Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
“She’s not home yet. I was about to head to bed when Talon rang the doorbell.” He holds his hand out for Lisa, who immediately takes it.
“Kelsey said she’d be home by now,” she says worriedly.
“I’m sure she’s fine, honey. She’d call us or Talon if something were wrong.” Has he not met his daughter? She’s got an independent streak a mile long.
“Who is Kelsey with anyways?” I ask.
“Mariah and the girls picked her up a couple of hours ago,” Lisa replies.
“Where were they heading?” Lisa and Ed look from one another back to me.
“The island,” both respond at once.
“Fuck, I should have asked. I didn’t think to. I’ve gotta go. Those idiots get drunker than a skunk. I’ve seen a few of them almost hit pylon markers before.” In the dead of day and more than on one occasion have I seen a few of them fly through no wake zones, bottles in their hands, laughing without a care in the world. I’m not opposed to anyone having a few drinks, but when they endanger the woman I know without a single fucking doubt will be mine for-fucking-ever, that’s when I have an issue.
“Goddamn it. I should have offered her to take my boat. Kelsey didn’t even ask and I didn’t think anything of it. Let me go change, grab my keys, and I’ll head out with you.” Ed is beating himself up, but not nearly as much as I am.
“You can’t, Ed. Your boat has no gas,” Lisa states. Ed’s face is etched with concern as is Lisa’s.
“I’ll go. My boat is already in the water and has a full tank of gas. You all try to call her and then relay the message to me when you can.” It’d take Ed minutes to get dressed, nearly twenty to fuel up, and I’m not fucking around.
“Go. Go get our girl, Talon. Ed will call you if he finds anything out. Please do the same,” Lisa replies. Meanwhile, her husband is walking off. I have no doubt he’ll be behind me as soon as possible.
“I will.” I’m walking out the door the second those two words leave my lips. I’ve got a woman to go after.
9
KELSEY
“Come have a drink with me,” Mariah pleads drunkenly. She’s stumbling and having a good time, as she should, except for the fact she broke our agreement. The hours have ticked by while I’ve sat nursing my drink, non-alcoholic of course. I brought my own cup per my usual. No one knows there’s only vitamin water in it instead of the alcohol that’s flowing heavily through the crowds.
“I have to pee. I’ll come find you when I’m done.” The lie rolls off my tongue easily. I’ve kept to myself, realization hitting me that I’ve outgrown what was once my friend group. I’d much rather stay in than go out, whereas they like to drink a lot and only need one or two until they’re loud, and I’m quiet.
“Oh, okay, see you later!” Mariah’s voice goes up an octave. She’s always been this way. We’re complete and total opposites. It worked for a while until it didn’t. I watch as she lifts her hands in the air. “Shots, shots, shots!” she chants. The rest of the group repeats after her. I’m about to turn and walk away when I see what’s happening out of the corner of my eye. God, I am so stupid. Alcohol and getting drunk is one thing. Drugs is another and I want zero part of this anymore.
I turn on my heel, holding my drink with the crook of my elbow and waist. My phone is in my back pocket. I haven't called for a pickup from a party since my junior year in high school. Yet I’m about to call my parents. If they aren’t available, I’m going to call Talon and hope he doesn’t judge me for my stupidity in hanging out with Mariah and this group. The only problem I currently have is holding my drink and sandals while trying to finagle my phone out of my jeans short pocket. Then think better of it this close to the shoreline.
“You really screwed up this time, Kelsey Rae,” I grumble to myself, walking as swiftly as possible to the other side of the island. The light from the moon guides my way, and I stick as close to the shoreline as possible. At least I applied a thick layer of mosquito repellant before leaving my house earlier. I go through the long line of what-ifs as I approach the opposite end. We have multiple small islands all along the area. This so happens to be the only one that survives low and high tide. There’s always a place to park your boat, hop out, walk around, have a bonfire, and whatever else the locals or tourists want to do.