Rapid Falls(62)



He smiled widely, like it had all been a joke. “Okay, okay. I forgive you. It’s graduation night after all.”

“Okay. That’s better.” I leaned in and kissed him. He tasted like beer and strawberry wine coolers. I tried not to gag as I kissed him again. When I pulled away, there were tears in my eyes, but I hoped it was too dark for him to see. I looked down. “I’m so glad I found you. This party is getting . . . kind of weird.”

Wade walked up. At least I could still count on someone.

“What’s going on?” Wade stood shoulder to shoulder with Jesse, and they looked like an unbeatable force. Just what I needed.

I pressed my lips together, like I couldn’t bear to speak. “It’s . . . Todd Carter. He grabbed me and tried to kiss me. He said . . . he said I was asking for it.”

Wade swore loudly. Jesse grabbed my shoulders. “When did he do this?”

I looked at him hard. “About twenty minutes ago,” I said, just to see his face when he realized that was when he was in the bushes with Anna, but it was too dark to see if his expression changed.

Wade said loudly, “I hate that guy. Let’s go get him, Jesse.”

I made an innocent expression. “I wasn’t flirting with him, Jesse. You know I’d never do that to you.”

“Of course. That guy is a dirtbag.”

“Come on, Jesse.” Wade pulled on his arm, and they left me behind in their blood rage. I stayed at the edge of the crowd to watch them bump and jostle people out of their way on their path to Todd.

“Hey, you fuck!” I heard Wade yell and then the sound of a fist hitting a face. Cheers roiled up like they always did at the Field when there was a fight. I waited a couple of minutes before I broke through the crowd, calling Jesse’s name.

“Let’s go, let’s get out of here.” I struggled to hold on to his flailing arm.

“No way!” he yelled, his nose pouring with two streams of blood. He had a lump beginning on his forehead. I finally got a solid grip on his jacket and jerked him out of the furor, far enough away that the spectators crowded us out, eager for a glimpse of Wade landing another blow. I pulled his panting body back across the Field to his truck near the edge of the woods. We could barely hear the fight from there.

“Cara, Wade is on his own. I need to help him.”

“Jesse, please don’t fight anymore. You’re all beat up!” I said through fake tears.

“I’m okay, I’m okay.” He stumbled, looking back at the crowd of people. It sounded like Wade was still pounding on Todd. Good. It would help if there was blood.

“Jesse, your face. It’s cut. Let me take care of you.” I pulled his hand hard. “Please.”

“Okay, okay.” His breath calmed slightly, and he leaned toward me. “I just . . . no one should ever touch you like that, Cara.”

“I know, baby, I know.” I brushed his hair from his bruised forehead gently, like I still loved him. “Give me your keys. I’ll turn on the light so I can see the damage.”

Jesse reached into his pocket. “I guess I’m a lover, not a fighter,” he said with a small laugh, pulling his hand away from his nose. The white sleeve of his jacket was covered in blood. I didn’t laugh with him, but he didn’t notice. I couldn’t pretend anymore.

“Have you seen Anna tonight? I haven’t talked to her yet,” I said. I sounded like I was reciting lines.

“No,” he lied. I felt my skin crawl.

“Oh. I guess I’ll just have to find her myself.” Jesse didn’t notice the threat in my words. He was too busy ministering to his wounds with the sleeve of his shirt, like he was the hero in the story. I touched my neck, undoing the clasp of the locket my dad had given me. I let it slip into the puddle while Jesse dabbed his nose.

“Oh no!” I cried, kneeling suddenly. “I think I lost my necklace! Oh, Jesse! It’s the one my dad just gave me. It fell into the water. Can you see it? I’ll turn on the headlights.”

I stepped into the driver’s seat and watched as he leaned forward, placing his hands and knees on the ground beside the puddle. His face was just inches from the water. His back lined up perfectly with the front tire of his small truck. He was making it easy for me. All I needed was a little pressure.

“It must have fallen to the bottom. Please find it, Jesse!” I said. He lay down on the dry ground beside the puddle, reaching a hand inside the murky water. I started the truck.





CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

September 2016

I wake up before Anna’s bedroom starts to turn gray with the light of dawn. I have to go get my car before Rick and Maggie get out of bed. My head pounds with each movement as I pull on the same clothes I wore to work yesterday. My stomach cramps as I catch a whiff of gin on my blouse. My mouth feels like I’ve swallowed paste. The streets are empty and pink by the time I get to our house. As I pull away, I wonder if the sound of the garage door opening and closing woke Rick. I hope Maggie slept through it.

I’m an hour out of Fraser City when my hangover hits with full force. A pounding mixture of poison and shame makes my hands shake. I left Rick. I pull over. I need gas. I need to call work. Then my father. I take out my phone and leave a quick message to tell Larry I won’t be in today as I fill the tank. After I hang up, I stare at my father’s name on the screen for long seconds before the click of the gas pump startles me into action.

Amber Cowie's Books