Chapter 2
I smoothed out my baby-blue Instant Mermaid Just Add Water tank that fluttered over my light denim shorts. Since the boat docked a little later than usual, leaving me with little time to get ready, the damp strands of my hair dried in long black waves down my back. I had just enough time for a quick in-and-out shower and a final check of my suitcase, and I was off to my favorite dive.
The music blared within The Blue Fin and carried over the crunch of gravel under my flip-flops. Tucked away from The Overseas Highway, the local joint was a cherished spot for the residents of Key Largo to catch a cheap bite to eat and a cool drink after a long day at sea, one I was surely going to miss. The wooden steps protested with every upward move I made, their familiar creaks echoing as I climbed towards the entrance. Wide-open doors and windows invited in the breeze, causing the triangular beer flags to dance on lines above. To my delight, only a few people milled about the space—my crew included. The low hum of conversation met my ears, along with the clink of pool balls and the chirp coming from the electronic dartboards. The scores of locals and brave tourists who frequented the dive were blissfully missing. This worked in my favor since I didn’t care for large crowds, preferring to avoid them whenever possible. One of the benefits of working in the tourism industry? Most of the business occurs on the weekends, leaving places like grocery stores and shopping plazas less crowded during the week. It was my favorite time to venture into town.
Glancing in the corner by the electronic dart boards, I counted a couple of pitchers of beer already flowing at the table my co-workers occupied. As I approached the bar, my gaze snagged on two men with dark gray hoodies hanging off their broad shoulders, their heads hanging low. It was unusual for anyone to wear a sweatshirt in the Florida summer heat, but perhaps they didn’t want to be bothered, something I deeply empathized with.
I leaned on the bar, a smile spreading on my face as I beheld Bobby. He was the best bartender on this side of The Keys; his bright yellow Salty Beach cut-off shirt said everything you needed to know about the man. He looked up from the glass he’d been drying, the corner of his mouth hidden behind a sandy blond mustache lifting in return. “Decided to grace us with your presence, Your Highness?”
From my periphery, I saw the two men drag their gazes up from their frosted pints—their dark brows dipping as they gazed upon me from beneath their hoods.
Weird .
“Only on the slow nights, my valiant drink maker,” I answered.
Bobby let out a hearty laugh with a shake of his head—the tips of his sandy blond hair falling just past his bushy brow. With his peppered five o’clock shadow, he was irresistible to the local ladies who loved to show appreciation for a good-looking older man. It was precisely why his tip jar stayed full to the brim even during the week. “Will you be partaking in the pitcher ritual, or shall I make you something special to drink this evening?” he asked.
I glanced behind and squinted. The pale-yellow line of the beer dipped to the bottom of the last pitcher on the table. “Pitcher ritual. Better hook me up with another round and a cup. It seems they’re pretty thirsty tonight.”
“Coming right up.” He reached for a clean pitcher on the shelf just beside the tap and began filling it with my favorite local microbrew.
I perched on the weathered wooden barstool before me and chanced a glance at the two men again. Their gazes were still cast in my direction. The hairs on the back of my neck began to rise. Pushing off the footrest, I scooted back on the stool and leaned forward, placing my elbow on the bar top. My chin came to rest in the center of my palm as I glared right back at them. “Like what you see?”
Even with his face covered in shadow, the man closest to me gave a faint quirk of the lips, his pearly white teeth gleaming against the neon signs on the wall. I narrowed my eyes.
“Everything okay, Ash?”
My body nearly jumped off my barstool. I swiveled around to John, who glared at the men with equal interest—his arm came to rest on my shoulder.
The men turned their attention to each other. They polished off the remaining beer in their pints and dropped a crumpled twenty on the bar. I lifted a brow as they headed for the exit; I could have sworn I caught a faint sooty smell. Unlike an aggressive tobacco aroma, it resembled the scent of a fierce forest fire.
John’s eyes bore into their backs till the darkness of the parking lot enveloped them. “Who the hell wears a hoodie in the middle of summer?”
