Audrey fished around in her bathroom cabinet, desperately searching for something to help relieve her sunburn. Although it was only about halfway through spring, the heat of the sun in the valley was no joke. She usually wore a thin long sleeve or flannel of some kind to protect her skin while she was working, but she opted for overalls and nothing but a bra underneath that day, with the hope that she'd be seeing Shane. Audrey knew from experience that fucked up guys were usually good in bed. She hardly had the money for her two new chickens, but she decided to head over to Marnie's to inquire, knowing that Shane would be there.
Lusting after Shane had been a constant battle in her head for the past two days. Back in ZuZu City, Audrey was a regular patron of just about every bar and club in a 10 mile radius surrounding her apartment; however, she didn't frequent these places to drink or dance or hang out with her work buddies in her time off. She had her routine down to a science. Audrey would loiter around the bar, scanning for the perfect sadsack to take home. She would approach her chosen target and strike up some meaningless conversation about work, sports, music, anything really. In no time at all, she would end up in a cab with a lonely guy who needed a fuck just as bad as she did. The ones she liked best would leave her apartment before she even woke up. ZuZu was huge, so she never had to worry about seeing them again. She knew hooking up with Shane would have exponentially more consequences than her escapades in the city, but she wanted him so badly. She needed him.
Sighing, Audrey grabbed the half-empty bottle of aloe lotion off the shelf and lathered it across her rosy shoulders and back. She peered at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, admiring the welcome changes to her appearance since moving to Pelican Town. It had only been a little over a month, but her arms appeared more toned from the heavy lifting that came with being a farmer. Her freckles were much more prominent now that she actually saw the light of day instead of being cooped up at a desk all the time. She looked pretty, and felt good.
Audrey's stomach growled, disturbing her from her self-admiration. She had skipped lunch, getting caught up in working on the coop with Shane. Most nights Audrey ate at the saloon, as she was an even lousier cook than she was a farmer. Tonight, however, she was far too exhausted to engage in conversation. She wanted to have just one meal in peace. The townspeople were great, for the most part, but they were too damn nosy. Every time Audrey left the house she was berated with questions about her crops, her life back in the city, her grandfather, the whole enchilada. That's what she liked about Shane. He didn't prod around in her business and their conversations didn't feel like interviews. It was obvious that he made a significant effort to be mean, but it didn't affect Audrey. She was a city girl, after all.
Audrey settled on a Lean Cuisine, poking around at the unevenly heated alfredo with broccoli dish. She washed up after dinner, changing into some comfy clothes after her lukewarm shower. She made a mental note to get a better water heater when some more money came in, and lied down in bed to get a good night's sleep. She lie on her back, looking up at the ceiling, the image of Shane catching the feed bags and hauling them into the coop replaying in her mind. Every part of him turned her on. His sporadic grunts when he was lifting something heavy. The beads of sweat collecting at his hairline. His big, pillowy lips that were most often used to insult her. She dug her hand into the drawer of her nightstand, pulling out a pink vibrator. She fucked herself with the toy until she was gasping with pleasure. The release was wonderful, but still not enough. It never was.
Audrey had done just about every drug there was in her college years, but there was no adrenaline high that would ever compare to an orgasm. Audrey had been chasing that high since high school, and she was afraid she'd never be able to stop. It started out with a boyfriend at 16, who almost got her pregnant. They stopped talking after that whole scare, but Audrey was hooked. She'd slept with at least half the small, private high school by her senior year. She was careful, and she made sure not to do it too often, for fear of being labeled as a slut. Things didn't get bad until she started her contract at Joja HQ. The long hours, menial tasks, and poor treatment from her managers left her craving a high at the end of every shift. Audrey quickly turned into the equivalent of an unpaid hooker, and she hasn't looked back since.
Despite her attempt to release some of her energy, Audrey was still restless. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She got up and slid into some fluffy slippers, deciding to go on a walk to clear her head.
