Chapter Twenty-Two
Shae
SHAE DIDN’T GO TALK to Em. Instead, she went up to the balcony and curled up on the swing, trying to clear her thoughts. At some point, she drifted off, waking only when Lennon flung open the door.
“Found her.” She yelled back to someone inside.
Shae lifted her head groggily to see her sister standing in the doorway.
“We ordered pizza. Wanna come eat?” Em came up behind Lennon, resting her chin on her shoulder.
“I’ll be down in a minute,” Shae grumbled, lying back down.
Lennon flashed a look at Em, her eyes narrowing. “Oh-kay,” she huffed, seemingly annoyed. “Can you make sure she comes down?” she whispered to Em as she left.
“I heard that,” Shae called after her
“I’m setting a timer,” Lennon shouted back from inside.
Em lingered before stepping out onto the balcony, hovering beside the swing. She opened her mouth as if to speak, then stopped. Shae reached for her hand, their fingers fitting together easily, and gave a gentle tug, pulling her on top of her.
Em tucked her head beneath Shae’s chin, and Shae breathed in that amber scent that was purely Em.
She kissed the top of her head.
“Are you going to tell me what upset you?” she said, running her fingers through Em’s hair. She cocked her head, tracing a line across Em’s jaw.
Em didn’t answer at first. She exhaled deeply, her breath fanning Shae’s neck.
“I know something shifted,” Shae said, carefully. “One second you were laughing as I ran with you up the beach, even Lennon was talking about how much you were glowing, then the next you were quiet and pulling away. I just don’t understand why.”
Em’s fingers gripped the fabric of Shae’s shirt, fiddling with it. “It’s dumb.”
“It’s not dumb if it got in your head.”
Em shifted so she could see Shae’s face, her eyes tired but clear. “It was when Claire got out of the car.”
Shae’s brows furrowed. “What about it?”
“You let go of my hand.” Em’s voice was soft, but the hurt beneath it was palpable. “And I know it probably didn’t mean anything. But in the moment, it felt like everything changed. Like you wanted to create space between us again.”
Shae blinked. “Em.” She sat up a little straighter, cradling Em’s face in her hand. “I didn’t even realize. I wasn’t thinking; it wasn’t some big choice to drop your hand.”
Em hesitated. “How can you be sure? It wasn’t that long ago that you were kind of into her. When you dropped my hand, it felt… intentional. Like part of you still didn’t want her to know about us.” She bit at the inside of her cheek, “I don’t know. Maybe I’m just too in my head.”
Shae’s heart squeezed. “I get why that would hurt. But that wasn’t it.
I just… I wanted to tell her that I intend to talk to her about…
all this. I like Claire, I don’t want to be with her, but I think she’s a good person.
I want to be respectful of her feelings and yours.
I know it may be confusing, but I want to stay friends with Claire. ”
“Come here.” Shae pulled her in closer to her chest. Em lifted her chin, meeting Shae’s lips in a kiss so soft it sent a shiver down her spine.
She shifted her body on top of Em, deepening the kiss.
“I’ve never wanted Claire like this. I lose myself in you.
” Shae ground her hips into Em’s, and Em’s breath stuttered.
“We’re supposed to go down for pizza,” Em breathed against her lips. “You’re turning me on.”
“Are you saying we should stop?” Shae pulled back to look at Em, “Hmm...” Shae smirked. “Look how the tables have turned.” Shae climbed off of her, pulling Em up with her. “To be continued?” she asked.
“Maybe,” Em said, a coy smile on her face.
“Oh, haha. Maybe I should take a tip from Brodie and toss you in the pool.”
“I would kill you,” Em said, meandering toward the door. “I just showered.”
“Maybe I’m jealous you showered without me.”
Em leaned against the door, her hand idling on the handle. “Slow down, Hemingway.”
Shae stepped toward her, bracing one hand on the doorframe and slipping the other to Em’s hips, attempting to guide her closer.
But Em opened the door, sending Shae stumbling forward, off balance.
“Rude,” Shae said, catching herself with a laugh.
Em smirked, disappearing inside.
Downstairs, everyone was gathered in the living room. Pizza boxes were scattered across the coffee table along with paper plates.
“There are sodas and soda waters on the island if you want one. We are going to pick a movie. Any suggestions?” Lennon asked.
