23. Sawyer
The sun had dippedbehind the trees and beneath the horizon.
And right on cue, the fireflies emerged from the woods for the younger kids to chase after, giggling and sprinting, seeing who could catch more than the other. Anyone and everyone who didn’t have plans of their own tonight migrated to the Banks residence.
In my honest opinion, this was what the lake house was always meant for.
Hits from the early 2000s blared over the stereos, but all I could hear was Lucy’s laugh from down by the fire pit. She had become more playful, more flighty. And even in the middle of dancing up a storm and catching up with people she hadn’t seen in years, she managed to check in with Gracie. All she had to do was place a hand on her elbow or raise an eyebrow to show that she was there. Despite her efforts, Gracie shooed her away, reassuring her with laughter and smiles as she flirted the night away.
I couldn’t help but laugh into my drink at the thought that Lucy still tried to multitask at a party.
Half of our little town flooded in and out over the course of the evening, I almost couldn’t keep track of who all was here. Jet and his buddies kept to themselves over at The Hideout, where I am certain they were feeding Billy scraps of brisket. When he retreated to my whistle, he came running back smelling like a Texas barbecue. Mel, Kai, and Cherry played cornhole down near the water—I could hear Cherry’s screeching laughter from a mile away every time that she scored a point. Lionel and Rachel made their rounds with their all-out red, white, and blue accessories flashing vigorously. And Gus and Leanne sat up near the house watching over us all like the proud parents they are.
Even with all of the commotion, the intermittent firecrackers and loud cheers, Lucy and I made it a point to find each other through the crowd. Like we were the only ones here, like a single glance from one another could make the world feel at a standstill.
I tried to pretend that I wasn’t getting closer to her, that I wasn’t nearing her, but inch by inch, I approached her. I didn’t want her to feel pressured to have one more person to entertain, but I made sure I kept her in my proximity. You know, in case she needed me.
I slugged the log tote that was resting beside the equipment shed over my shoulder and paraded myself down to the fire pit. I could feel Lucy following my every stride. I plopped the bag down and started loading additional logs into the pit and added lighter fluid.
Those huddled around cheered in their drunken state for the split second that the fire grew. But that was not the force of nature I was interested in. I looked over at Lucy, hoping to find her eyes meeting mine, but instead, she was immersed in a new conversation.
I met her down by the water, placing my hand on the small of her back. She let her body fall into my touch while I greeted the rest of the group. Mrs. Tidewater, the principal from Hillside High, and Franklin, the karate instructor down at the rec center, said their hellos and thank yous for inviting them tonight.
“That fire sure is growing, nice job!” Franklin commented.
“Yeah,” Lucy smirked, “You got some nice wood, Sawyer.” She flashed me a wink, and I squeezed her side. She muffled a yelp over her shoulder while Franklin and Mrs. Tidewater awkwardly stood across from us.
“Thanks, Franklin. Gus and I cut that batch up over there,” I nodded to the pit, “last winter. But Lucy and I just gathered a new collection a few days ago for the colder months.” I pulled her in closer to me.
“Ahh,” he stretched out and started rubbing at the top of his shoulder. “I’ve been meaning to sharpen that axe and get on out there, but you know,” he shrugged, “life.”
I said nothing, while Mrs. Tidewater nodded her head in agreement. They started their own conversation that I had no interest in being a part of. All I wanted was to take Lucy away and have her all to myself.
“Come with me,” I whispered into her ear.
We wave our goodbyes to the two of them.
We walked along the water and placed ourselves down in some old, weathered Adirondack chairs away from everyone.
“Hi, Pretty Girl,” I said, pulling her into my lap, halting her from sitting in her own seat.
She snickered into my shoulder. I see she’s opted for the giggly drunk persona tonight.
“This is cozy,” she spoke softly.
The early moonlight was starting to dance on top of the water. The reflection was bright enough to cast off of Lucy’s face, exposing her flushed skin and heavy but happy eyes.
I looked over at the empty chair beside us and couldn’t help but picture her sitting there at the start of every day with her too-strong coffee made by Mel, or covered up in layers of my jackets that were a few sizes too big on her while she read well into the night.
My mind turned into static at the thought. I am completely, one hundred percent falling for this girl. And it pained me to know that in a matter of weeks, she was going to forget all about me.
Girls like her don’t fall for guys like me.
“Hey, Lucy?” My words were in a stranglehold.
“Mmhm?” she hummed out.
I opened my mouth but nothing would come out. She pulled her feet up towards her chest and balled herself into my lap. I wrapped my arms around her, never wanting to let go. The sound of the boat rocking at the end of the dock, people singing at the top of their lungs, and the rustling of the wildlife scurrying around in the trees were loud. But they were nowhere near as loud as the thoughts inside my head.
