Swipe Right

Chapter 8: The Morning After

Lochlyn woke up to the sounds of the ocean crashing on the sound. Of course she generally woke up to that sound but not usually in surround sound. She pried open her eyes to figure out why she felt her back was breaking. That was when she realized she was curled up in a chair that was on the sand. Had she fallen asleep out here? Lochlyn groaned and then stretched. She looked over and saw AJ and Oakley all snuggled up together on another chair.

She looked around and didn’t see Holden. He must have left at some point during the night. She stood up and stretched more trying to get the aches out of her back and legs. She was going to have to do lots of stretches today to hopefully feel somewhat normal. Loch went into the house and up to the kitchen. She could smell the coffee and smiled. Her parents were sitting at the table. Her father was reading a book while her mother was reading the Shore paper.

“Hey guys.” She smiled as she poured herself a cup. Her parents laughed and looked over at her.

“Hey babe. You look like you slept in a patio chair all night.” Her dad teased her sending her a wink.

“Oh really?” She laughed running her fingers through her hair to try and calm  it down. “I think that’s because I apparently did.” They had been just talking and relaxing. Lochlyn didn’t remember falling asleep outside but it wasn’t the first time. It wouldn’t be her last either.

“Is that AJ?” Her mother asked. Loch hadn’t noticed that her mother had moved from the table to the window. She walked over and looked out. She was expecting to see AJ and Oakley curled up but instead she saw Holden walking from the water. That’s why she wasn’t able to find him.

“No that’s Holden his friend. AJ and Oakley are still asleep.” Lochlyn sipped her coffee and turned away from the sight.

“Oh….I see.” Her mother said. Lochlyn could hear the smile on her face. She wanted to roll her eyes and ask what but decided she didn’t even want to know what the woman was thinking.

Lochlyn shuffled over to her father and sat in front of him. “Papaaaaa.” She said. Lochlyn pouted her lip and tried to give him big puppy dog eyes.

“What do you want?” He asked trying to look stern.

“Will you make me pancakes?” She continued with the pout. Lochlyn watched as her father was fighting trying to just say yes. She knew he was going to do it but he seemed to want to make a joke out of it first.

“Why should I?” He asked crossing his arms over his chest.

“You love your only child?” Lochlyn smiled at him before pouting again. “Please???”

The man sighed and stood up. Yes! Lochlyn cheered and smiled.

“Thanks Daddy.” She got up and kissed his cheek. “Can you make enough for everyone?” She started to pout again.

“Yeah just go change.” He waved his hand at her before heading to the stove.  Lochlyn shook her head and rushed upstairs to change. She even grabbed some clothes for Oakley. She wasn’t sure if the guys were going to want clothes but she grabbed some old things from her dad’s closet before heading back outside.

“Wakey wakey.” Lochlyn called out. AJ was already up talking to Holden close to the water while Oakley was still curled up in the chair.

“Girl wake up.” She went over and sat on the arm of the chair. Oakley groaned and wiped her eyes.

“God did we really fall asleep out here??” Her voice was groggy and horse.

“Yes we did. It feels like high school all over again. I brought you clothes.” Lochlyn smiled and held them up. Oakley smiled and grabbed them.

“This is one of the reasons I love you.” She leaned up and pecked Lochlyn’s cheek before heading to the outdoor shower area to change.

“Hey guys!” Lochlyn called out while she walked towards them. “I didn’t know if you’d want new clothes since we’re all salty from staying out here all night or not but here’s something. I’m not sure they will fit” She gave a small smile before offering the clothes to them.

The guys took the clothes and smiled.

“Thanks Loch.” AJ smiled and patted her shoulder. He headed after Oakley. Holden grabbed the clothes and looked down at them.

“Uh I…” He started.

“If you go under the deck there are two outdoor showers. One I’m pretty sure Oakley and AJ are in right now. They already have shampoo and soap in them.” She pointed towards the house. Holden nodded and started heading that way but he stopped.

“Thanks for letting me stay.” He said sending her a smile.

“Uh you’re AJ’s friend why wouldn’t I?” Lochlyn shook her head and walked towards the water. She had changed into her bathing suit. Maybe she would take a board out and surf for a little bit. It was still early enough to have decent waves. Though she did ask her dad to make pancakes and she didn’t want to miss out on those. She bit her lip and then ran up the deck stairs.

“Dad do I have time catch a wave or two before breakfast?” Lochlyn asked. Her father’s back was to her and he turned slightly.

“I think you have time for a swim.” He sent her a wink before turning back to the stove. She laughed and then headed back to the water. Fine she could deal with just a swim for now. She took off her cover up and tossed it into the chair before running into the water. It was decently chilly but not too bad. It was still pretty early in the summer. The water would only get warmer as the season went on. If she wanted warm water she could go to the other side of the shore and sit in the bay. It was like sitting in a bath tub.

She dived into the first decent size wave that came along feeling the salt water run over her back and through her hair. Lochlyn loved the ocean. It was one of the only places she felt completely accepted. The water wasn’t going to tell her she wasn’t good enough or pretty enough or smart enough. It didn’t honestly care about her at all.

She was just apart of it when she was in the water. Breaking through the other side of the wave Lochlyn took in the morning sun and the salt air. This was going to be a good summer she could just feel it. She was going to get the things she wanted. Lochlyn pulled her hair back and up into a bun.. She was going to take a shower after breakfast. Loch lifted her legs and straightened her back so she could float on the top of the water.

The clouds in chunks passed over head. The birds flew closer and closer to the water looking for the fish below. They didn’t dive next to her but that was okay. She felt completely at peace. This was where she belonged. No matter how much fun she had in the city this was where she belonged. At least this is where she belonged for now.

“Lochlyn!” A voice called over the waves. She stood up looking back at shore. Oakley was waving at her from the deck. Breakfast must be ready. She waved and started to swim back to shore. She walked up to the house.

“Oakley I’mma rinse off and be up.” She called before heading into the outdoor shower. She hadn’t brought clothes so she was going to be stuck in her bathing suit before she went upstairs. Lochlyn rinsed the salt off her body and grabbed a towel her mother had left down for her.

She could smell the pancakes as she walked up the stairs. They smelled amazing.

“So Holden is this your first time here on the shore?” Her father asked.

“Yeah. My parents are renting a house for the summer to decide if they want to buy one.” Holden said.

Of course, he was one of the second homers. She should have known.

“Wow that’s awesome.” Her mother said. She could hear the fake smile in her voice but knew secretly how her mother felt about all those people from the city coming in and buying the houses or building mega houses here. She generally ranted about housing costs once a week.

“AJ is technically staying with my family. Though I’m pretty sure he’s actually staying with Oakley and hers.” Holden said.

She didn’t have to hear or see her best friend to know that Oakley was blushing and stuttering.

“Don’t tease my best friend.” Lochlyn said as she walked into the kitchen. Holden turned to look at me. His expression was hard to read.

“I was teasing mine.” He said finally showing some emotion by smiling.

“So you two are best friends?” Lochlyn asked looking between AJ and Holden. AJ shrugged and poured himself a cup of coffee.

“Hmmm.” Lochlyn said sitting next to her mother. “Interesting.”

“Alright breakfast time.” Her dad said with a smile passing out the pancakes. What a great start to a day, though she knew better than to think that.