Shady Bay Read online

  “Um, no.”

  “My brother Easton owns the townhouse complex we live in. The middle unit is free. A friend of ours lived there last summer, but he isn’t coming back down this year. He rents to me because he has no other choice and he rents to Celeste because she’s amazing and I told him he had no other choice. It usually sits vacant. He won’t rent for the season. All year or nothing. He says it keeps the irresponsible pricks out.”

  I threw my head back laughing. “He does know you live there?”

  He grasped his chest. “That one cut deep, Mercy.”

  I giggled. “I don’t think I can afford a place like that though.”

  “Well, you are. He’s set the rent so that you can afford it and save some of your money, too. He’s just happy to have someone in it. Just don’t party and trash the place and you’ll be fine.”

  “You don’t know what a party girl I am.”

  He looked over at me, eyes squinted. “You?”

  “Mm-hmm. Me. Total party girl. I’m really trashy, too.”

  He chuckled as he maneuvered into the parking lot of a huge shopping complex that thankfully included the enormous Goodwill that I’d been in yesterday. “Somehow, I don’t think that the words Mercy and trashy belong in the same sentence.” He looked me up and down, taking in my new light purple maxi dress before continuing, “Now, classy and sweet, maybe.”

  My cheeks felt hot. He glanced at me and started laughing, having noticed, too. I slapped his arm and we exited the vehicle. He followed my lead, straight into Goodwill heaven. I went straight to the furniture section. I really needed a mattress or cot or something to sleep on, though with Jaxon’s little coupe, I wasn’t sure how we would transport it. Jaxon’s hand landed on my back. “Oh, I guess I should’ve explained. The town house is furnished. I mean, all the basic furniture is there. You just need towels and sheets, and stuff for the kitchen. Girly shit. You know?”

  “Girly shit? What girly shit do I need, Jaxon?”

  He smiled nervously. “You know, doilies or throw pillows or flower paintings or something.”

  I laughed and hooked my arm through his. “Please. Lead the way to the girly shit section. Doilies were at the top of my list.”

  “Everyone’s a wise ass.” He grumbled playfully.

  I giggled.

  In the end, I picked out some kitchen basics: cutlery, the giant spoons, a toaster, some pots and pans, glasses, and pretty white dishes with blue swirls through them. I bought some towels and wash cloths, some yarn, and crochet hooks, which Jaxon made fun of assuming I was going to go home and whip up some doilies out of some ‘Girly Shit’ cookbook. Then I found some awesome deep purple sheets that were silky and fabulous and a matching solid comforter that was darker on one side than it was on the other. I even found a couple of pillows for the bed and figuring that I would have a few bucks extra to spend, even threw in a pink floral throw and matching pillow, making Jaxon smirk and nod his head.

  “I think this is it. Let’s check out.”

  Jaxon loaded and unloaded everything onto the register’s conveyor belt and then back into the buggy and then stacked it all in his trunk neatly.

  “Let’s go Krogering.”

  “Krogering?”

  “Sure. I gotta eat. You need groceries for your new pad. Krogering.”

  “Krogering. Let’s do it.”

  He backed out of the space and drove a few more miles to an enormous Kroger store. They sure built things bigger at the beach. I didn’t shop at the Kroger back at home. I had to make my paychecks stretched as far as possible without breaking, and back home, Save-a-Lot was the best place to get a good deal. I was in awe. Everything was so bright and beautiful. The fruit smelled delicious. It didn’t take me long to start filling my buggy, though I had to keep an eye on my money. Strawberries, peaches and bananas--check. Lettuce, tomato, cucumber--check. Peanut butter, eggs, butter, and bread. A little cereal and milk. That would get me started.

  As we rounded the last turn, I saw them. Lobsters. Live lobsters scurried around the bottom of a large tank, running over the backs of one another. Their claws were secured with colorful rubber bands. Some were so freaking huge!

  “Look!” I squealed. “They’re alive!”

  Jaxon grinned and cocked his head to the side.

  “Come on, Jaxon!” I grabbed his hand and yanked him with me, until we skidded to a stop in front of the creatures. “Ewww. Why are they in here?

  “Um, babe. You buy ‘em and cook ‘em.”

