2. Caleb
TWO
Caleb
I stared into her eyes. Although, I had no clue what color they were when all we had was the low glow from a yellow lightbulb. But damn if that didn’t suddenly matter to me. I didn’t think the color of a girl’s eyes had ever mattered before tonight.
The pad of my thumb brushed against her lips. Her lashes fluttered for just a breath.
I had seen her at the party, hanging out in the corner, not talking to anyone. The party sucked. Most of the ones thrown by summer tourists did. All they wanted to do was get fucked up for a weekend or a week. It was the same story chapter after chapter. Book by book. One summer after the next.
I didn’t know why I stayed as long as I did. Gabe had convinced me he was going to show up, so I lit a cigarette and waited by the side of the house for him. That’s when I heard Dean Waters start his usual bullshit. I didn’t expect the girl from the party to be the one he was chasing through the yard.
I waited. I listened. It sounded like she knew how to handle him. I was impressed. The girl could hold her own. It didn’t mean I trusted Dean, though. He had a way of inserting himself into situations where he wasn’t welcome. His entire family was like that. They always had been.
If they saw something they wanted, they took it. No questions asked. It made me wonder if Dean thought she could end up another Waters family acquisition.
I didn’t know if that was why I put myself in the space between Margot and Dean or if it was because when I noticed her at the party, I hadn’t been able to unnotice her.
My history with Dean wasn’t a secret to the locals, but she had no idea how much I hated him. How he had wrecked a friendship. How he had stabbed me in the fucking back every chance he had since high school. I wondered how she got tangled up with a dick like him.
The Waters were powerful and influential on Marshoak. She wouldn’t be the first person he had fooled. I had to remind myself that eventually, people saw his true colors.
A large bullfrog croaked near the cottage and Margot’s eyes widened.
“Nothing to really be afraid of out here,” I assured her.
She sighed and her breath floated across my cheek. My thumb continued to brush against her bottom lip as her mouth parted.
I wanted to kiss her. Taste her. Take my time with every stroke of my tongue.
The porch light flipped off and back on. Margot jumped back when the door opened and the springs on the screen door squeaked. I dropped my hand to my side.
“Margot?” A woman with strikingly similar features appeared confused. She glanced at me. I took a step away from Margot.
“Mom.”
“I didn’t know you were out here,” her mother explained. “Sorry.” She looked more confused than worried.
“This is Caleb. He walked me home from the party.” The introduction was stilted.
Her mother stayed on the other side of the screen. A moth batted his wings against the window.
“Thank you, Caleb.” Her eyes darted to her daughter. “I thought you were going to get a ride with one of those girls.”
Margot bit her lip. “They left. I think.”
“I appreciate you getting her home.” Her eyes moved back to me.
“No problem.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. I didn’t know if this was my cue to leave, but Margot didn’t dart inside.
“I’ll be in in a minute, Mom.”
“Helena?” A gruff voice called from inside the house.
“Oh shit,” Margot muttered under her breath. “This can’t be happening.”
“It’s just Margot and her new friend,” Margot’s mother explained.
Walt Shepherd appeared in the doorway. The night was officially over. I could say without a doubt, I’d never wanted to see Walt in his pajamas. Now I probably wouldn’t be able to unsee it.
“Caleb O’Connor?” he questioned. “What are you doing on my porch? With my niece?”
Margot winced and I could feel the awkwardness as she shifted from one foot to the other.
“Hi, Walt.” I nodded at him.
“What are you doing over here? It’s late.”
Helena turned to him. “He walked Margot home from the party.”
“Hmm,” he grunted. “Haven’t seen you in a while. Or your dad.” He glossed over the fact I had made sure Margot was home safely.
Things between Walt and my dad had been tense all summer. I didn’t know what started it, but neither one of them referred boat business to the other. For a small island with only two marinas and two boat yards, it was the equivalent of a trade war. They sort of needed each other but were too stubborn to admit it. I hoped things would thaw soon.
“Uncle Walt. Mom. Just give us a minute. Please,” Margot begged. “I’ll be in very soon,” she stressed.
Without a word, her mom pushed a reluctant Walt back into the cottage and closed the door behind her.
“I’m sorry,” Margot whispered. “They really aren’t that nosey, but I think we surprised them or something.”
I shrugged. “It’s ok.”
“Is it?” she asked.
I knew what she meant. That moment had been jerked away from us. I wasn’t stupid enough to try to kiss her now, knowing her mom and uncle were on the other side of the door.
“Yeah. I get it. But you know what I didn’t get?”
Margot twisted her pretty lips together. “What’s that?” There was a hint of defeat in her voice.
“Your number.”
The frown turned into a gentle smile. “Even with the awkward family porch crash, you want my number?”
“Maybe I like awkward,” I teased. I didn’t like it. For some reason, I was already lying for this girl.
She pulled her phone from her back pocket. “Ok, if you like awkward then you can have it, but only if you promise to use it.”
I chuckled. It was cute. “Hit me.” I recited my number to her, and she sent a quick text.
We smiled when my phone buzzed. “At least I know it’s your real number.”
“You think I’d give you the wrong number in front of you? Come on.” I winked and damn if she didn’t blush.
The porch light flickered again and there was an audible groan.
“I’m sorry. I better go in. I don’t know why but Uncle Walt is standing there.” She pointed at him through the small circle window next to the door.
I reached for a cigarette and cupped my hand around the lighter.
“You know those things will kill you, don’t you?”
I stopped and looked at her. “I guess you’re right.” I shoved the lighter and unlit cigarette into my back pocket. “Everyone has a vice.”
“I don’t know that I do.” She said it plainly and matter-of-factly.
Suddenly, I was even more intrigued. Who didn’t have something they were drawn to? Something they knew they shouldn’t do or drink or consume? There wasn’t anyone on Marshoak who could say that.
“Hang out on this island long enough and that will change, Margot.”
She shook her head. “Not a chance.”
I cleared my throat. “All right. I’ll text you later. You better get in there. Goodnight.”
I knew better than to try for a kiss again. I had given up. Walt Shepherd had killed the moment.
“Goodnight, Caleb.” She pulled on the handle of the squeaky screen door.
I jumped off the porch, gravel crunching under my shoes, and headed for the dark path that would take me back to the main road. I retrieved the cigarette and the lighter. The end glowed orange as soon as I took my first inhale. The cicadas were loud, nearly deafening along the path. I looked over my shoulder before I turned the corner, but Margot had gone inside and left the porch light on.
I didn’t believe in vibes or shit like that, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this girl was going to change my life.