Down the Shore (8 page)

"Where did the beer come from?"

He shrugged. “Don't know. Maybe Anthony put it in there,” he said, handing me the bottle.

I placed it down on the side table next to the sofa without taking a sip.

He started to guzzle his when he reached over and grabbed mine off the table.

He handed it to me, “Cheers."

I peered into the bottle before I took a sip. I glanced one more time into his eyes.

When I did, he smiled, but it was a smile I'd never seen. One that made my stomach clench. I placed the beer down after a few sips and nestled into his chest. I slowly drifted asleep.

[Back to Table of Contents]

I woke up the next morning on the couch alone, feeling groggy, with a blanket draped over me. I wasn't sure what time he left, I only knew that he had. I brushed off any sour feelings I had about that realization, and ran back into my room. I threw my suit on quickly, leaving a note for Makenna, then headed out the door for the beach.

On the first night of work at Clancy's, I had drawn the dinner shift. I almost wished to have the afternoon shift, but...on this shift, no such luck. Colin would be there. I knew I had plenty of time for swimming and sunbathing. I strolled onto the beach, looking out at the ocean as I did almost every day. Calm waves did something in a peaceful ocean, and there the beach stretched out for miles. I dropped my towel on the wet sand close to the water, which was not my usual location of choice. I laid down on my stomach, leaned up to turn the radio on and let my thoughts and the sun keep me warm. I guess I fell asleep. I jumped awake as the cold water touched the tips of my toes. I sat up and looked around. Everyone around had moved back, even the lifeguards as the tide had started to come in.

I brushed the hair out of my face, grabbed my bag and radio and moved back several feet. I felt refreshed, almost giddy from the night before. I peered out into the water when I heard a familiar screech. Makenna, perched on the back of Anthony. I watched as he dipped her under. Deciding to join them, I splashed right in.

There's really no other way to enter the ocean. If I waded in, my toes would go numb, and I might change my mind. I tried catching up with them, but the current was stronger than I had expected. I felt it pulling me toward the left when suddenly I heard the whistle blow. The lifeguards signaled me to move front and center with the rest of the people. I fought my way back, and caught a glimpse of Makenna waving me over.

I finally caught up to her.

"Wow, it's rougher than I thought.” I confirmed what she already knew.

"When did you get here?” she asked

"A while ago."

I ducked back under to wet my hair. I looked around to see Anthony with a boogie board under him, riding the small waves in.

"I can't believe you're in the water. You never come in. Or does this have something to do with Anthony?” I whispered.

She leaned in to my ear. “Yep, kinda took me by surprise, too. It's nothing serious.” She paused. Her lips were turning three shades of blue. “I'm getting out, I'm freezing."

I decided to stay in the water for a few minutes and try my luck at floating—feeling the water, the sun beating down on my face. The waves caressed my body, over and under, and lulled me as I felt myself drifting out farther. I didn't want to stop; I just kept floating. I decided to open my eyes after a few minutes of heaven. It all happened so fast I had ventured farther out than I realized, and I no longer knew if anyone could see me.

There was no whistle blowing, no one yelling me to bring it in. I waved my hands in the air, gasping between the new waves crashing over me. I finally caught the attention of the lifeguard, the one who was whistling earlier. He jumped into the boat, the oars once attached to the side now firmly in his hands. He reached me within minutes, yanking me over the side into the boat. That had never happened to me in all the years I had come down to the shore. It made me stop and think how lucky I had been. My parents always kept an eye on us, even though my brother and I were great swimmers. I simply forgot no one was looking out for me.

"Thanks, I don't know what happened,” I said under panting breath, my heart racing, my body shivering.

He wrapped a towel quickly around my shoulders, “Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just embarrassed.” I looked toward the beach.

"You need to be careful. Don't go out so far next time, okay? The undertows are pretty strong today. We almost didn't see you."

Everyone on the entire beach stared at me, and Makenna waited at the water's edge for my safe arrival.

She attacked the boat. “Jesus Christ, Abby, can you please be more careful? I really don't want to call your parents and say you died drifting off to sea.

