Get Lucky: A YA Anthology Page 16

  Jensen

  Penny sends a wave of water directly at my face, and the 9 Irons cheer as loudly as they can for her. It’s the first time this week they’ve been on her side, and I can tell she’s milking it for all it’s worth.

  When we dove in the pool just outside the owner’s offices, I started a splash war with the kids, showing no mercy. Penny came to their rescue, and now she’s the hero. Did I do it on purpose? Maybe. I felt bad watching her smile turn down and her shoulders hunch every time one of the campers struggled. She wants a win so badly, and I want to help out if I can.

  “Okay, okay!” I shout over the splash of pool water. “White flag!”

  She stops, eyeing me to make sure I’m not bluffing, her hands poised over the subtle waves we’ve created around us. I keep my hands well above water and grin.

  “Promise, Pen, you win.”

  Her stance relaxes, and she does an adorable dance, her top half moving faster than the part under water. “That’s right, you lose, sucka!”

  The 9 Irons start victory dancing with her, even Kira, who’s proven to be the shy guy of the group.

  We hang around for a bit longer, diving for rings and playing some water polo. Penny and I end up on opposite teams, and I find myself grabbing her around her slick waist on so many occasions I lose count. Her laughter is like a bell, echoing around us in a heart-pounding melody, and I can’t stop making it come out of her. I’ve always appreciated a good laugh, which is why I’m always looking for the opportunity to hear one, but Penny’s has always been my favorite.

  The lifeguard sitting on the edge of the pool blows his whistle. “9:30!” he announces. “If you’re under 15, time to get out.”

  Disappointed groans follow, including some playful boos from me and Penny. I set my hands on the edge of the pool, hoisting myself out, and Penny stays behind to hand the kids who have a hard time swimming over to me. We’ve always been a good team—when we’re partners, and I’m not trying to boss her around. No wonder last year was hard on our friendship.

  I hook my hands under Kira’s arms and lift her out, leaving only Penny in the pool.

  “Come on, now,” I tease. “You can do it.”

  She sends a wave of water up at me and promptly gets chastised by the lifeguard. “No splashing outside of the pool!”

  Her eyes draw in apologetically. “Sorry!”

  I put out my hand for her, and she gets a firm grip. I let her do most of the work getting out, knowing that’s how she wants it. My eyes follow the line of her suit, and I gulp as the water drips down her chest. I nearly drop her back in the pool because I forget what I’m doing.

  It’s a hot summer, but the night air is chilly on wet skin, and all of us scurry across the lawn to the 9 Iron cabin. Penny quickly goes over the agenda for tomorrow; since it’s the camp relax day, there are plenty of activities scheduled if they choose to do them. Instructors don’t get a day off, but our nights are usually open. I plan on taking advantage of that as soon as Penny’s done.

  “Lights out at 10:00,” she says with a smile, her chest heaving from our hurry to get to a warm place. Water falls from the tiny shorts slicked to her legs, pooling at our feet. I take my towel off and lay it across the floor.

  “Goodnight, Niners!” Penny smiles like she’s their older sister, and she knows shenanigans will commence as soon as we leave. Every night this week she’s made me sit out on their porch with her until they’ve dozed off. She’d bark at them when they got too loud, and I’d laugh at her dedication, but secretly wish I were more disciplined. I promised I’d work harder this time around, but so far I’ve lived up to my slacker reputation.

  Well, tonight, I’m taking her down with me.

  We walk out onto the deck, and she heads for the porch couch, but I casually step in her way.

  “Nope.”

  “But—”

  “We’re not gonna worry about it tonight.” I steer her down the steps, my palms warming at the small, casual touch to her shoulders. “Let ‘em stay up. They don’t have an early day tomorrow.”

  “Our instructor manual says we have to be strict enforcers of curfew.”

  I jerk back. “We have a manual?”

  “Oh, sweet mercy… You are hopeless.”

  “And you are in need of a good time.” I hop in front of her and start walking backward. “Go out with me.”

  She raises a questioning eyebrow at my choice of phrase, but quickly shrugs it off. “Out where?”

