Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Thirteen
Shae
SHAE DROVE ON AUTOPILOT down familiar roads, parking near the inlet where Al’s Rental Shack sat abnormally quiet for this hour. The guy behind the counter barely took his eyes from his book when she asked for a single scull; he just slid the clipboard toward her.
“Are you a member?” he asked, still engrossed in the page.
“Used to be. Not anymore.”
That earned her a glance. He studied her face for a second, like he was trying to place her. “Cool. Write down the time. I’ll need your license. You know the drill.”
Shae jotted down her info, slid her license across the counter, and headed out onto the deck. She carried the shell down to the water on her own, the pale sunlight skimming the surface. The inlet was smooth. She pushed the shell in and locked the oars. Then climbed aboard and pushed off.
The rhythm settled into her body before her thoughts could catch up. Catch, Finish. Catch, Finish. The oars dipped cleanly, the slide steady beneath her, her breath syncing without effort.
She loved this place; it was bursting with life, the sea ducks gliding effortlessly across the water.
The Osprey flying overhead, dipping down now and again to catch a fish.
And of course, the seals with their feline whiskers, and tiny heads bobbing above the water.
She’d even been lucky enough to spot dolphins out here in the past. Though what she loved most about this place was that out on the water, the world couldn’t reach her.
She could steep in her feelings without questions or expectations.
The sound of nature surrounded her. She stopped rowing and let the shell glide forward on its own. Allowing it to cut through everything she’d been holding in. All the chaos in her head, the turmoil, all her feelings stirring in her chest. And the regret.
Sometimes it was like her life mimicked rowing.
Like she was moving backwards through it as she stared off into the past, watching as everything drifted further away from view, until she couldn’t see anything that stayed.
She wished she could turn around and face the world head-on.
For as bold and independent as people took her to be, she needed.
She needed more than she knew how to give herself, and a map on how to get there.
She rowed until she couldn’t take the burn anymore. Until her feelings were reduced to a weight she could carry. When she veered toward shore, the sun had shifted higher in the sky. Her chest lighter now, her feelings more manageable.
Shae headed for home, driving through downtown, slipping past restaurants and shops when she spotted Em nestled into a bistro table, laughing across from a woman with long, wavy, black hair.
Shae eased off the gas, trying to maintain focus on the street ahead as she watched the two.
Em, chatting away with ease, happy. Tucking her hair behind her ear in a way that Shae always noticed.
A hollow feeling opened in Shae’s chest, a feeling of dread filling the emptied space there. She accelerated, not wanting to see more, and veered straight for the house, climbing the stairs to her room and immediately jumping into the shower.
It was good to be clean, but Shae couldn’t get the image of Em and the other girl out of her head. She fell into bed and pulled the covers up over her, still in her towel.
Shae woke to the sound of laughter coming from below her.
“Brodie! Brodie! No!” Lennon’s voice rose through the walls. Then came a shrill, playful screech, still Lennon.
She threw on some comfy jeans and a top from her floor and headed downstairs.
“Hey, look… perfect timing,” Lennon said as Shae rounded the corner to the living room.
“We were just about to play a game.”
“I don’t think so!” Shae said.
“Yes, you’re joining. You had alone time all day. Now it’s time to be social. Come on.”
Lennon hurried Shae into the living room, giving her bottom a little slap as she left her to sit between Brodie and Em.
“Ouch, Len.” Shae exclaimed, plopping herself down onto the sofa.
“Well, you need to wake up a little bit.”
Shae locked eyes with Em. Her face was still made up from earlier, but she’d changed into something a bit more comfortable. Shae had no reason to be upset with her, but she still felt unsettled.
“What are we playing?” Shae asked.
“Truth or Dare,” Seth said, clapping his hands together. “I love this game!”
“Oh hell, no!” Shae said, pushing up to standing.
“SIT! DOWN!” Lennon barked.
“Jesus, Len!” Shae said, lowering back down. She grabbed the package of gummy bears on the coffee table and popped a few in her mouth, relaxing back against the sofa.
Lennon placed a bottle in the middle of the coffee table. “Whoever it lands on gets to ask a question or offer a dare. “Ok, Seth. Spin.”
Seth spun. The bottle twisted effortlessly, coming to a stop at Lennon.
“Truth or dare?”
“Dare!” she said, confidently.
“I dare you to… suck Brodie’s toes.”
Lennon straightened up, clearing her throat.
"Watch and learn, kids,” she said. She flashed a look at Brodie, a cheesy grin on her face.
