The Bad Boy Next Door: Lance & Chastity (13 page)

He chuckles, watching. “That is fucking hot.”

Somehow, as good as that was, I am completely unsatisfied. Or just hungry for more. I can’t tell which. “Fuck me,” I whisper.

His eyes flash. “Did you just say fuck?”

I bite my lower lip in an evil grin and nod slowly. I whisper, “Fuck…” like it’s the most beautiful word in the English language, savoring the taste of it in my mouth.

The devil’s smile on
my
face slowly slides onto his.

“Nice,” he says.

“Fuck me,” I whisper. “Now.”

Chapter 9

CHASTITY

“Are you high?” Charity asks.

I sit on a lawn chair with my arms wrapped around my shins, resting my chin on my knees, staring at the electric blue glow of the empty pool like a grinning idiot.

Charity grabs a lock of my hair and wiggles it. “Anybody home? Earth to Chastity!”

“Stop!” I swat at her hand and pull my hair away.

“You look sprungover.”

“I what?! What does that even mean?”

“It means you hooked up with Lance and you’re basking in the afterglow.”

“Where do you learn these words? And I did not hook up with Lance,” I hiss.

“Liar. I saw you sneak into the house with him.”

“I did not!” And that’s the truth. He followed me inside. “More importantly, why are you stalking me?”

“I’m not. You can’t stalk your own sister when you live with her.”

“Whatever.”

Although half the kids have gone home, those still here are lounging on the other lawn chairs while chatting or dancing to the surf music. Lance is now fully dressed, standing behind the DJ table with his headphones on. I think he put clothes on to cover up his hard on, which seems to have never gone away. I don’t blame him. I’ve still got a girl hard on for him and my high beams are on too. That’s why I have my knees up.

Charity asks, “You wanna see who can swim the length of the pool underwater the fastest?”

“What, in one breath?”

“Yeah.”

I frown, “Aren’t you tired?”

“No.”

“I am. You do it. I’ll time you.”

“You don’t have a watch.”

“I’ll count Mississippis.”

“You’re lame,” she chuckles and dives into the pool.

Grinning, I shake my head. She can call me lame all she wants. I’m not getting in the pool. I need to stay right here with my high beams covered.

Mom and Mr. McKnight are still dancing together. When
Wooly Bully
ends, Mom says, “Let’s sit this one out, Rod. I’m tired.”

“One more song, Faith. The night is still young.” His words are slurred. He grabs her around the waist, pawing at her as she tries to push him away. “Come on, Faith. We’re still having fun.”

Is he drunk? I don’t know where he would’ve gotten any alcohol. We don’t have any and he never left the party.

“I need to sit down, Rod. I’ve been on my feet all night.” She’s trying to get away, but Mr. McKnight won’t let go.

I glance at Lance and remember his frantic speech about hidden problems. Is there something about his dad he’s hiding? No answer comes from Lance because he has his headphones on and his head down, doing something on his turntable.

“Stop it, Rod!” Mom pleads.

“One more song, Faith.” He is drunk.

I think. I don’t have any experience with drinkers. But Mom needs help. I stand up and take a step toward them.

Mom barks at him, “Let! Go!” She pushes hard and Mr. McKnight stumbles back, colliding with Lance’s DJ table.

“What the
fuck
, Dad!” Lance growls, ripping his headphones off.

Mr. McKnight flails and knocks against a piece of DJ gear on the table. When the black box of electronics starts to fall, he fumbles for it, trying to catch it. But he can’t. The box tumbles from his hands and drops right into the pool.

Still plugged in.

“I! Can’t! Move!” Charity mewls in a voice quivering with fear. “Some! One! Help! Me!” Her entire body jitters in the deep end of the pool as she attempts to stay afloat, her arms ratcheting through the water in spasmodic jolts.

Horrified, Rod twists around to face my sister. He’s paralyzed with fear.

Mom spins around too. She didn’t see the DJ gear fall in. She shrieks, “Charity!”

I forget all about the electrical cord and I’m about to jump in the pool to help when Lance grabs my elbow.

“Don’t!!” He yells. “The water is hot!”

Mom takes a step toward the pool, but he grabs her by the arm too, restraining her.

“Let go of me!” Mom yells with a combination of hatred and motherly fury.

For a moment, I’m totally confused and terrified. Somehow I forget all about the electricity. All I can think about is my sister in danger and why is Lance stopping Mom from saving her? I try to dive into the pool, but Lance wraps both arms around me, letting go of Mom.