I’ve never had an issue with saying what I need to say, so what the hell is wrong with me now? She had this hold over me. One that made me afraid to look like an obsessed fool in her eyes. I hated the idea that I could scare her away by simply sharing how I felt.
“Have you ever been skinny dipping?” I broke the silence with a question that I had no intention of asking. At least not now? I want to know everything about her, but god, this was not what I wanted to know right now. I really wanted to know how she felt, where her head was at. Were we on the same page? Maybe she’s in a completely different book.
She snorted, then lifted her head to study me. Wondering if I just asked her that.
“Uh, yeah. Once. It was in my junior year of med school. Gracie and I had made some friends during winter break up in the mountains. This girl that I was flirting with on our first night had dared me to jump into the lake. Completely juvenile, I know. But I did it anyway. I had to prove that I wasn’t a little bitch. And sort of as a solidarity thing, she jumped in, too. Then we made out. Naked. In the freezing water. When I tell you my nipples could cut glass, I mean it!”
“That sounds like a wild ni?—”
“Luce, Luce!” Gracie hurdled towards us, her drink sloshing over the edge of her cup.
“I’m sorry,” Lucy winced, crinkling her entire face.
Gracie was buzzed to say the least. I’d say full-on drunk was more like it. She pulled Lucy up to her feet, dragging her behind.
Just like that, they were swallowed by the group of guys that had been surrounding Gracie for most of the night. They immediately encouraged the girls to play drinking games. Squeals and shouts came from everyone that was near as Lucy and Gracie shifted to the cornhole area. If they missed, they had to take a shot, and already, they were terrible at the game. I leaned against the kayak rack off to the side as I witnessed the excitement stir through everyone.
Before attempting another round of their mess of a game, Gracie stopped in her tracks as an upbeat country song trickled its first few chords through the speakers. “Stop! We have to do it!” she claimed with slurred words.
Lucy playfully rolled her eyes as she assumed her position next to Gracie. Gracie slanted herself into Lucy’s shoulder and they both let out a squeal. They threw themselves into a full-on, choreographed line-dancing routine. Lucy looked so free.
When they shifted directions, she would embellish the toss of her ponytail over her shoulder. Those around joined in, some knew the moves, while others stood off and mimicked the steps from behind.
Once the song ended, the girls touched their foreheads like they had earlier in the evening and giggled between themselves. Lucy’s infectious laugh struck a chord, I could hear it from here, and it traveled through every fiber of my body. As they broke away from one another, Lucy was intercepted by a yank of the wrist by a guy with shitty hair.
“Hey!” I shouted. I threw my drink off to the side and marched over to them. To her. My strides had become larger, and stronger, but it did not feel like they were fast enough. The heels of my boots pressed into the damp lawn as I pushed through multiple conversations, not caring who was in my way. All I cared about was getting to Lucy.
We were only a few feet away and it felt like it was taking an eternity to get to her.
“Sawyer!” Lionel and Gus yelled. They both stalked after me as I made my way to Lucy. Gus grabbed at my shoulder once he reached my heels, but I shook him off.
Her body was forced against his, his hand found its way to her ass. Aaron had Lucy locked beneath his arm. She squirmed to break out, but he wouldn’t budge. Her face was filled with disgust at the stench of the distillery living in his mouth that even I could smell from where I once stood.
“You were real sexy out there. I saw you looking at me. Were you dancing out there like that for me?” he slurred his words, dragging his fingers along her face.
“You fucking wish!” she snapped back at him, pulling away from him. But his tight grip cinched her waist, making it impossible for her to break free.
I yanked at his shoulder. Caught off guard, his grip on her loosened and she managed to squirm away. In a matter of seconds, my knuckles met his face and the sound of a cracking cheekbone rang from the contact.
“Sawyer!” Lucy shrieked, her voice breaking over the outcry from people rushing towards us.
For being as lanky as he is, he could shockingly hold his own. He jumped up from the ground. Besides adjusting his neck, he didn’t seem to be too messed up. I guess I could thank the drunkenness for that. All of his limbs were too loose and he was so relaxed that he couldn’t even process what was going on until it happened.
Aaron swung back up at me, only for me to stop his arm from reaching. I released his fist from being entrapped under mine, threw his arm down, and swung at him again. He fell back down on the ground, except this time he was unable to get back up. His hand twitched, but other than that, nothing. Frankly, I didn’t care if he cried out for help or if he was dead.
All I knew was that, after all these years, Aaron Nelson was officially dead to me.
I crouched down beside him on the ground and whispered in his ear, “Don’t you ever think about touching my girl again, got it?” I pushed up off of my knees to stand up.
I looked at Lucy. Her eyes were wider than ever, wider than usual.
Lionel placed a hand on my shoulder again, but I shrugged him away. Again.
Stone-faced, I made it my mission to get inside the house. I could hear Lucy run up behind me before catching up. “Let’s get you cleaned up,” she said with a gentle touch on my elbow.