"Sorry, the waves and current were a little stronger than I thought.” That was all I said. I had gotten caught up in my thoughts. I had a new boyfriend and I wasn't sure, but it felt like something, and then there was Colin. He called me beautiful. I knew I had no prior experience with love, but I believed I was heading right for it, whether I wanted it or not.

Nick appeared out of nowhere as I walked back to my towel to dry off and get the sand off my body. He jogged down the beach, coming toward me. He dripped sweat from running. He grabbed me and pulled me into his arms.

"Hey, babe.” He planted a kiss on my lips.

Was this love? I didn't know, but it sure felt like it could be. He was perfect, I kept telling myself. I couldn't help but admire his tanned, sweaty body in front of me.

Before I could explain what had happened, Makenna told him about the almost drowning incident. He pulled me closer to his chest. “Don't go out there without me or someone, please,” he begged, kissing the tip of my nose.

"I'm a good swimmer, but the current took me a little farther than I thought. Really, I was in no danger,” I assured him.

He rubbed my hair back and kissed my shoulder.

"Whatta ya’ doing tonight?” he asked, leaning into me.

"Gotta work until ten,” I told him.

"After?” He gazed at me, and I could only think of being with him.

"After,” I confirmed.

He smiled and touched my face. We walked back to my towel holding hands. He rubbed sunblock on my back, gently caressing every ounce of exposed skin. We laid there for another hour or so soaking in the sun. It was getting late and as the afternoon wore on, I knew I had to go get ready for my first night as a real waitress. I hated leaving. I didn't want to leave him there. So I asked him to walk me back.

"Walk me home?"

"You bet.” He jumped up and brushed the sand off his calves.

We walked hand in hand the two blocks back to the house. I needed to take a shower, and I could feel his presence strongly invading my space. Part of me wished I never asked him to come home with me. “Will I see you after work, then? When I get back?"

"Yeah, but later in the night, ‘kay? We're heading to the OD tonight, not sure what time we'll get back."

The OD was a bar called Ocean Drive in Sea Isle. He had to know that I couldn't go. I wasn't old enough and I didn't have a fake ID.

He kissed me goodbye, heading upstairs. I assumed that would be the last I would see of him for the rest of the day. I ran out back, grabbed my towel off the clothes line and turned the shower on. As I worked the conditioner through my hair, there was a tapping sound on the shower door.

"Can I come in?” Nick peeked through the wooden door. I grabbed my towel, hiding behind it.

"No, I don't think so,” I snapped.

"C'mon, please!” he pleaded, as he held the door slightly ajar.

I slammed the door, mad as hell that I hadn't fastened the rusty lock.

"Give me a minute, Nick.” I fumbled for my towel. I turned the water off and wrapped the towel tighter around my body. I felt him staring at me! I opened the door, hearing him hop back down to the ground. He'd been watching me. I didn't know what to say. I looked down at my feet and the soap running onto the sidewalk. The one thing I hated about the outside showers was that there were openings at the top of the wooden frames, so people could see in if they tried real hard. I'd never had to worry about that, with parental chaperones and no love life.

"How much time do we have?” he asked as he pulled me closer to him, trying to remove the towel I'd tightly wound around my body.

He grinned and stood his ground.

"None...I need to get to work.” I started to push him aside, but he stepped back in front of me.

"I'll see you later, I need to get ready.” I thought this was going to be the best way to avoid him getting upset with me. He kissed me and he kissed me hard. He grabbed my chin, pinching it between his fingers, then released me and walked away.

I continued getting ready, looking back at my day and thinking of Nick. How could he do that to me, put me in such an uncomfortable position? I wasn't quite sure if he had seen me naked. I hoped I had wrapped the towel around me quickly enough.

No one had ever seen me without clothes on. Maybe my mother was right; I wasn't ready for these kinds of boys.

I really wanted him to be the real deal. I thought for sure I was beginning to fall for him. I knew what he wanted, but I knew I wasn't ready at this point to give myself to him. I hadn't even told him that I was a virgin yet, and wondered if that would scare him off.