A small wave of beer splashed over the side of the pitcher Bobby placed before us. “You’re asking that question while you live and breathe alongside the crazies in Florida?” he quipped as he deftly wiped the spilled contents and added a frosty pint glass at its side.
John nodded. “Fair point.” He carefully reached for the pitcher. “Put this one on my tab, Bobby.”
“I got it.” I grabbed my pint glass and hopped off my stool.
“I insist.” John’s panty-melting smile emerged. “My lucky charm doesn’t pay for the drinks.” I froze as he leaned down softly, pressing a smooth-lipped kiss on my cheek. I could feel the blood rise to meet the stubble that gently brushed against my skin.
There he goes again, toeing that line .
John pulled back, his gunmetal eyes glinting mischievously as a soft flutter of butterflies erupted in my stomach. For all the years we’d known each other, he’d never verbalized his feelings to me, something I’d often pondered. Beyond the obvious attraction, I wasn’t sure about my feelings toward him either. I simply chucked it up to his flirtatious nature and nothing more, neither of us wanting to ruin a friendship that had been going on for more than two decades. We’d been childhood friends since before we took our first steps. His parents had lovingly welcomed me into their home to play, have dinner, or watch movies on multiple occasions.
My parents?
Not so much.
“The dart board awaits you, my talented dart queen,” he said, holding out his arm for me.
“Great, maybe you’ll manage to beat me this time.” Giving John a warm smile, I looped my arm through his awaiting elbow.
My thoughts drifted back to my parents as we glided to the dartboards, John skillfully keeping every drop of beer in the pitcher gripped in his hand. Cathan and Neleah Delmar were never cruel to John. They were just very cautious with him. After a few awkward hangouts at my house during our teenage years, we decided to walk the few blocks in the other direction to hang out at John’s house more often than not. It was almost like my parents didn’t want to lead John on, or encourage him to think he was good enough for their daughter. They’d all but said that to me, which I’d never repeat to my friend. And while my parents never asked me how I felt about John, I assumed they could guess my affections. I’d bet my bottom dollar they were banking on my blossoming feelings for John fizzling out when I left for college. For the most part, they did. I’d given up hope that John would cross the line long ago. Perhaps some semblance of those feelings remained, even though it wasn’t entirely fair to him with the next chapter of my life about to begin. I’d wasted little time replying to the offer letter for an entry-level marine biologist position in San Diego. It was my dream job, after all. I cared enough for John not to foster my affections, but the wall I’d been trying to erect all summer was crumbling under the weight of my curiosity about his feelings for me.
As we approached, I noticed Chrissy’s baby-blue eyes momentarily catching on our linked arms. It was over in a second as she recovered and smiled brightly. “Finally here to show me up?”
I let my arm fall away from John’s as he carefully set the pitcher on the table. “Of course. Hopefully, you’ve been kicking everyone’s ass,” I said, giving her a quick hug.
Chrissy snorted. “Hardly, but now that you’re here, you can be my partner and make me look good.”
Chrissy and I teamed up against John and his best friend Ralph, who—per usual—avoided eye contact with me and provided clipped one-word answers when I tried to engage in conversation with him. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why Ralph acted like this. I realized long ago that it was best to ignore him since everyone else seemed to like me just fine.
The rounds of darts grew, and the beers flowed as the night peeled on. It wasn’t until a little after midnight that I took a break at one of the empty high-top tables. My anxiety hummed at a simmering boil, but the crowd of people trickling into the bar hadn’t escaped my notice. Clusters of people snatched the remaining tables around us. Unfortunately, no amount of alcohol could keep the rising tension from my body. I couldn’t recall a time when this exact reaction hadn’t occurred. Perhaps it was why I preferred sea creatures to people.