  “Bonfire.” I grin. “There’s one going on at the beach tonight. Let’s go.”

  She inhales deeply before letting it out in a long sigh. “You go. I’ll just kill your buzz.”

  “I don’t want to go without my buddy.” I jut out my bottom lip. “Pa-weease, Pwenny?”

  “You’re not cute when you do that.” Her lips turn up. I’ve got her, and she knows it.

  “That’s a yes,” I say, then bend to hoist her over my shoulder. She squeals on her way over, and I can’t help but be super aware of her wet skin and goose bumps. Even though I’ve done this a million times over the years, my stomach has knotted in a way I can’t explain.

  “I need my hoodie,” she says through a giggle. Her wet hair bounces against the small of my back as I redirect my feet to the girls’ cabin. “And you need a shirt.”

  There’s a playful smack on my side, sending a surprising shockwave of energy up and down my spine. I almost drop her as I shiver.

  “What?” I joke, but my voice is wobbly. “Can’t concentrate around all of this?”

  She snorts. “You’re gonna want one. Your nipples are going to take someone’s eye out if you get any colder.”

  I start laughing so hard I have to put her down. Her neck and cheeks are full of blush, probably from saying the word “nipple.” It’s so pretty that I stand and stare at it for longer than what’s socially acceptable.

  “Okay,” I say, averting my eyes and talking to just over her head. “I’ll put on a shirt, but you can’t bail.” I point a serious finger at her, which she scoffs at and bats away.

  “I’m not bailing. I’m just cold.” She grins before spinning on her heel and jogging the last few steps to her bunk. I run into the guys’ cabin and grab the first t-shirt I can get my hands on. Don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I just don’t want to spend too much time away from her.

  * * *

  The beach is full of recent graduates, music already going and the bonfire glowing about twenty feet into the air. Penny’s eyes widen at the flames, and I silently tell her not to worry about it.

  “Do you… know these people?” she asks, her gaze drifting over the crowd.

  “Nope.”

  “So, why’d you want to come here?”

  “We’re going to let loose.” I take her hand in mine, and she looks down at it like it’s something foreign. Have I never held her hand? Seems like something we’d do—we tackle and hug and high-five, and I throw her over my shoulder, she punches me in the gut. But have we held hands? By the look on her face, I’m guessing no, we haven’t.

  That doesn’t mean I let go, though.

  I clear my throat to bring her attention back up. “We can dance, swim, hang out, enjoy the music, relax…” I grab her other hand and start leading her to the beach crowd. Her trepidation slowly fades the closer we get to the music.

  It’s been awhile since I’ve seen her dance, but I haven’t forgotten. She’s hilarious, tossing her arms around and trying to wiggle her hips, but it just looks like she’s working an invisible hula hoop. I follow her lead, dancing just as ridiculously, and we get a few other people to join in. Her timid smile transforms into a genuine, freeing grin, and it hits somewhere deep in my gut.

  Most of the songs are up-tempo numbers, and it feels good to watch Penny let loose after a week of seeing her practically pull her hair out. She mentioned the other day how she’s ready for a stress-relieving make-out session, and I was surprised by the dip my stomach took when she spewed o
ff a few names that weren’t mine. I’m not sure if it’s because I too am kiss-parched and there’s nothing I can do about it—or should do about it—but I find myself beyond relieved that she’s yet to make use of that particular method of stress relief.

  Maybe I’m hoping that tonight will help. But, I shove the thought away.

  The playlist shuffles to a slower song, and she stops her wild flailing, grinning at me. I stick out my hand, she slaps her palm against mine, and I spin her into me. I’m rewarded with a laugh at our playful ease into a somewhat, slow dance.

  “She’s scared,” she says, flicking her eyes up to meet my confusion. “Kira. She was praying in the cabin. Telling God she was scared to let others see her golf.”

  I press my lips together in thought. “Hmm…” I spin Penny out and swing her back in on a turn. She’s awkward and trips most of the way, but we just keep on going. “We could try blindfolding techniques. Tell the rest of the 9 Irons to practice without seeing anything, and she can relax, knowing no one’s looking.”