“To Wong Foo,” Seth suggested, and everyone looked over at him. “What, it’s a classic,” he said, throwing up his hands like it should have been obvious.
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a classic,” Lennon retorted. “We all have to at least semi-agree.”
“Let’s do something scary,” Claire suggested, taking a seat on the floor next to Seth.
“Oh, I second scary.” Lennon agreed, flipping to thrillers on the TV guide.
Em and Shae dished up, settling down next to each other on the couch. Shae stole a look at her. Em appeared to be putting on a brave face tonight.
“We should watch Scream,” Claire suggested.
“Hell, yes!” Seth clapped his hands together.
“Original or 2022 version?” Lennon said, the remote suspended in the air.
“Definitely original!” Claire said, biting into her slice of pizza.
“One hundred percent agree. Any objections?” Lennon scanned the room, pausing on Em. She tilted her head, a silent last chance, but Em gave her head a subtle shake. “No.”
“Original Scream it is.” Lennon pressed start on the movie and plopped down next to Brodie in the beanbag chair.
Em was bracing her leg tightly as the movie played, her nails digging into her skin with every jump scare.
“Are you scared? You wanna go do something else?” Shae whispered. “We don’t have to watch this.”
Em furrowed her brow. “I’m okay.”
“You clearly are not okay. What are you trying to prove?”
Em’s eyes dashed down to Claire on the floor, engrossed in the movie, then back at Shae. “I’m not, I—”
“Em, let’s just go do something else.”
“No, I wanna stay and finish.”
“Shhhh,” Seth scolded. He flashed an annoyed look back at them before readjusting his position on the floor.
Shae widened her eyes at Em, grinning. “Okay?”
By the time the credits rolled, Em was smooshed up against Shae like a moth veering toward the nearest light in the dark—fear having driven her closer.
Shae didn’t mind; being the person of comfort for Em felt good to her; it felt like a memory.
She wrapped her arm tighter around Em’s waist, closing any millimeter of space left between them.
“You know what we should do? A night swim,” Seth suggested, jerking upright.
“Hell yeah.” Brodie agreed. “What do you say, babe?”
Lennon wrapped her leg around Brodie, propping her head up on his chest, “I’m down.”
“Me too,” Claire said, boosting herself up to standing. “Let’s go.”
Shae elbowed Em, “Wanna go?”
Em shrugged, “Sure, if everyone else is going.”
“I mean, you could stay here on your own? With the…” Shae made a stabbing motion in the air and nudged her lightheartedly.
Em shoved her playfully. But in her eyes, Shae could see that she was still uncomfortable.
Everyone changed and gradually made their way down to the water.
“Hey Em, I’m going to chat with Claire quick. Is that cool?” Shae asked.
Em stopped in place. “Ok…” she said, hesitantly, her eyes flashing to Claire, who was up ahead in the water with Seth.
“I won’t be long, I promise.”
Shae ran to catch up with Seth and Claire, Em falling back to walk with Lennon and Brodie. Shae glanced back to see her sister throw her arm around Em’s shoulder, pulling her closer.
Shae caught up to the pair and tapped Claire on the shoulder. “Hey, can we chat?”
Claire raised a brow. “If this is where you confess your undying love for me, I’m gonna at least need a pina colada first.”
Shae laughed. “No cocktails, sorry. Just a chat. Possibly some mild emotional awkwardness.”
“Great. My favorite,” Claire joked sarcastically.
They strolled a little ahead of the group, barefoot in the cool sand, the moonlight tracing the waterline like a silver thread.
Shae exhaled. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry for how things went down. I wasn’t super clear about where I was emotionally. You didn’t deserve that.”
Claire tipped her chin up, her eyes narrowing. “You mean the part where we made out, and then you did a tailspin, gah gah for Em?”
Shae winced. “Yeah, that part.”
“Yeah, you know. It stung. I wished you’d just told me from the get-go.
It would have made things a lot easier on all of us.
Regardless of what people might assume about me, three-way relationships are not my forté.
” She chuckled. “I like chaos, but in the long run, I wanna be chosen. It’s much more appealing to be chased rather than doing the chasing.
” Claire averted her attention over to Em in the distance.
“It’s all good though. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was into you.