My gaze snagged on Chrissy sitting across the way. As usual, Chrissy chatted it up with everyone around them. I’d always admired her ability to make friends with complete strangers. When she dragged me to college parties, I’d always take my usual position by a wall and watch on as Chrissy fluttered her way through every social group in the room. But she’d never forget to flutter over to me and spend some quality time people-watching with her bestie. It had always brought a smile to my face, just as it did now. One couldn’t help but love her. It was why, when Chrissy voiced that she needed an after-college break, I suggested she join me in The Keys instead of returning home to Minnesota. We found a granny flat for her to rent that same day.
My observations continued as Chrissy hopped off her stool and settled between John’s open legs, her arm resting across his shoulder. She was well on her way to being drunk, as evidenced by the octave at which she spoke. But I froze when John’s arm came around Chrissy’s waist, pulling her into him. I couldn’t take my eyes off the gesture. One moment, they threw their heads back in laughter. And the next moment, John’s lips were on Chrissy’s. My mouth fell open as whistles and catcalls sounded from the neighboring table.
“Ring the bell, Bobby! Ring the damn bell!” Ralph called.
Bobby chuckled and gave the bell on the side of a bar a few good tugs, the ding peeling through the room. Everyone roared with more cheers and whistles as John and Chrissy smiled into their kiss.
“Finally!” Ralph exclaimed. He spared a glance in my direction with something resembling pity, which I didn’t care for. I snapped my jaw shut and quickly plastered on a smile. Internally, though, the numbness settled like a door slammed in my face. Perhaps it just had. But an entirely different awareness began to fill the numb space.
Relief.
I’d be mulling over ‘the why’ behind that particular feeling on my walk home.
Ready to make my break away, I hopped off my stool and quietly gathered my keys and wristlet from the group table.
“You out of here?” John asked from behind me.
Do not show your emotions. I spun on my heels with a smile. “Yeah, you know crowds aren’t my thing.”
“You okay?” he asked, a worried expression marring his face.
It was unclear whether he was asking because of the growing crowd and my rising anxiety or the public display of affection between him and Chrissy. If I were being honest, I might’ve noticed the signs of something budding between the two of them these past few weeks. Perhaps I let my own unrequited feelings get in the way. “Yeah, yeah. I’m good. Don’t worry about me.” I thumbed over my shoulder. “I’m going to walk home. Get some fresh air and calm my nerves.”
“Let her get home before she has a nervous breakdown, John,” Ralph said from behind him, darts in hand for their next game. Chrissy swatted him on the arm as I lifted a brow at him.
John leaned into my ear. “No. I meant…are you okay…with me and Chrissy?”
He and Chrissy. Okay. He wanted to talk about this like…right now. I nodded. “Sure. Of course. You two look great together.”
He scrunched his nose. “We look great together?”
“Yeeeaaah,” I replied, ending the word in a drag. “Is there something wrong with looking great together?”
“No. But. It’s just—”
“It’s okay, John. Truly. I’m not sure why you need it, but you have my approval if that’s what you’re looking for.” My shoulder rose in a half-shrug. “You two are my best friends. I care for both of you, and you both deserve to be happy. Besides, it’s kinda nice knowing you’ll be caring for one another while I’m in California. And look at the bright side; two-for-one video chats save me a bunch of time and effort repeating myself.”
He glanced at his shoes briefly before the corner of his mouth quirked. “You’ll always be my lucky charm, you know that?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, yes. But you pay me to be your lucky charm, so there is that. And your lucky charm may ask for a raise next summer if you’re not careful.”
John raised his palms in the air. “Duly noted. On that note, have a good night, Ash.”
“Night, John.”
I glanced behind him, and a panicked expression flittered across Chrissy’s beautiful features. I blew her kisses with a wave. She beamed with delight and what looked like a dash of relief. That's the thing about keeping your secret feelings for someone under lock and key, even from your best friend. The denials slip off the tongue so easily after a while that it's not Chrissy's fault she believed mine when she had asked about my feelings for John. In fairness, there's no way she truly could have known how I felt about him. There was a more in-depth conversation that would happen between us at some point, but my growing anxiety put that on hold. I had to get out of there.
