Chapter 15
Caleb
Pony Swim week is upon us, and life is chaotic. I’ve spent the majority of my summer working both jobs. Time has gotten away from me, and where I felt incomplete and confused during the spring months, I’m back on track and living it up in the sun. My brother and I happen to be back to our old antics. Occasionally, he goes off without telling me what he’s doing, but I’ve given up on the Evie situation. Life is too short and blood is thicker than water. He’s not just my blood. We’re exactly the same chemical makeup. I can’t blame him for being attracted to her. If he wants my sloppy seconds he’s welcome to them. I just prefer to not dip into his pot. I don’t have to. There’s plenty of other gorgeous women wanting a summer flings, and I’m ready and willing to give it to them.
It doesn't stop me from rubbing it in his face every chance I get.
The week of Pony Swim is the biggest event in island history. It brings in the most tourists from worldwide, which is pretty amazing, because we're just a little blip on a map.
My family goes a little crazy. We are waterman by trade, and you can imagine the pressure we're under to produce an exponential amount of catch each and every day. We usually go to the boats around three in the morning, hours before the sun rises. By eight, we're back on land making deliveries. Dad and my brother Dane head to the diner to help Alice, Bristol and my sister-in-laws. Brant and West go to the fair to set up the food booths for the day, while Coop and Matt go back out to crab and Oyster. I usually do three to four kayak tours a day before I head home for a nap. The evenings are usually insane. I'm running back and forth, being a run bitch so everyone has what they need.
I can't remember a time when we've been able to actually enjoy the events without having work, but it's worth it. What we make in this week alone is half of our annual income. Sometimes there has been a two hour wait to be seated at the diner.
We don't stop until everyone leaves that next week, and then we celebrate.
With new construction bringing in several new condominiums we're hoping business only increases.
Two days into the big event, I wake in a good mood for a change. We come up with a bountiful catch for the day, and even with enough time for me to not have to rush going to my next job.
I've been riding a bike to get to and from places since the traffic is more heavy and hard to maneuver around. No sooner do I pull up at the kayak tour business when I see someone who stops me dead in my tracks.
Usually I'm bad with names. I meet too many people to be able to remember everyone, but this specific person is unforgettable. She's someone I'll never forget. "Kadence."
"Caleb," she returns with a smile.
I take her in, focusing on any changes I'm able to notice. Her hair is shorter but still long, and she's a darker shade from spending time in the summer sun. To me, she's stunning, just like when we first met. Knots fill my stomach thinking back to the things we did together, and how it took me so long to get her out of my system.
"Are you here for the swim?"
She nods. "Yeah, with my family this time."
"I guess you fell in love with this place like most people tend to do."
"I did, plus my trip was cut short last time so it's nice to be able to come back knowing I have more time."
I point to the kayaks. "You here for a tour, or did you miss me and want to make plans to hook up again tonight?"
Kadence crosses her arms and manufactures a smile that makes my optimism fade. "I'm here for the next two weeks, and hoped we could maybe go somewhere and talk."
"Talk? Is that what we're calling it?" Instinctively, I reach out to touch her arm as a friendly gesture. As soon as my fingertips hit her skin she withdraws. "What's wrong? Did you forget all about my skills?"
It seems like she's stumbling on words. This isn't the same cougar I partied with on the sailboat.
Kadence pulls her phone out and hands it to me. "Put your number in my phone. I'll text you when and where."
I take her phone, putting my name as Sex Machine, then leaving my number. I quickly send a call through and then erase it when the phone vibrates my pocket. Now I have her number too. "There ya go. My services are available twenty-four-seven, just in case you're wondering."
"Ok, thanks." Another fake smile crosses her face. "It was good to see you Caleb. You seem busy so I'm going to go."
I catch her before she’s able to climb on a beach cruiser and peddle away. “Hold up a minute. That’s it? You came here to ask me if we can talk later? Are we pretending we didn’t spend a full night fucking each other a few months ago? Did you want to tell me you’re married or something, and you’re trying to right your wrongs, because I don’t care. It was sex.”
“I know exactly what it was, and no, I’m not married. What happened between us was mutual. I’m here with my parents and they don’t know I’m gone. I’d like to get back before they start looking for me. We’ll talk this week.”
“Talk? I’d prefer something more intimate. Maybe this time you’ll stick around for longer than one night.”
I can’t even believe I’m suggesting it.
“I didn’t come here to hook up. It was probably a mistake the first time to be perfectly honest. I’ve never hooked up with someone I just met before.”
“We’ll it’s not like you can take it back now. Besides, I’m harmless. You don’t have to feel bad about it. It’s our secret. No one ever has to know. If it happens again, they won’t know about that either.”
“Is that how you handle sleeping around? Everyone keeps it a secret?”
This offends me for some reason. I’ve never asked anyone to keep secrets for me. “What? No! Never. I was just trying to help you out.”
“Don’t bother.”
“You know, I thought we had a good time that night we spent together, but it’s obvious it was probably the alcohol. I’m sorry you regret what happened. If you came here to talk, don’t bother calling. I won’t ask to hook up again. I won’t waste your time.”
“It’s not that.” She looks down as if this is difficult. I don’t get it. She wasn’t drunk the whole time we were on the boat. She certainly wasn’t intoxicated that next morning. “Caleb, I live a strict lifestyle. For as long as I can remember I’ve had goals I’ve never taken for granted. I’ve almost reached the end of my journey where all my hard work is over. Hooking up with you was a nice reprieve. I don’t regret it happened. I just…”
Koby comes up behind me and places his hand on my shoulder. “You ready to work, bro?”
“Just a sec. Let me finish this.”
Kadence reaches out and touches my hand. She doesn’t throw herself at me, or seem like she wants me to hug her, but something is off. Why come and see me if I’m someone she wants to forget? “Go ahead and work. I’ll get in touch with you before I leave.”
She turns, but it doesn’t stop me. “Call me later. I’ll make the time to talk, Kadence.” This is unlike me to care about someone I barely know the way I do with her. Something is wrong, and the fact that she’s reaching out to me makes me wonder if she feels like she can’t trust anyone else. I didn’t get much out of her that first night, but I know she wasn’t happy with her friends and said they were really all she had because of her life choices with school and her future. Even though I didn’t understand why she’d go without a social life during the best years, but obviously it’s her choice. “I’m serious.”
She doesn’t reply as I stand there watching her get further away from me again. All those feelings immediately come back to my mind. Things were so good they felt unfinished. I need to know why she has this effect on me and how to make it go away.