Player, an Ocean Mist Short Story Read online

  Player

  an Ocean Mist Short Story

  Brenda Maxfield

  Published by Brenda Maxfield at Smashwords

  Copyright 2013 Brenda Maxfield

  Dedicated to my students, who enrich my life every day.

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  I tossed the old newspaper onto the coffee table and tried to keep my eyes off her bedroom door, but I couldn’t help staring. Seven-thirty.

  Any minute now.

  The morning sun shot through the pine trees in our front yard, making jagged needle-like shadows on the wall behind me. That was where I should concentrate. Might make some great photos.

  But no, the bedroom door had my full attention.

  I rubbed my hand over the stubble on my chin and waited. With a quiet twist, the doorknob turned. I jumped from the couch and stepped to the bar in the kitchen, feigning interest in my soggy cereal. The door opened and he came out, his gelled hair sticking out in unruly spikes. He tucked his sports shirt into his jeans.

  “Oh, Andrew. Hey, man,” he said, grinning.

  My stomach turned to steel, and I bit back the smart-mouth retort that fired to my lips.

  He looked out the window, and his smile stretched even wider. “Nice day, huh? Well, I’d best be off.”

  He moved across the room in three long strides and left the house. My gaze shifted back to the bedroom door. Mom emerged, wiggling her hips to straighten her short skirt.

  “Andy, honey, would you make me a bit of decaf?”

  “You’re going to be late.”

  “I know, but Boss-Man won’t care now, will he?” She patted her poofed-up hair and gave a throaty giggle.

  I grabbed a clean mug, filled it with water, and stuck it in the microwave.

  “You going in to work today?” she asked, settling on a bar stool.

  “Yeah, at nine.”

  She reached over and stroked my cheek. “Don’t forget it’s summer. I want you to do some major goofing-off.”

  Whose mother says that? None that I knew. “I know, Mom. I will.”

  I had my reasons for loving work. Especially now. Granted, it was running a cash register at Sue’s Seaport Shoppe, but there were perks.

  “They ever hire a new salesgirl?”

  I nodded and quickly averted my eyes. All I needed was for Mom to figure out why I suddenly loved my job.

  “Tourists are crawling around everywhere this week.” She ran her hands down her shoulders and hugged herself. “Hmm, maybe I should do some crawling around, too. You know, troll the male tourists.”

  The microwave dinged, and I took out the hot water. “Gross. Would you stop talking like that? Gives people the wrong idea.”

  Actually, it would give people the right idea, but I didn’t say so.

  I grabbed the decaf off the shelf and spooned some granules into her cup. After a swift stir, I handed it to her.

  She pursed her lips and blew into the mug. “Pity is, you remind me of your dad. When are you going to start living a little?”

  As soon as Daniela Rosen says yes.

  I chucked my cereal bowl in the sink. “I’m living. Quit worrying.”

  Mom took a quick gulp, squealed, and fanned her mouth. “Whoa! Way too hot.”

  She glanced at the clock and plunked the mug onto the counter, causing coffee to slosh over the rim. “Gotta run anyway. See you, honey.”

  Only an hour till I had to report to work. I needed to shave — I wondered whether Daniela liked her guys with a clean-cut or a rugged look.

  I aimed to find out.

  ****

  I leaned my bike against the weathered plank wall of Sue’s Seaport Shoppe and pushed on the heavy wooden door. A tinkling bell announced my entrance, and Sue bustled in from the stock room. “Good, you’re here, Andrew. The new girl is going to need help with the window display. I’ve got to work on the books, and I don’t want to be disturbed.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I’m not joking. I’m locking myself in the office, and unless you’re bleeding out, do not disturb me. Accountant comes next week.”

  I laughed. “Got it.”

  She brushed her hand through her tight red curls and chewed her lower lip. “Daniela should be here in twenty minutes. I think she’s going to work out quite nicely.”

  “I agree.”

  “I’ve filled the register, so it’s ready to go.” She patted the baskets of handmade soap that lined the west wall. “You know what I want in the window, right?”

  “You went over it with me yesterday. We’ll be fine.”

  She pressed her fingers to her lips. “All right, then. I’m back to the books.”

  “Good luck,” I called after her.

  I went to the shop door and flipped the sign from “Closed” to “Open.” From that spot, if you stood just right and peered over the gas station sign down the street, you could see a corner of the Pacific Ocean running along Washington’s coastline. Since I was tall, it was easy for me, so I took a moment to watch the surf.

  I caught movement from the corner of my eye and saw Daniela rounding the block coming to the store. Figuring she’d think I was staring at her, I moved to the cash register and coded in.

  The bell jingled as she entered. When she saw me, her deep brown eyes crinkled with a smile. “Hi, Andrew.” She looked around the shop. “Where’s Sue?”

  “Working on the books, so we’re in charge today.”

  She raised her eyebrows, and her lips came together in a thoughtful pout that sent shivers all the way down my legs. I coughed and straightened a stack of business cards on the counter.

  “I’m supposed to be working on the display, so I guess I’ll start there.”

  I stepped to her side. “Sue wants me to help you.”