I gave the group one last wave before forcing myself through the growing crowd, bodies pushing and jostling my much smaller form. The anxiety had my lungs in a vice. As I finally reached the exit, my shoulders sagged with relief; the long breath I’d held blew from my lips.
I should have expected it: John and Chrissy.
Chrissy had a natural femininity about her, while I was a tomboy of sorts. Add to it that I was laser-focused on my studies, future career, surfing, and not much else; it was a recipe for relationship disaster. The fact that I was an introvert didn’t help either. John told me once that my quietness came across as snobbery, but I didn’t know how to fix it.
A motorcycle roared to life as I stepped gingerly through the gravel parking lot, careful not to get pieces stuck between my feet and my flip-flops. Once I was safely on the sidewalk, I shook my leg to dispel a few pieces. The cooler yet humid night air entered my lungs on an inhale, and a sense of peace settled with each step I took toward home—tumultuous thoughts fading in my head like wisps of mist lost to the night.
A rustling to the right captured my attention. A shadow emerged just beyond the car in the driveway of the house I’d just passed, and the memory of the two hooded men came to mind. Strange people weren’t new in Florida. They were the State mascot, after all. But something about those men felt…off.
When another shadow appeared beside the other, every muscle in my body went rigid. I recognized them immediately. It was as if my thoughts had summoned them.
The two men strolled nonchalantly in my direction, eyeing me from underneath their hoods like a pair of cats catching a mouse. I nearly choked on a gasp when a sound pitched from my pocket. I quickly reached for my phone, accepting the call without taking my eyes off the two men.
“Hello?” I answered. There was no hiding the shake in my voice. The men had stopped in their tracks as I answered the call.
“Asherah. Darling. Where are you? We’ve been calling you for hours,” my mother asked.
“Hey, Mom. I was at The Blue Fin with my co-workers. The music must have drowned out my ringtone. I’m a few houses down.”
“She says she’s a few houses down,” my mother said in a hushed whisper. I heard my father’s murmur in the background, and my brow reached for my hairline.
“I thought you weren’t coming home till tomorrow?” I asked as the men began to move.
Don’t just stand there, you idiot! I stepped backward on unsteady feet, my eyes glued on them.
“Change of plans. Sweetie, your father’s walking down the street to meet you.” The sound of the front door slamming against the frame carried through the phone.
Usually, I’d protest. I was a twenty-three-year-old grown woman in between living arrangements, but since these strange men were closing in on me, I welcomed the rescue. “Sounds good, Mom.” I desperately tried to hide the trembling from my voice but failed miserably.
“Are you okay, my love?” Damn, her motherly intuition is good. The men edged toward the bottom of the closest driveway, now only a few yards away. My backward steps quickened, and I prayed that nothing in the walkway would cause me to fall.
“Sher!” My head twisted at the sound of my father’s voice. Cathan Delmar careened down the sidewalk at breakneck speed, his muscular arms pumping. He slowed when he reached my side and bent at the waist, his dark hair falling to his brow as his chest rose and fell with hasty breaths. “Everything…” Huff . Huff . “Okay?” More huffing. Big inhale.
My shoulders sagged with relief as I patted his back. “Still got it, old man.”
“I am…” slower huff, “not…” deep inhale, “old.” He rose, resting his hands on his hips. “I just haven’t full-out sprinted like that since—”
“The 90s?” I supplied.
Dad’s lips pursed. “Very funny, daughter of mine.” His gaze traveled behind me. His nostrils flared on an inhale, and his expression slid into a frown. I could have sworn I heard a growl rise from his throat. I wheeled around, and my mouth slackened. There was not a soul to be found behind us. The street was entirely empty.
“There were two men just there,” I breathed, pointing to the driveway. “Some weirdos that were at the bar.”
Dad squinted at the darkness beyond the streetlight’s warm glow, then placed an arm around my shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get back to the house.”
For the first time since I was a child, I welcomed the refuge of my father’s arms, but couldn’t shake the feeling that we were still being watched.