“The water is hot!” he shouts.

What does he mean by hot? Hot like boiling? Is my sister
cooking
in the water? Oh my God, no!

“The power cord!” Lance shouts.

That’s when logic returns. “Someone unplug it!” I shout, searching desperately for the cord.

Charity screams,. “Mom! Help!”

Mom reaches for the metal pool ladder, about to step into the water.

“Don’t touch that!” Lance shouts. “You’ll get shocked! Someone unplug the damn cord!”

Mom freezes, a pained look on her face, her hand one inch from the ladder. “My baby! Someone help my baby!!”

Lance whips his head from side to side, examining the mess of DJ gear. His dad is standing right in front of the table, frozen. “Get the fuck outta the way!” Lance yells, pushing him into the grass where he drops on his ass. Lance claws at the jumbled loops of cords until he finds the main orange cord snaking into the bushes. He yanks it free from the outlet with a pop, then whirls around and dives fully clothed into the water. He freestyles out to Charity, approaching from the side and hooking an arm around her ribs. He leans back, pulling Charity on top of him so her face is above the water. “I’ve got you. Relax. I’ve got you.”

“Oh goodness, oh goodness!” Mom shouts, still afraid to touch the metal ladder. She drops to her knees, waving a hand toward Lance, trying to reach Charity.

Even though Lance has Charity, I’m overcome by the intense need to help my sister. I jump into the pool and swim toward them. “Charity! Are you okay?!”

She’s coughing, her face pinched and red, her entire body shaking. For a second I think she’s still being shocked, but Lance is fine. I’m not getting shocked either. Then I realize Charity must be
in
shock.

“Is the water safe?” Mom pleads, completely confused and oblivious to the fact that Lance and I are not getting shocked.

“Yeah,” Lance says.

Mom jumps into the water in her dress and wades over to Lance and Charity. “Are you okay, Charity? Say something, Baby! Say something!”

“I called 911!” Lark shouts. “They’re on their way!”

Charity coughs again, crying, “I’m okay.”

“Are you sure?” Mom begs.

“I…”
cough cough
“think…”
cough
“so…”

“Can you stand up?” Lance asks. “We’re in the shallow end.”

“I don’t know,” Charity whimpers. She’s acting like she forgot how to swim.

“Don’t worry,” Lance says calmly. “I’ve got you.”

“I’ve got her,” Mom says, reaching out for Charity, trying to take her from Lance.

“No!” Charity barks. “Don’t let go!” She’s talking to Lance.

Mom cringes and withdraws her hands, “Okay.”

I give Lance a look.

He shrugs it off. “Charity, I’m going to carry you out of the pool. Is that okay?”

“Yeah,” she mumbles.

He grabs the ladder with one hand. “Can you wrap your arms around my neck?”

“Yeah,” she says tentatively.

I plant my hands on the deck and lift myself out of the water. “I’ll help.”

Lance climbs the ladder, holding it with one big hand while squeezing both of Charity’s wrists around his neck with the other. The two of them drip all over the cement as Lance squats down and lowers her to her feet. She’s way too big for me to cradle her like a child, but I try anyway. She ends up hugging me and I squeeze hard as we both sit down. She’s shivering like it’s freezing outside, but it’s summer warm. She really must be in shock.

Soaked, Mom climbs the ladder and wraps her arms around both of us. “My babies,” she whispers. “My babies are safe. Thank you, Lord. Thank you.” She starts mumbling prayers under her breath.

I smirk. Lance is who she should be thanking. But she seems to have forgotten all about him. The three of us are somehow excluding Lance, who stands to the side, looking between us and the heap of his Dad on the lawn, who remains where he fell when all the drama started and Lance knocked him down.

Mr. McKnight looks sad and confused.

Charity starts rambling in half sentences, her teeth chattering. “I was— swimming and— my arms— froze and— I couldn’t— swim and— I thought I— was going to— drown.”

“I think she’s in shock,” Lance says quietly. “We should lie her down or something. And get some blankets.”

I nod.

“I’ll get some,” Lark says, jogging into the house.

Mom hugs Charity. “It’s okay, baby. The Lord is watching over you. You’re safe. Everything’s okay. You’re going to be all right.”

Lark rushes out of the house with blankets which Mom wraps around Charity. We lay her on a semi-reclined lawn chair, Mom by her side.