I let my mind wander to thoughts of love and what it meant. How did I even know what love felt like? I'd never been in love, could this happen so soon? Was this love? Was this a crush? I didn't know, but I did know I was willing to find out.

I tossed my emotions aside and turned on the radio. The song “Shiver” by Coldplay blasted through the apartment. As I brushed my hair in front of the mirror, I smiled thinking of Colin. If only he lived upstairs, maybe things would be different?

My run-in with Nick made me late, and I had to run the last block to the restaurant. Thank God being in good shape paid off. I smoothed out my hair as my feet touched the boardwalk.

Stepping off the wooden boardwalk and onto the red carpet of the restaurant, I immediately saw Colin. His face peered through the sea of people, looking past them and at me. I returned his gaze and smiled. His stare pierced straight through me, causing goosebumps as always. I walked inside nervously, knowing I would see him again at the end of the evening.

I could feel the excitement permeate throughout the restaurant, reflecting the tension of our first day. As the clock hands moved closer to five, the anxiety built up inside of me. We were all given our assignments for the evening; we were each to be responsible for five tables. The tables I had been given were closest to the window overlooking the boardwalk. The best seats in the house. My distraction stood behind the bar, watching me as I checked the ketchup bottles and the salt and pepper shakers.

It was eight o'clock when I glanced down at my watch for the first time. The night had gone much faster than I expected. The restaurant still crowded and the people were being as patient with us as they could, realizing it was opening night. Here and there, you could hear, ‘
You did a really nice job, honey
,’ or you would hear the occasional smart-ass remark that let you know you weren't cutting it.

I hadn't been paying close attention as my next table was being seated and I didn't even realize who was sitting there until I approached. I looked up from my order booklet to see Nick, Anthony, Bill and two boys I didn't recognize.

I was semi-happy to see him, but my nerves came crashing all around me. As I fidgeted with my pen, I felt his eyes locked on me. He motioned for me to stand next to him.

"Hey, beautiful,” he grinned. “How's your first night going?"

I smiled politely back at him, nibbling on the tip of my pen.

"Good. What are you doing here?” I asked, surprised.

He shook his head in frustration at my question. “Abby, this is James and Aidan. You already know the others."

I shifted my gaze away from him to look at the two boys he was introducing. James was short, with blond hair, dressed like he had just stepped off the beach. Aidan was average looking; he wore madras shorts and a pink polo shirt. His face was clean-shaven and his curly, reddish brown hair flopped over his eyes.

They both stared at me, looking me up and down, although I wasn't quite sure what body part they were interested in. They each seemed to pick a different spot to ogle.

"Hey, how's it going?” Aidan focused on my chest.

"Good,” I replied. “Nice to meet you."

I felt Nick's hand graze my backside.

I pushed his hand away, “Nick, I'm at work."

"Sorry,” he apologized.

A flash of disappointment went through me. How could he do that? Especially on my first night.

"I couldn't help myself,” he snickered.

"Well, try,” I demanded.

I was trying to be cool about the situation. In the background I could hear people laughing, talking, having fun.

"Miss, oh Miss, can we get some service over here?"

I glanced over my shoulder. “I'll be right with you"

I turned back to Nick.

My eyes narrowed, “I've got people waiting. Are you ready to order?"

I was impatient now. He knew I was mad. I'd made my point.

"Just get us five cheeseburgers, fries and cokes, all right?” He looked back down and closed the menu.

I walked away, frustrated. They had been sitting at the table for an hour when they finished their meal.

"Want me to wait for you? We're not gonna head out to Sea Isle ‘til later,” he said quietly.

"No, I've got another hour or so, and some cleanup. I'll see you later maybe, okay?"

He held my fingers for a few seconds, then handed me the money for the bill. Watching Nick and his friends walk out, I felt a weird sense of relief that they were gone. As I counted out the money, I realized they'd only left me a two dollar tip.

I served my last table around nine-thirty. I looked over the last-minute obligations that I had: ketchup bottles, salt and pepper shakers, coffee pots, washing down my tables and chairs.