  “Okay, cool.” Daniela flipped her chocolate-colored hair over her shoulder, and it fell like ribbons down to her waist.

  We walked into the stock room and each of us grabbed a box of display items. Daniela was short, only as tall as my chest, but she was strong. She hoisted the heavy box with no problem. We set the containers on the ledge and both of us crawled into the small window space. She turned, and her elbow jabbed me in the side.

  “Sorry!” she said, laughing.

  “It didn’t hurt.”

  “Not much room in here. Maybe one of us should direct from the floor.”

  I liked the cozy quarters fine but was too embarrassed to say so. “I’ll leave.”

  She gazed at me, and her dark eyes sparkled with a glint of mischief. “Don’t leave me, Andrew. Just stand down there next to the opening.”

  With effort, I pulled my eyes away from hers and stepped onto the shop floor.

  “I think she wants the buckets of shells here on the side,” Daniela said, tapping a play shovel against the wall of the display case.

  “Yeah, she does, but design it however you think it’ll look good.” Whatever Daniela decided would be awesome. “When did you move to Ocean Mist?”

  She sat back on her haunches. “I didn’t. I live in Astenia. I tried to find a job there but couldn’t land a thing. Ocean Mist isn’t far, so voilà. Here I am.”

  “You go to Astenia High?”

  “Yeah, I’m going to be a junior. You?”


  “A junior, too. Longacre High.”

  “Whoa. We’re rivals.” She grinned. “Hmm, fraternizing with the enemy. Maybe we shouldn’t get too chummy.”

  I wanted nothing more than to get chummy with Daniela.

  “Any friends around here?” she asked.

  “I had a best friend. His name was Tommy. Tom Jasper.”

  “Had?”

  I handed her a stack of beach hats, which she began placing around the edges of the display. “He moved at the beginning of the June.”

  “Bummer.”

  “Yeah, tell me about it.”

  She stood up and adjusted a poster on the back wall. “I’ll be your new friend.”

  When I realized I was beaming at her, I tried to shrink down my smile. I needn’t have worried — her next words shrank it down fast.

  “You’ll have to meet my boyfriend. Although I’m warning you, he’s a linebacker, so don’t mention Longacre High.”

  Disappointment coursed through me. I must’ve been mental to think a girl who looked like Daniela would be single.

  She leaned out from the display and offered me her hand. I grabbed it, and she jumped down, landing inches away. She tipped her head to look up at me, and there was a glimmer in her eyes.

  “We could give him something to be jealous about.” She moistened her lips.

  My heart jolted with excitement. She moved closer and I went stiff, every nerve alert. She brushed her face against my bicep and then giggled.

  “I’m teasing, Andrew! My boyfriend would kill us both.” She gave a light punch to my shoulder.

  My breath escaped in a whoosh. I attempted to laugh with her.

  “Do you think I should add the stacks of striped beach towels to the window?” She was back to business.

  “Sure,” I said, retreating to the cash register.

  Sue was true to her word and stayed cloistered in her office all day long. During the morning, Daniela messed around with the display, and I waited on customers. Not many locals came in, but tourists never missed a chance to shop at Sue’s. Ocean Mist had tourists mainly through the hottest part of the summer. After September, they pretty much stayed away.

  In the afternoon, Daniela chatted it up with the customers, and some of them lingered forever, evidently unable to tear themselves away from Daniela’s flirting eyes and happy jabber.

  I tried to ignore her, but I was a fish to her lure.

  When my shift was over, I knocked on Sue’s office door.

  “You bleeding out?” she asked, but I heard her chuckle.

  I pushed the door open a crack. “Very funny.”

  “Come on in. I must be cross-eyed by now. How’s business been?” She rubbed her eyes, smudging her make-up into light gray patches on her upper cheeks.

  “It’s been steady.”

  “And Daniela? How’d she do?”

  “Customers love her.”

  Sue’s smile widened. “As I suspected. She’ll be great for business.”

  “It’s time for both of us to go home,” I said.

  Sue picked up the digital clock from her desk. “Lord! You’re right. After today, you and Daniela won’t be here the exact same hours. There’ll be a little overlap, but not like today.”

  I nodded, not surprised.

  “So, I guess it’s my turn to mind the store for the last few hours,” Sue said.

  “You want me to get you something from the diner?”

  She came around the desk and patted my arm. “You’re a good kid, Andrew. But I’ll order in, no big deal.”

  “Okay, if you’re sure.”

  Sue yawned and stretched toward the ceiling. Then we both headed back out to the shop. Daniela had her hand on a young guy’s arm, and they were cracking up.

  “Let us in on the joke,” Sue said, pausing to straighten a pile of dish towels emblazoned with embroidered shells.

  “Ma’am, you’ve hired a comedian here,” the guy said, grinning at Daniela as if they’d known each other for years.

  “Glad to hear it. Daniela, you’re free to go home, now, and thank you, dear. Andrew, walk her out, will you?”

  Daniela dashed into the stock room and came back with her jacket on. We walked out together.

  “This yours?” she asked, pointing to my yellow ten-speed.

  “Yeah, it is.” I picked up my bike and slung one leg over it.

