All In by Marta Brown

race as I walk to
the edge of the stone patio, lined with lounge chairs, to a grassy
area just beyond it. Lane presses play and the soft tinkling of
piano chords drifts in the air. I close my eyes, take a deep breath
and let my body move.
    I envision myself as nothing but a
tiny bird, gliding in the wind, diving into the mist coming off the
early morning ocean waves, then flying throughout the day, twisting
and turning, and swooping and sailing until finally sweeping across
the night sky at soaring heights. Free.
    I hesitate opening my eyes when the
music stops as my chest rises and falls. I’m no longer free like a
bird, but grounded with apprehension. My eyes flutter open, for
just a moment, then close again when Lane takes me in his arms, and
kisses me with so much passion my skin feels like August. I’m left
panting when he eventually murmurs against my lips. “You are
breathtaking.”
    “Ashley? Ashley Whitmore, is that
you?” A shrill voice calls my name. I tense. I’d know that voice
anywhere. Hailey’s mom, Kiki Newhall, the biggest gossip at the
club.
    Lane keeps his arms tight around my
body covering me, but Mrs. Newhall looks positively
scandalized.
    “Hello, Mrs. Newhall.
Kiki,” I say, trying to remain calm. It’s not all that late, and from this
distance I’m sure it looks like I’m wearing bikini, nothing
salacious here. Although, if she just saw me and Lane
kissing…well…that was hot.
    “What are you kids doing out here so
late?” she asks, lifting up on her toes, I imagine to get a better
look at Lane.
    “Just went for a night swim, it was
hot today. Don’t you agree?” I ask lightly, like I’ve done nothing
wrong.
    “Well, yes, I guess you’re
right, it was quite stifling. However, I spent most of my day inside preparing for the
auction.” The auction, of course. Kiki, as she insists all the kids
call her, I think to make her feel young, heads up the silent
auction every year; I just hope the auction isn’t the only thing
that stays silent. But the odds are not in my favor.
    “Yes, Mother is looking forward to
it,” I offer politely. “Well, it was nice to see you.
Goodnight.”
    She clears her throat. “Nice to see
you too, Ashley. Please let your mother know I look forward to
seeing her tomorrow.” Great.
    Lane keeps me folded in his arms until
we no longer hear her high heels clicking against the pavement. He
scoops up our clothes and takes my hand. I’m in a fit of giggles by
the time we reach his car.
    “I cannot believe we just got caught,”
I say, trying to catch my breath.
    “By a woman named Kiki.” He
laughs.
    I slip my dress over my head as Lane
throws on his pants. “Do you think she saw us kissing?” I ask as he
puts back on his shirt and I already miss his abs. “Even worse, do
you think she knows I was in my underwear?”
    Lane opens the car door for me. “Nah,
I think it was too dark to tell it wasn’t a bathing
suit.”
    “Let’s hope so, for my
sake.”
    I can still feel the tingling left
behind on my lips from Lane’s kiss as he rests his arm over the
back of my seat, wearing a comfortable smile on his face. We pull
out of the parking lot and onto the road that runs along the
coastline, and I feel free like a bird again. Free from the weight
of expectations and responsibility, able to fly as the wind whips
my hair in all directions. Happy.
    I let the feeling bubble up in me
until I can no longer contain it. I raise my arms into the night
air and let out a small squeal as he drives us down the beach road.
Lane laughs, and then, before I can get embarrassed by my behavior,
throws his head back and yells into the quiet night.
    When we get home, Lane parks
underneath the branches of the weeping willow tree just outside my
house and it feels like we’re in our own little world. Hidden away
from everyone and everything except the fireflies, who glow and
twinkle all around us.
    “You really are breathtaking,” Lane
says so softly it’s almost a