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Lexie
Theboatmovedagainst the waves as the captain navigated toward a mooring ball in the water away from the shore for the night. He explained to everyone upon arrival back to the boat that they were free to party, or do whatever they wanted to on the boat, but suggested staying out of the water due to the impending darkness and the added risks when alcohol was involved.
Lexie had ventured down to her room to grab a cardigan and figure out what she wanted to do for the rest of the evening. On the walk back to the boat, she confided a little more in the girls and let them know how her conversation had gone with Nav. She didn’t feel it was a bad conversation, but she was still left with uncertainty related to what remained of her relationship with Nav, which was a common feeling between them.
Lexie was reminiscent of the friendship she and Nav once had. It was often clouded by their romantic feelings, but under all the uncertainties, a beautiful friendship remained. After Nav left, Lexie found herself in a whirlwind of regret, trying to convince herself walking away from Nav was the right decision, after he couldn’t give her what she needed. She spent weeks wallowing and questioning her decisions. She didn’t see the light until she ran into Oliver on campus. The attraction between them was immediate, but their relationship was slow and calculated, despite eloping in Vegas only months after they met. Lexie craved a relationship full of mutual love. She craved the affection and attention from her partner that Oliver provided on all fronts. Oliver was expressive and open regarding his feelings toward her, which is exactly what she needed. Her insecurities were insurmountable on her own, but with Oliver by her side, she felt invincible. Their love was something she hadn’t ever felt before, not even with Nav, and it was something she was so sad to lose.
Lexie thought back to the first moment she knew her love for Oliver was different. Their first date, of all places, was at the grocery store while they shopped together for a night in. The next night, Oliver invited Lexie to his baseball game and reserved a seat for her in the family section. She sat between the moms, dads, and girlfriends and had only met Oliver a week before the game. Part of her was scared of the immediacy of their relationship, but when Oliver walked over to her before the game and pulled her halfway over the barrier for a deep kiss, she knew there was no turning back. From that moment on, every time he introduced her to friends, she was his girlfriend. He was proud to call her his and made that apparent in everything he said and did.
Lexie took a deep breath as she pulled back to the present moment. She adjusted her hair and pulled her jacket over her shoulders before walking up the narrow stairs into the saloon. As if she was living in a cheesy comedy movie, at that same moment Nav swung around with a large pitcher of red liquid, sending it flying in every direction as he bounced against Lexie. The icy slush instantly seeped through her cardigan onto her skin sending a chorus of goosebumps across her body.
“Oh fuck! Shit. Lexie, I’m sorry!” Nav said as he shoved the pitcher back onto the bar and reached toward her in a fumbled attempt at helping. Lexie swatted his hands away and turned to head down into her cabin, flicking her hands to rid herself of the sticky liquid.
“Here, let me help,” Analise placed her hand on Lexie’s back and tilted her head in question. Lexie nodded, unsure what her plan was as she hadn’t packed more than one long-sleeved shirt.
Analise walked into the bathroom and turned the water on in the sink as Lexie peeled off her dress. As she did, an unsightly red stain stretched across her bikini. She sighed and rummaged through her bag for something to replace the sticky clothes hugging against her skin. Analise walked out and grabbed the dress and cardigan off the bed, taking it into the bathroom with her. Lexie untied the bikini around her chest, letting the air brush against her nipples. She quickly tossed on a thin t-shirt, not bothering with a bra, despite the chill she was feeling in the air.
The power of the water splashing against the sink filled the small room, but Analise’s voice continued to tower around them. “Don’t be too hard on him now,” she called out.
Lexie paused for a moment, making sure Analise was speaking to her. “What?”
“Oh, that boy. Hasn’t stopped talkin’ bout ya since you got back tonight.”
Her ears perked up. “Oh really?” she asked, suddenly curious.
Analise laughed and shook her head. “That flowing red hair of yours. I know it was you he was talking about. He cares very deeply for you,” she said as Lexie approached the entry to the bathroom. Analise turned to drape her clothes across the shower door to dry. “I cannot get the stain fully out, but if you take extra caution when you get home it should come out just fine.”
Lexie opened her mouth to speak as Analise walked past her out of the bathroom, but couldn’t formulate the words swirling around in her head. She always knew Nav cared for her. She knew that care never stopped, but it was strange hearing that observation from a complete stranger.
She poked her head into the bathroom, gazing at the loose-fitting t-shirt dangling across her body. She stole the shirt from Eagle during a party her freshman year at St. Augustine after a drunken escapade at the lakehouse. It was huge on her and dangled just beneath the curve of her butt. She shuddered as a chill extended down her back and through the tips of her fingers. She knew she should have packed more warm clothes in her suitcase instead of seven different bikinis. She sighed heavily and stepped up into the saloon, peering out into the darkness around her. The rest of the group was standing out on the deck under a chorus of twinkling lights.
