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“A pretty name. So, where are you from?”
“East Hampton, New York.”
She walks in as if invited and accesses the living room. “Nice. We get a lot of people from big cities vacationing here. They are usually running from something.”
I don’t comment. I don’t know her well enough to tell her my business, and it’s nice to be treated like a normal human being and meet someone who doesn’t know who I am or who my father is.
“We’re about to go to the bar—well, my bar. It’s on the beach. Do you want to join?
She follows me to the kitchen, and I settle the wine bottle inside the stainless-steel fridge, then I turn on the balls of my feet, facing her.
“Who is we?”
“My boyfriend. His name is Dixon.”
I don’t have anything to do, and I already unpacked my stuff. It won’t do any harm, plus I can use the time to take my mind off Atlas. I haven’t stopped thinking about him since our breakup. The thought of him causes pain to shoot through my chest.
“Sure.” I close the front door behind me.
We walk slowly down a trail, and she speaks about the island and the different things to do around here. I tune her out most of the time because I’m wondering what Atlas is doing. And how I miss him terribly, but he made his bed, and now he has to lie in it. He made it clear that I was I just a fuck to him. The one thing I hate about breakups is when someone leaves you, you have no choice but to pick up the pieces of your life, whereas they move on as if nothing happened. Heartbreak sucks, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemies.
Once we’re at the bar, a few people are already sitting at a table as rap music blasts through the speakers.
“Where is Leon?” she asks a red-haired guy wearing nothing but swimming shorts. His abs are glistering with sweat, and I try not to stare, but it’s hard.
“He got into an argument with his girlfriend, so he left.” He turns to look at me, and he smiles. I thought he would stare at my scar like most people do, but then I remember my scar is hardly noticeable anymore. “What would you like to drink?” He looks at my hair. “I love your hair color.”
“I’m sorry. This is Lake. She’s our new neighbor, and she stays in the Smiths’ old home. Lake, this is my boyfriend, Dixon.”
I wave my hand as I sit on the leather barstool.
“I would like a shot of tequila with Coke.”
He scoops ice and pours a shot of tequila and Coke into the crystal glass before setting the drink in front of me.
“You’re not from around here, you have a thick accent.”
“She’s from East Hampton, New York,” Ruby answers.
“How cool. Why did you move out here?” Dixon asks.
“I’m vacationing here for a month.”
I look out to the ocean and it’s packed with people. My eyes zoom in on a few kids building a sandcastle, and a tan guy surfing in the crystal-clear ocean. No one is on the go like the people in New York City, they are chilled, laid-back, and carefree here.
“Did you move out here for the scenery?” Dixon asks.
“You can say that,” I answer.
“You have a bit of a mystery to you, that’s hot,” Dixon says, and Ruby kisses him, smearing her lip gloss on his rosy cheeks.
My cheeks burn. They aren’t shallow people. I’m so used to being in the fashion world and people staring at my scar or my clothes, and people judging you based on what you look like, but these people don’t care. I like it here already, and I haven’t been here long. I don’t know why I waited so long to take the trip out here.
The windy breeze tickles my cheeks and it feels good on my skin. My mind wanders to thoughts of my future; I’m at a point in my life that I don’t know what I want. I know what I want in terms of a career, but I don’t know how I’m going to move on without Atlas. I know I will hear about him because my father is still friends with his dad. Even though I’m not currently on speaking terms with my dad, I know I will eventually have to talk to him. I can’t ignore him forever.
A few other people gather around the bar, and when I’m done with my beverage, I ask for another one. I take my wallet out my pocket and pass Dixon my card.
“Don’t worry about it, it’s on the house.”
