Ashton pulls into a parking space toward the edge of the beach. As we get off the bike, I take in my surroundings. Except for one other vehicle on the opposite end of the lot, we’re the only people out here.
There is talking in the distance, and I follow the voices across the beach with my eyes, where I notice a couple playing in the ocean. I’m so busy watching them that I forget I’m still wearing the helmet until Ashton surprises me by taking it off for me.
“Earth to Ivy,” he says with a snicker.
I put my focus on him. He twists awkwardly with his brows hiked high as he looks at me.
“Sorry,” I add when I realize he’s waiting for me to climb off the bike so that he can.
Once we’re on our feet, he secures the helmet into place and grabs me by the hand. I follow him without resistance, allowing him to lead me to some part of the beach that’s tucked away. It’s a struggle to keep up with him, the sand underneath us making the walk near impossible. It doesn’t help that I am still wearing high heels.
We make it to a wall of rocks, and I frown out of confusion. Ashton lets go of my hand and proceeds to climb over the barricade, stopping to look at me from the top. I haven’t budged, and he’s crazy if he thinks I’m going to.
“Come on,” he encourages out of breath.
“Uh. No,” I quip.
“Ivy. We had a deal.”
“Yeah, one that included nothing about climbing up some rocks and possibly breaking my neck in the process.”
“You’re being extra.” He tilts his head to one side.
“I’m being realistic. Where are you even taking me?”
He sighs, his shoulders slumping sharply. “There’s a spot I like to come to, and I want to show you.”
I breathe in for a moment, contemplating his words and whether I trust him enough to head off to some secluded area. This is how people end up murdered; going off with strange men to places unknown. I know this. I’ve dedicated my career to studying the behavior of serial killers.
“Why can’t we stay on this side where we are supposed to be?” I challenge him, still unsure about his plan.
“Do you always do what you’re supposed to do?” He stares down at me, but the look in his eyes tells me he doesn’t expect an answer. And something tells me that no matter what I say, it won’t matter to him.
“I haven’t all night,” I admit, my voice lower than it was a second ago.
“Then what’s stopping you now?” He pauses for a beat, continuing when I don’t respond. “Let’s go. I’ve got you.”
“Why are you so determined to do whatever this is we’re doing? You don’t know me, and I’m sure you’ve got friends your age to hang around.”
Ashton doesn’t speak for a moment, only staring down at me intensely. Then gazes off into space while waving a hand around. “I like you, and from the looks of that conversation you had back at the school, you needed to get away.”
I drop my head. It doesn’t shock me that he heard that. I figured that out the moment I noticed him watching me. But up until this point, he hadn’t come right out and acknowledged it. A wave of shame and embarrassment overcomes me, and I fight the urge to run away.
Throughout the years, I’ve gotten good at hiding my misery and bruises from the outside world. People who know me see me as a strong, confident, brilliantly fearless woman. And once upon a time, I was. Now, I’m just a shell of the woman I used to be. And to know that this kid sees through my facade makes me feel vulnerable. It makes me feel—noticed.
“I’m in a dress and wearing heels,” is all I have to say to combat him.
He grins and squats. “Shoes off and hike that dress up.”
I huff and shake my head as I get to work on removing the strappy sandals. I hold them out to him, using my eyes to instruct him to take them. He does, his smile growing wider as he waits for me to bunch my dress up over my thighs.
“Atta girl,” he teases.
“Shut up,” I snip.
Ashton laughs and tosses my shoes over the wall, and then he reaches for my hand again. Stepping up on the first protruding rock, I stretch to meet his grasp. He pulls me up while directing me where to step to keep from falling. When I make it to the top, I grunt and work to catch my breath.
On the other side, there’s another stretch of beach covered mostly by coves of rocks. Unlike the public side, there are very few footprints and absolutely no litter. The waves crash against a boulder that sits a few inches from the shoreline.
It’s peaceful. Serene.
When I refocus, Ashton has already climbed down, a sinister smirk plastered on his face. I realize his eyes are on my bare thighs, and I shift awkwardly from his gaze.
“Jump, I’ll catch you.”
My eyes grow wide, and he laughs.
“Ivy, it's easier than trying to climb down on your own.”
I pinch my lips together, rolling my shoulders in an attempt to ready myself. “Don’t let me fall,” I plead.
“I’d never.”
I swallow my nerves, drop the hem of my dress and leap into his arms. Just like he promised, he catches me and slowly sets me on my feet. My body seems to drag against his, the friction sending tingles across my skin. He holds me for a moment, so close his breath tickles my nose.
It’s not until I clear my throat and push off his chest does he let go. Ashton steps back then bends to pick up my shoes before turning to walk away. I gulp down a deep inhale, run my hands over my dress, and head behind him.
He stops once he makes it to a tiny mountain of rocks. It isn’t as high as the wall we climbed over or the other reefs surrounding it. It’s low enough that we tower over it, making it easy for him to position himself atop of the structure, once again offering to help me up. I accept and settle in next to him.
I run my sights over the dark sea, the only light coming from the moon and a few strategically placed lamp posts. Seagulls fly overhead, some of them diving towards the water then over to the shore. We watch as they fight over their food then fly away when they’re done.
I glance at Ashton, who seems to have zoned out. “So why this place?”
He blinks, then leans back to dig into his front pocket. My eyes fall to the joint he now holds in his hands, and I watch as he lights it. Ashton puffs, the cherry tip burning brightly.
When he exhales, he forms circles of smoke only to pull in another drag. Holding the weed out for me, he blows the smoke from the corner of his mouth.
I wave a hand to decline, and his face twists into a disappointed pout.
“Tonight only. You can follow the rules tomorrow.”
I exhale, take the joint from his grasp, and bring it to my lips. Unlike earlier, I do much better this time, managing not to break out into a coughing fit. He observes as I release the smoke, silently encouraging me to take another hit when I offer it to him.
“I found this spot a few years ago. I was out here with some friends from school, and we wanted to know what was on the other side of the barrier. We used to sneak out here to get high and drink, but after a while, we stopped,” he finally answers my question.
I nod and pass him the joint. “But not you?”
His chest heaves when he puffs, his shoulders relaxing on his exhale. “Naw. Sometimes I come out here when I just need to clear my head. It helps me think.”