The Ocean’s City

I banged at Dannie’s door in the early morning. Yesterday, I moped indoors and plotted how to get Dalton to trust me. I opted out of not seeing her. It surprised me she didn’t come to see me at all. She opened the door with raging bed hair and pajamas. She hugged me instantly.

“Are you alright?” She gasped in my ear. “Hutson is talking about leaving this town. He’s scared that my presence here isn’t good. I wanted to see you so badly yesterday. I have been so worried.”

“You can’t leave me,” I said, hurt at the thought.

She nodded, full of concern.

We sat at the 6os diner eating a late breakfast. Dannie had lectured me all morning long about making things work with Dalton. Finally, I told her about last night, and she was pleased. We made a game plan to make sure we could stay together, though I didn’t tell her I thought we wouldn’t need it.

We planned to spend the day together, and afterward, she dragged me for pedis and margaritas. Dannie was being her usual stupid self when my phone rang.

Before I could even say hello, he spoke. “Where are you?” He sounded pissed, and fear flowed through my gut.

“Hi, Dalton!” Dannie attempted to scream into the phone. I waved her away, scared it would make things worse.

“We are, um, getting pedis.”

There was a giant sigh through the phone. “Have fun with Dannie, but you should tell me when you leave the house and where you go.”

“Oh…” was all I said. What was I to expect from him? The controlling didn’t sit well with me.

“Where are you going after this?”

“We weren’t sure.” There was another huff on his end of the phone.

“I’m sending someone you both will enjoy spending time with to be your chaperone.”

“What?”

“I know it probably doesn’t sit well with you, but could you please trust me? I promise you it’s for your safety and my reassurance.”

Just then, the bell on the door rang, and a girl fresh out of high school came in and smiled at us.

I was about to argue with him, but then I thought about the full moon. “Fine. But I hope you will trust me more. I want privacy with my friend.”

“Understood. We can talk about it tonight during dinner. Don’t keep me waiting.”

“Mmmhmm, bye.”

“Goodbye, baby girl. Have fun.”

I hung up the phone, frustrated to see Dannie hugging the girl and patting the seat next to her. The girl smiled up at me.

“Hello, Silvestia. I’m Courtney.”

“If you’re going to be our chaperone, you are going to call me Silvie,” I growled at her, and Dannie gave me the stink eye.

The girl seemed uncomfortable. “I-I’m not sure Mr. Baxs would appreciate that. I could call you Mrs. Baxs if you prefer?”

I glared at the girl; she meekly bowed her head, avoiding eye contact. Dannie swatted my arm.

“Drink, you old hag,” she scolded. Then she turned to Courtney. “We have a new friend to corrupt.”

Dannie was relentless with the drinking, more than usual. She convinced Courtney that we were friends, and after a few drinks, she started to call us Silvie and Dannie instead of our full names.

We took her shopping and stopped at a bar for more shots. Then, lunch for happy hour, and then back to my place, where we swam in the ocean and laid out on the beach.

Dannie had more margaritas made and kept the poor girl’s cup full. Dannie gave me a mischievous smile as she undid her bathing suit. I smiled and did the same.

“What if someone walks by?” I asked, not really caring about the consequences.

“The boys own this place. What trouble could we get into?”

I laughed and settled back into my tan.

“Oh nooooo. Oh, guys!!! Your clothes!” Courtney came stumbling out of the water to us.

“Please! Mr. Baxs will have my head if he knows!”

“He’s not going to now, will he?” Dannie said, using her mean girl voice.

Courtney smirked. “I guess not.” Then, without warning, we were flashed as her bathing suit came off, and she twirled back into the ocean.

“We may get into trouble for this,” I noted.

“Eh, as long as she doesn’t drown, we should be fine. We have a spy we can manipulate.” She smirked at me.

“Glad we are on the same page.”

Suddenly, we heard a smack and splash. Our faces dropped, and we saw the girl passed out right on the shore, the waves crashing into her.

“Fuck!” Dannie laughed. Then, a slight roar of thunder roared over our laughter.

We got her inside and in my bed. She was asleep soundly. "Hopefully, she sobers up before the boys finish with work." She laughed.

We walked into the kitchen, where our bags and drinks were spread across the counter. Dannie started sipping her beverage, and I grabbed my phone to check the time.

I looked at the screen, and my heart dropped.

"What is it?" Dannie asked.

"I have nine missed calls."

She about spit out her drink. "fuck!" She quickly searched for her phone. I ignored her as I looked at mine. There were strings of text messages asking where the fuck I was and giving me threats for not answering the phone.

Then the phone rang again. My heart pounded as I answered it. "Hey, babe! I'm really sorry we were swimming." I pulled the girlfriend card as much as I could in hopes he wouldn't be as pissed.

"Is Dannie with you?" He asked, barely controlling his anger.

"Yes."

"Tell her to call Hutson."

I saw Dannie sneak into the living room, pleading with Hutson on the phone.

"I believe she's on the phone now."

"Good. Now put Courtney on the phone."

"She is, um… passed out."

Dalton was quiet on the phone as a loud strum of thunder roared outside.

"I'm coming home." That was all he said before the line ended.

I turned to Dannie, and she looked just as upset.

"Hutson is on his way."

"So is Dalton."

"Fuck."

"yeah."

Thanks for reading the seventeenth chapter of The Ocean’s City. Let me know what you think! Grammar Nazis are welcome!