The Bad Boy's Reward

Chapter 8: Party Invite

June's POV

“No?” I answered, with little confidence. I was in all honestly unsure of what he knew, and I didn’t want to tell him anything accidentally.

“McBride called me to tell me he saw you and JJ jogging along the coast this morning. Is there a reason you’re hanging around Jake Jacobson?” His tone was serious, one of warning. Give me a suitable answer or face my wrath.

“I was jogging on the coast because I didn’t get a chance yesterday evening. I didn’t know he would be there, and then he just started jogging beside me. It’s not like I can control what he does. Apparently, he just wanted to make sure that I wasn’t trying to change Tiffany or something. I don’t know. Why is McBride calling you?” I asked, changing the suspicion to him.

McBride was the mid-aged man that ran the surf shop on the coast. He was known for keeping to himself, and not a soul would dare call him a rat. McBride always looked away when there was underage drinking or fighting. So why would he suddenly be calling the Sheriff for something as petty as seeing me and JJ jogging this morning?

“McBride is just looking out for you, Bug. You need to stay clear of that kid. He’s nothing but trouble. You know that,” he said, with an exasperated shake of his head.

“Right.” I knew he was lying. McBride couldn't care less. More than likely, Dad caught him doing something minor and let him go with the condition of monitoring me. It wouldn’t be the first time, but I’d talk to McBride myself once Dad passed out for the day.

“Thanks for breakfast,” he said, grabbing his last turnover and heading up the stairs. “You know the rules. No boys, drugs, or alcohol, and keep clear of the Jacobson's residence. No driving the car either.” I mouthed every rule to myself as he said it. I don’t know why he felt the need to say it every single day, but he did. Maybe so I could never give him the excuse of forgetting it, or not having heard him.

“I know, Dad. Love you!” I yelled after him, as he was already upstairs.

“Love you too, Bug.”

He didn’t waste any time falling asleep. Last night must have been taxing on him, as he was snoring so loudly I could hear him from my room when I grabbed my swimsuit. Today I would swim at the beach and talk to McBride while I was at it. I still hadn’t washed my red one-piece bathing suit from a couple nights ago, leaving me with only the small two-piece I swore I would never wear out in public. With a heavy sigh, I placed the small blue fabric over me, staring at myself in the mirror. I had a nice body. I knew that — the boys knew that — but it didn’t mean I liked to show it. So I covered myself with the white coverall I bought a couple of summers ago but never used, and headed out. I left a sticky note on the fridge with my whereabouts just in case Dad woke up wondering where I had gone.

The blazing summer sun was more than I could bear on my walk to the surf shop. I was ready to dive into the ocean water, hoping it would be cool enough to provide some relief from this heat. Sadly, I knew I needed to talk to McBride before I could try to find some reprieve from the hot air. The line was short, so I waited my turn, standing behind Montana, our local surfer boy with skills to go pro.

“Now, what is June doing standing in line? If I remember correctly, you ate it bad the last time you tried surfing,” Montana teased me when he noticed me getting in line.

“Not that it’s any of your business. I’m just waiting to talk to McBride.”

“You know he’s not into younger chicks, right?” Montana was being a real ass today.

“You know he’s not into younger guys, right?” I asked him the same question.

“Feisty.” He raised his hand as if he were a cat clawing at the air.

“Always.” I gave him a pretty obvious fake smile, to which he responded with a smirk.

“I like feisty girls.” He winked at me, chuckling at the stupid blush he caused. I wasn’t used to getting hit on, even if jokingly. Why was everyone suddenly interacting with me so much?

“I don’t think they like you back.”

“My poor heart. That hurt, June.” He feigned being sad, puckering out his lower lip in a slight pout.

“Montana, what do you need?” McBride called to him as he was now up.

“Ran out of wax. Get me the best one you got. You know how I like it.”

“Remember, he’s not into younger dudes,” I teased Montana at his poor phrasing. He was caught off guard, staring at me in surprise.

