Page 114 of Save Me
“No, but it’s too late now. I’ll warn them.” Rebel and Skye maybe close, but notthatclose. They won’t be up for sharing Connor’s body parts.
“He’s paying his fair share. So is the other one.”
“Yes, sir.” I mock salute.
He rolls his eyes. “Come and see what we’ve done.”
“I’m allowed?” I drifted off after Ronan left to get Connor, exhausted by the last few late nights, and woke up to Rebel clattering in the kitchen and strict rules to stay away from the back because Frank and the beach crew were at work. I was in no hurry to watch them dismantle five decades of history, so I helped finish dinner, and then I freshened up the trailers in anticipation of Bailey and Connor.
“Come on.” Frank jerks his head. “Everyone helped. Even the pipe cleaner.”
I hold my breath and follow him around back to where a sweaty group of Sea Witch staff lingers, chugging water. Nearby, Jeremy flips burgers on the grill, the smell of BBQ permeating the air.
“Wow.”
What used to be just sparse grass and sand is now a small oasis. They leveled the ground and spread screening, setting patio stones to form paths toward the stone fire pit, from both the house and the beach. In each corner, the soil has been churned and small palm trees planted.
“My uncle owns the garden place out in Old Town. He’ll sell plants to us at cost. You just gotta tell me what you like.” Rolland leans on his shovel, his tanned arms smeared with dirt. He doesn’t look so scrawny anymore.
“I can’t believe you guys did all this today.”
“It took, what, three and a half hours?” Ron says, checking his watch. “Had some old materials in storage at the compound that we hauled over.”
“The pit looks the same.” It’s like they picked it up and carried it over in one piece. Same sooty stones, same size, same shape.
“I had the power washer ready, but Frank said he’d aim the gun at my nut sac if I touched that dirt,” Brock, a quiet guy, says.
“And he knew I meant it,” Frank adds, as the others laugh.
“But look, see? We’re still close to the beach. It’s just over there.” Will waves his hands in the direction of the water, where Connor and the girls lounge, waist-deep.
“Yeah, now the hotel can go fuck themselves if they call the cops on us again.” Mick studies a fresh scrape on his knuckle. “And we can keep having our fires like we always do.”
“Guys, this is incredible.” They worked their Sea Witch jobs all day in the hot sun, and then they came here to do this. “Thank you.” It seems inadequate.
“We’re the Sea Witch fam.” Jeremy appears then, throwing an arm around me. “We’re always here for each other.”
Would they be here, though, slaving for me, if they knew how I’d sabotaged them?
“How much longer for the burgers, dude?” Mick whines.
“Five minutes. Ten, tops,” Jeremy promises. “Just enough time to jump in the water, you filthy pigs.”
A chorus of curses sounds, and then the guys areabandoning shovels and work gloves, their sights set on cooling off.
The guilt that’s been gnawing at my conscience for weeks finally erupts. “I’ve got to come clean,” I blurt. Might as well get everything out in the open today. “I know you guys applied for seasonal at the hotel.”
Wary glances dart around. Rolland appears utterly confused.
I rush on before I chicken out. “I blocked your hires. Well, Ronan did. For me. I couldn’t lose you all. Not like that. Not to them. But I know it was wrong.” I hold my breath as I study their faces, waiting for their reactions.
“Yeah, we know,” Mick admits with a shrug. “Cody came by the compound and told us.”
“What? When?” Frank demands to know.
“Yesterday afternoon. You were out at the sandbar.”
A muttered curse, followed by something unintelligible—likely a threat of bodily harm—slips from Frank’s lips.