You’re gorgeous and witty and strangely strong.
But it was impossible not to see that your heart was elsewhere. ”
Shae glanced sideways to where Em stood. “Em.”
“Yeah, I kinda figured from the start, honestly. All the tension. It was sort of suspenseful. I must say, I pegged you as more of a rom-com than a teen romance turned drama, but… Hmm, people surprise you.” Claire tossed a wink at Shae.
“Sorry to disappoint. If I could choose, I’d likely be a mystery. I like the idea of the suspense, but as you said, you can’t choose.” She faced Claire. “Anyhow, I want to see where it goes. But I also don’t want things to be weird between us.”
Claire smirked. “You mean we’re not going to have staring matches with each other across the living room anymore? Tragic.”
Shae bumped her shoulder playfully. “You’re the worst.”
“I try,” Claire sighed, playfully nudging Shae with her elbow. “I thought I might have a chance. We had some pretty fun banter.”
“I could agree with that,” Shae said.
They walked in silence, the ocean lapping at their feet.
A new kind of smile formed on Claire's face, less flirty, more real.
She kicked at a small piece of driftwood. “I kinda have a confession myself.”
“Natalie.” Shae interrupted.
Claire hid her eyes, but her smile gave her away. “Natalie.”
“Yeah, it's not a surprise. So your night went well together, I’m guessing?”
“It was pretty perfect, actually. She’s smart and funny and has this completely chaotic energy I find disturbingly hot. I like her.”
“I can tell. She’s one of the best people I know, so if it’s going to be anyone, I am glad it’s her.” Shae nudged a shell with the tip of her shoe, watching it tumble ahead of them before the tide swallowed it. “She was sort of my mentor, you know?”
“Ha, I’m aware. She was telling me all the stories. Sounds like you were quite the heartbreaker yourself in high school.”
“Is that what she said?” Shae smirked, glancing at Em, now up ahead. The gusting ocean breeze tugged at her hair, whipping it into her face. “Well, only at the end of my Senior year, once I was out.”
“Hmm. Well, maybe you can teach me your ways with women. That is, if it doesn’t work with Natalie.”
“Happy to be of service,” Shae said, dryly. “Though I’m far from considering myself an expert.”
They reached a dune and paused, watching the rest of the group down by the water.
Shae nudged her. “So… we’re good?”
Claire locked eyes with her. “Yeah. We’re good.” Then Claire added with a grin, “But if Em breaks your heart, I’m calling dibs on your rebound phase.”
Shae laughed. “And compete with Natalie, no thanks!”
Shae chuckled as they made their way back down toward the others. The air was lighter. So was her chest.
She reached Em, who was sitting on the beach watching Lennon and Brodie play at the edge of the water. She kneeled in front of her and kissed her nose.
“I’m surprised you’re out here alone with a killer on the loose,” Shae joked.
Em tapped her, “Stop it. You know I’m sleeping with you tonight?”
“Every night, I hope.”
Em gave a soft smile. She fisted a handful of sand, pouring it into her other hand. “Did you say everything you wanted to say to Claire?”
Shae sat down next to Em, resting her hand on her knee.
“I did. Turns out we were both on the same page.”
“Yeah? About what?” Em met Shae’s eyes.
“That we should just be friends. I told her that I wanted to see where things go with us.”
“Hmm, you do?” Em was holding back a smile.
“Absolutely,” Shae said. “I’m kinda smitten.”
“Are you?” Em leaned her head in to rest on Shae’s shoulder, and Shae wrapped her arm around her, kissing the top of her head.
“Don’t I owe you a dip in the water, sassafras?” She threatened. She leaned over, tucking her hand under Em and lifting her from the ground.
“Shae. Shae!” Em yelled. “Do not!”
“Too late,” Shae said, whisking her toward the water. She dropped her just short of the waves, feeling herself becoming unsteady, and pulled her closer, bringing her mouth to hers in a passionate kiss.
“I’m so into you, Em,” she said as she reached down, boosting Em up again. Em wrapped her legs around her waist, the tide crashing against Shae’s legs as they kissed each other as if they were the only two on the beach.
“Get a room,” Seth hollered over at them.
But Shae simply gave him the one-finger salute and continued kissing her girl while Em laughed into her mouth.