  “But they’re alive.”

  “Yep. Most animals are before we eat ‘em.”

  “Har. Har. Of course they are, but I don’t have to kill them!”

  “Well, babe. Most folks just pitch these guys into a big pot of boiling water. Two birds with one stone.”

  “Oh! That’s awful! They boil them alive?”

  He nodded. “Yep.”

  “Well, not me.” I straightened and stood up tall. I stroked the glass tank lovingly and cooed, “I won’t eat you guys.”

  Jaxon just shook his head and laughed at me, which made me mad. He pushed his buggy of man food in front of me. When he stopped short to grab spray cheese, I ‘accidentally’ rammed his butt with my buggy, but by the way he grabbed his foot, I must have gotten his heel, too. Oh, darn. My bad.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry. I should really pay more attention.”

  His face turned red and lips pinched together tightly. “You should.” He spat from between clenched teeth.

  I smiled sweetly. “Oh, Jax. I forgot to get some ‘girly shit!’”

  He hung his head of dark thick hair. “Do I even want to guess?”

  “Looks like you just figured it out, sugar.”

  “I’ll meet you at the front. No way am I buying that shit.”

  “Fine, sweetie. I’ll see ya in a minute.” I wiggled my fingers at him as he took off at break neck speed toward the front of the store.

  I made sure to grab the super-sized tampons and diaper-sized pads in economy-sized, jumbo packs so large they rivaled the pack of toilet paper in my cart.

  The rest of my first week had passed in a blur. Celeste’s little shop did some major business with the locals of Myrtle Beach. Her reputation preceded her and each night she was booked for at least four or five readings. I worked hard to make the townhouse my own. I organized as best as I could, and even washed all of my clothes, towels and sheets, after borrowing some detergent from Celeste. I didn’t know the place even had a washer and dryer. I was in heaven.

  Jaxon was a busy guy. He was rarely home, working day and night at the club his two brothers owned together, and he managed. I’d never been there but when Saturday rolled around, I decided to call June from the store. I needed to get out a bit. She answered on the second ring.

  “Yeah.”

  “June?”

  “Yeah. Is this Mercy?”

  “Yes! You remembered!”

  She laughed. “Wanna go out tonight?”

  “Yes. Where do you want to go?”

  “Shady’s is having a pre-season, local’s only bash tonight. Wanna head there?”

  “Sure. Um, what should I wear?”

  She laughed. “Something you can move in, but keep it sexy.”

  “Crap! Okay. I’ll figure something out.”

  “Give me your address and I’ll pick you up. I’ll bring you something to wear, too.”

  I loved this girl already.

  Shady Bay was a local bar situated directly on the sand. Half of the bar was indoors, sporting wooden floors, navy walls dripping with nautical-themed, manly stuff. Even the ceiling fans’ blades looked like palm fronds. It was actually awesome. But that was only the inside. The outer terraces opened up onto the beach itself. High topped tables with tall stools rose from the sand. A tiki-hut was set up as a bar, but sported no stools. No, this was amazing. In front of the bar were individual wooden swings, hanging from thick ropes from the hut’s beams above them. It may have been March and only
forty-three degrees outside, but no one knew that at Shady. Tall outdoor space heaters warmed the air and it felt sweet as summertime.

  Bodies were packed into every space, swaying and bumping to the rhythms being dropped by the DJ outside. June grinned cheekily. Her black hair was curled and flowing down her back. Her dramatic makeup looked amazing as did her short denim shirt and tight black lacey shirt. Her tights had skull patterns swirling playfully through them. I tried again to pull down the hem of my dress to a more comfortable, respectable, level. “You look fine. Would you stop it?” She swatted my hand and then grabbed it and pulled me behind her as she weaved her way through the crowd.

  The smells of sand and salt mixed with those of smoke and beer. We made our way to the bar where one swing sat open. “Sit & Swing. What do you want?”

  “I don’t know. You pick.”

  She grinned like the Cheshire cat. “Alright! Be right back. Stay here.”

  Shady Bay was insane. I was pretty sure all of the locals were here tonight. Our wait and kitchen staff was running on full throttle. The bartenders were mixing their magic and the DJ was keeping everyone on the floor.

