The Deep End » Outer Banks [JJ Maybank] BOOK ONE

X: Float

float
verb. rest or move on or near the surface of a liquid without sinking; move or hover slowly and lightly in a liquid or the air; drift.

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Early the next morning, Lee awoke with a pit in her stomach that she needed to get back to the Cut and find her friends. She climbed out of Wheezie's bed as softly as possible, trying not to wake either of the Cameron girls as she went. Once she was on her own two feet, she swallowed up the bile that was rising in her throat and peeked into the hallway. Not spotting anyone, she quickly darted to Sarah's room and went into the bathroom to change.

There, Lee also took the time to pull trigger—better out than in, JJ always said about puke in a hangover—and wash her face free of her smudged eye makeup. After swishing some mouthwash and taking an Ibuprofen, Lee grabbed her things and tiptoed downstairs. Just as she was about to grab the knob on the front door, she was interrupted by another knob—though this one preferred to be called Ward Cameron.

"Lee," Ward exclaimed from behind her, causing her to flinch in surprise. "I didn't know you were here."

Lee slowly turned around. "Yeah, Sarah and I went shopping yesterday," she said, holding up the Windsor bag in her right hand. "We just decided to make it a sleepover."

"Right, Wheezie said something about that," Ward said thoughtfully. "How are your friends doing?"

"My friends?" Lee repeated. "They're, uh, good. Staying busy with work and stuff."

Ward nodded. "It was too bad I had to fire John B, but I just didn't feel like I could trust him."

Lee tried to hide her shock at this revelation. "Right," she finally said, clearing her throat. "Well, you need an employee you can trust." Does he know about the scuba gear? she wondered. But how would he know?

"Yeah, if you know anyone good with a boat looking for work, send 'em my way," Ward said with a smile.

Lee gave him a fake laugh. "Will do. Uh, I gotta get home, my mom is expecting me—"

"Right, of course," Ward said, waving off her excuse. "Tell your mom I say hi."

Lee nodded with a tight smile. "Right. Bye, Mr. Cameron."

"Call me Ward, Lee, how many times do I have to tell you?"

"Uh, at least once more," she said, laughing awkwardly as he opened the front door for her with a wave.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she made it to her car, half expecting Rose or Rafe to jump out of the bushes at her. Luckily, her worst imaginations didn't realize themselves, and she was able to drive to the Chateau unimpeded.

Once Lee had parked in front of the Chateau, she plodded straight into the house. She hadn't bothered with knocking for over a year.

"John B?" she called out, searching for her friends. "JJ? Kie? Pope? Where the hell are you guys?" she muttered, looking through every room before spotting JJ and Pope on the dock. Walking outside, Lee let the door slam behind her as she made her way across the overgrown yard to the dock.

"Hey! The Prodigal Daughter returns!" Pope exclaimed, turning to see who was coming outside and throwing his arms out.

Lee threw her own arms open wide in response. "Ya miss me?"

"Is that Lee?" Kiara's voice called.

"Kie?" Lee asked, searching for her friend as she walked onto the dock. "There you are!" she exclaimed, spotting Kie and John B in the water. "What do we got going on here?" she asked curiously, glancing between the friends in the water, the long yellow line extending into the water, and the viewfinder in Pope's hands.