  “I like to ride bikes, but riding from Astenia would take too long. I’m parked around the corner.” She gestured at me to accompany her, and since it was on my way, I accommodated, pushing my bike along the sidewalk. She drove a caramel-colored compact that glimmered like real gold.

  “Cool car,” I said, mounting my bike again.

  “Yeah, got it for my sixteenth. Dad told me I should drive around in a jewel, so he got me this.” She laughed and patted the hood with affection.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

  “Maybe we could ride bikes after work sometime.”

  I put all my weight on one foot and balanced my bike against my leg. “What?”

  “You know, you and me, ride bikes.”

  “You have a boyfriend.”

  She made a face. “I know. I meant as friends.”

  “Yeah, I guess, sometime.” My heart was beating so wildly I backed up a step, afraid she would hear it.

  She reached for the door handle, and the lock beeped open. “What kind of things do you do? You know, besides work?”

  In my mind, I saw a burly linebacker making his moves on the field. Saying I took photos suddenly sounded lame.

  “Nothing much,” I said.

  She nodded at my bike. “Just riding, then?”

  “Sure. Just riding.”

  “Okay. We’ll ride together next week.”

  I wasn’t ready to commit myself to death by jealous boyfriend, but looking into her inviting, dark eyes, I agreed.

  “See you tomorrow, Andrew.” She opened her door, slid into the driver’s seat, and drove off.

  I liked how my name sounded on her lips.

  I shook my head.

  I was done for.

  ****

  The salty smell of canned chicken soup greeted me when I got home. Mom stood at the stove, giving the broth a slow stir. With a pop, two pieces of bread flew up from the toaster.

  “Dinner’s ready,” she said.

  I walked into the kitchen to wash my hands. She plunked two bowls of soup on the bar, grabbed the toast, and dropped it, unbuttered, on a napkin.

  “You hungry?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How was work?” She gave me her raised-eyebrow-smirk, and right then I knew she’d heard about the new hire at Sue’s Seaport Shoppe.

  “Fine.”

  With a backhanded slap on my arm, she continued, “Fess up! You’ve got a new friend, and I want to hear all about her.”

  I swallowed a bite of toast. “Seems to me you’ve already heard.”

  Mom leaned close, excitement radiating off her. “Only that she’s drop-dead gorgeous and she’s from Astenia.”

  “Then you’ve heard all I know.”

  She slapped me again. “Come on, Andy. It’s time you stepped into the game. A good-looking boy like you? It’s a waste.”

  I grimaced and took a spoonful of hot soup that burned all the way down my throat.

  “Don’t be like your dad,” she said and rested back in her chair, observing me. “You’re smart, and you’ve got the looks.”

  My chest tightened, and I suppressed an urge to get up and walk out. She was always going on about Dad. I’d heard it so many times I could puke.

  “You know girls don’t like boring guys,” she said. “I simply can’t stand the thought you’ll turn out like him.”

  My jaw hardened, and I sucked in a long breath. My nostrils flared, but I kept my eyes on the bowl of soup in front of me.

  She reached out and petted my hand. “I don’t mean to nag you, Andy. But I worry. You know I worry.”
<
br />   “We’re going bike-riding together,” I blurted.

  Her pale green eyes bugged out, and a smile of pleasure covered her face. “Now, that’s more like it. When?”

  “Sometime next week,” I said, telling myself it wasn’t exactly a lie.

  She took a dainty slurp of soup. “Good. Good, Andrew.” She set her spoon down with a click. “Don’t get too involved, though. Play the field — try out all the girls.”

  Like she was trying out all the guys practically nonstop since dumping my dad five years earlier?

  I sighed. “Geez, Mom. Give it a rest.”

  She giggled. “Never. Next week, huh?” She rubbed her hand lightly over the stubble on my chin. “You might want to shave.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “But then again, maybe the bad-boy look is sexier. Yeah, I like it better.”

  Right then, I decided to shave.

  ****

  The next morning when I opened the shop door, Daniela was standing behind the counter with a warm smile. I did a double take; she wasn’t supposed to be there when I got in.

  “Andrew, you’re here.”

  “Morning, Daniela.”

  Her teasing tone sent jingles of excitement through me. A hot ache grew in my throat, and I turned quickly and headed for the stock room.

  I set my backpack on a table piled high with an assortment of shipping boxes. A mirror hung next to the bathroom door, and I gave it a quick glance, smoothed my hair, and ventured back out.

  “Didn’t expect you so early,” I said, busying myself straightening the keychain rack.

  “Sue said you’d teach me the cash register. That’s why I’m here first thing instead of this afternoon.” Daniela joined me at the rack and started picking through the key chains, catching the ones hanging on the wrong pegs. She brushed against my side, and a jolt of electricity zinged through me.

  “I’m glad you’re my teacher today,” she said. “I’m good at math, so I’ll catch on right away.”

  I gazed down at her face as she concentrated on the chains. Her eyebrows furrowed a bit, and her eyes crinkled like she was a little girl figuring out how to tie her shoe. The whole picture was so adorable it sent tremors through me. All I wanted to do was take her in my arms and crush her against me.