Page 6 of Overtime
“In those heels?” Violet nods down to the three-inch spike heels I have on, that I may or may not have worn for confidence.
“I have flats upstairs I can change into really quick.”
“I’ve got it,” Colton interjects, and Violet and I both turn to look at him. “It’ll take me half the time, and I don’t need to change to do it.”
“I can do it,” I argue. I don’t know why I’m arguing, he’s right. But I’d wanted out of this room. Fresh air. Time to myself to replay that stupid scene a few times until I’d been able to quell my anxiety by thinking of a time that was more awkward than that one, and by comparison make it seem less tragic.
“You can get a pair of flip-flops out of the closet.” Violet nods to the door. “I just bought them.”
“Thanks.”
“I can get the kayaks if you want to get the stuff in the shed.” Colton doesn’t wait for an answer, opening the back door instead and taking off.
“Bastard,” I mutter, hurrying to the closet and grabbing the flip-flops. I quickly change and then scurry toward the door.
“Be nice!” Violet calls after me.
“Oh, I’ll be nice,” I respond and hustle through the door after him. His stupid, giant ass gait already has him halfway down the hill. I have to run to catch up with him and then slow down my pace because I’m sure I look ridiculous running down the hill in flip-flops.
“You really didn’t have to come. I’ve got it,” I say, trying to sound calm and collected despite the fact I’m attempting to move at the speed of light because this man just made me feel an inch tall.
“The kayaks are high up. Ben usually gets them.”
“I can figure it out.”
“Or you could just get the things in the shed,” he counters.
And I could. I could just get the things in the shed, but instead, I’m barreling down the gentle slope of the hill toward the boathouse trying to beat a man who could probably outrun me in two seconds flat if he bothered to put in any effort. I’m being stupid. Stubbornly stupid. But I can’t let it go.
When we get to the boathouse though, I know he’s right. There’s no way I can get them easily, especially if I try to do it all by myself. But I’m determined to try.
I stand on my tiptoes and then use the tips of my fingers to press the edge of the kayak off the hook. I manage to knock it free, and one side comes down on me hard. I scoop my arms under it and catch it before it can crash to the ground. It hurts, but I’m used to hauling heavy camera equipment around, so it’s nothing I can’t handle.
The problem is what comes next—a giant fucking spider parading its way out from underneath the lip of the kayak onto my forearm and proceeding to make a quick march up my arm.
I scream. I jump. I yell fifty-something obscenities and then I lose my balance. The weight of the kayak only makes that precipitous situation even worse, and suddenly I’m tumbling over backward with the kayak falling hard on my legs.
FOUR
Colton
It happens so fastI can’t get to her in time, and she’s on the ground with the kayak on top of her, viciously swiping at her arm and making tiny yiping noises like a small hurt animal.
“Fuck, Joss. Are you okay?” I rush over and lift the kayak off her legs but two red welts that look like they’re ready to start bruising any moment are already on her shins.
“Get it off! It’s in my hair! In my hair!” she screeches.
“What?” I ask.
“The spider. It’s huge and gross, and I know it went in my hair.”
I crouch down, leaning over her, and spot the offender as it crawls out onto her shoulder.
“It’s just a wolf spider,” I say, trying to reassure her that it’s nothing venomous.
“I don’t care what it is, Colton, just get it off!”
I swipe at it, knocking it to the floor and it scurries off, likely wondering what the hell it did to deserve this kind of afternoon surprise. She takes a deep breath and pulls her legs up to her chest, moving one from side to side to get a better look at the welt. I glance up at the kayak which looks like it has a bit of a dent on one side and frown. I can feel her eyes on me again.
