My feet dangle above the water while I cast my line. The sun hangs low in the sky, spilling a warm glow over the lake. Beside me on the old, weathered dock, Jess holds her rod, waiting for a bite.
“We better catch something or we’ll never hear the end of it,” I joke, glancing sideways at her.
The concentration on her face breaks when she scoffs, “I can already hear Ronin mocking us.” She deepens her voice to mimic his. “I’m a girl, I don’t need help fishing.”
“Not bad.” His voice makes me jump. They must’ve finished setting up the tents already. He’s so quiet, I didn’t hear him coming. “But next time you need to add some more grit. I’ve been told my voice is quite smoldering.”
“Ha, the only thing smoldering on you is your ego.” I duck when he ruffs up my hair, then sits on the other side of Jess.
Zarreth squats next to me. “Come. I have a surprise for you.”
“You do?” I kind of like the excitement in my voice. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this good. I reel in my line, handing my fishing pole to Ronin. “Here, maybe you’ll have better luck than me.”
He eyes the fishing pole, doubt flickering across his face. He quickly drops to his stomach, staring at the shimmering surface.
A flash of silver darts by and his hand is in the water so fast I didn’t even see him move. He pulls it out with a wriggling fish between his fingers like it was nothing. It flops against his palm as he flashes us a cocky grin. “I’ve always been good with my fingers.”
I make a fake puking noise. “Gross, I don’t want to think about what you do with your fingers.”
Jess laughs and says, “Dammit, I can’t let you beat me. I’m trying new bait.” She reels in her line and reaches for the cup of worms we bought on our way here.
I grab my hoodie from the dock and pull it on. Zarreth laces his fingers through mine and leads me down an overgrown path where trees crowd close to the water. Did he actually find something to restrain me with? Rope, maybe? “Do you really have a surprise, or are you just trying to get me alone?”
He looks down at me, a big grin on his face. “A guy can’t even do something nice for his mate without her mind going in the gutter,” he teases.
We walk until my favorite stump by the lake comes into view, the one that once held the tire swing Nate and I used to launch ourselves from into the water. I open my mouth to ask how he knew about this when it hits me. Of course he knows. He followed me out here once when he was a crazed stalker.
A new tire swing hangs from a tree branch nearby, and I instinctively rub the matching tattoo on my wrist. Tears threaten to roll down my cheek. “You did this?”
Nodding his head, he says, “I know it’s not the same one you and Nate had when you were kids, but I wanted to do something special for you. Give you a place to sit when you’re out here.”
I run my fingers over the swing. It’s more than just rope and rubber. It’s a sanctuary, a place to go when I need to feel close to Nate. Like the sanctuary he gave me last night, only that one was darker, much darker.
My fingers shake while I cup his face. “Thank you. Not only for this, but for everything, for being mine.”
He leans in, his voice steady. “You don’t have to thank me,Melita. I’d give you anything.”
Our lips hover close when Jess’ voice rings out, ruining the moment. “Zarreth! We need a fire!”
He groans, dropping his forehead to mine. “Your friend really does have a knack for ruining the moment.”
“Tell me about it.” I pull back, looking him in the eyes. “You go ahead. I need a moment alone, anyway.”
I watch him struggle between granting my wish and hauling me back with him to keep me safe. “Don’t take too long,” he finally says, pressing a kiss to my head.
After he leaves, I make my way back to the stump belonging to Nate and me. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out an old rabbit’s foot I found at one of those fake antique shops. Poor bunny. But if we’d found this as kids, we would’ve thought it carried all the luck in the world. It’d definitely be one of the better birthday presents, that’s for sure. Way better than the box of condoms I unknowingly gave him when he turned eleven.
I smile when his face flashes through my mind, mouth hanging wide open when he realized what they were. I was nine and thought they were balloons. I was convinced I hit the jackpot—magnummeant they were really big ones, right? Between the balloons and the package of swiss cake rolls, it felt like an actual birthday party.
“Frankieeee!” A voice rings through the trees, pulling me back to myself. I blink hard and look around.What the hell?I’m standing in the middle of the woods. The lake is nowhere in sight. My vision swims, my cheeks are wet. What happened? I was just on the stump. And where the hell is the rabbit’s foot?
“Frankie, Where are you?” Jess’ voice is urgent, scared.
“I’m here!” I yell, the sound carrying through the trees as I move toward their voices. “I’m over…”
Zarreth instantly appears by my side and pulls me to him. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” The panic in his voice makes me wonder how long I was gone.
“I’m fine. A little confused, but not hurt.”
