Chapter 5
G eorge laid low in Miami for the first couple of weeks after Johnny B’s arrest. But after the police got their warrant and came up empty handed, the dust from the bust finally settled and George was back to business as usual– flaunting his money on his speed boat full of girls half his age out on the sandbar, and running reefer every week like clockwork.
Ellie was busy with school and working on the weekends, but I snuck in a few minutes with her most days, even if just to stop by her aunt’s house for a chat in the backyard swing under the stars.
We got a few real dates in. Like snorkeling Hens and Chickens reef.
And during a picnic lunch on the Whaler one lazy Wednesday afternoon, she coached me to bring snacks and drinks for my charters for a higher-end experience—a suggestion I thought funny for my flats-fishing clientele.
I knew she was smarter than I was, so I listened.
I loved how she was always thinking how to make things work better, and always thinking toward the future.
Sure enough, my word-of-mouth referrals picked up once I started following Ellie’s advice.
Early-February on a Friday, Ellie managed to get out of working the dinner shift to go see the movie everyone had been talking about.
It was a tear-jerker that didn’t appeal to me much, but I jumped at the chance for a night with her on the mainland.
We took the old Ford up to Coral Gables to catch On Golden Pond , which I liked far more than I expected.
I nearly cried, too, when Ellie had tears streaming down her face.
On our way out of the cinema, she took my hand.
“I knew that movie was going to make me cry. Kind of silly to punish myself like that.”
I squeezed her hand. “I thought I’d hate it, but my eyes got a little moist, too.”
Her doe eyes turned up while I swung the truck door open for her. “Why’d you come if you thought you’d hate it?”
“To be with you, of course. And see, I liked it.” I leaned into the truck to kiss her cheek.
The truth was, seeing the movie couple in their golden years, made me want to spend mine with her. The more time I spent with Ellie, the clearer that was.
After the movie, I whisked her off to South Beach. Ellie perused the menu at a beachfront bistro, eyes wide at the prices.
“I know you’ve been running more charters lately, but this is expensive.”
I didn’t mind dropping fifty dollars on a nice meal. I might as well spend some of the money I’d been hoarding. “It’s not every day I get to show my girl a good time in the city. Just order what you want and enjoy.”
The lobster wasn’t any better than what they served at the Coral Grill for a third the price, but sharing a candlelit meal with Ellie, decked out in her sundress and high-heels, made it more than worth it.
Afterward, the long walk after dinner on the beach under a blanket of stars was priceless.
We stopped to count the stars one by one, kissing every chance we got.
Something about our kisses changed that night.
Ellie opened herself to me, showed me the desire that burned deep, letting me know I wasn’t alone in wanting her so badly.
But, when my hands roamed over her curves, desperate to feel more of her, she pulled away. She didn’t have to say a word. I understood. I read her body language, and kept myself in check. I would wait for her. She was the prize. “Sorry, Ellie. I lose myself kissing you sometimes.”
“You don’t have to be sorry. I feel lost in it, too,” she said softly. “That’s what scares me.”
“You don’t have to be scared.” I dipped my chin to press my lips to her hair, breathing in her scent. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.” But I was afraid there was no turning back from how she made me feel.
Her back straightened as she smoothed her skirt. “We should probably head back. I’m working tomorrow, and I have a paper to write for my Humanities class.”
I was so full of her that night, her perfume imprinting on my brain, and a warmth oozing from my chest. The love bubbled up and flowed from me.
I didn’t want to push her further, but I didn't want the night to end.
“Mateo told me about a hot new club in Miami Beach. How ‘bout we check it out? You said you like dancing. It’s supposed to be the place in South Beach.”
Ellie bit her lip, contemplating. “I shouldn’t be out too late.”
I slipped an arm around her waist. “Let’s go for an hour. I won’t keep you past curfew. Promise.”
Her hand rested on my chest while her weight settled softly into my arms. “I’m not worried you’ll keep me out. I’m worried you’ll make me want to stay.”
I wanted to make her stay, all right. But not in a nightclub. “We’ll leave by midnight. Scout’s honor.” I held up two fingers.
Her mouth curled into a smile. “You don’t strike me as a boy scout. But I trust you.”
“Good.” My lips brushed hers and I swept her off her feet, dress flapping in the wind as I twirled her in my arms. Her trust felt more valuable than her love at that point. Maybe keeping my word would make up for the secrets I kept.
I reached across her lap to open the glove compartment. “You better get the sand off your feet before you put your dancing shoes back on.” I pulled out a rag, dropping it on her knee beside the high heels she’d been carrying. “Don’t want you getting blisters.”
She stared at me for a long second. “That’s very considerate. Thank you, Spencer.”
Considerate, and maybe a tiny bit selfish. I grinned. “I wanna be sure we get that whole hour of dancing in.”
Cruising down Ocean Drive with the wind whipping through the cab of the old Ford, I felt like the king of the world with my hand on Ellie’s knee.
We drove past the entrance to the club. A line of at least thirty people spilled out the door.
Ellie gawked at the spiked heels and tight dresses as we passed. “I might be underdressed.”
We both were, but I didn’t care if we looked like two Conch bumpkins showing up to the party. “You’ll be the prettiest girl in the club.” I squeezed her knee as I hung a right to circle around the block. “If we can find a place to park.”
Ellie’s hand covered mine. “Big city life.”
An Oldsmobile was pulling away from the curb half a block from the club. I grinned over at Ellie. “Small town luck in the big city.”
I walked around the truck to take Ellie’s hand as she stepped down.
The night was hotter than it’d been in months.
Neon lights flickered hot pink over the doorway, the same color as the spandex dress so tight it looked painted on a woman near the front of the line.
As we crossed the street, I saw the dress go down in a flash before I registered the BANG that echoed through the thick air.
Then I realized everyone at the front of the line had dropped to the ground while those further back scattered, screaming.
Ellie froze, stunned, as five more shots rang into the night.
My arm instinctively wrapped around her head and shoulders in a football hold and I turned, dragging her back toward the truck. I yanked her down to crouch behind the side of the pickup while I flung the door open. Shoving her inside, I pushed her head toward the floorboard. “Stay down!”
I started to slam the door shut but then realized I’d have to walk around the truck—and possibly into the line of fire—if I did. I clambered over Ellie in the floorboard and slinked on my belly across the seat, wiggling to get my feet around and down to the pedals. “Get the door. I can’t reach it.”
Ellie popped up enough to grab the door handle.
The tires squealed as we tore away. I made myself as small as possible, barely peeking over the steering wheel, grateful that Ellie couldn’t see the panicked scene as we sped past the nightclub.
“Stay down, Ellie, stay down.” I yelled, swerving to dodge dozens running for their lives.
The terror in their eyes burned a permanent scar on my brain.
Ellie stared up with frightened eyes, speechless. It was only after we’d gotten several blocks away and started over the causeway back toward downtown Miami that I could breathe enough to speak. “It’s safe to get up now.”
She clambered into the seat, wringing trembling hands in her lap. “Was that gunshots? I thought a car backfired at first.”
“It was definitely gunshots.”
Her eyes glazed over, awash with fear. “If we’d gotten there five minutes earlier...”
I swallowed, hoping to quiet the screams still ringing in my head. Somehow I managed a calm voice, hoping to comfort her. “Lucky for us we didn’t.”
Her lower lip quivered, eyes full of tears. “If you hadn’t pulled me out of there I’d have been trampled.”
I slid my arm along the back of the bench seat, drawing her into my side. “Don’t think about what could’ve gone wrong.”
But it was all I could think about. I’d rather die than let anything happen to her. “We’re safe now. Everything is fine.”