  “Hey, man.” Brody slapped my back. “Gonna be a busy summer by the looks of it.”

  “I won’t complain.”

  “Nah. I bet you won’t. Hey, did you see Mercy?”

  “Mercy’s here?”

  “Yeah. She and June are outside at the bar. Don’t get mad, though.”

  I cocked my head to the side. “Why would I get mad?”

  He grinned and ticked his head. “Follow me. Wait till you see who’s sniffing up her skirt.”

  I could feel my teeth clench. I had a damn good idea of who was circling her and this would not be good.

  Making our way through the crowd, we had to stop and say hello to friends who were flocking south for the summer, friends we hadn’t seen in months. Outside, the sky was clear and the stars were out. The surf beyond was as amazing as always. Never got old. Not to me. Leaving Devil Creek hadn’t been an easy decision, but it had been one of the best decisions I’d ever made. The heaters were blasting warmth into the night and the party had definitely spilled out into the sand.

  Brody stopped about twenty feet from the bar and grinned, looking at the swing in the corner. That wasn’t Mercy. This girl had long blonde hair like hers, but it wasn’t straight. Mercy always wore her hair straight. No, this chick had wavy hair. About the same color. Maybe that’s why Brody thought it was her. The swing next to her moved and I saw June. Her make-up was dramatic as always. She was nice enough, but I’d never been into her.

  June laughed over to the girl swinging next to her. The chick was wearing a skin-tight black skirt that stopped just above her knee and a matching halter-top that looked like it had been knitted, or something that chicks do.

  Sure enough, Jarod and Keaton were standing behind them. They’d lived here for the past few years and were better known as the baseball gods of Coastal Carolina University. Women dropped panties whenever they came around. I knew June could handle herself. But damn if I wasn’t glad that the chick next to her wasn’t Mercy.

  Brody looked at me and raised his eyebrows and ticked his head. “You really don’t care if the sluggers take shots at your girl?”

  “Mercy isn’t my girl and that,” I nodded toward the chick. “That isn’t Mercy.”

  “Dude. Are you blind? That most certainly is Mercy. And she is smoking hot tonight.”

  I shook my head.

  “Don’t believe me, Jax? Come on.”

  He took off through the crowd and stopped behind Keaton and June. “Hey guys. Having a good time at local’s night?”

  June laughed. “Yep.” I stepped up behind Jarod, who turned to include me in their little semi-circle. Holy shit.

  “Mercy?”

  “Hey, Jax!” She was barefooted, having kicked her black flip-flops into the sand in front of her. She jumped off the swing she’d been sitting on and almost fell over. Then she composed herself and bounced over to me and hugged my neck. I hugged her back, patting her awkwardly.

  “She is very drunk. Very drunk. Right, Mercy?” June laughed.

  Mercy shook in my arms as she giggled. “Yes. But you’re drunk, too, June-bug.”

  “June-bug!” The two giggled and Mercy sat back down on her swing, facing us this time. Keaton and Jarod looked like they’d just won the lottery, grinning like the idiots they were.

  Nodding to his buddy, “We can take you girls home, if you’ve had enough fun,” Jarod said.

  “No way. I’ll take them.” I stepped up and offered a hand to Mercy. She looked from my hand to June and shook her head.

  “Nope. We’re just getting started. I wanna dance.”

  Jarod started to move toward her. “Great. Brody,” I shoved him forward at Mercy. “Dance with the woman.”

  At first she looked confused, and then she shrugged sweetly and smiled at Brody, taking his hand and following him onto the sand near the DJ table. June grabbed Keaton’s hand and Jarod’s hand and led both of them over beside Mercy and Brody. I watched from behind the bar, fielding questions and helping the bartenders pour draughts and shots.

  Brody was smiling and Mercy was letting loose as “Timber” from Pitbull thumped through the air. Then the beat morphed into Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and Miss Mercy began to live up to her name. Oh, my Lord, have Mercy.

  The music was amazing. I loved this song and Brody was so sweet. He let me move and just smiled and danced along with me. What an awesome friend. Soon, our two-some became a five-some. Jarod, Keaton, and June blended in with us and we all began dancing together. June obviously liked Keaton, which made me giggle. She was this beautiful gothic hottie and her crush on the pretty-boy jock seemed funny and sweet.

