Wishful Thinking (8 page)

I have no idea why Dean stayed my friend, but I loved him for it. After that I started counseling with Dr. Patterson. It’s that incident that’s the reason my dad still doesn’t trust me. Part of me doesn’t blame him for it—I definitely pushed my boundaries back then, but counseling helped turned my destruction inward. I ended up getting probation and community service.
 

Kyle became my mentor during court mandated group counseling sessions. He gave my wisecracks right back to me took my bullshit and talked me through my grief and we’ve been friends ever since.
 

Kyle held out his hand and Nate hi-fived him. “Give them to me, dude."

Nate rolled his eyes, “I haven’t even taken a sip yet."

“I don’t give a shit man give them to me.”
 

Kyle’s aunt Louise was killed by a drunk driver when he was fifteen––he had zero tolerance for people drinking and then getting behind the wheel.
 

“Fine,” Nate said, “you really know how to suck the fun out of things.” Nate dumped his drink into the plant too, “There.”
 

Nate acted like a dick and sometimes he made it hard to remember why I was friends with him but not Kyle. On a daily basis he reminded me why I was friends with him.
 

Our conversation and mood lightened when we discussed what movie to see and whether to see it at the old drive-in or a regular theatre.
 

We argued over skipping a movie (since the girls refused to see anything but the new Ashton Kutcher flick—insert eye roll here) and going to Nate’s to party instead. As our conversation turned heated, which is usually the case when guys and girls argue over movies, Dean showed up. He grabbed a slice and plopped down next to Nate.
 

Kyle spoke up, “Voice of reason you decide movies or drinking?”

“Don’t ask him, he’s gonna vote for something gay," Nate said.

“I vote for neither, I’m going to the beach later."

“Dude, it’s like thirty degrees out."

“Yup,” Dean said nodding in agreement.
 

“You’re going to Trevor’s bonfire?" Summer chimed in. I was looking at her now.
 

Dean nodded. Emily whispered something in Summer’s ear and they both started smiling and whispering. I flipped over and over the idea of skipping on hanging out with my friends all together when I noticed Claudia seated at a small table on the other side of the room.
 

She spotted me at the same time I spotted her. She held my gaze for a second and then looked away. Her companion was hidden behind a retaining wall and all I could see was an arm. It was a thick arm covered in dark hair and sporting a fancy watch. Hairy arm started poking at the table with wicked determination.
 

Claudia nodded before averting her eyes to the floor. Her face stayed downward, but she continuously glanced at me. I don’t know if it was because of our confrontation this morning and her nervous behavior, or not, but I couldn’t shake the déjà vu.
 

It wasn’t attraction, her looks were an after thought for me. Yeah she was pretty in a girl next door sort of way, but I wasn’t interested I had Summer. There was no competition.
 

Yet, something about Claudia bothered me and I couldn’t put my finger on it. Instinctively I rubbed the lump on the back of my head.
 

“Don’t you think James?" Nate asked.
 

I had no idea what he was talking about so I gave my standard answer, "Yeah, whatev."

"I thought it was," he added.
 

“Why don’t you invite her along settle your bet?” Dean said in between chews.
 

“Told you man, I bowed out," Kyle supplied

Nate rubbed his chin, “Maybe I should.”

“Besides being the new girl, what’s the attraction?" Summer asked Nate.

Nate got that faraway look on his face while he stared at Claudia, “What part of shiny new play thing doesn’t sound appealing? Look at her—she knows the ways to take care of a man."

Emily whipped her head about, “Where’s this man you’re talking about?"

Nate gave a backwards glance to Emily and with a flick of his hand dismissed her words. “Say what you want—" Nate began, turning his attention back to us, “—the girl is a wrecking ball, I can tell.”
 

"You might get your wish," Dean said around a mouth full of bread. Claudia was making her way over to our table. "Hey guys," Claudia said stopping at our table.
 

We gave her a collective, "Hey," back. Emily leaned over to whisper something to Summer who nodded in agreement. What the hell were they whispering about? Trevor? Claudia? Me?
 

Nate scooted to the edge of the booth, “Missed you at school today."

“Oh really," she replied smiling and propping an arm on the table. “My understanding was that C-cups wouldn’t warrant a second glance from you."
 

“My girl," Kyle said holding up his fist.
 

Claudia fist bumped him and laughed and gave a wink in Emily’s direction which Nate noticed. He glared at Emily unable to come up with a comeback. Did Nate just get put in his place? Maybe Claudia wasn’t a total bitch.
 

Claudia was looking at me now, "How’s the eye doing?"

"Fine, thanks," I said.

Please let her drop it.
 

“I forgot to say sorry, so … sorry."
 

I could feel everyone’s eyes on me including Summer.
 

“Sorry for what?" Dean’s voice.

“This morning he scared me half to death, and I’m the sort that hits first. I hope your parents weren’t to pissed."

Summer was giving me the eye and she withdrew her hand from mine. “What?” I mouthed so only she could see. She shook her head. I was in trouble. The guys were looking at me too which meant I wouldn’t be hearing the end of this any time soon.
 

Kyle studied my face. “You did that to my boy? Damn remind me never to get on the wrong side of your fists."
 

“I don’t think you could," Claudia said. Kyle blushed.

“We’re all going to the beach later for a bonfire you should come." Nate was back in the game.
 

"Yeah you should," Kyle added.
 

“Um––“ Claudia smiled again, "I don’t know I have to check with my dad."