The nighttime breeze was refreshing against Audrey's burnt skin. She decided to meander through the Cindersap Forest. She was pretty sure everyone would be asleep, but she didn't want to risk being seen in town wearing just an oversize tee and her underwear.
The moon reflected off the lake in the distance, lighting up the sky. Audrey stalked toward the water, making her way to the dock. She remembered swimming in the Cindersap Lake when she visited her grandpa's farm as a child. She would run down the dock and jump, striking a pose before she fell into the water. Her grandpa would laugh from their picnic blanket on the grass, warning her to be careful of loose boards. It really was a simpler time.
When Audrey approached the dock, she saw the outline of a man sitting on the end, looking out at the water. She quickly turned around, not sure who it was, but her foot landed on a twig and the snapping sound caught the man's attention. He turned around, revealing a pair of deep set emerald eyes. Shane. Of course he would be here. You were supposed to be clearing your head. You better control yourself.
"Up late?" Shane patted the spot next to him on the dock, motioning Audrey over to sit.
Audrey was surprised by his invitation, but she obliged, scooching in next to Shane. He shifted over as much as he could without falling off the dock, not wanting to be too close to her. "Couldn't sleep. You?"
"I come out here sometimes to think. And, uh, when I don't feel like running up my tab at the saloon," Shane replied, holding up the bottle of whiskey he had been hiding behind his back. He took a long swig, not even wincing as it slid down his throat. He held the bottle out to Audrey with a cocked brow.
She hesitated for a moment before pressing the bottle to her lips and taking down as much of the bottom-shelf liquor as she could without gagging. She wiped her mouth and forked the bottle back over to Shane.
"Fast drinker, huh? A woman after my own heart." Shane glared at Audrey in approval. "Just don't make it a habit, you got a future ahead of ya."
"What, and you don't?" Audrey knew she shouldn't be prying, but she wanted to know why Shane thought so lowly of himself. Between him being constantly at the saloon, and now seeing him downing whiskey at the dock like it's water, it was pretty clear to Audrey that he was a drunk. Even earlier at the farm, she swore she smelled a hint of liquor on his breath. It was obvious that Shane had problems, but she was curious as to what exactly they were.
Shane seemed to ponder Audrey's question for a few moments, staring out at the water in what appeared to be deep contemplation. He let out a heavy sigh. "Do you ever feel like you're stuck in a hole, and no matter how hard you try and claw your way out, you just can't seem to escape?"
Audrey was surprised at his sudden philosophical outburst. "Yeah, tell me about it," she said with a dry laugh. She snatched the handle of liquor back from Shane's grasp and took a few more hefty swigs. She had tried to seem cool about it, but the look on her face betrayed her, cringing at the taste of the whiskey. "How do you drink this shit so easily?"
"Years of practice," Shane muttered before grabbing the bottle back from Audrey.
Audrey felt a pang of guilt from questioning him about his drinking habits. Though they had just spent most of the day together, getting along with few hiccups, the reality was that they were mere strangers and it wasn't her place to ask. Desperate for a subject change, Audrey opted for engaging in small talk, which she was well versed in from her corporate life. "Have you been in the valley for long? Most people I've met have lived here their whole lives. Makes me feel like a bit of an outsider."
"Moved here a year ago. Grew up in ZuZu city."
"No shit?" Audrey exclaimed. "Me too. Thought I picked up a bit of a southside accent."
"Let me guess, you're one of those coddled top one-percenters from North ZuZu, princess."
There it was again, that nickname. Though she was sure Shane meant for it to be demeaning, Audrey would be lying if she said she didn't like it. She felt a heat grow between her legs as it rolled off his tongue.
"Maybe I am," Audrey flirted. She shifted her gaze from some point in the distance that it had been fixated on back to his ragged, yet mind-numbingly handsome face. "Doesn't mean I haven't been around you southside punks, though. I used to be somewhat of a regular at the Brick Barrell." Audrey was sent into a daze of reminiscing at her own words. The Brick Barrell was a shitty tavern in a not so good part of town she used to frequent when she was desperate for the rough touch of a working-class man.
