Page 40 of Shattered

I step out of the water and grab my clothes as I walk back toward him, as naked as the day I was born. When I’m standing at his side, holding out my hand for my shirt, I ask, “Did you enjoy the view?”

He smiles a boyish grin. “I did. I think the rest of the camp did too.” He uses his thumb to get my attention to the rows of tents surrounding ours.

I glance around to see three men, belonging to three different camping parties, watching me with their mouths hanging open.

I scream and dash for the tent while River’s laugh cuts through the silence.

While I’m inside trying to calm my racing heart, I hear a loud whistle before River yells, “alright guys, show’s over!”

I’m sooo going to get him back for that.

10

PERFORM A STRIPTEASE

When I step out of the tent, fully dressed, the men that were gathered around give me a round of applause. I force a smile and wave like it doesn’t bother me, but I can feel the heat escaping my face from embarrassment and anger.

I take a seat next to River as he pulls the food off the fire. “You’re so dead.”

He looks at me with his mouth agape. “What? I didn’t plan for that to happen.”

“Mm-hmm. I think you owe me something.”

He hands over my plate that I sit in my lap. I don’t move to eat it until he opens his mouth to talk.

“What was the question? How do I know so much about camping?”

I nod slowly while bringing a piece of bacon to my mouth.

He takes a deep breath. “I know a lot about camping because I used to be homeless. After my mom passed away and before I managed to get a job in advertising, I lived just like this.” He motions towards our camp.

I swallow before dropping my bacon on my plate. “How’d you manage to get a job like that if you were homeless?”

“Pure fucking luck,” he answers around a mouthful of bacon. He finishes chewing and swallows. “I bumped into this guy one night, and he was fucked up. He said he had only had a few drinks, but someone must have slipped him something. That or he was lying. Either way, I didn’t care. I drove his car to his house and helped him get inside. I was going to leave, but he got sick and I was worried he was going to choke to death on his own vomit.” He shrugs. “So I stayed and cleaned him up, made sure he didn’t die. The next morning, he was so thankful, he offered me a job and a place to stay until I saved up enough money.”

“Wow. That’s crazy.” I resume eating.

He nods. “Yeah, he was a great guy. We got to be really good friends over the six months I lived there.”

“What happened to him? Is he still a big-wig in New York?”

Slowly, he shakes his head. “No, he O.D’d. He was living alone because he was going through a divorce. His wife packed up their two kids and moved out of the state without even telling him. He just came home one day, and they were gone. Left a fucking note.” His jaw clenches in anger. “Anyway, he was severely depressed and drank and did a lot of drugs to cope. He lived for work, and once we became friends, he got better. We hung out a lot and kept each other’s mind off shit, but I never should have moved out. Leaving him alone with his demons like that…” He pulls his eyes away from mine, looking into the fire. “It just ate him alive. I wasn’t there to stop it that time.”

What’s left of my heart explodes into so many tiny pieces, there’s nothing but dust left.

“Oh my God. I’m so sorry.” I feel tears sting my eyes, but I hold them back. I wish I could have made his life better for him. He’s helped me so much since Katie’s passing. I wonder if he saw something in me that day, something that reminded him of his friend. I want to ask, but I don’t know if I can stand to talk about it anymore. I know it will only hurt him.

“It’s okay. I did all I could. I didn’t know he would start using. I mean, we drank and had a good time on occasion, but he’d never do drugs, that I saw.” His eyes find mine again. “I couldn’t have lived there forever.”

I nod, completely understanding.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t thank him though. He saved me from the streets, he brought me into his house, just a random homeless guy. For all he knew, I could have stolen all his shit. But he trusted me. He gave me a job. I wouldn’t be who I am today without him.”

“He was your Katie,” I say, looking at him from under my lashes.

“He was my Katie,” he repeats with a wink in my direction.

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