Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“Cool, hey?”
“How old are you?” I ask.
Derek shakes his head. “Twenty-three,” he tells me.
He’s closer to Lucy’s age than mine, but only by a few years.
“You going to tell me you’re too old for this?” He climbs over a rock, grabs a beer from a cooler, and sits, patting the spot next to him. I walk over and sit, letting my feet dangle over the edge. If we climbed down a little farther, I could have my feet in the water, but from here we are too high.
“No, not at all,” I say, answering his question. He hands me a beer, and I put it to my lips, taking a sip. I don’t particularly like the taste of beer, but it’s better than nothing.
“How’s your hand?”
“It will heal,” I tell him.
He nods and drinks the rest of his beer fairly quickly then says, “Only one, because I gotta drive you home.” I’m thankful for that.
“I can drive. If you want to drink, that is…”
Derek shakes his head and stands. Lifts the bottom of his black tee and pulls it over his head then lets his pants drop leaving him in only his boxers. “When was the last time you did something unexpected?” he asks.
I smile. If he would have asked me that a few months ago, before I’d met Atlas and then traveled, it would have been hard to answer. But now not so much.
“Over a week ago, when I got back from Iceland,” I tell him.
He raises his eyebrows in surprise. “Okay, then, jump in. Surprise me, blondie.” He puts his hands out to the side and drops backward. I gasp as I watch him fall because his head could have hit a rock or anything on the way down. But when I hear his laughter, I instantly relax. “Blondie, I’m waiting.”
I nod my head, resolute in my crazy decision. Standing, I shimmy my pants off and throw my shirt to the side, so now I’m only in panties and a sports bra. I look down and can hardly see him, due to the moon being not that bright tonight. Looking over my shoulder, there are a few couples in full-on make-out sessions, paying no attention to us at all, so I do what I would never do previously—I jump.
The cold water assaults my skin, making me squeal before I submerge completely. When I come up for air, Derek is laughing. I see him more clearly now I’m down here.
“There isn’t anything in this water, is there?” I ask, not being able to feel the bottom.
“No.” He laughs, then something grips my ankle, and I shriek, making Derek laugh even harder. “That was too easy,” he states.
I splash water at him, making his laugh die down. He looks up to the sky, lays his head back in the water, and starts to float.
“This place is pretty cool.”
“Found it a few years back, and it kind of evolved from there.” He looks to me. “Now, some nights are crazy, and it’s good because no one is around to hear us. And some nights…” he looks around, “… are just easy and laid back.”
“How long have you been bartending?” I ask.
“It’s not all I do. I’m a builder during the day, but the tips from bartending are excellent and help supplement my wage.”
“I bet all the ladies love you.” I smile.
As I say the words, a loud noise is heard, and everyone seems to startle into motion and scatter.
“Derek…”
“Move, move,” he says, pushing me to the edge of the water.
I try to pull myself out, but I slip on the rocks and fall back in. Derek’s already out and pulling on his shirt. He looks back to me and climbs down to help pull me out. When I get out, light is shone on me, and I blink, not able to see.
“This is private property,” a deep voice states.
“We were just leaving,” Derek says.
“You are.” My hands are cuffed, and I’m being pushed forward.
Derek swears next to me as he gets pushed into the back of a cop car.
“Derek, you said we were allowed,” I hiss.
“I may have lied.”
I let my head roll back and start shivering on the seat. Fuck, I’m only in my panties and sports bra.
“I’m sorry, Thea. Fuck! Out of all the nights we have come here, this never happens, I swear.”
“It’s fine,” I bite out.
It’s not. I’ve never been arrested, and trespassing is not what I want on my rap sheet.
When we arrive at the station, the officer questions us separately. Then tells me to call someone.
I try Tina—because who the fuck else am I meant to call—but she doesn’t answer.
Then I call Sydney, who happens to answer on the first ring.
“Sydney, it’s me, Thea. Is Tina with you?”
“Why are you calling from a private number?” she snaps at me. Sydney always seems angry. Always.