Page 55 of The Other Room

Keep it together.

“Nothing. Just... I’m fine.”

“So, we’re hanging out? Family Guy or do you want to do Sons of Anarchy or something? I spent all night in a bar so I’m not really up for going out.”

“I, uh... I actually had a different idea.”

“Oh yeah?” She flopped down on our new couch. “What’s that?”

“Well, I remembered that tonight is the start of the Perseids meteor shower.”

Her eyes lit up. “Oh, yeah! That’s right! I love the Perseids!”

Part of the joy of living in Door County was the lack of urban lights. It was why people flooded up here from the cities, to enjoy our skies filled with millions of stars, and the Northern Lights that danced across the sky many nights in the summer. And on a few August nights every summer, hundreds of meteors would streak across the sky like our own private intergalactic light show. The Perseids meteor shower. It was something that Jo had loved when we were kids, and I was glad to hear that hadn’t changed.

On the right track. Keep it together.

“I know. I remember. We used to watch them every year when we were kids, remember? Begging our moms to let us stay up late and see them?”

“I remember.” She smiled. “I haven’t seen them in a couple years. That sounds awesome. Wanna crack a couple beers and sit on the porch in the dark and watch them?”

Swiping a hand across the back of my neck, I shifted my weight. “I, uh, had a different idea. I thought we could get away from all the lights so we could see them really clearly.”

“How so?” She kicked off her shoes.

“There’s a little rowboat I noticed just up the beach. I thought we could take it out a little way then watch them from the water.”

“A little rowboat?” she asked, the concern heavy in her voice. “Do you mean you want to steal a rowboat?”

“Borrow.” I grinned. “The house has been dark all week. They aren’t even up here right now, so what’s wrong with borrowing a perfectly good rowboat from next door?”

“This is one of those ideas that gets us thrown in the slammer, isn’t it?”

“It’s midnight, everyone is asleep, and we’ll have it back in no time with no one the wiser. Come on, Jo... you chicken?” I hit her soft spot.

“Am I chicken? What are we, ten again?”

“So, you’re chicken.” I crossed my arms and watched her face tense up.

“I’m not chicken.”

“Prove it.”

“I’m not falling for that anymore. I’m not a kid. You can’t convince me to do stuff I don’t want to do just by calling me chicken.”

“Okay then... chicken.” I let out a bawk and her face turned red.

“Get the boat.”

“Ha!” I clapped and laughed. “I knew you couldn’t resist.”

She cocked a hip. “Just hurry up before I change my mind. I’m changing my clothes.”

“I’ll paddle it up front. Meet me on the beach.”

Jo headed into her room, and I grabbed the blankets and the bottle of wine and raced out the door. The boat was just a short jog down the beach, and when I got to it, I tossed in my shoes, the blankets and wine, then looked around to make sure no one was watching. After rolling up my pants, I pushed it toward the water, and it ground against the rocks, the sound echoing through the still night. I cringed, pushing it slower and hoping no one heard all the noise. When it slid into the water, the loud clanking of rocks subsided and all I heard were the gentle waves lapping along the shore.

The cool water sent a chill through me as I waded out a little farther before climbing over the edge. As I settled into my seat, the tiny boat rocked beneath my weight, and I almost dropped an oar into the water.