  The corner of Penny’s mouth twitches. “I actually… was thinking of something else. But I’ll need your rule-breaking skills.”

  “Ooh, sounds up my alley. I’m in.”

  “You don’t even know what—”

  “I’m in.” I lean in and playfully tap her forehead with mine. “What d’ya need?

  “Lights?” she says, her voice breathy all of a sudden. My heart decides to thud extra hard, and so I spin her around to try to get rid of the sensation.

  “Okay…” I say, waiting for her to go on.

  “I was going to sneak her out after curfew. Have her practice on a few courses with just me. Problem is lighting. Not sure how to help her see while not drawing attention.”

  I cluck my tongue as I think on it. My first instinct is to use a cell phone flashlight, but it probably won’t light up much space. Maybe if there was some kind of way to direct the light so Kira and Penny can both be hands free…

  “Use the Ninth Hole.”

  “Yeah,” she agrees. “I figured as much.”

  I grin at the scowl on her face. “It’s the farthest one from the clubhouse.”

  “I know. I’m just going to suck as a teacher on it.”

  The sudden urge to pull her closer to me takes over, and I lean down, trying to keep my smile light while feeling this unfamiliar heaviness.

  “She’ll appreciate the extra mile, no matter how you do on that hole.”

  Penny’s gaze locks with mine, and her breathing turns ragged. I can’t shake the feeling that something epic is happening, shifting both of us off our feet. Is this how I’ve always looked at her? Is this how all our conversations go? Close proximity, pounding hearts and labored breathing.

  Her tongue snakes out, wetting her lips, and I blink once, twice, three times, just trying to convince myself that it’s not turning me on. Penny, my best bud, is not turning me on.

  The music flips back to an upbeat number, and whatever air swallowed us up evaporates. Her eyes swing to our joined hands, her light skin in so much contrast to my dark, but I like it. Perfect reflection of our personalities.

  She drops out of my hold and takes a deep breath. I grin and nod to the waves behind her.

  “Feel like another swim?” I waggle my eyebrows. She slowly shakes her head, but knows it won’t stop me.

  “Ugh, just wait a second,” she says, unzipping her hoodie. She tosses it to the side and then spreads her arms. “Just do it. I know you’re going to.”

  My smile widens, and I hoist her up around her middle. We’re in the water not five seconds later. I wish I could say the sharp, biting cold jolts my wild thoughts out of my head, but watching Penny in her suit in the ocean, laughing and relaxing, it just makes those wild thoughts double in intensity.

  Chapter 5

  An All-Nighter (well… sort of)

  Penny

  The weekend was way too short. It feels like I just blinked it away and, suddenly, I’m back on the course with the 9 Irons. Monday seems to be the equivalent of three days with the heat pounding on all of our backs. By the time we’re packing in the campers for curfew, I feel as if I’ve been out in the sun for twenty years. I’m looking forward to a bed and a giant Smart Water, but I’m waylaid by Jensen sprawled out on my bunk. He’s not even showered yet—getting all his sweat on my pillow. Oy.

  “Who’s your best friend?” he asks, tilting the corner of his mouth up.

  “Harley.” He’s my dog.

  Jensen’s jaw drops, and he clutches at his heart like my answer physically pained him. Then he rolls up off my bunk and puts his hands on my shoulders.

  “You’re all set for tonight.”

  I am way too tired to know what he’s talking about. His playful smile starts to fade at my blank stare.

  “Kira… Ninth hole… ringing a bell?”

  “Oh… Oh!” I let my lips turn up into as much of a grin as I can muster through exhaustion. “When can I go out?”

  He checks his phone. “In about thirty. I’ve got the rest of the instructors distracted. You’ll have till midnight with her.”

  “Perfect.” I reach around him to grab a pair of leggings. Not exactly golf attire, but I don’t want a bunch of mosquito bites. Already had my fair share of them when I went out in my bathing suit the other day.

  I’m sticking my arms into the hoodie jacket when I notice Jensen’s dark eyes watching my movements with intense concentration. It sparks something inside my stomach, nervously filling my neck and cheeks with sudden trepidation. To be honest, I don’t often feel like this around guys, unless I’m really into them.

