I look over at Maggie and see the fury blazing toward Cindy and her group just as Hetter says, “Nah, she’s just pre-gaming Cindy’s choice of death or dismemberment. I’ll head her off.”
Hett’s eyes slide to me and a wide grin fills his face that sends a ripple of concern through me. His voice booms out over the new song that’s started.
“Hey, Rain-drop! You have been in the city an awful long time. Now that you’re back, you should wash that city stink off ya. Call it a country re-baptizing.”
He starts striding toward me with that grin of mischief I remember from back in the day right before he’s pulled a prank. My feet start backing away but I know there’s not going to be any stopping him so I reach back into my pocket, grab my phone and toss it to Star and then hold my hands up like I can ward him off somehow.
“Hetter…Hett! Don’t you…” is all I manage to get out before he leans over, hits me at the thighs, and flips me over his shoulder.
His maniacal laughter rings out as he dashes down to the lake and onto the dock. I lift my head and spot Maggie following along and trying not to laugh but she makes no move to stop him as I toe off my sandals letting them drop to the deck and then I’m flying through the air to the sound of Hetter’s whoop and going under.
I let myself sink down into the dark water for as long as I can hold my breath, enjoying the cool peacefulness of it before pushing off the silty bottom and stroking to the surface. The two of them are standing at the end of the dock waiting for me. Hetter with a satisfied grin and Maggie with her hands on her hips.
“Sorry, Rain-storm! I had to do something or Mags was gonna rearrange Cindy-Lou’s face.”
He reaches a hand down to haul me out but I just roll my eyes and ask Maggie, “Really? Are you sure he’s the one? There’s still time to back out. I’ll drive the car.”
She shrugs one shoulder and then straight-arm shoves Hetter off the dock. His squawk of surprise cuts off as he goes under with a huge splash.
“What can I say, he’s a va-gician. Seriously, he’s got a magic dick. The vag wants what the vag wants.”
When I finally stop laughing and Hetter’s dragged himself out of the water, Maggie asks, “You want a hand up?”
I look past her at the people around the fire as I tread water and shake my head.
“Nope, I think I’m going to swim out to the platform. Need to cool off from all the angry looks I’m getting. I’ll be back in a bit. Oh, and Hett? Don’t forget, payback’s a bitch.” I say with an arched brow before laying back and backstroking away from them.
His voice calls out, “Take your best shot, Acid-Rain. I’ll be waiting for it!”
I chuckle at the silly names he always comes up with for me as I flip over and stroke out to the floating platform. I haul myself up the rusted ladder and strip off my soaked blouse and jean shorts and drop them with a wet slap on the old warped boards. I pull the clip from my hair and throw it on the wet clothes so I can lay out flat on the dry side of the wooden platform and take a few deep breaths of the night air. The stars are just starting to come out and I stare up at them.
How many times did I lay on my back out here at the lake or in a field with one of the boys and just stare up at this country sky? I forgot how incredible it was when you get away from the city where the lights drown all the stars out.
The party noise is far off as I lose myself to the night sky until the sound of water breaking nearby has me rolling my head in that direction. His sleek shaved head comes into view. My heart gives a lurch for all his soft brown curls shaved away and then he’s bracing his muscular forearms on the platform to hold himself above the water next to me.
I lift up onto my elbows as I stare into those beautiful eyes that haunted my dreams for years after I left and just wait for him to say something, anything. Luke was always so quiet, so reserved with his words but he followed me out here so he must have something to say. Instead, he unfolds one arm and reaches out to trace a water droplet on my skin, trailing that finger from the hollow of my neck, down between my breasts and across my stomach, making butterflies flutter in my chest. The motion has metal clinking around his neck drawing my gaze away from his stare to the dog tags resting against his chest.
I suck in a shocked breath as sadness fills me.
“Oh, Luke, no. You weren’t made for war,” I whisper.
His finger drags to the side and off of my skin, leaving goosebumps in its stead.
“And you weren’t meant to leave me.”
The cracks in my heart deepen a little more hearing that and I wish with all my soul I could tell him why, why I left but I know I never will. The pain in his eyes steals anything else I could say but it’s his next words, said so softly, barely even breathed out that has my eyes crashing closed.
“I hate you.”
I know at that moment that I was wrong. I should never have left. We could have found another way but the die was cast so I say the only thing I can in a broken voice.
“I know.”
But when I open my eyes, he’s already gone.
Rain
Ilay there and mourn what I did, what I lost - until I hear Maggie calling my name across the water and then shut it all down, push it deep, and stand and dress in my soaked clothes before diving back into the water and swimming to shore. She’s waiting for me on the dock with a towel that I use to dry my hair as best I can. I wring out the clothes and slide the shorts back on but toss the ruined blouse aside and wrap the wet towel around my shoulders instead.
