Caterpillars in Glass Jars: A Novel by Sarah Hill

Author:Sarah Hill [Hill, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-01-19T00:00:00+00:00

Luke

September 2016

My arms freeze mid-stroke, leaving my paddle hovering above the water. My spine stiffens when my gaze locks with Jaynie’s. At first, I thought it was a trick of the eye, because Jay refuses to get in the water. But here she is, trying to cover herself with her arms as she sinks lower into the water, her eyes as wide as the doors of a church on Sunday morning. Gage is standing behind her, his hand on her shoulder, wiping water from his face. I break from the path Steph and Dani are on, and steer the kayak in their direction, drifting over until I’m within a few feet.

“Jaynie?” My voice comes out strained and rough as my eyes take in the scene in front of me. It’s hard to see beneath the water, but it looks as though Jaynie’s not wearing anything. My eyes burn into the hand Gage has rested so affectionately on her shoulder. “What’s going on?”

Jaynie lifts her hand to tuck her hair behind her ear, avoiding my gaze. “Just… swimming. What are you guys doing?”

“Same thing we do every Saturday afternoon.” I shift my eyes to Gage. “How’d you talk her into getting in the water?”

“We were painting and spilled a little on ourselves,”—Jaynie answers before Gage can even open his mouth—“It was the only way to get cleaned up.”

“Must’ve been some spill.” My eyes catch on a splatter of paint clinging to her hairline.

“Hey, man.” I hear Jackson’s lazy voice coming from around the bend. “What are you doing?”

“Luke!” Jaynie hisses. “Don’t let him come over here.” Her eyes plead with me. “Please.”

I exhale and push my paddle against the water, retreating from the little cove she’s doing who knows what in, and answer Jackson. “Coming man. Just thought I saw something.”

Before I get too far, I look over my shoulder at the girl I thought I knew. “If you decide to put your clothes back on, we’re starting a fire and roasting hot dogs for dinner. There’s plenty if you guys want to join us.” I turn, not waiting for an answer, and paddle out of the inlet.

“Who are you talking to?” Jackson asks, leaning forward to get a look.

I glide past him, not allowing myself to look back at the spot my heart just drowned. “Nobody. Let’s go.”

Jackson spits a sunflower shell from his mouth and grabs his paddle. “Yes sir. It’s beer thirty!”

I paddle toward land, my movements stiff as the image of Jaynie—presumably naked—swimming with Gage remains etched into my mind. I bump against the shore and hop out of the kayak, pulling it up the crest at the edge of the trees circling the shore. My limbs feel heavy as I trudge toward the rest of our friends who are gathered around the fire, their drinks of choice in hand.

“Luke, heads up!” Andrew’s voice splits the air.

My eyes catch on the streak of silver flying toward me just in time to catch it. I raise the beer to Andrew in thanks and pop the top.

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