“Get dressed, and I will meet you downstairs.” She skips out of my room. “Don’t be too long.” She pokes her head back around the door.
“I promise.”
She must be happy with my response because she leaves, god, a day of fun with Kate probably entailed a shit load ofalcohol and I wanted to be nowhere near her daddy when that happened but she called him boring so maybe today I’d get the respite that I so desperately needed away from him.
The world here was different. As I walked down the boardwalk with a shop everywhere you turn, it was like a friendly seaside. getaway, you could smell the ocean as your feet clacked on cobblestones beneath your feet.
It was only a small town but Atlas Ridge made you feel like you had transported to another world, far away from the city this is where you came to forget your life, an escape from the depths of despair that only a city could shroud you in. You forgot everything once you were here. It was like Disneyland for adults, a place you could wander and get lost in.
I didn’t even need to worry if I belonged here; I didn’t need to try so hard to fit in because nobody was looking at you and judging you, why would they when they were lost in the magic of this small town that didn’t care if you came from heartbreak or a broken home, it welcomed you with open arms begging you to stay. With the ocean and the colourful buildings, it was an array of temptation just tempting you to take a bite.
Of course, only the rich could afford to live here, and the rest of us? Well, we were just merely visitors passing through, trying to find a purpose, trying to find ourselves.
“Come on,” Kate ushers me to follow her towards the docks.
“What are we doing here?”
“Didn’t I promise you a day of fun?”
“Well, yes, but?—.”
I had no time to argue with her as she descended upon the beautiful white yatch, It was oddly intimidating and already filled with crowds of excited passengers, and here I was stepping up the steps, following my friend blindly into the unknown.
If I wasn’t so lost in my own thoughts, I wouldn’t be looking aimlessly for Kate because, once again, she had left me, and I was alone.
I wasn’t sure why I allowed her to repeatedly do this to me, maybe on some level I felt like I owed her something because she had saved me from homelessness and maybe I felt guilty because I’d gone somewhere I shouldn’t have gone with her dad, I groan, it was just a moment of weakness, I could have stopped it but I hadn’t. It was a mistake, one I didn’t intend to repeat. It would just be a memory, but I wasn’t sure that I could get over it so easily; the guilt was already eating me up.
I hear my name been called and see her aimlessly waving her arms at the top deck of the boat, great I had to walk up five flights of stairs—in heels no less, the rocking of the boat was churning my stomach and I was trying my best not to hurl right where I stood.
I finally reach her and she looks like she’s alone, which gives me the relief I need right now, Kate had a knack for making friends wherever she went and before you knew it you were trying to fit in with strangers, you’ve never met before.
“What took you so long?” She stands with her hands on her hips, looking rather impatient.
“Well, if you hadn’t left me—.” She moves to the side and there he is, lounging on a sun lounger with sunglasses on, looking every bit as delicious as usual.
“Isn’t it a small world? Daddy is here.” I wanted to roll my eyes because I didn’t believe in coincidences.
“Yes, what a small world indeed.” I try to glare at him, but neither of them is taking any notice of me.
“Well, don’t just stand there; grab a seat.” Kate is looking at me, waiting for me to take the sun lounger, but the only one free is the one right next to her hot dad, and I’m not sitting there. “Come on, Brook, he won’t bite.” A shiver slides up my spine as I slowly sink into the sun lounger, probably looking as awkward as I feel.
“Right, now everyone is comfortable.” She stands up and walks away. I quickly grab her wrist, and she looks at me like I’ve gone insane.
“Where are you going?” I plead.
“I’m going to grab us some drinks.”
“You’re leaving me again?” I huff.
“I will be right back,” she rolls her eyes, “so needy.” She chuckles as she walks away from me.
I lay back down and try to relax but it’s impossible, his scent swarms me and all I can think about is how good he felt pressed against my body, the tremors of desire crawl through my body, I half expect him to taunt me but he says nothing, we just lay there in uncomfortable silence.
“Why are you here?” I finally utter.
“I have a meeting.”
“On a boat?”