Shane snorted. "I used to love that place, until I was blacklisted."
"Care to elaborate?" Audrey said, intrigued.
"Not particularly. Let's just say I pissed off the bouncers one too many times."
"Fair enough," Audrey responded, stifling a yawn. It was getting late, but some invisible force kept her from getting up and slinking back into her bed. Throughout the day's work, she had grown comfortable in Shane's presence. She was sure he didn't feel the same way, but selfishly, she wanted their drunken chat to last forever. She picked up on Shane's restless legs tapping against the dock, sensing that he was ready to call it a night himself. A wave of spontaneity washed over her, and before she had time to think about what she was about to say, the words came tumbling out of her mouth.
"Wanna go for a swim?"
"Are you crazy? It's the middle of the night and we're still in our clothes. Well, I am, at least." Shaned waved a hand at Audrey, motioning to her odd outfit choice. She was suddenly self-conscious about the t-shirt dress she forgot she was wearing.
Audrey stood, adrenaline taking over her body. She slipped a finger under the waistband of her underwear and shimmied them down, tossing them onto the dock. "Bathing suits are overrated, anyway." She looked at Shane expectantly, waiting for him to follow suit.
"You're drunk," Shane chuckled, eyeing her suspiciously.
"And? So are you. Come on, it'll be fun. We probably won't even remember in the morning, if that's what you're worried about." Audrey held out a hand to him, pulling him up to join her.
"Whatever you say," he said, kicking off his socks and shoes.
Audrey beamed up at him. The feeling of regret from making such an outlandish suggestion as to skinny dip in the murky lake was long gone by then. Without further hesitation, she yanked her shirt over her head and canonballed into the water below. Shane was not far behind, the wake of his awkward leap into the water splashing Audrey's face.
"Oh, no you didn't," Audrey teased, winding up her arms. She shoved as much water as she could back at him, but it was underwhelming, considering her tiny wingspan.
"That all you got?" Shane mocked before diving down into the water. Audrey was left with her head bobbing above the surface alone as Shane disappeared into the depths of the lake. Audrey felt a stir behind her, but before she could whip around to see what it was, she felt two shockingly large hands on her head, pushing her down into the water. She came up gasping for air. She couldn't tell if she was laughing or choking.
"Alright, alright, you win," Audrey managed to squeak out, hands up in the air in a gesture of surrender.
Her and Shane broke out into a fit of giggles. Before that moment, she had never seen so much as a genuine smile on Shane's face, but alas here he was, snorting like a wasted teenager joking along with friends after downing stolen beers in their parents' basement.
The laughing died down, and the two stood facing each other in the water as they caught their breaths. Audrey said nothing, but instinctually shuffled her feet through the half- sand, half-dirt mixture that made up the bottom of the lake until she was inches away from Shane's face.
"That was fun," Shane breathed, closing the distance even further. Before Audrey knew it, their bodies were almost touching. To her surprise, Shane reached up a hand to brush the wet strings of hair that clung to her forehead out of her face.
Without thinking, Audrey leaned in, electrified by his touch. She wrapped an arm around the back of his neck and pulled him in, locking her lips on his. They met in a tender, easy kiss. Shane pulled away for a split-second in hesitation, before grabbing her face with force and joining their lips back together. Audrey let out a small gasp when his tongue slid into her mouth. She reciprocated, their kisses growing frantic and sloppy. She looked up at the stars in a feeling of pure bliss as Shane made his way down her neck with a powerful suction. Just as Audrey began to melt under his touch, Shane suddenly pulled away, a look of sheer panic in his eyes.
"I, I have to go," he fumbled over his words. He quickly stepped away and swam back toward the dock, getting out of the water and haphazardly pulling on his clothes in less than a minute's time. Before Audrey had been able to formulate a coherent thought, let alone open her mouth to speak, Shane was far in the distance, making his way back to the ranch. She could do nothing but stare as his shadow disappeared into the night. You fucking idiot.