Summer before Corri's Senior Year

"Do you want some?" 

I glanced up at Ari as she tipped a fifth of cake flavored vodka in my direction. I shook my head and lifted the bottle of Seagram's wine cooler. "I'm good with this."

"Live a little," she laughed, thrusting it a little closer. "Monday morning we'll all be seniors and have time for nothing but college applications and internships and jobs. This is our last chance for fun."

I didn't feel like reminding her that senior year would probably be loaded with fun and parties and prom. Finally I relented, stood from where I had been sitting in the sand and took the bottle from her. I took a small swig and passed it to Becca. It burned like crazy and warmed my belly.

"Let's dance!" Ally called out, changing the music to something we could all move to. 

The plan was a girls only party on the beach. We had spent the whole day there swimming with a pause for a picnic lunch. Then when it got dark, we started a small fire and the girls revealed the alcohol they had been keeping in a cooler. The wine cooler was fine with me. I hadn't really ever drank much and I didn't feel comfortable getting too crazy when I wasn't even at home. 

But the vodka made it rounds and the more I drank, the freer I felt. On a daily basis I was worried about everything. And yes college would be a concern so I had to keep my grades up. But most of all, my concern was boys. Specifically Colt. 

I was moving to the rhythm of the music, my skin warm from being out in the sun all day. I had only slipped on a pair of denim cutoffs over my bikini. I had brought more clothes, but between the alcohol and the fire, I didn't need them yet. 

I ventured out a little bit until my bare feet touched the shore. The water seemed endless here but it wasn't. We were on Sauvie Island and during the day you could see the land on the other side. But now the waves lapped at my feet and the water felt murky and dangerous. 

When I turned to head back to my friends, I ran into a broad chest with scattered tattoos. "I'm sorry," I gasped, my hands still pressed against him.

He smirked as his eyes moved over me. "I'm not."

I glanced around nervously. We had specified no boys tonight, yet I saw a group of them had made their way to our little group and presently three of them were talking to my friends. 

"I'm Perry," the guy in front of me offered. 

I had seen him at school, but it wasn't anyone I had ever spoken to. He and his friends were known for their parties and tattoos and loud motorcycles roaring through the parking lot after last bell. Perry was handsome, in an unconventional way. His eyes were a pale blue, maybe even gray and his hair was a dirty blond, much longer than the boys at school normally wore it. His eyes twinkled when he held on out for me to shake. "You're Corri, right?"

I was taken aback having learned he knew my name and it must have shown because as he shook my hand, he laughed. "I asked. And Todd over there said he had biology with you last year."

I peered over at Todd, who caught me looking and gave me a shy wave. "Yeah, he's right," I finally answered. "I'm Corri."

"I almost hated to disturb you, because you looked like you were in your own world over here."

"So why did you?" I replied, honestly curious about this guy who had never approached me before.

Perry leaned down to grab a stick from the sand and he tossed it into the water. When his eyes returned to mine, he looked serious. "I just didn't want to miss this opportunity," he explained.

"For what?"

"To tell you how good you look," he retorted with confidence. 

I rolled my eyes and gave him a playful push. "You need your eyes checked. I've been out here all day. My hair is a mess and I don't have a bit of makeup left on my sunburnt face." 

I walked away from him, eager to get back to my friends, but he was right behind me. "Well, you look great. You don't need makeup and your hair is definitely not a mess."

I leaned down to get another wine cooler out and watched as he took it from my hands, screwing off the lid before handing it back. "Wanna dance?" he asked as I downed the first swig.

"I don't know," I answered hesitantly.

"I don't bite," Perry grinned, leaning in close to swipe the bottle from me and taking a drink before he handed it back.

"Okay," I nodded slowly.

With little hesitation, Perry slid his hands around my waist, holding me loosely in front of him as we began to sway to the music wafting from speaker Ally had brought along. I pushed my hands up his chest and curled them over his shoulders. He smelled nice, like a cool body wash and smoke from the fire. We moved closer and I lowered my head to his chest. We were barely moving, just feeling the music and he was beginning to feel me. 

"I don't think…" I began when his hands slid down to rest on the upper part of my backside. 

"Then don't think," he chuckled as his mouth moved to my neck. When I felt his breath on my skin, I leaned back.

"I don't wanna do this," I sighed, pushing at his shoulders with both hands. 

I took a step back and caught the look in his eyes. "We're just dancing, honey. Don't make this a big thing."

I opened my mouth to speak, but I felt a hand behind me, clutching me around my waist and pulling me back against a muscled wall of chest. "She said no," a deep voice growled.

Perry's brow furrowed and for a moment, I think he considered digging in his heels. But when Colt stepped around me, tucking me behind him protectively, Perry backed off with his hands held up in surrender. "Sorry, man. Just being friendly."