  Then again, I haven’t seen a guy so blatantly stare at me like this before. Must be the scorching heat from the day messing with my head.

  “Thank you,” I say, pulling the front zipper up to my chin. He shakes his head, and his eyes turn back to his normal personality.

  “Yep.” He quickly shrugs past me, walking backward out the cabin door. “Midnight, Cinderella.”

  I roll my eyes before they land on his retreating back. I watch him for much longer than normal, and then I’m the one shaking my head out of it. Is it just me, or has he gotten exceptionally cuter this year? Or is it the fact that I won’t be seeing him for much longer?

  The cabin door opens before I can get hit with too much sadness, bringing my attention back to the real world as Sophie grabs a change of clothes and heads into the bathroom. She gives me a friendly smile, but doesn’t invite me to whatever shindig she’s got going on. It’s most likely a date—nearly every instructor has now found their summer fling partner.

  Jensen’s surprisingly kept his word about staying single. A wave of relief hits as I realize how grateful I am for it. Otherwise, I’d be spending a lot of time alone, agonizing over the fact that I’m no good at the instructor thing.

  Well, that is going to change. I swear it. I will get through to Kira. If I’ve made a difference for just one camper, I will call it a win.

  * * *

  The grounds are still lit as I make my way to the 9 Iron’s cabin. Kira is one of two girls in the group, so they’ve let them all sleep in the same place, girls on the second level, boys on the first. The owners change that rule when the campers turn 13, and, even if there is only one girl in the group (happened to me that year), they have to sleep in a separate space than the boys. I was lodged up in the owner’s cabin, which Jensen loved because he considered it the challenge of all challenges to try to sneak me out past curfew. If only I’d been a bit more willing to play along, he may have succeeded.

  I carefully climb the cabin’s steps, then ease the front door open. One of the campers is a heavy breather, filling the main floor with his sleepy sounds. I tiptoe across the hardwood, jumping to a rug every chance I get. One of the boys shifts in his sheets; he’s awake, I can tell. But his eyes stay closed and I hurry up the staircase to the second level.

  Kira sits straight up in her bunk, a book thumping to the floor as
she catches sight of me.

  “P-Penny. I was just—”

  I bring a finger up to my lips. She quickly quiets down, eyes drifting over to her bunkmate sleeping soundly next to her.

  Putting on an encouraging grin, I bring my finger down and motion Kira over. She tentatively pushes the sheets down and pads her way to me.

  “Am I in trouble?” she whispers.

  I shake my head. “Grab your club… and your putter. I want to show you something.”

  She nods, smiling in equal measures of relief and confusion. After grabbing her clubs and slipping on some shoes and a jacket, she creeps outside behind me.

  Jensen promised a clear shot to the ninth hole, and he kept true to his word. I’m still on edge, checking over my shoulder at any foreign noises, but we make it there without incident. Kira raises her eyebrows when I step her up to the tee. The night lighting has been kept on, and I wonder how Jensen pulled that off. I’ll have to ask him in the morning.

  “I was hoping you could help me,” I tell Kira, placing a ball on the tee. “See, this hole and I hate each other. I’ve never made par on nine, and, after a while, I just stopped trying.”

  Her eyes drift over my arms as I hand her my putter, then line up to take a shot. I take a deep breath and ask, “Any advice for me?”

  She takes a step back, eyes wide. “I… I don’t know.”

  I purposely place my hands wrong and put my feet a little too close together. “You think I’m good to take a shot?”

  Her teeth snake out and pull at her bottom lip. She’s eyeing my legs, and a timid, small sound escapes her mouth.

  “Sorry, what?” I ask with a chuckle.

  She ends up chuckling at herself. “Your hands, Penny. And your feet. You know they aren’t right.”

  I fix my stance. “Better?”

  She nods.

  I let my eyes drift to the ball, focus on it. I breathe out, breathe in, send up a prayer, then swing.

  The shot is horrible. It juts too far off to the right and plunks into the water hazard. I hear a tinkle of laughter, and I look over my shoulder to Kira hiding the smile on her lips. A laugh bubble pops in my stomach.