“Whaddya need to run by your old man?" Hairy arm with the fancy watch was at our table now. He draped his thick arm across Claudia’s shoulder. “Introduce me to yuh friends." He gave an unabashed wink towards Emily and Summer. His presence sucked the fun right out of the air and replaced it with tension.
 

Claudia stared at the floor shifting awkwardly beneath his embrace, “Dad these are a few kids from school, everyone this is my dad—Simon.”
 

She must get her looks from her mom, because she looked nothing like the intimidating brute next to her. It was obvious the only thing Claudia inherited from Simon besides a last name, was his piercing stare.
 

“Please call me Rex."

Her dad wasn’t much taller than her, with broad shoulders, and trunks for arms and legs. His dark eyes scoped each one of us out before stopping and staring at me the longest. Damn, he took intimidation to another level entirely. The line of his square jaw tightened.
 

“Hey I gotta go. Somewhere I can drop you?" he asked Claudia, his eyes still on me.
 

“I think I’ll stay here, okay?" Claudia’s squeaky tone betrayed her cool exterior.
 

“All right," he kissed Claudia’s forehead before letting her go. He slapped his hand on the table, "I trust you boys to look after my little girl."

Even Nate swallowed hard. Rex didn’t seem the type to joke about owning a shotgun when you came to pick up his daughter. No doubt Rex knew his way around a gun. I bet he’d even rack the slide chambering a bullet when he showed it to you.
 

He poked the table with his finger giving each of us a look. "Well," he said.
 

“Of course," Nate said sliding out of the booth and offering his hand to Rex, "I will make sure no harm befalls, Ms. Claudia, under my watch, sir."

Mr. Monroe shook Nate’s hand and smiled, "I like your moxie." He elbowed Claudia when he let go of Nate’s hand. When he looked at me again he was smiling and I swear he wanted to poke the bruise above my eye. "Okay then," he said turning back to Claudia. "Call me if there’s trouble."

"Yes," Claudia said.
 

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, daddy."
 

"Good girl," Rex said and gave her a hug, "Have a good time and don’t stay out late." He winked and walked out of the restaurant. When he reached the exit two barrel-chested men got up from a table near the door and followed him out.

Trevor’s beach parties were legendary. He was one of the only kids who could legally throw one without the threat of law enforcement’s involvement. A particular strip of beach by the name of Windsor Point was owned by his parents. Since it was private property there weren’t curfews, or closing times. The only neighbors on the two mile stretch of beach only summered here, so right now their house lay boarded up. Meaning no neighbors to call and complain about noise.
 

Nate pulled his black BMW 640i up behind my jeep, blocking me in and keeping me from leaving until he was good and ready. Dean and Emily got out and Summer was about to when I grabbed her hand.
 

Her eyes burned like fire when they looked at me, “Don’t.” She slammed the door behind her. Great, I was in the doghouse certainly on boob restriction until I apologized.
 

Nate tapped on my window holding up a bottle of Jack, and a bottle of Bacardi.
 

"You’d think you’re parents would stock better alcohol in their bar," I said as I got out of my car.
 

Nate shrugged, "Dad put a lock on his liquor cabinet. I had Adam buy this for me before he went home and this was the best they had at Deli Mart."

“Your gardener bought this?"

“Yep, offered him a hundred for it. He’s twenty-two and in college,” Nate handed me a bottle of Bacardi. “I’m going to let it rest for tonight, you getting beat up by a girl is its own punishment. But why didn’t you tell me Claudia lived by you?"

“First off didn’t know it mattered and second I didn’t know she did until she clocked me this morning.”

“What’s up with her dad?"

“I don’t know, he’s fucking intense," I said.
 

“Right.”

“Hey, can I ask you something?"

“What’s up?"

“Why are you chasing after her? She’s not like the usual girls you go for.”

Nate put an arm around my shoulders as we walked. “Worry about you and I’ll worry about me." He
 
hurried off to catch up with Claudia leaving me alone with his bottle of rum. Why did it seem everyone knew something I didn’t?
 

Fog billowed above the tree line blowing in from the water. Even a full moon couldn’t brighten the dense air. As waves rolled in, they carried an icy, salty breeze with them that pushed a chill through you. We cleared the trees and a glow of orange beaconed up ahead. Closer still and flames from two large fires flickered and flared in the wind.
 

Most the kids gathered here were from the basketball, rugby or soccer teams. Not that there were many kids here. Apparently, we were the only ones stupid enough to hang out near the water in frigid temperatures. Maybe tonight a few kids would try to be polar bears.
 

Not me. Not this time.
 

Exhaled breath hung around a bit before dissipating. Almost everyone was huddled around a bonfire which provided little warmth against the chilly breeze.
   

 
Summer was over by the furthest fire huddled within the girl’s soccer team. Dean, Nate, Kyle and a few other rugby players were standing next to Summer’s group. I watched them all talking and laughing and felt like a dumbass.

I uncapped the rum and took a swig. “Blech.” I plopped down by a rock a few yards away from the fire and placed the bottle next to me. I couldn’t shake the notion Summer had one foot out of our relationship readying herself to throw out the other one at any time. Could I blame her? Wasn’t I doing the exact same thing?

"What are you doing over here?"
 

I looked up to Claudia’s smiling face.
 

I shrugged. "Nothing."

She plopped down beside me. "No, please join me," I said

“Don’t mind if I do."
 

“I’m not in the mood for talking."

“Me either.” She leaned back against the rock and watched everyone over by the bonfires. Not a single star shown making it bleak, cold and lonely. Silence continued surprising me. I expected her to start one of those “everything okay” discussions or at least bug me about Nate, but she didn’t.