Page 11 of Rebel Summer

“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. I?—”

Beau held up his hands, probably trying his best to ward off the onslaught of tears we both could feel coming. “I don’t think anybody who knows you, Ivy, would ever think you’d do this on purpose. That’s what had me so confused. It sounds like it was an accident. Take a breath.”

I did what he said, pulling air into my lungs, in and out in a rhythmic pattern.

He continued, “It was a bad thing that happened, but it could have been a lot worse.”

I nodded, my head back in my hands, trying to take some comfort in his words and physically stopping myself from replaying worst-case scenarios in my head.

“What happens now?”

He scribbled a few more notes before pulling out an official police notepad and began scratching away at that. “I’m going to write you up a citation and submit this to the prosecutor.” He checked his watch. “Judge Baylor’s next day on the bench is Tuesday, so we’ll hope for a court date then.”

“Wait, what?”

He looked up at my tone, a question on his face.

“I thought you said it was an accident,” I said, the weight on my back now dropping like lead in my stomach.

“It sounds like it was.”

“Why do I have to see the judge?”

“Because you were driving under the influence and crashed into a private business.”

“Okay, but it was an accident, and I wasn’t drunk.” Did it seem like we were circling?

“Once we get the blood test back, confirming you didn’t have alcohol in your system, we’ll be able to prove that you weren’t drunk. But, either way, you were still driving under the influence of medication, and you were obviously impaired. That’s still a DUI.”

My heart dropped at the sound of those letters. Those three letters were found in newspapers and reports under a mugshot. A DUI was for criminals. Didn’t it require criminal intent? Drinking and driving was something so black and white to me. A no-brainer. If you wanted to have a few drinks, call a cab or a friend to take you home. The Ambien was a mistake. I thought it was Tylenol. That could happen to anyone. I made a mistake. Do people get in trouble with the police because of mistakes?

Pause.

Okay, I could maybe see the issue.

Panic bubbled up and out of my chest in heaves and bobs. I had just wanted to go home and sleep. One tiny bad decision shouldn’t have to cost me so much. If I shouted those words loud enough, could I get a re-do on last night?

I couldn’t meet with a judge on Tuesday. I was leaving. My exit for this island was set for Monday morning.

“Is there a fine I could pay or something? Just skip the judge. I’m sure he’s busy. I’ll talk with Dax and pay him for the windows.” The thought of talking with Dax gave me minor heart palpitations, but I’d figure it out. Anything to get out of here.

Beau hardly looked at me as he scribbled away, my immediate future currently in his hands.

“There’s a good chance the prosecutor will deem the judge non-negotiable,” he said with a helpless shrug. “The state of Florida has a no-tolerance policy for DUIs—even if it’s not alcohol-related. I’m sorry. It’s out of my hands.”

“My plane leaves Monday morning at ten.”

He stood, handing me the paper. “Your plane will probably still leave at ten. You just won’t be on it.” The words were soft, and his eyes were apologetic, but his policeman tone held zero room for argument.

I’ve heard tourists say that being on a small island for periods of time made them feel trapped. Being completely surrounded by a body of water certainly has the potential to mess with someone’s mind, but it was a feeling I had never understood. I loved the water. Though my family’s property wasn’t exactly beachfront, we were close enough that I used to fall asleep to the sound of the ocean through my open window. I had felt stifled at times. But that was mostly due to the environment in my own home, not because of the island. And I had never felt trapped.

Until this moment.

“I liked you a lot better when you weren’t a cop,” I said, flopping back against the pillow, trying to process my new reality.

“I get that a lot.” He flashed me a smile brimming with sympathy. “Someone will be in touch, Ivy. But until then, you’re not going anywhere.”

Biology Class

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