Then crawled the short distance, stopping to kneel in front of him before lifting his leg and dragging down his sock.
She opened her mouth sensually around his big toe, sucking at it seductively.
“Ohhhh, noooo...” the girls laughed, squealing with both excitement and disgust as the scene unfolded.
“OMG, this is erotic!” Seth exclaimed.
Lennon sat back in her spot, wiping her mouth daintily. “And that’s how it’s done. Hope you took notes,” she said, clearly impressed with herself.
“Ok, I’m up,” she said, readjusting herself and spinning the bottle. “Seth! Truth or Dare?
“Girl, always a dare.”
“I dare you… to call up Julian and tell him you’re secretly in love with him!”
“Bitch, that is no secret. Give me my phone.”
Lennon snatched his phone from the coffee table and handed it over to him. He dialed the number, and Julian picked up almost immediately.
“Bitch, I’m like, secretly in love with you,” he said into the phone.
“Ahh, I love you too?” Julian replied. Seth hung up the phone, jumping up and down in place, his hand to his mouth. “I can’t believe he just said that!” he said, fanning himself.
“Ok, my turn again,” he said, spinning the bottle.
Claire,” he said, pausing and looking over to Shae.
“Have you ever kissed anyone in this room… in a romantic way?”
“I have...” Claire answered, not making eye contact with anyone.
After this week's events, Shae suspected Claire, like herself, didn’t know what to think or feel right now. She felt awful knowing she had put her in this awkward position.
Lennon scrunched up her face at Em.
“It’s okay.” Em mouthed, glancing over at Shae and away just as quickly.
Claire smiled ruefully over at Em before spinning.
“Lennon,” she said.
“Dare!”
“I dare you to walk outside and shout, ‘I’m the sexiest bitch alive, prove me wrong,’ as loud as you can.”
Lennon whipped the door open, screamed the words as loud as Shae had ever heard her scream, and slammed the door shut behind her. She sat back down, adopting a pose that mimicked meditation, and exhaled. The group laughed, and Lennon reached out and spun the bottle yet again.
“Shae!” she said, tapping her fingers together manically. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
Shae thought this was the safest choice, considering Lennon had had it out for her the last couple of days.
“Shit,” Lennon said, flashing her eyes toward Em again, her mouth twisting to the side as she thought. “Hmmm,” Lennon took her time before ultimately blurting out, “Why did you kiss Amber Price?”
“What?” Shae asked.
“You heard me right,” Lennon said.
“Yeah, but I don’t know what you’re talking about. I never kissed Amber Price.”
“I’m confused,” Claire said, “Who’s Amber Price?”
“Someone we went to High School with. It was a long time ago.” Shae explained.
It was a long time ago. Why would Lennon even be bringing this up? Shae thought back through the times she’d spent with Amber, and there was only one moment that stuck out in her mind—a moment in the hall with her right before the big fallout with Em.
“Why do you think I kissed Amber?” Shae pressed. Lennon didn’t answer. Shae stood up and reached out. She spun the bottle, irritation in both her body language and on her face.
The bottle landed back on Lennon.
“Lennon,” Shae said.
“What the fuck!” Lennon said, throwing up her arms.
“Truth or dare?”
“Truth,” Lennon shouted.
“Why do you think I kissed Amber Price?”
Lennon shot her eyes at Em, and Shae followed.
“Em?” Shae said.
“Technically, she doesn’t have to answer that,” Seth said.
“Shut up, Seth! ” Shae demanded, and Seth put up his arms in retreat.
“Em?” Shae fixed her with a penetrating stare.
“Because I saw you,” Em said, almost inaudibly.
Shae sank back against the couch, the pieces clicking together in her mind.
“Your spin still,” Em said, trying not to look at Shae.
“I pass,” Shae said, tucking her arms into her chest. Her leg bounced involuntarily beneath her as she chewed at her lip, no longer seeing the room.
Lennon reached out and spun the bottle.
“Em, truth or dare?”
Em stalled. “Umm, dare?”
Dare hmm? Shae thought. Because God be damned if she was going to get trapped answering any more questions about this particular topic, again? Of course, she wanted out of it!
A light sparked in Lennon’s eyes, like she had been waiting for this all night.
“I dare you to kiss Shae,” she said, leaning back against Brodie.
Shae’s eyes jumped immediately to Em. Em wavered, an unease on her face, a discomfort.
“Well, get on with it,” Seth said, leaning back, amused, taking a swig of his drink.
Lennon reached over, slapping him lightly on the shoulder.