Even as Perry retreated with his friends, Colt called out, "Not with her."

Once Perry and his buddies moved onto the next group partying in the sand, Colt turned to me with a fury in his eyes. I watched his gaze run over my body and they way his jaw clenched tightly. "What are you wearing?" he gestured to my top half where my black bikini top was covering my chest.

"Seriously, Dad?" I mocked, shoving past him to stomp down the beach. His lectures were the last thing I needed. I swiped the vodka bottle from where it sat on the blanket and retreated.

"Where are you going?" Colt called after me.

"Away from you," I shouted back.

I tipped the bottle back and swallowed more than enough of the sweet flavored alcohol than I could actually handle. I exhaled deeply and continued moving with no clear destination. I only stopped when I felt Colt's big hand curl around my arm, pulling my back to his chest. 

"Can you just stop?" he huffed. "Quit running from me."

I jerked out of his hold and swung around to face him. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"

"I wish I could," he shot back, stepping closer and holding my cheek with one hand. 

I didn't shrug off his touch or step out of his hold. My fuzzy head was too drawn in by the way his emerald eyes blazed down at me. If I tried really hard, I was sure I could even imagine that Colt was struggling not to kiss me and having seen another guy touching me, he was crazy with jealousy.

His fingers drifted down my neck and I struggled to keep my eyes open. I felt warm and like I was floating on a cloud. Maybe it was the vodka...or maybe it was Colt's touch. 

"What are you wearing?" I heard his deep voice accuse as his fingers skimmed under the strap of my bikini top. 

My eyes snapped open and I lifted my chin in defiance. "It's a bathing suit, Colt. We are on a beach after all."

Colt pulled his hand back and scowled. "You usually wear a one-piece, don't you?"

"I needed a change. You don't like it?" I did a little spin for him and found myself losing my balance.

"Alright, Corri. That's enough."

"Why are you even here?" I accused when he gripped my shoulders and tried to get me to hold still.

"I'm just hanging out with my friends," he answered, nodding down the beach to another fire and another group of people.

"You weren't following me?"

He chuckled and slung an arm over my shoulder. "No. I have better things to do."

I walked with him, guiding me with his arm tightened around me. "Where are we going?"

"Home."

"No," I argued, slipping from his grip and heading back toward my friends.

"Come on, Corri! I can't leave you out here alone!"

"I'm not alone!" I called over my shoulder. "I'm with my friends."

I trudged through the sand and was met by Ally, carrying my bag on her shoulder. "Here. I thought you might need this."

"What's going on?"

Ally glanced back at Trent, who had the rest of her things in his hands. "Trent is driving me home," she announced shyly. 

"But you drove me here."

"I know. But Trent said he'd drive my car for me since I've had a little too much to drink," she explained, holding her fingers apart to show me how much. 

"So how the hell am I getting home?"

Ally looked over my shoulder and raised her eyebrows. "Looks like Colt has you covered."

I groaned and glanced around for anyone else that could help me. "Jason!"

Jason jogged over to me and shrugged. "Sorry, Corri. I'm following Trent to Ally's and then taking Becca and Ari home."

"I'm on the way," I pouted. 

"I got her," Colt grumbled from behind me. "It's stupid for anyone else but me to take you home when we literally live at the same house."

I swung around to face him, caught off guard by how close he stood. "Yeah lucky me. My own personal bodyguard and chauffeur." 

I shoved past him, hoisting my bag over my shoulder until I felt him tugging it from me. "I don't think it's such a bad thing. You don't seem to mind most days."

I stomped to his truck and began yanking on the handle. "Well I mind today. I was having a good time until you came along."

"Were you?" Colt defied, reaching around me to open the door. "Wait."

I turned to face him, finding him looking exasperated and tired. With one hand behind his back, he tugged off his hoodie and gently pulled it over my head. "You're cold."

I peered up at him as he stood so close to me, his upper half covered only in a white wife beater. He rubbed his hands up and down my arms, laser focused on me. "You'd make life so much easier if you'd just stay covered up," he joked. 

"Nobody else seemed to have a problem with what I had on."

Colt scoffed. "Yeah. Like that biker who couldn't keep his paws off of you?"

"I didn't ask for your help with that. I was handling Perry."

"Perry?" he echoed. "Yeah that sounds like a good name for a dickhead like him."

"Whatever. I'm so tired of you butting into my life all the time."

"Good! Because I'm tired of having to step in and protect you when you make bad decisions, like your clothes and drinking vodka straight from the bottle. Don't you ever think of anyone but yourself?" he accused. 

"I hate you," I seethed. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

Colt lifted me by my hips, planting me in the front seat of his truck. When I struggled, he hooked my seatbelt and climbed over me to get to the driver's side. "I'm sorry if you can't handle the truth but dealing with you is a full-time job."

