can watch this any night.”
“Positive.” I grab another piece of licorice and face the small TV, ready to forget for a little bit.
Sunshine streams through the glass windows. I wrap my hands around my morning cup of coffee and take in the breathtaking scenery of the shoreline, the sky, the scattered clouds. Morning came went too fast. My alarm went off at 5 a.m. Enough time to shower and do the prep work before the doors open.
I still haven’t checked my phone. I can’t go there. My gut feelings return. I can’t help but think about the various times Chad’s had to apologize for being late or for cutting out early. Last night wasn’t the first time. I’ve had a feeling for a while that he’s not telling me everything. When he’s focused on me, it’s great. He gives me all of his attention, but that seems to flit about like a skittish butterfly, like he’s not quite sure what he wants to do with our relationship. Sometimes he acts like my friend, then he flirts, then he kisses me. Is he waiting for me? Is he letting the good girl take the lead? Go at my pace?
Only one way to find out.
Chad
I hate lying to Jimmy. He can see right through me, but this time I have to stick to my story.
“Where you going?” Jimmy guzzles straight from the orange juice container.
“Working for my dad like usual.” Not a complete lie.
“Man, that’s fucked up. Thought you hated the guy.” He crushes the empty carton and shoots for the trashcan.
I shrug. “I’ll be outta there soon enough. Doing the old man a favor.” Doing whatever it takes to get out of there and out from under his thumb is more like it.
Jimmy nods and heads back to the bedroom. “See ya later.”
I’m anxious. Ready to leave. Off to Raker’s Bluff to catch that asshole in action. Whatever Kingston is doing, I’m going to find out. Wrap this up for good and walk out of my dad’s office, hopefully for the last time. Instead of riding my bike or borrowing Jimmy’s car, I hire a taxi. The ride over is fast. My nerves get the better of me. Still can’t believe Dad goes to this means to win a case. If I get caught, the whole case will be thrown and his career would be tainted, possibly ruined. But that might get him off my ass.
I pay the driver to drop me off about a mile away. I’ll walk the rest, not wanting to take any chances. It’s early afternoon. The sun is hot and high in the sky. Nothing will go down this early, but I want to be in position. I have to be the ghost, invisible to anyone there, even if it’s just couples going at it. From what I remember Raker’s is a make-out spot for teens.
I chose tan and army green clothing. The plan is to blend in with the dry grass and bushes surrounding the lookout point and capture some footage if I’m lucky to be here the right time and the right day. Then meet Katie. It’s her turn to plan our date. Every day I spend with her makes the time working for my dad that much harder. She wouldn’t approve of his methods or this internship if she knew what was really going on.
Near the bluff, I notice a car parked toward the edge of the lot. An older man stands, his loose clothing moving with the wind. His face is glued to a camera, and he’s taking pictures of the ocean. Nothing too suspicious. He’s probably completely innocent but I’m not taking chances. When I circle back about twenty minutes later, he’s gone. The scraggly brush at the side of the lot is just thick enough to hide me but still risky. I forge my way through and settle down behind the thickest bush I find. I settle in for the wait.
I wait.
And wait.
And wait.
The hours pass. A couple cars pull in, fog up the windows, then leave. I sip my water until it’s slowly gone. Why didn’t I think to bring food? For some reason I thought I’d wait at the most a couple hours, not all afternoon and into evening. The sun inches across the sky, the color turning pinks and reds. Damn. Katie’s waiting for me but I
“Positive.” I grab another piece of licorice and face the small TV, ready to forget for a little bit.
Sunshine streams through the glass windows. I wrap my hands around my morning cup of coffee and take in the breathtaking scenery of the shoreline, the sky, the scattered clouds. Morning came went too fast. My alarm went off at 5 a.m. Enough time to shower and do the prep work before the doors open.
I still haven’t checked my phone. I can’t go there. My gut feelings return. I can’t help but think about the various times Chad’s had to apologize for being late or for cutting out early. Last night wasn’t the first time. I’ve had a feeling for a while that he’s not telling me everything. When he’s focused on me, it’s great. He gives me all of his attention, but that seems to flit about like a skittish butterfly, like he’s not quite sure what he wants to do with our relationship. Sometimes he acts like my friend, then he flirts, then he kisses me. Is he waiting for me? Is he letting the good girl take the lead? Go at my pace?
Only one way to find out.
Chad
I hate lying to Jimmy. He can see right through me, but this time I have to stick to my story.
“Where you going?” Jimmy guzzles straight from the orange juice container.
“Working for my dad like usual.” Not a complete lie.
“Man, that’s fucked up. Thought you hated the guy.” He crushes the empty carton and shoots for the trashcan.
I shrug. “I’ll be outta there soon enough. Doing the old man a favor.” Doing whatever it takes to get out of there and out from under his thumb is more like it.
Jimmy nods and heads back to the bedroom. “See ya later.”
I’m anxious. Ready to leave. Off to Raker’s Bluff to catch that asshole in action. Whatever Kingston is doing, I’m going to find out. Wrap this up for good and walk out of my dad’s office, hopefully for the last time. Instead of riding my bike or borrowing Jimmy’s car, I hire a taxi. The ride over is fast. My nerves get the better of me. Still can’t believe Dad goes to this means to win a case. If I get caught, the whole case will be thrown and his career would be tainted, possibly ruined. But that might get him off my ass.
I pay the driver to drop me off about a mile away. I’ll walk the rest, not wanting to take any chances. It’s early afternoon. The sun is hot and high in the sky. Nothing will go down this early, but I want to be in position. I have to be the ghost, invisible to anyone there, even if it’s just couples going at it. From what I remember Raker’s is a make-out spot for teens.
I chose tan and army green clothing. The plan is to blend in with the dry grass and bushes surrounding the lookout point and capture some footage if I’m lucky to be here the right time and the right day. Then meet Katie. It’s her turn to plan our date. Every day I spend with her makes the time working for my dad that much harder. She wouldn’t approve of his methods or this internship if she knew what was really going on.
Near the bluff, I notice a car parked toward the edge of the lot. An older man stands, his loose clothing moving with the wind. His face is glued to a camera, and he’s taking pictures of the ocean. Nothing too suspicious. He’s probably completely innocent but I’m not taking chances. When I circle back about twenty minutes later, he’s gone. The scraggly brush at the side of the lot is just thick enough to hide me but still risky. I forge my way through and settle down behind the thickest bush I find. I settle in for the wait.
I wait.
And wait.
And wait.
The hours pass. A couple cars pull in, fog up the windows, then leave. I sip my water until it’s slowly gone. Why didn’t I think to bring food? For some reason I thought I’d wait at the most a couple hours, not all afternoon and into evening. The sun inches across the sky, the color turning pinks and reds. Damn. Katie’s waiting for me but I
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