Page 13 of Barefoot Chaos
Rainna chuckled and walked to my front door. "I'm sure they do. See you soon?"
"Absolutely."
Kai
"Have you heard anything about an online dare or challenge game?" I was sitting on the beach, stretching to prepare for my run. After my disastrous talk with Hessa, I'd decided to call Jack, a detective at HB Police. I had that feeling in the pit of my stomach that something was off. It may have nothing to do with Hessa's Care Dare, but I'd bet my life there was something organized going on, causing these people to attempt dangerous stunts. It wouldn't hurt to call Jack and rope him in on it. As a precaution.
"Hmm. I don't think so, off the top of my head. Would you give me more information on what you're talking about?" Jack's voice came through the phone dead serious.
I gave him the quick version on the two saves I'd made, the wording that they used, and my suspicions about Hessa's program.
"Isn't that Bailey and Esa's new friend? The school teacher?" Jack's voice perked up.
"I think so. Wait, are they friends?" I was confused. I figured they knew each other, but friends? The woman drove me crazy in the best and worst of ways. I wasn't sure I could handle seeing her at all our group gatherings. Esa took her Beach Squad seriously. If she wanted Hessa, that girl was as good as branded.
"Yeah, I think so. Bailey was talking about their shopping trip the other day and they're planning on getting together today to run on the beach. I assumed that meant they were friends. But those girls are crazy, your guess is as good as mine. They do what they want and I'm sure they'll tell us about it later when it suits them." Jack sounded about as frustrated as I was.
Time to move the conversation on so I could get to my run and burn off my frustration. "Okay, well let me know if you hear anything about these dares. If anything else comes up on my end, I'll give you the heads-up."
"Sounds good, brother. Be safe."
I turned my phone off, stashed it in my glove box and locked my truck. I was about to walk over to the cement walkway when I spotted a gaggle of women walking on the sand down by the water. Based on the volume and cackling, it was easy to see it was the very women Jack and I were discussing.
My eyes sought out Hessa, finding her in the middle of the pack, that blonde hair up in a ponytail swinging in the wind as they walked. My gaze traveled downward, taking in the sway of those hips, the ones I'd had my hands on for too brief a moment the other night.
The sound of her laughter carried over and I could barely control my body from moving toward her. It was like every cell in my body knew I needed to be near her, while my head didn't want anything to do with another argument with her. I had always enjoyed peace and quiet, and I experienced anything but that when I was with her.
With that reminder in my head, I spun around and began jogging the opposite way. She was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen and she was getting under my skin, but she wasn't for me.
Hessa
Today was turning out to be the oddest day ever. It started with my sister's unexpected visit and all the emotions that churned up. Then I'd gotten a text from Bailey, inviting me to join her and her friends at the beach for a jog. I'd tried to let her know there was no 'I' in jogging, before I realized there actually was one, and she insisted I come. It was the promise of frequent walking breaks and brunch afterwards that lured me in. Getting further intel on Kai from the ladies wasn't part of the decision process at all. Nope.
When I'd arrived, I realized the Beach Squad, as they called themselves, consisted of quite a few ladies. I'd met Bailey and Esa, of course, but I was also introduced to Brinley, the most stunning specimen of a woman I'd ever seen. Then there was Shasta, a pretty, middle-aged woman who owned a self-defense studio here in HB. And Autumn, who had these legs that were so gorgeous I wanted to take a picture of them as a physical example of perfection.
"Ladies, I must tell you, I don't jog much. Like at all. So, if you need to leave me, just run ahead. I'll take no offense." I was nervous surrounded by all these beauties, my self-confidence taking another hit.
"Yo, Hessa. I'm gonna lay this out straight away so there's no confusion. You're part of the Beach Squad now. We don't leave a woman behind. Period." Shasta laid a gentle hand on my shoulder, her fierce gaze telling me she wasn't joking.
I nodded. "Okay, got it." Hello, intimidating.
"I doubt you do, but you'll catch on." Shasta squeezed my shoulder and gave me a warm smile.
We started up at a slow jog pace, Autumn and Brinley leading the pack with entertaining stories about swimsuit malfunctions during volleyball games. I didn't say a word; I just focused on putting one foot in front of the other and not making a fool of myself.
Just when I thought my lungs might actually catch on fire with all the burning that was going on, Bailey called for a break. We slowed to a walk and my calves begged me to give it up already. I figured out how Autumn got those legs and I wanted no part of it. Perfection was overrated.
"Ready to pick it up again?" Brinley called out, enthusiasm dripping from every word.
"For the love..." I muttered. Esa shot me a sympathetic look.
I limped along in the back, cursing myself for ever meeting these girls. Cursing the cell phone that delivered the text inviting me here. Cursing my decision to locate to HB where these sadists lived. Why did the sand shift and give me nothing to push off of? Why did the beach go on for so long? Why were we running when society had invented automobiles, therefore negating the need for physical exertion?
Finally, the burning and huffing and puffing was so bad I had to tap out. "Sorry--girls--I can't--go--any further," I gasped out, stopping to stoop over and gulp in oxygen.
The girls all stopped and gathered around me. "No worries, girlie. I was wanting a break too. Why don't you catch your breath and we'll just walk?" Esa was sweet to offer me an out.
I looked up at them and realized no one else looked like they were about to pass out. "How the hell do you all do it? Am I really that out of shape? I can't drag my fat ass for a paltry mile run?" It was depressing. I'd be embarrassed later, once I was reassured I'd survive this torture.
