Page 109 of It Happened on the Lake

He pulled away, disgusted with himself and more disgusted with Chase, who had mentioned the chicks and free love at this little house more than once.

Levi wanted no part of it.

He walked quietly home, then slipped inside the house, which was much quieter now. Just the furnace rumbling and rain on the roof.

Was it odd that Moonbeam knew Chase? Was she always so free with her body? Had Chase been down there and actually screwed her?

Their mother was always ranting and raving about “that awful place filled with free love and who knows what else?” But despite the rumors of drugs at the small house, the cops, including his father and Rand’s dad, had pretty much turned a blind eye to the comings and goings.

As Moonbeam had alluded to.

The cops don’t bother us.

What was that all about?

Not that he really cared.

Suddenly bone-tired, he kicked off his clothes and slipped wearily between the sheets. He was closing his eyes when he heard the sound of bedsprings beginning to squeak. Rhythmically and slow, and then faster and faster. Shit. His parents were doing it! His father, all hyped up on anger, was . . .

He wouldn’t think about it!

Nor would he think about Moonbeam’s supple body.

He felt an erection swelling again and tried to ignore it when he heard movement.

Over the squeaking mattress and his mother’s stifled moans, he heard Chase leaving the room next to his. Quick, light footsteps hurrying toward the basement stairs.

Man, Chase was pushing it.

He strained to hear the sound of the slider opening downstairs and thought he heard the click of the lock, but he couldn’t be certain. Nonetheless, Chase didn’t return to his room.

He must’ve made it out.

Within seconds, the dog two doors down began to bark ferociously. Old Man Sievers’s shepherd. Forever on patrol.

The dog probably caught wind of Chase.

Overhead, the squeaking suddenly ended. For a second Levi expected his father to come racing down the stairs after Chase.

Levi waited, counting off the seconds.

It didn’t happen.

Good.

As at odds as Levi was with his older brother, he didn’t go along with some of Dad’s rules. It was stupid that Chase, almost twenty with over a year of college under his belt, was forced to skulk around like a pre-teen.

But that’s the way it was in Thomas Hunt’s house.

As Dad had said earlier: his house, his rules.

Well, fuck that!

Levi reached under his mattress again and pulled out the flask. He’d get drunk. Why the hell not?

He downed what was left in the flask, and then exhaustion overtook him. He closed his eyes and within seconds slept the sleep of the dead.

1988

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