Page 26 of Tell It To The Waves

“I wanted to actually have seasons.” He laughs while handing me a bowl of peanuts.

I look at them, wondering whose hands have been in them, but the liquor has taken to my brain, making my nose numb, and I ignore any other thought but to eat them.

My bowl of peanuts is almost empty when loud laughter, followed by a few guys, comes into the bar. I don’t turn to watch where they go, but as I’m fixing to ask Cal for another drink, a laugh catches my attention.

Slowly, I move my eyes to see out of the corner of them, and immediately I become stiff. Standing in the group is Bohdi, but he doesn’t see me. I want to get up and leave, but this place isn’t packed and I know it would attract attention to myself.

Fixing my body so that my back now faces them, I busy myself with my phone, mad at myself for drinking because I can’t drive back to the cottage.

Cal comes back over to me. “Want another one?” He winks at me.

Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, my now hooded eyes try to relay something more to him, something else I want. It’s been so long since the mix of the liquor and the emotions this town has brought that I need an outlet, if just for one night. “What time do you get off?” I ask him, my voice full of want.

He smiles at me wickedly, leaning onto the bar, his dark brown eyes understanding what I’m saying. “In two hours.”

I follow his moves, leaning on the bar myself, my face close to his. “Are you busy afterward?” My fruity breath flowing to him.

Cal leans in closer. I can feel his breath sweeping over my lips, letting them fall open just a tad. “Yes, with you.”

I can’t help the smile that overtakes my face. Especially when he bridges the gap and kisses me. I don’t move away; I let him. His cold lip ring presses into my lip. I slightly open my mouth, my tongue peeking out, swiping over his bottom lip, closing mine over his ring. I pull it into my mouth; he moans before I let it free, inching back, his eyes still closed. My drunk mind and Bodhi-hazed eyes give me the courage.

“This is going to be a long two hours.” He comes in to close the gap, but “Are you fucking serious?” is angrily spoken, interrupting us.

Biting the inside of my cheek, I become rigid as I lean upward. Cal pushes off the bar, his face anything but friendly as his eyes bounce from me to Bohdi, who is now standing next to me, hovering. The energy he’s throwing off is suffocating. Snapping my head to look at him, I grace him with a dirty look. “Are you fucking serious?” I parrot back, because who the hell is he?

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cal backing up, hands raised. Looking at him for a brief moment, I say, “I’m not in a relationship.” I want him to know that, because how Bohdi came over looks like he’s my boyfriend. Deciding I’m not letting Bohdi dictate what I do, I look back to Cal, “I’ll see you in two hours.” I promise him, because I will.

Grabbing my tote, I scoot off the barrel, clumsily standing, having to grab onto the bar. My buzz intensifying.

“No, she won’t.” Bohdi throws two twenties on the bar, ignoring Cal.

I purse my lips at him; the laugh that comes out of me isn’t mine. “Fuck off, Bohdi.” My drunkenness fuels my annoyance with him.

Placing my hand on his chest to help me walk away from him, I leave him standing at the bar. My legs feel like they’re heavy, trying to keep me inside the bar. Making it out to the fresh air, I take a huge breath in, turning to find somewhere to sit so I can wait for Cal. I can’t drive home, so I might as well wait.

Spotting a bench, I beeline for it. Falling down onto it.

“What are you even doing?” His voice racks across my brain.

“Go away,” I huff, pulling my phone out.

I don’t look up when I see him standing in front of me; I can feel his eyes boring into my head.

“You come back to town and think you can do whatever you want?” Madness tinges his voice.

Finally, peering up at him, “I’m a grown woman; I can do whatever I want,” I snip back at him.

Our eyes lock and we both stare at each other. His gaze becomes too intense; I force myself up, brushing my chest on his while shimming past him. I walk. I don’t know where to go but just walk away from him. Him being so close to me, I can’t do. Remembering his fingers on my lips. The burn it left.

I hear him following me. “You’re drunk and shouldn’t be walking around alone, Goose.” The nickname makes me stop, but I force my legs to keep going. Only he and my dad called me Goose. My dad started it, but Bohdi latched on to it.

Not stopping or looking behind me, I say, “Go back to the bar or go home to your fiancé. I am not your worry, Bo.” I draw out that stupid name.

I don’t stop when I get to Main Street but walk across, my feet following the sound of the water bouncing off the rocks, taking me to the wharf.

My sandals slap against the wooden pier, speeding up to get farther from Bohdi, but he doesn’t stop. I get to the end of the pier, the handrail not letting me disappear into the water, but keeping me hostage.

I feel him closing in on me, and I stiffen. His advancement doesn’t stop, not until his front is against my back. My hand squeezes the railing.