Alice Cove

CHAPTER SIX

6.

A month went by without a hitch, no more boy drama, about from Candy’s of course, but does that even count. The caravan park was fully booked and it was about to slow down, still in the busy summer season but school holidays would be ending soon. Josh and I were in the full swing of things, and he had a second partner, his boyfriend Brody. I could barely tear them apart. Josh even came here during the day when the farm was slow and helped Brody. Which made me a happier person because my shifts were shorter, I got more done in the office when I wasn’t Brodys assistant.

“So there’s no one living in my parents house for the next few days,” Candy declared, swivelling in her chair, we were both working today, “we should have a little gathering before I have to clean it for the next group.”

“A little gathering?” I raised an eyebrow at her.

She laughed, “no, I mean it. Will be cool to have just us locals, I don’t want a rager, because I will be the one who has to clean it.”

I laughed, of course, “like who?”

“Me, you, Josh, Katie, Jacob, Hanson, Georgie, Jess?”

I gagged at the last name.

“She’s okay, besides she’d rock up anyway,” Candy laughed.

“Fine,” I rolled my eyes.

“Josh only has eyes for you, everyone can see it, even Jess.”

“That’s what makes her even more thirsty.”

“Hopefully she won’t even show,” Candy declared, “we’ll chill inside and play some drinking games, so weird that a summer storm is coming.”

I shrugged, “you know it happens every year, it’ll last a night and be done. I actually love them.”

“Yeah, but you’re weird,” Candy used her feet to push off of my chair so hers went down the hall to the break room.

“You want a coffee?” She called back to me.

“Yes please,” I yelled.

“Me too,” Darlene called from her office.

“I got your text,” Josh declared as he walked into the office along with Brody.

“What text?” I asked, I didn’t text him.

He easily leant over the counter and kissed me.

“From Candy,” he said.

“You going to come?” She asked.

At the same time Brody laughed and pointed at me, “he wasn’t even talking to you.”

“Shut up child,” I rolled my eyes at him.

“Yeah I’ll come, I’ll head home now and shower and change then come back. I might have to swing by Harbour and get Hanson and Dan.”

“Oh Dan’s coming?” I wiggled my eyes at Candy.

“Don’t get your hopes up!” She pointed at me, “no one can tame the beast.”

“Did you really just call yourself the beast?” Brody looked at her strangely.

Dan was a long time fling of Candy’s, her only one. He was a bit older than us and barely came out. Kept to himself a lot.

Josh gave me another kiss then left, Brody went into the break room after saying goodbye to our boyfriend.

“Dan hey? You didn’t list his name before,” I looked curiously at Candy.

She blushed. Oh wow. Candy doesn’t blush.

“It’d be rude to leave him out.”

“Bullshit, he leaves himself out,” I called her out.

Daniel Rush was a really nice guy. Him and his family owned a real estate firm in Harbour Hills that did really well. He was 32 and a good looking guy. He had to be since his face was plastered all over Harbour Hills. He had a movie star face, a dazzling smile and luscious fluffy brown hair, which was always pushed back to the side. He was tall, but he wasn’t muscular or lean like Josh and Hanson, he wasn’t the active type. But he definitely was not fat, he was already prepared for parenthood with that dad bod.

Anyway, him and Candy worked perfectly together, they looked good together and their personalities just bounced off each other. They’ve been a thing since before I met them, but it’s never been serious. Dan has been all about business, and Candy’s Candy.

“Is this why it’s locals only?” I asked Candy.

“You know why,” she almost screamed at me, with a grin on her face she couldn’t hide.

To her defence, it was smart to not have a huge party since she had to have that place immaculate for the next guests.

“Yeah, yeah,” I bobbed my head, knowing there was an ulterior motive.

“Just shut up and do your work,” she gave me a side eye.

“I’ve done all my work!” I poked my tongue at her.

“Then get out of here and let Candice do hers,” Darlene came out of her office and leant on the door frame.

“What,” me and Candy both turned to her in unison.

She laughed, “I’m not rewarding Elody, I’m punishing you,” she said to Candy.

“What did I do?” She asked.

“You get sidetracked every day you two work together,” Darlene yelled in a pleasant way.

“I’ll take it,” I laughed.

“Well Elody is up to date so she should. This is what we’ll do from now on to motivate you Candy.”

Candy gave Darlene an evil glare.

