Page 6 of Hot Summer's Prey

What did I even say? Oh right, self-flagellation.

I won’t have any sad-sack feelings, thank you. I lean forward, put my hands on Zephyr’s shoulders and shake them as if all their sorrows and twisty feelings can be beaten out like dirt on a rug.

“You inherited a freakin’ cottage! In late stage capitalism, on prime beachfront property, from a woman you mostly have only good memories of!”

“Old memories,” they mutter.

“Mostly good ones!” I repeat. “C’mon!”

I jump out of the car, pull their door open, and drag them out. They groan, trying to get away with being so depresso. Taara also clearly sees the benefit of my ways, getting out as well.

“You just need like… A splash of water to the face or something,” I say.

Zephyr raises an eyebrow, but before they can protest, I pull them behind me, rushing towards the cliffside.

“Teresa, I’m not sure why this is time to test the old adage, ‘if your friend jumped off a cliff, would you,’ but it seems a little insensitive—plus, I do not want to scrape you both off the side of a cliff,” Taara calls after us.

“Rude,” I laugh back. “We just need to connect with the water. It’s healing!”

I grew up inland, but my mom took us to the beach as much as she could during the summer in between work. It was easier when my Lola forgave her. Managing my brothers and me alone had to be a challenge. Getting my toes in the water ASAP for the nostalgia may be a bit selfish, but I really do think it’ll help Zephyr too.

Eventually, I find a trail—I knew there had to be a trail—and I step more carefully as it narrows where the ice plants have taken over.

“Teresa, I do not have your stamina,” Zephyr whines behind me.

“I’m not even moving that fast anymore,” I laugh back.

They aren’t even breathing hard—they’re just being adversarial because they know this will be good for them. They want to stay in that sad, depressed headspace, but I won’t let them. Mental cycling doesn’t help anyone.

I lead them down, careful so that none of us trip on the shallow roots of the ice plants. Dawn would take this moment to rant about the invasive nature of the succulents, which she does at every chance. She’s the only reason I know their name. To me, before her rants, they were just beach succulents. It’s probably for the best that she’s like forty minutes behind us.

Finally, we make it to the bottom of the path. Zephyr stops resisting and runs at the water full speed along with me. I glance back—Taara follows us behind. She’s laughing, easily keeping up with us. Cardio and I get along pretty well, but she actually enjoys running and could easily outrun us. The way she follows behind is maternal, as if she’s looking out for us should we fall. Her little pups.

Sometimes I think she takes that idea too seriously, considering Zeph and I are the youngest in our friend group. At thirty and thirty-two, respectively, we get called ‘the kids’ too often for comfort. It probably doesn’t help that both Zephyr and I work with people a decade younger than us or more, so we both can act much younger sometimes. Most of my coworkers really do feel like kids… There is a noticeable difference being in my thirties.

Zephyr lets out a yell as their feet hit the wet sand. The tide ebbs. I yell too, my feet already freezing from the frigid water.

It splashes up at us as the tide flows forward again, making all three of us shriek with laughter. A mischievous look passes over Zephyr’s face. I don’t have nearly enough time to dodge their attack as they pull me forward with them. Their hands slip along my arms, already soaked even though I’m only submerged up to my ankles.

“No! Zeph, please,” I cackle. “It’s so cold!”

“You started this, Resa!” they cry out maniacally.

I give in to my destiny as Zephyr pulls me further along, deeper into the ocean. I laugh as the salt water goes up my nose, my vision blurring as the wave hits.

“Taara!” I squeal, choking on salt water. “Save me!”

When the wave dies down, I can see her doubled over, laughing at the both of us from her safe place only shin-deep.

“Like they said, you got yourself into this!”

3

MEN ARE PARASITES

PACARI

Iam not unfamiliar with the depths. A part of it houses my sanctuary. But not many go this far who do not already live in the Abyss, except for creatures like me and Cirro.

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