Chasing Fate (Dark Love 5)

“You know what your problem is?”

It didn’t take long, the tequila already running through her veins resulting in a drunken slur.

“What?”

“You’re too uptight.”

I let out a chuckle, followed by a triumphant smirk. “Oh, Kate, you honestly don’t know me.”

“Yes, I do.” She stands up in a rush, swaying slightly. “You like to fuck women. Lots of women. You don’t care about their feelings. You think with your dick, and your dick has all the fun.”

“And what’s wrong with that? I don’t need to settle down… yet.”

“Exactly,” she points out. “I was just like you. I was doing my thing and having fun. I didn’t want a relationship. Now look at me,” she cries loudly. “I’m a goddamn mess.”

“You’re not a mess, Kate. Sit and slow down on the tequila.”

She listens, plonking herself on the sand while letting out a huge sigh. “I need to let loose again. Have fun. Find a way to forget the last few months ever happened. I want to have sex. I want to fuck like I’m alive. You get me?”

I get her all too much. I let out a sigh myself. I’m not supposed to be back here. This here is everything that got me into trouble in the first place. There are plenty of people who’ll have my face on a target if I touch her—Charlie, Lex, Haden. There could be more. We could just have fun. We could chat. I don’t need to fuck her.

Be strong. She’s messed up, big time. Don’t succumb to your old ways.

“C’mon, Noah.” She hands me the tequila, waiting for me to take a drink.

I stare at the bottle, thinking about how this time six months ago, I was at the beach with Benny and Tom getting wasted while we played volleyball with a group of Brazilian women on vacation. We laughed until our stomachs hurt, drank until we puked our guts out, and fucked those three women like desperate cavemen.

And now, I’m here.

Without a friend.

Alone.

And living with my mistakes.

Unscrewing the cap, I bring the bottle to my lips and swallow the tequila until it burns my throat, and I can no longer stand it.

Kate cheers loudly, “That’s my boy! Forget it all exists if only for tonight.”

I repeat until we both fall into a fit of laughter, watching as the sky turns dark and the barely seen stars twinkle in the distance. We talk about Los Angeles, argue over politics, then agree we both dislike pineapple on pizza to end on a heated debate on alien conspiracy theories. Our voices get louder, our arguments become more of incessant rambling as we began slurring our words.

“Fancy getting wet?” Kate’s eyes light up, waiting for me to respond, while the bottle of tequila touches her lips and makes its way down.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

“Cocky bastard.” She grins, inching her body closer to me. Her fingertip rests on my lip, then slowly drags along the bottom, stirring a reaction in my pants. “Trust me, I already am.”

She shoves the bottle into my chest, and I finish the remaining tequila. Kate stands in front of me, removing her blouse then sliding her skirt down. In only her red lacey panties and bra, she holds my gaze with a devilish smile. “You only live once, right?”

That’s what they all say.

And for tonight like every other night, I strongly agree.

NOAH

I read somewhere that the West Coast beaches have frigid water compared to the East Coast due to the California current. Never in my life have I shivered as much as I am right now. It’s spring, so granted, it isn’t exactly beach weather, but this is fucking ridiculous. I won’t allow my teeth to chatter, curbing the need by biting down and keeping my legs moving in the water. My skin is prickling, hurting so bad that I’m pretty sure I’m on the verge of experiencing hypothermia.

It’s dark out. Only the lights from the horizon of houses sitting on mountains along with the oceanfront properties and restaurants illuminate the area. This stretch of beach is quiet, and the only sounds are the waves and Kate splashing around me.