"No one asked you to do it! We were both here doing the exact same thing. Don't think I didn't smell that beer on your breath."

"I had a few sips. And I'll be legal to drink in a week. You're only 17, Corri. Stop acting like you're grown."

I crossed my arms over my chest and stared out the windshield. My head was already starting to ache and keeping my eyes open made it worse. Colt reached over and tugged me closer to him, urging me to rest against his arm on the armrest. I was too tired to fight him anymore. I just wanted to sleep.

"And I don't really remember anything after that." I explained to my father as I recounted that night so many years ago.

"Well I remember it. Colt carried you into the house. You were sleeping with your head on his chest. I watched him carry you to your bed."

"He did?"

My father nodded. "He even tried to lie for you and say you just overdid it in the sun. But I knew better. He got you ready for bed while I grabbed you some water and ibuprofen for when you woke up."

"I didn't know that. He had been so mad at me."

Dad chuckled. "Colt could never stay mad at you for too long. You know that. I checked back in on you later and he was leaned against the headboard with you snuggled up to his chest. He was running his hands through your hair and speaking softly to you. You were totally out and I can't be sure what he was saying, but I think it was an apology."

"For what?"

"I just heard him say that someday he would be able to tell you how he felt."

"Oh."

"I knew then that he loved you. I had seen it in the way he cared for you and how he would protect you. But the way he held you that night…I had no doubts that Colt Anderson was crazy for you."

I nodded slowly as I processed what my father had just told me. "I know that now. But back then I was so confused. I wanted him to show me how he felt, but he always wanted to wait. Wait for me to be older, wait for me to finish college...the timing was never right for us."

"And now?"

I sighed deeply and smiled. "And now...it seems to be perfect."

"So what did you tell him...about being together, I mean." 

"I said yes. I told him we could try."

My father beamed at me as I sat on the edge of his bed. "I'm happy. That makes me so relieved to know he'll be the one to look out for you when I'm gone."

"He always has looked out for me, Dad. Even when I was too much of a brat to appreciate it."

We both laughed as my father took me into his arms and hugged me with all the strength he had left. "I love you," he whispered to me softly. 

"I love you, too, Dad. Always."

We held each other like that for a few more moments until he told me he was tired and ready to get some rest. I helped him get comfortable in his bed and then sat beside him in a chair. Donna came in to give him his meds and then I watched him become more drowsy until he drifted off peacefully. 

I hadn't even realized I had fallen asleep until I woke up with a stiff neck. I stood and stretched, immediately noticing Colt entering the room. "You didn't come home last night," he whispered. 

I nodded and glanced at my father. "I guess I fell asleep in the chair."

I rounded the bed and moved in front of Colt, sighing when he took my face into his hands. "Breakfast? My treat."

I smiled up at him sleepily. "Just let me say bye to my dad first."

Colt gave me a quick squeeze, inhaling deeply as he buried his nose in the top of my head. "Go ahead."

I turned to my father and leaned over to grab his hand. "Dad?"

His eyes were closed and he had the barest smile gracing his peaceful face. I squeezed his fingers, but noticed he felt cold. "Dad?" I said again, this time a little louder. 

I pressed the call button for the nurse and began shaking him gently. I could feel Colt gripping my shoulders, gently easing me away when the room filled with nurses. Everything happened quickly. They checked his vitals, his eyes, listened for breath sounds. But there was nothing. 

He was gone.

I began to shake as the tears started to flow. Colt kept me standing with his arms wrapped tightly around me. I heard them say he passed peacefully in his sleep, most likely from his organs shutting down.

For months I knew this moment was coming and yet I still felt so unprepared. Tears streamed down my face as I listened to the doctor, the nurses, the chaplain speak to me. I couldn't handle the thought of never seeing him again. 

I stayed as long as they would allow me to. I went over in my head all the things I wished I had said to him. I was thankful that I had been here last night and had told him that I loved him while I had the chance. But that didn't take away the searing pain in my gut. My dad was gone. 

Colt drove me home in silence, his hand never leaving mine. Once inside, he held my shoulders and brought his face eye level with mine. "Tell me what you need. What can I do to help you?"

I blinked up at him, tears still trickling down my cheeks. "Just...sleep. I need to sleep now."

Colt nodded and pressed a kiss to my forehead. He led me to my room by the hand, undressed me and got me redressed in comfortable clothes. He pulled back the comforter and when I crawled inside, I felt his arms wind around me, pulling me close. I considered telling him to go, since it didn't even feel right to take comfort in his arms. 

Instead, I turned over and buried my face in his neck, breathing deeply and letting more tears pour out. Colt held me so fiercely, allowing me to completely break down in his presence. We stayed wrapped up like that until I drifted off to sleep. 

....

A/N: this was an emotional one 😢 I'm glad you're still here. ❤