Page 25 of The Bully's Dare

I climb above deck. It’s cooler out here. The fresh air feels good on my hot cheeks. Anchored out in the middle of the lake…I finally start to understand this living on the water thing.

I haven’t seen so many stars in my entire life. They dot the sky like glitter. The light from the moon echoes across the still, black water. A satellite blinks across the sky. I can see it as clearly as if I had a telescope.

There’s a lantern on deck that illuminates the guests. Pearl, Four, and Mrs. King are chatting. The ember from Ian’s cigarette glows on and off again from the bow.

Mr. King hangs off the back of the boat. He’s taken the mesh from the grill and he’s scrapping it clean over the side.

I walk over to him and sit down on the bench beside him.

“Can I help?” I ask.

He glances up at me. They both have it—that arrogant, boyish smirk. Mr. King, I’m sure, was attractive in his time. He’s good looking now, even, if you’re into the silver fox thing.

Jason King will grow up attractive, which bodes well for my fantasies of growing old with him, 2.5 kids that look just like us running around our feet…

Snap out of it!

Mr. King points to a soap bottle. “Hand me that?”

I do. He squirts the soap over the grill. “Is this your first time?”

“Sorry?”

“On the ocean.”

“Oh. I guess.”

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything. You won’t find peace like this anywhere else.” He looks over at me. “What is it you want to do with your life, Kenzi?”

An intense question, but. Sure. “I’d like to do something with music.”

“Make it?”

“Produce it.”

A smile crawl over his mouth. “Good girl. I know there was an ambitious woman in there somewhere.”

“Thanks.”

“Jason seems fond of you.”

He does? “I guess.”

“Enjoy it. Summer fun. I had it in my hay-day too.” His hand meets my shoulder than and he squeezes. “Just don’t forget what it is. Fun. Don’t let anything come between you and your dreams.”

Geez, this isn’t the conversation I was expecting. I don’t know what I expected. But I certainly didn’t think Jason’s dad was going to lecture me on the pitfalls of falling in love.

I’ve got Pearl for that. What is it about getting old that makes people so jaded?

“Mr. King?” I squeak out.

“Yes?”

“I was the one who set your boat loose. It floated off the dock and hit the shore. It was a dumb prank. It wasn’t Jason.”

There’s a change in his eyes. A flicker. I can’t tell if he’s pissed…or impressed. Maybe both? He nods once, and his hand drops from my shoulder. “I see.”

That’s all he says. Then there’s silence. It’s scary, his silence. I feel my stomach flatten. Did I do the right thing? Jason might no longer be grounded…but what if I got Pearl and Four in trouble instead?

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