“And Elody,” she saved herself, “when ever you two work together. Whoever finishes all their duties first can go early.”

“Oh it’s on,” Candy stared at me.

I stood up, “well I won the first round.”

“Are you for reals Darls?” I looked at Darlene hoping this really wasn’t a joke.

“For reals,” she tried to say in my voice.

“Thank you,” I hugged her, “I’m off to the beach then.”

I did a little excited jump.

“I’ll see you tonight Candy.”

“Wash your hair!” She yelled at me as I went to walk out the door.

“Shut up,” I flipped her off before I left and she flipped me off back.

If only Darlene could’ve decided this a little earlier when Josh was here so I could’ve hung out with him, but I wasn’t complaining. Even though Josh didn’t say I knew he’d come down to the van first and walk me up to Candy’s parents house.

I walked back to my van, waving at people that waved and recognised me as I walked. It was a really overcast day and the storm could start at any moment, but I knew it wouldn’t til tonight if ever. The clouds were a light grey and dark over the horizon, there was still time.

I quickly changed into my bathers when I got to the van and grabbed a towel and I was off.

After the beach I decided to wash my hair like Candy said, and put some effort in. I felt bad that I hadn’t been on a date yet with Josh, or put any effort in. This was a busy season for me, but I could’ve done more. So I curled the ends of my hair and actually styled it giving it volume and a sweeping fringe to the side. I did a full face of makeup with dark Smokey eyes and a cream lip. I put on black skin tight jeans with rips on the thighs and thigh high boots. I tucked up a black v neck singlet and put a check cream long sleeve crop over the top, buttoning it at my neck, it still peaked open below showing my cleavage. It does get cool here at night due to the ocean breeze and now a storm to top it off so I wouldn’t be too hot. Underneath this clothing was a matching lace bra and thong for later. I knew I’d be pulling wedgies all night but I’d try to hide that. I walked out of the ablution block with my stuff and walked across to my van. Josh and Dan were sitting on my two chairs and Hanson was laying on the grass in front of them.

Dan wolf whistled as he saw me walk over.

I laughed and did a twirl, raising one arm like I was on the cat walk.

Josh got up and came straight over to me lifting me up in a hug, he gave me a big kiss as he put me down.

“You look so hot,” he said, looking me up and down as he licked his lips.

“You’re suppose to tell me I look beautiful,” I pouted.

“I’ll tell you that when I take these clothes off later,” he kissed me again.

We walked back over to my van.

“Hanson,” I nodded at Hanson who was still on the floor.

“Hey El.”

“Long time no see Rush,” I said to Dan, giving him a hug before throwing my stuff on the lounge in the annex a hanging up my towel.

“Yeah it’s been a while,” he smiled at me.

“I thought yous wouldn’t be here for a while longer,” I said, pulling out the step from under the front of the van and sitting on it. I wasn’t sitting on the floor after putting this much effort in.

The boys were all in hoodies and jeans, but they still looked good. Like they could all be in a band or a crew.

“We were bored,” Josh shrugged.

“No, you were hounding us to hurry up,” Hanson said to Josh.

“Oh,” I raised my eyebrows at Josh, “someone miss me?”

“Well after seeing you now I don’t even want to go to this party,” josh leant forward and grabbed my arm, pulling me onto him.

“This is a camping chair, we’ll break it,” I protested, but Josh kissed me to shut me up.

“You two are disgusting,” Hanson rolled his eyes, sitting up.

“Shut up mate, you’ve seen this all before,” Josh kicked him with his long leg.

“Nah, yous weren’t like this last time,” he said, he got up, “okay one more beer each then we’ll go.”

He went inside to my fridge.

“No worries, help yourself,” I said sarcastically.

He re-emerges with four beers, passing them out, “don’t worry I got you one too.”

“Of course El is the one with the stocked beer fridge,” Dan said.

“Literally always full, I don’t even know how it happens,” Josh said, “like every time I swear to god.”

I laughed, “I have a secret stash that I will never tell any of you about,” I pointed at all of them.

“Are you OCD and restock every morning?” Hanson asked.

“I do.”

“I was jokIng,” he yelled.

We finished our beers then walked up the hill towards Candy’s house. When we got there Katie and Jacob were already there with Candy.

“Party people!” Jacob yelled as we walked in.

We all said our hellos.

Katie was in the kitchen sorting out all the bottles and mixers like the true bartender she is, and Jacob was sorting out music and playlists on his phone connecting to the speakers. Jacob was always our DJ.

