My mouth falls open. “That could have ended so badly.”
He laughs, and the sound has my gut twisted in knots. What the fuck? This salty air has me going crazy.
“I thought of Barnacle first. We could have called him Barney for short,” Shore says, making himself known. “But a rip is powerful. It can pull swimmers out beyond the surf. I could see how strong he was, and I knew it was his name.”
A fucking tear leaks from my eye, and I quickly wipe it away. “That is beautiful, Shore. You are an amazing friend.”
“Don’t tell him that. His ego is already massive. If it gets any bigger, he won’t be able to fit through doorways,” Kasen says, appearing out of nowhere.
Shore leans his head back and smiles widely at Kasen. “You’re just jealous that my ego is as big as my cock. If you want me, just tell me. We all know there is enough of me to go around.”
Kasen flips him off. “I’m good, thanks. Your junk doesn’t appeal to me at all. I like women.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing out on,” Shore says, and Rip grunts in agreement.
My sketch pad is closed, and he slides it across to me. I place it in my tote bag and stand from my chair.
“It was nice to see you again, boys.”
“I’m not a boy. I’m all man.”
Kasen slaps Shore on the back of the head, and Rip shakes his. I laugh and say goodbye again. This little town is rubbing off on me, and I run Rip’s words through my head—that the only hand that can write my story is my own. I now need to decide what I want. Each choice has consequences that make my stomach churn. But for now, I head toward the art supply store I saw on one of my walks. I need to get some paint and canvases. At the very least, I will have them as reminders.
Chapter Nine
Shore
The tide has just gone out, so I’ve made my way into the caves to lay out a soft, thick blanket. Tonight, we plan to chase Kinsley again, but it’s difficult to find places we won’t be seen. No one ventures into this cave, not since my older brother put the fear of god into the town after a tourist accidentally drowned. They came here at the wrong time, and when the tide comes in, the cave fills with water. Unless you’re an exceptionally strong swimmer, there is nowhere for you to go.
Tonight is a low tide, making it the perfect place to chase her toward. But it means we will have to split up.
Kasen has messaged her a location link, where we will all be waiting. Or rather, only Rip and Kasen will be if I don’t move my ass and get back there fast enough. It took longer than I expected to find the right place to set up the blanket.
It takes ten minutes to find my way back, even though I know this place like the back of my hand. Being born in Bluebell, there is no place I haven’t explored, and I’m sure my parents wouldhave a stroke if they knew some of the adventures I have been on when explicitly told not to—this being one of them.
“I made it,” I whisper-shout as I near the others, just as Kinsley comes into view in the distance.
We take our places, knowing what we need to do. We each need to chase her, herding her toward the cave.
When she gets closer, I step out.“Ready to run for us?”
She jumps at my appearance, and I smirk beneath my mask. Kinsley doesn’t wait for me to say anything else; she takes off running down the sand toward the dunes. It’s really the only place to go. All three of us take off after her. I keep behind her, Rip takes her right, and Kasen her left, making sure she doesn’t veer off course.
I skid through the tall grass, sand spraying beneath my feet, and Ripley’s laughter echoes behind me.
“Run faster,”Kasen calls as he gains on her, pushing her to the right.
My lungs burn, but I lean into it. Kinsley’s silhouette bobs ahead, her feet slapping against soft sand. The wind whips her hair that hangs loose past her shoulders. A large piece of driftwood appears in my path and I vault straight over it, not wanting to lose my momentum.
We cross the boardwalk, the old planks groaning under our weight. Kinsley jumps off the side and into the shallows. I follow, my shoes slipping against damp rocks. Rip and Kasen fall in behind me, their feet splashing in the water. I wade through knee-high pools, careful not to fall.
“Into the caves!”Rip shouts.
Kinsley turns, her eyes bright with excitement—a look she never wears in the light of day. She doesn’t slow, just grins and bolts. I push forward as she reaches the cave mouth. Kasen flanks her right, Ripley her left, and together we herd her right where we want her.
Giant stones loom at the cave entrance, the walls dripping with water. Kinsley steps in first, her breath misting in the cool air.
Kasen blocks the exit as Rip and I move behind her, our masks glowing in the dark.