Page 51 of Guarded By Death

As we arrive at the beachfront bar/restaurant I note the stylish decor. The entire place is dotted with happy beachgoers. Drinks are flowing and a live band is playing. The music is nowhere near what I would describe as amazing - as my mom and Brian described it - I stifle a chuckle when mom nudges my arm and gestures to the band. "Great, right?" she asks with enthusiasm. I nod my head, lying to the poor woman.

Pierce pulls the seat out for me, he looks perfect in his dark jeans and a black t-shirt. I admire him in the warm light of the restaurant. His demeanor doesn’t match mine, he’s nervous about being in public like this.

Mom glances over the menu with her reading glasses on. "I think I'll have the fish tacos." She smiles while looking at all of us. I can see the change in her so much, from being sad to happy all because of Brian. I need to let go of my fear of someone replacing my father. She would never let that happen, she just needs someone to share life with, like I need Pierce.

"I think I'll do the same!" I smile at her, not regretting my decision when they come out and I devour them in under five minutes. Delicious.

I reach for Pierce's hand under the table and notice that his fist is clenched. I look at his plate, untouched. He's on edge and it's freaking me out.

I lean against his shoulder. "Relax," I whisper to him, but he shakes his head defiantly.

"Dance with me," he offers, I follow him out to the small dance floor.

The music is awful, but loud enough for us to talk without anyone hearing too much. I lean my head against his shoulder. We sway back and forth as he talks, "This was a mistake."

My body stiffens at his words, does he mean me? Us?

Per usual he knows how I'm feeling, and he lets out a quick laugh. "No, not us. This." He gestures around the busy room and I nod my head in understanding.

"I know you're worried. I am too, but it's just one night." I give him a pleading look, trying to will the universe to give us just a weekend of safety with a dramatic pout.

He relaxes his shoulders, "Fine. But I'm not joking, if I feel something being the slightest bit off I'll make us disappear in front of everyone." I laugh but he doesn't. Oh, he's serious.

I look him in the eyes, trying to keep a calm tone so he doesn't make my mom see us disappear, the thought is almost comical. "We have to live sometimes. It will be okay." I try to assure him and myself, but he shakes his head. Luckily, I don't have to swallow my words as dinner goes by without incident.

After dinner, Mom and Brian head to bed. Pierce, Kayla, and I head out to the balcony in the room I'm staying in. Kayla steals a bottle of wine from her father's cabinet and giggles as she runs to the room.

It's so easy to laugh around her, to have fun with her. Finding friends is hard and I think I got lucky with her.

She braids my hair into a messy but perfect fishtail. "I miss having long hair," she groans, tying a rubber band around my braid.

I look at her sleek black bob in admiration, "I love your cut, I think it's perfect. Do you regret cutting it or something?"

She laughs, "No way! I watched a YouTube tutorial on bleaching your own hair." She takes another swig from the half-empty bottle of wine. Pierce is reading a book in the corner of the room, his expression thoughtful. She makes an explosion motion with her hands.

"You didn't!" I yell. We both fall into a fit of giggles.

That night, Pierce and I lay in bed together. My hands tracing the outlines of his muscles as the warm summer breeze blows through the open doors.

He taps my shoulder, "So what do you think of Kayla?" he asks, and I don't hesitate.

"I like her."

He smiles, "I do too. She reminds me of you." She's so smart and sweet I don't know why he compares us. I shrug, he takes a deep breath. "Why did you say you were undecided?"

I shrug, again. "Don't know. I just don't know what I want to do with my life." I roll on my back, looking at the ceiling in thought. He turns on his side and looks me over.

"That's okay. No need to rush, I was just hoping you weren't holding back out of fear.. of you know. Everything."

“No, it’s nothing like that. I've just always been that way. I get interested in one thing and throw myself into it, then I get bored quickly and move on. I just truly don't know what I want to do with my life."

I'm done playing twenty questions about myself, "Where do you normally sleep? Like before you met me and I forced you to stay with me every night," I joke but I have always been curious about this.

"Nice conversation change." He laughs, "I have a place, it's not much but it’s mine."

"How do you make money?" I ask.

His brow raises, "You're inquisitive tonight." He lets out a laugh, letting me know it's okay. He tilts his head, giving me a thoughtful look. "When you've been around as long as I have you'll learn that investments are your friend," he says.

---