“You look hot,” Candy said, grabbing at my shirt.

I laughed, “I can try sometimes.”

“You should try more often,” she said, passing me a drink off the counter.

Katie had made me a dark and stormy.

“Rude,” I shoved Candy with my shoulder.

She smiled as she drank.

The group of us starting drinking and played a few games, laughing and taking the piss out of Jacob mainly, as we always did. He was the baby of the group. And then Jess walked in with Georgie and Summer. Here we go, the devil and her two minions.

The three of them said hello to us as a ground and then sat down at the free spots at the end of the table after getting themselves some drinks.

“Hey Josh,” Jess sang.

Josh already had his arm around me but still pulled me closer, “hey Jess.”

I rolled my eyes.

Jess saw and gave me a look, before looking back at Josh and smiling sweetly. I wasn’t as annoyed or jealous as I thought I’d be. Obviously still slightly, not going to lie.

I tried not to let it get to me. We kept playing games, and I always delegated any drinking to Summer.

It was a thing we always did, she did the same. It was friendly banter. Summer may be Jess’s minion but she was a cool girl, we were actually really good friends before. Before Jess decided that she wanted Josh while I was still dating him. We still get along now, just not like we use to.

But whenever we were both around in settings like this we dominated as partners in beer pong, and that’s what was next.

We had played round robin style of beer pong and it was the final round to name a champion of the night. Me and Summer verse Josh and Hanson. As always.

“Okay girls, you can do this,” Candy tried to pep talk us, “we are women in a mans world.”

“But who run the world?” Georgie asked, giving Summer a back rub, pretending we were about to run for the gold medal or something.

“Girls!” We all yelled together in unison, all 6 girls in the room.

The boys were huddled on the other side of the table doing something similar.

“Are you ready to lose your title to us again?” Summer said to Josh and Hanson and we faced them to start the final game.

“Never!” Hanson yells and throws the first shot, straight into the middle cup.

“Rookie mistake,” I shook my head.

“You’re the rookie!” Josh yells and takes a turn, missing.

I laugh, “your shot was as good as your comeback.”

“That was mean babe,” Josh puts on a pout.

“Sorry babe,” I blow him a kiss.

He catches is.

“Aw weak!” The two remaining boys, being Jacob and Dan push Josh around.

I take my shot, and hit the front cup.

The girls squeal and me and Summer high five.

“You know what to do, same cup,” I say calmly to summer.

And she does it! The whole room is in an uproar. Cheers from the girls and boos from the boys.

It means they have to drink two and we get the balls back. But it was all a waste and we miss both our shots.

It’s a long ruling game and by the end it’s neck and neck on the last cup, and no one can seem to get it in, it feels like it’s been forever and we’ve all lost interest.

“For f**k sake Josh, just get it in already!” I yell at Josh. Hanson has already had his shot and missed.

Josh flicks it over and it bounces off the rim. We all ahhh in disappointment.

“Why are you doing this to us we’re so thirsty,” Summer whines. Taking her shot and blowing it.

“Oh my god, if you’re going to whine just go get a f*****g drink,” Hanson yells as he retrieves the ping pong ball.

I’ve given up, I need a drink.

I bounce the ball on the table in an act of defeat, “f**k it I will.”

I turn to leave the game and I hear gasps.

I turn and the world turns slow motion, I watch my pathetic attempt to finish the game in a hissy fit make momentum as the ball bounces towards the boys last cup, somehow gaining enough height and hitting the rim and slowly falling in.

The room erupts in cheers, it’s finally over. Summer runs up to me and picks me up in a hug, only slightly off the floor and bounces me.

I see Hanson and Josh holding their heads in shame and Dan and Jacob hitting them all laughing. All the girls are dancing and hugging. The girls have taken the title back.

I join in and put my arm around Summer, and flip off the boys.

“I think y’all should make our drinks now since we’re so thirsty,” I yell towards the boys.

“Don’t forget to drink the warm beers first,” Summer points towards the two red cups still standing, one with the winning ping pong ball in it.

Jess grabs the one on our end of the table and runs it over to Josh to drink.

He skulls it, open his mouth and shows his tongue to prove it, then puts the cup rim down on Jess’s head.

“Ew,” she ducks but it was too late. The cup drops and she tries to fix her hair.

Josh moves past her and into the kitchen and grabs a cider for me and Summer.