When the ambulance arrives, everything is chaos as the EMTs rush inside with a portable stretcher, but things calm quickly as they check all of Charity’s vitals and assure us she’s okay.

The head paramedic says, “We can take her to the hospital right now, if it’ll make you feel more comfortable.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” Mom nods vigorously.

“I’m tired,” Charity groans. “Can we go tomorrow?”

Mom looks at the lead EMT.

“Her heart sounds strong and she wasn’t burned. There’s no sign of serious injury I can find. To be safe, I advise you to go to the ER tonight, but you don’t need us to rush you there. Depending on your insurance situation, it could save you a thousand dollars. I’ll tell the hospital I consider your daughter’s case urgent, but without any burns or heart trauma, your provider might deny payment.”

Mom winces and nods, trying to make sense of his words.

“I don’t wanna go, Mom,” Charity whines. “I just wanna go to bed.”

“We’ll take her,” Mom says.

“I’ll pay for it,” Lance says.

“No,” Mom grumbles, “I won’t take your charity.”

The irony that Mom won’t take charity to help Charity is not in any way funny.

“Then take mine,” Mr. McKnight says in a smeary voice. He’s been hovering in the background this whole time.

“You’re still here?” Mom snarls.

“I’ll pay for it,” Mr. McKnight insists.

“No,” Mom barks. “I don’t want
anything
from you. I don’t need your
help
, and I don’t want you on my property. Please go home.” She turns her back to him and straightens the emergency blanket wrapped around Charity’s shoulders for no reason.

Mr. McKnight sets his palm on her shoulder. “Now, Faith, I said I would—”

She twists away from his hand like it’s on fire. “Don’t you
ever
touch me again! Stay away from me and my daughters and this house!” Her eyes flash like she wants to attack him. “And keep your son away too!” Her cheeks shake with rage and impending tears.

“Mom,” I hiss through gritted teeth. “Lance
saved
Charity. If he hadn’t stopped me, I would have jumped into the electrified pool. You would’ve too.”

She explodes. “If he hadn’t brought his infernal stereo over here, none of this would’ve happened, now would it?!”

“Mom, you’re missing the point,” I whisper.

“No I’m not! It’s his fault!” She snarls at Lance, then at Mr. McKnight. “And your fault too! Both of you get off my property! Now!” She throws her arm out like a sword. “I said NOW!!!!”

Dejected, Mr. McKnight mumbles, “I’m sorry. Really sorry.”

Lance rolls his eyes, his jaw spasming. He grabs his Dad high on the back of the arm and shoves him forward. “Let’s go,
Dad
,” he grunts through gritted teeth.

Mr. McKnight stumbles, his free hand out to stop his fall, but Lance pulls him up before he hits the deck. When the man stumbles again, Lance hooks an arm around him and barks, “God damn it, can’t you fucking walk?” Everyone stares. Before his dad can answer, Lance spins and squats in front of him like he’s going to tackle him, but instead throws him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and carries him around the side of the house.

I dash to catch up. “Do you need help?”

“I’ve got it,” Lance snaps as we melt into the shadows between the house and the fence.

“Are you sure?”

He stops and scowls at me, his face dark except for his burning eyes. “This isn’t the first time he’s fucked everything up and it won’t be the last. So, no, I don’t need your help. And I don’t want it either. Your sister needs you. I don’t.” He starts walking.

I know he’s angry. I won’t let it get to me. He didn’t deserve what Mom said. I want to reassure him, but all I can think to say is, “Do you want me to get your DJ gear? I can bring it over. Now or later. Whatever’s easiest.”

He doesn’t stop or look back. “You can fucking keep it. Or sell it. I don’t give a fuck.” He kicks the gate open with his boot and it bangs shut after they’re gone.

So much for my eighteenth birthday.

It ended with a bang, but it was the wrong kind.

++++8++++

LANCE

“You’re a fuck up, you know that?” I grumble as I drop my dad on his air mattress. He falls in a heap and bounces once. After that, he doesn’t move.

“Yeah,” he sighs, his face buried in the bare mattress.

“You’re not gonna suffocate, are you?”

He responds with a bubbling puff of air.

“Fucking waste of space.” I grab his arm and roll him onto his other side and position his head so he can breathe. I slide down against the wall until my ass is on the floor. “How the fuck could you mess up tonight, dumbass?”

“I don’t know.” His eyes are closed and he’s half-asleep already.