Deep Betrayal Page 0,35

buoy. A flash of the shark. And she was gone. The water stilled. The boyfriend lay passed out on the beach.

Calder groaned. “That’s so fake. A great white would never act like that. They’re normally very sweet.”

“I think I’d need more convincing,” I said. “Those are some seriously scary teeth.”

He slipped behind me, letting me recline against his chest, and pulled the neckline of my blouse up, over my shoulders. “Teeth are the least scary thing out there,” he said, wrapping his arms tight around my waist, squeezing a little to make a point. The strength in his arms was sure and comforting.

“Terrifying,” I said as I settled in.

Sitting in the dark made me feel brave and excited. I wanted to test the boundaries. I wished Calder would. He couldn’t have thought I would push him away if he tried. But neither of us moved.

Calder’s legs flanked mine, which tingled at the contact, all my cells fizzing like mist on a power line. At first I thought my toes were falling asleep, so I adjusted my position, and bright white sparks snapped in the small spaces between us.

I leaned to my left so I could see his face and found him staring at me with those eyes that nearly glowed and drew me closer, those eyes that scared me a little because of what they confessed of his heart.

“Stay still,” he warned. “Or maybe a little distance would be better. It’s harder to control the electrical impulses when you’re close.”

“No, this is good,” I said. “Please stay.”

He pulled back anyway and flipped over to lie on his stomach. I followed his example, lying alongside him, my head resting on my arms. He wove our hands together, and the tingling that had once been in my toes bounced between my fingers.

“Sorry,” he said. “I hope that doesn’t hurt you.”

I shrugged. I’d always heard about sparks flying between people. With us it was a literal thing, and I didn’t mind that one bit. I kissed Calder’s fingers and looked up at the screen. The colored shapes of people moving across the side of the barn were like the inside of a kaleidoscope. The dialogue sounded like the inside of a seashell. I didn’t know if I was just that tired or if it was too much of a strain on my eyes to watch the movie from that angle, but I soon drifted off, dreaming about a boat loaded with friends as a bloodthirsty monster circled us.

Someone screamed. My dream? Somewhere else? The monster threw one black arm over the stern and slunk over the rail, slipping like an enormous leech onto the floor of the boat. I jumped back while someone braver than me pushed the long hair from the monster’s face: My face. Pale and freckled. Another, more beautiful, face pressed close, saying my name.

“Lily?”

I woke with a gasp as the credits ran and the outdoor lights flicked on. I’d missed the end. Had the monster eaten everyone? Did the hero kill the shark? Who was the hero again? Around me the whole town gathered up its lawn chairs and blankets, coolers and bug spray.

“It’s over,” Calder said. “You were really quiet. Did you fall asleep?”

“No,” I said unconvincingly. “It was great.”

“Definitely an unfortunate choice. A movie like that could really hurt tourism.”

Before I could respond to his joke, a cacophony of young, male voices erupted from behind the Porta-Potties. Calder glanced over and grimaced. “Oh! Oh, man. Come on. Let’s go.” He jumped to his feet and yanked at the corner of the blanket.

“What is it?” I asked, getting to my knees. I toppled over as he pulled the blanket out from under me.

“I got to get out of here,” he said. “Are you coming with me?” He grabbed my hand and pulled me up so fast my feet left the ground.

“Of course I’m going with you. What’s the hurry? What’s going on?” My mind was still groggy from my dream, and the ground seemed to shift and sway under my feet.

“Jack.” Calder pulled desperately at my arm, dragging me toward the car. He practically threw me into the passenger seat.

I turned around to look out the back window. I could see Jack. A group of guys I didn’t recognize surrounded him in a circle. One guy pushed Jack, and he staggered backward into the arms of another, who shoved him again. Jack spun around and threw the first punch. And then everyone was yelling and piling on top