I look up to see where it came from. I think it came from the house just up from where I’m standing, but I’m not sure. The house is huge, even bigger than Brock’s. I move closer to the water and look up. From this view, I can see the main level, but blinds cover most of the windows except for part of the living room.
“Stop it!” I hear the girl yell again.
It’s definitely coming from that house. My heart races as I realize I shouldn’t be here. I don’t know what’s going on in there, but it sounds like something I need to get away from.
Just as I’m about to run off, I hear laughing. Looking up at the house again, I see the outline of a guy. The lights are dim, butI can make out his form. He’s tall with broad shoulders. Holding onto the girl. Kissing her.
She laughs, then slowly lifts up her shirt. He takes it off her, then kisses her again. I hear something banging. It’s the blinds on the window. They’re pulled up to the top, but the open window is making them bang against the frame. The guy goes over to close them. I run toward the rocky wall just below his house, hoping he doesn’t see me.
After waiting a moment, I head back to Brock’s house, going faster this time. The ocean breeze feels colder now, sending a chill through me, and the darkness is starting to freak me out. Picking up my pace, I’m nearly at a run until I see Brock’s house just ahead. I return to a walking pace until I finally reach the concrete steps that lead back to the patio.
When I get to the top, I’m greeted by three large men.
Two police officers. And Brock.
Chapter 8
Brock races up to me. “Where the hell have you been?”
“I was taking a walk,” I say, glancing at the officers.
“Down there?” Brock yells, pointing at the beach. “At this time of night?”
“Yeah. Why?”
One of the officers steps up to me. “We don’t advise people be on the beach this time of night. It can be dangerous. We’ve had several injuries. Even some casualties.”
“As you can see, I’m fine,” I say, going around him.
“Rumor, get back here!” Brock yells.
I turn around. “What?”
He storms up to me. “You can’t just run off like that! I thought something happened.”
“Like what?”
“Anything! Like the officer said, the beach can be dangerous, especially at night. I didn’t even know where you were! I was worried sick!” He says it in an overdramatic way, making me wonder if he’s just acting or if he was actually concerned for me.
One of the officers goes up to Brock. “It appears that everything’s good here. We’re going to take off.”
“Of course,” Brock says. “Thank you for your time. This is her first night here, and as you can imagine, I was panicking when I couldn’t find her.”
“It’s understandable.” He nods at the other officer. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Brock says. They go inside the house.
As I’m walking around the pool to my room, I hear someone laugh.
“Busted on your first night.”
I turn back and see Braden lounging in the hot tub, his muscle-lined arms draped over the edge, his chiseled chest on display.
“I wasn’t busted,” I say, walking over to him. “I didn’t do anything, unless walking’s a crime around here.”
“It is if my dad decides it is. He makes his own rules and expects us to follow them, even if he doesn’t follow them himself. He’s been on that beach plenty of times at night.”
“I can’t believe he called the cops.” I take my flip flops off and sit down on the tile that surrounds the hot tub, sinking my feet in the warm, bubbly water.