“What’s up, June? I am not sure a board is ready to handle you yet. You’re harsher than the waves,” McBride joked as he noticed me behind Montana.

“What’s he got on you?” I arched a brow, daring him to lie to me. I knew he would know exactly what I was asking him. What did Dad have on him?

“What’s who got?” he asked, pretending not to know.

“You really want me to say it? Just tell me what he’s got on you that would have you calling him early this morning.” I crossed my arms, giving him the same stare down Dad gave his criminals when he was trying to make them break. Noticing Montana was listening in, McBride sent him away, giving him the wax for free just so he would leave faster.

“I’m sorry, June. He caught me with old Mary Jane the night you saved JJ on the coast. Told me he’d let me go as long as I kept tabs on you whenever you were on the beach. He took my Mary with him, too.” McBride sighed, thinking of the way he recreationally made himself feel better.

“I thought you gave up on Mary Jane.” I gave him the most disappointed, motherly look I had.

“She calls to me, man. It’s hard to give up on a beauty like Mary. But damn your Dad. He’s not supposed to give up his sources. Does he not know that?” He shook his head.

“Apparently not. I’ll make you a deal, McBride. From now on, you tell him I am doing just fine, even if I’m not, and I won’t tell anyone you’re in the Sheriff’s pocket.” I gave him a condescending smile as I told him my offer that was more of a threat to his business.

“I’m not in his pocket,” he argued, shaking his head vigorously.

“Aren’t you?” I arched my brow, grabbing one of the free waters he kept in the cooler out here. The bottle dripped all over as I opened it, taking a sip before I spoke again. “I’ll take your silence as acceptance of my deal. Goodbye, McBride.”

“You’re just like your father!” he called after me as I walked away.

“I’m worse!” I called back, waving my hand above my head at him.

Finding a secluded spot, I shed my coverall and dipped into the ocean water. Sadly, the water was pretty warm, providing no cool relief. I swam until my arms felt like they would fall off, floating instead. I watched the clouds carelessly when I was pulled underwater. My heart sped up with the adrenaline that was quickly pumping into my veins. At first, I feared it had been a shark, but as I did not feel any pain, the thought disappeared. I kicked back to the surface, seeing a smiling Montana.

“What’s the matter with you?” I splashed at him, clearly angry.

“What? You looked too relaxed.”

“So?”

“So, I wanted to mess with you,” he shrugged as if that excused his behavior.

“Just leave me alone.” I rolled my eyes, trying to swim off, but he grabbed my wrist.

“Hold on,” he said, letting me go so I wouldn’t sink. “The mayor’s going out of town on vacation and there will be a party tonight. You should come.”

Those two small sentences caused a million thoughts to race through my head. The first was about Tiff. Was she throwing the party and thought it best not to invite me? If she was serious about wanting to be my friend, why didn’t she invite me herself? Was she ashamed to be seen with me? Is that why she took me to their hideout and not to a public place? Then my mind raced to Montana, the blonde, shaggy-haired cutie. Why was he asking me to go? Was he asking me on a date? Or was he just mentioning it in hopes I would go and he would see me there? Why the sudden interest in me? We’d literally been at the same schools all our lives, and he’d never paid me much mind.

“I don’t go to parties.” I shook my head, deciding it was best to just get myself out of this situation. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about the answer to these questions.

“You did a couple of nights ago.” He was referring to the senior party in which I had to save JJ from certain death. “Come on, June. It’ll be fun. I promise to make sure you enjoy yourself.”

Seeing Montana wouldn’t leave me alone until I said something other than no, I told him, “I’ll think about it.”

I swam away from him, deciding it would be best if I headed home before I got sunburned. I grabbed my things, seeing I had a few missed calls and texts. Worried it was Dad, I quickly unlocked my phone, only to find it had been Tiff. The worry didn’t fade though, as I wondered if she was hurt. I immediately called her, holding the phone against my shoulder, so my hands were free to retrieve my things. She answered on the second ring and relief swept through me as I heard her chipper voice.