  Brody announced that he was going to take a break and Jarod moved in, like a moth to my flame. He was so hot. His chestnut-brown hair was cropped short, especially along the sides. He had an athletic build and the boy looked like he could run for miles and miles. I bet he looked drool-worthy while he did it, too. Hmmm. His eyes were brown, too. He was as all-American as the sport he was so famous for playing around here.

  He pressed me tight against his chest and stomach and moved us to the beat. My hands threaded in his hair. He felt so damn good. His hands moved up my back to my shoulders and then back down, dipping lower. He stopped just short of my ass and grinned. I grinned back. Maybe I could use a distraction.

  We danced for a few more songs before heading back to the bar. The four of us grabbed another couple of beers and then headed back out to dance in the warmth. I couldn’t wait until summer. This felt amazing.

  My body was humming and my mind was becoming a bit fuzzy. I wasn’t the most coordinated person on a good day, so tripping over sand was par for the course. June and Keaton had plastered themselves into a chair and were making out like teenagers. Jarod pulled me close again and began grinding on me slowly. “You have no idea how hot you are.”

  “I know exactly how hot I am. Don’t fool yourself, Ruth.”

  “Ruth?”

  “Yeah. Ruth. Like Babe Ruth, baseball guy.”

  “You callin’ me the great Bambino?” he asked in a fake northern accent.

  “Yep.” I popped my ‘p.’

  “Well, that’s the best damn thing I’ve heard all night. Wanna know what would top that?”

  I giggled. “Sure.”

  “Say you’ll go home with me, Mercy.”

  I stiffened. Moments of truth sucked for me sometimes. I liked him, but did I want to go home with him? I knew what would be expected if I did. Was I ready for that with him? Nope. I even popped the ‘p’ in my head! I giggled at that. Confusion slid onto his pretty-boy face.

  Suddenly, I was jerked away from Jarod roughly. “She isn’t leaving with you. Not tonight. Go home.” A gruff voice ordered.

  “Hey, I—”

  “Don’t argue with me, Mercy. You aren’t leaving with him. I’ve got
your shoes and sweater. I’m taking you and June home. Come on.” Jaxon held my flops out for me and I slid them onto my feet and then jerked my sweater out of his hand and shrugged it on, too. I felt like a scolded child. How embarrassing!

  “June!” he barked. “We’re going. Now!”

  She jumped off of Keaton’s lap and walked over to us, her eyes darting from me to Jaxon and back.

  Jarod tried to interject. “Dude, she doesn’t want to—”

  “One more word, Jock Itch. One more and you’re banned for the season.” Jaxon paused, daring him to say something more. He didn’t. Jarod threw his hands up in surrender and took a step back. Keaton motioned toward the bar and the two took off in that direction.

  As much as I could in foam flip-flops, I stomped off the sand, through the bar and out the Shady’s front door. June’s high heeled boots clicked along the sidewalk behind me as we made our way toward her car.

  “Where do you two think you’re going?” Jaxon said.

  “To June’s car?”

  “No, babe. I’m driving. Neither of you are in any shape to drive. You can get your car in the morning, June.”

  She laughed, then stopped when he pinned her with a fierce expression. “Cool. I’ll get it tomorrow.” She sniffed. “That’s cool. Totally fine with that...”

  We followed Jaxon to his little black coupe and I scooted the passenger seat forward and climbed into the back, folded my arms across my chest and pouted the entire three mile drive back to our townhouses. The little red numbers on the dash read one fifty-three. Holy crap! I stayed out till two a.m.! I’d never done that before, unless I was working. And this had been fun, no work! At least it had been fun until Dumbass had to interrupt my swagger. Dumbass looked pissed, come to think of it. Still does.

  June directed Dumbass Hot Dimple to her apartment. I giggled. Sounds like a Tolkien name. Dumbass Hot Dimple, at your service! I giggled out loud earning a sharp look from Mr. Hot Dimple himself. No! He shall be known as Dumbass on this eve. I snorted.

  “At least you can make yourself laugh, sweetheart.”