, but it teased at my nose anyway.
People laughed and danced around the flames, an almost pagan looking festival, their silhouettes twining in a hypnotic rhythm that matched the thump of music coming from invisible speakers.
My toes began to tap along with the beat despite myself.
A strange sense of isolation separated me from them, as though the fire itself provided a barrier for all my feelings.
Julian sat by my side, but could have been a million miles away for what it was worth.
The heat of the flames brushed against my skin, but inside, I felt cold and distant.
The fire danced, people kissed and wrapped themselves up in each other, and I remained the spectator on the outside.
“Hey. ” Julian nudged me again. “I don’t believe you, and I think we’ve turned a corner where you can tell me the truth. It won’t bother me, even if it’s dark.”
Phoenix stumbled forward, landing on his knees in front of us. Julian shook his head. “Shit timing.”
“Our neighbors want to meet you,” Phoenix slurred even though I hadn’t seen him drinking anything.
Barrett, Julian and Jeremy all were, but Phoenix must have taken something.
He grinned, his eyes distant. “These are the Joneses. We only see them in the summer. They live here all summer.” He laughed.
“They are from Jersey. The Joneses from Jersey.”
The brother and sister looked at each other and then started laughing, their gazes as equally lost as Phoenix’s.
“Alatheia is a weird name,” the girl said. Her kind of flawless beauty fit in their world—brown hair, brown eyes, penny loafers, and she probably didn’t even sweat. People like her didn’t sweat, they glowed .
I took a sip of my water. “Thanks.”
Her delicate brow furrowed, the poor little genius baffled at my unexpected response. I rolled my eyes.
“How did you get that bruise on your face? It’s ugly.
” She smiled, but no kindness or warmth lived in the expression.
I pursed my lips, realizing she likely wanted to date one of the Lents, but which one?
From what I saw in New York, she might be willing to settle for any of them, just whichever would give her attention.
“I got punched in the face,” I said and stared at her. “You saying that was mean, though. Why say that to me, or are you always bitchy by nature?”
Her brother interrupted, not giving his sister a chance to answer, which was likely for the best. Julian tensed up next to me so tightly, I felt as if he might snap like a coil. “Alatheia, I haven’t seen you around here,” the brother said, and my gaze snapped to him. Phoenix frowned.
“I live with my aunt in New York, but their grandmother brought me to be her companion. You wouldn’t have seen me around here before, since I’m the poor relation.”
I no sooner said the words than I abruptly shut my mouth. I had never said that aloud before, even if they didn’t realize my confession. The brother-sister duo from Jersey started laughing.
“I love that show,” the sister squealed. “I love it. You know there isn’t that much distance between New Jersey, where I live, and New York.”
Phoenix shook his head. “But a world of difference.”
Nameless brother extended his hand toward me. “Want to dance?”
“No, she doesn’t. Not with you,” Barrett interrupted. “Go away. Would you like to dance with me?”
I absolutely didn’t want to dance with that guy, but with Barrett? I shouldn’t . I didn’t fit in their world, and I would leave tomorrow. Still, I took his hand and let him lead me into a group of dancing bodies.
He pulled me against him. “I’m a terrible dancer,” he whispered in my ear.
“I’ve never danced before so I won’t notice. We don’t have to dance, if you just wanted those two to go away.”
Barrett swayed, bringing me with him to the rhythm of the slowly thumping music. “I didn’t want you to dance with him .”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and let our bodies melt together in a shiveringly wonderful way. He grinned at me, his eyes getting the slightly predatory glint which made my pulse race.
I sighed, realizing I couldn’t just keep escaping into the fantasy. I should be realistic, so I said, “I really like all of you, but I think I need to go home tomorrow.”
“Is it because my family is so weird?” He frowned, his smile vanishing behind a surprising amount of self-consciousness.
I noticed he picked the same word Julian used to describe his family— weird . “I don’t think your family is weird. I’m just … it’s hard enough to survive knowing I’m not actually wanted. To find that same attitude here is too much.”
He pressed my head against his shoulder, his long fingers stroking against my scalp in my hair. “You are so wanted. You’ll never know how much.”
It wasn’t a slow dance, but we treated it that way, rocking back and forth while we held each other close.
The bonfire flickered in the darkness, casting a warm, golden glow on Barrett’s face.
Somehow, the light made him beautiful even though it made everyone else look manic and crazed.
He was just … so damn gorgeous. I shivered slightly, since the night got cooler, but he simply tucked me closer to the warmth of his body until I felt very nearly hot …
and needy. We moved together, our steps uncoordinated but perfectly in sync at the same time.
For once, I didn’t have to worry about what other people thought.
The rough texture of his shirt rubbed against my cheek, so I inhaled deeply of his scent.
He smelled clean, the shampoo he used familiar enough to make me smile.
For a second, I thought he might kiss me, but instead, Jeremy appeared. “What is the phrase? Can I cut in?”
Barrett groaned. “Maybe if we lived in some other time.”
Still, he released me so Jeremy could tug me against him. “It is painful for me to have to watch how badly my brother dances. I am not great, but I’m a lot better than he is.”
I lifted my eyebrows. “That so?”
Dancing with Jeremy was a completely different experience than his brother.
Barrett had moved casually, holding me close and kind of rocking with the music.
Jeremy’s motions seemed more deliberate.
He pressed up against me, his hips beginning to teach me the rhythm.
The music changed, slowing with another song, one I recognized.
A new band. I remembered some of my classmates in Chicago were in love with the main singer.
Jeremy’s hold was firm, his eyes mischievous.
“I set this up, I admit it. I went onto Phoenix’s playlist and added this song up next so I could dance with you. ”
“You’re to be watched then. I get it.” I grinned at him, teasing. “I was just telling Barrett something I probably shouldn’t have said.”
He pressed a kiss on my temple and whispered in my ear, “Tell me. I’m good with secrets and solving problems.”
I sighed, getting serious. “Jeremy, listen …”
I never got to finish because he suddenly widened his eyes. “Holy shit.”
“What?” Even as I turned to see what was happening, Jeremy tugged me back against his stomach.
Julian swung at the guy from New Jersey, hitting him square in the mouth. Barrett, nearby, jumped back, his beer spilling all over his scratchy shirt.
The kid reared back and then lunged at Julian, both of them going down onto the sand.
“Stay back,” Jeremy yelled to me then rushed to assist his twin.
Phoenix arrived at the scene, and seconds later, I couldn’t see anything because everyone had circled around the fight.
They were like animals, calling for more violence, howling for blood, while my heart thudded in my throat.
I tried to push my way through the crowd to find them. Is Julian okay? Why did he hit that kid?
Jeremy appeared again, hauling his brother out of the circle and back toward me. “Dude, what the fuck? I have never seen you hit anyone before.”
“I didn’t fucking like how he spoke about Alatheia, okay? I didn’t like it, and then he said something about you stealing the girl from Barrett, so I just fucking lost it.”
Julian was shaking and as he turned to face me, then pulled me into a hug. His body seemed to vibrate, his breaths still wheezing out of him. I hugged him as he shook.
Aloud, I said, “Don’t ever hit anyone because of me, okay? You could get hurt or in trouble.”
He laughed. “I can’t get in trouble. I have born immunity.”
“I doubt that’s true.”