“Here are your prizes,” he hands them to each of us then shakes our hands formally.

Hanson comes over and does the same, “good game.” We all say to each other.

Josh gives me a kiss.

“You’re not mad I beat you are you?” I asked him, smiling innocently up at him.

He hugs me and kisses the top of my head then whispers in my ear, “you’ll pay for it later.”

We all kept drink and dancing to the music. It was good just to have a night of friends rather than all the random people that come here to spend a minuscule part of their life here.

I did notice Candy and Dan forever gravitating towards each other. I knew why Dan got a lift from Josh, he wouldn’t be going home tonight. We all love Dan of course but sometimes I didn’t like him. Candy claimed she didn’t want to settle down and try everything before she bought one, but I knew she liked him. Dan on the other hand, sometimes seemed like he was using her for an easy lay when he wanted it but nothing more.

I ended up outside with Katie and Josh, sitting on the bottom verandas. Josh and I don’t usually smoke but we both bummed one from Katie.

“So are you two official this time?” Katie asked.

We both looked at each other, smiled, and then laughed.

“Yeah,” Josh declared. Taking my hand and kissing the top of it.

“Good, you two are the cutest couple I’ve ever seen,” Katie smiled, “imagine the offspring!”

We all laughed.

And then it happened, the sky flashed white then thunder erupted in the sky, soon after rain started to sprinkle. I grabbed Katie’s hand with my free one and pulled her up onto the grass. I inhaled my cigarette and looked up to blow it out. With my eyes closed I could feel the water land on my face. I let go of Katie’s hand and started to spin, she did the same, laughing.

Josh followed us and from behind me snaked his arms around my waist and lifted me, twirling me.

The music got louder as the sliding glass doors opened from the house and the rest of the girls piled out to dance in the rain.

The sky flashed again, brighter, and you could see the lightning itself. Then the thunder boomed over the music as we danced, laughed and chased each other in the rain.

Josh grabbed onto my wet face, his hands on my cheeks he leant down and kissed me, the rain made everything so magical and I loved it.

I woke up in the morning with Josh behind me embracing me, he was still dead asleep. It was still raining outside, emphasised by the metal of the van.

I closed my eyes and snuggled back into Josh a bit more, he stirred a bit in his sleep and held me tighter. I could stay in bed all day, I still felt tired and my head had a soft banging already. Luckily I didn’t have work today. I closed my eyes and tried to drift back to sleep…

Flashback.

“You really don’t have to do this,” I push at Jackson’s chest as he was coming towards me with a grin on his face.

“I feel like I do,” he doesn’t move back much as I push on him, just edges closer towards me with his arms out.

I giggle like a school girl in love, “you’ll drop me!”

“I could never drop something so precious,” he smiles and kisses my cheek as he reaches me, he places on hand on my back and leans done and grabs the back of my legs, lifting me up and holding me against him. He walked towards the front door and kicks it open, walking through into the house with me.

“Welcome home baby,” he kisses me and places me down in the hallway, “babies.”

He kisses my barely noticeable pregnancy belly.

“I can’t believe you bought this house for us,” I wandered off, through the formal dining and into the kitchen, Jackson followed.

There were still boxes everywhere.

“I can’t have my future wife and child living in a one bedroom apartment can I?” Jackson lifted me up and placed me on the island bench.

I smiled up at him, even sitting up on the bench I had to look up at him.

He placed his hands on my belly and nestled his chin in the crook of my neck.

“I love you Jackson,” I pull his head up to look at me, as our eyes locked I kissed him deeply, wrapping my arms around him.

I wake up in a panic, grabbing my chest trying to calm my breathing, what should be a pleasant memory was a nightmare. I grabbed the sheets next to me where Josh should’ve been, but he wasn’t there.

“Josh!” I yell.

“El?” I hear him call back confused.

He pokes his head into the van, “you alright?”

I sigh, relief, “yeah sorry, I just didn’t know if you were gone or not.”

He walks in and sits on the bed and grabs my arm, “you’re sweaty as f**k, you sure you okay?”

He puts a hand to my forehead to gauge my temper, I slap it away and laugh.

“Yeah sorry, just a bad dream.”

He smiles and leans in and kisses me, “I’ll make breakfast.”

I lay back down in bed, exhausted. I force the dream out of my head, unlike most dreams the images weren’t fading, that’s probably because I lived it.