Page 85 of Happy Harbor
Kendra’s stomach churned. “What do you mean? This isn’t your cousin’s boat?”
“No. Duh.”
“We just stole a boat?” Scotty said, standing up. She could tell he was on the verge of completely freaking out.
“Scotty, calm down. I’ve got this, okay?” She stood in front of him, speaking in a calm voice. He was starting college soon, and stealing a boat and going to jail certainly wouldn’t help him keep his scholarships. He finally sat down.
“Y’all need to relax. We’ll get it back to the dock before anybody notices,” Justin said, turning the wheel with a cigarette hanging from his mouth.
Kendra slowly walked toward the group. Being nice hadn’t worked, and now she was turning on the version of herself she thought she’d left behind. She stood right in front of Kiki, who seemed to be the ringleader.
“Why did you ask us to come here?” Kendra asked through gritted teeth.
Kiki giggled. “Because nobody’s arresting the granddaughter of Adeline Campbell, the matriarch of this town. And if you don’t get in trouble, we don’t get in trouble.” She popped her gum again, which only made Kendra want to pop her in the jaw.
“Turn this boat around and take us back. Now.”
Kiki got closer. “Or what?”
Kendra laughed. “Listen up, you overdone little fool. Back in Atlanta, I ate girls like you for lunch. I’m trying to be a better person in Happy Harbor, but you don’t even want to know what I will do to you and your friends if you don’t turn this boat around right now.”
“I’m not scared of you.”
Kendra lowered her head slightly and looked at Kiki. “You really, really should be.”
There was a long pause before Dusty finally spoke up. “Fine. Who wants to hang out with these losers, anyway? We’ll take the stupid boat back and go to the beach for the rest of the night.”
Kendra turned and walked back to her seat, reaching down for Scotty’s hand once she sat down. Dusty turned the boat and started back toward the Riverwalk.
“What was that?” Scotty asked quietly.
“Sorry you had to see the other side of me.”
He smiled slightly. “I liked it, actually. My girlfriend is tough!”
“Girlfriend?” she said, looking over at him.
“Too soon?”
She shook her head. “Not too soon at all.”
* * *
Walker led Josie and Diane to the other end of Main Street. As soon as they got closer, Diane started shaking her head and mumbling.
“What’s wrong?” Josie asked.
“I know exactly what he’s doing. I’m not doing it, Walker!” she called to him. He turned around, giving her a slight smile.
“The people want what the people want!” he called back.
“I’m confused...” Josie said as the crowd parted in front of them and she found herself standing right in front of the dunk tank. “Oh, I get it now. And no, absolutely not.”
He put his hands in a praying position. “Come on, y’all. People are offering to pay five dollars apiece to see Josie dunk you, Diane.”
Diane’s mouth fell open. “Why me?”
He scrunched his nose. “It’s a small town. Everybody knows your history as mother and daughter. Think of it like a friendly grudge match.”
