The beach was windy, and the cold of the sand seeped through the back of my jeans. I was holding a can of beer, waiting for Leo to text me back, and watching Mila run around, singing some annoying song about counting stars at the top of her lungs. Beer sloshed out from the can she was tipping sideways when she tripped and fell into the guy, giggling and patting his chest.
Turned out his name was Robert.
“Ooh,” she said, smoothing her hand across Robert’s chest. “You’re hard.” She tittered. “I mean . . . here.” She patted his pecs.
He shook his head. Smiled. Then dipped her, like he was all romantic and was going to kiss her, but she lost her balance and toppled to the ground. Robert hovered above her like a shadow, offering to help her up. Mila slapped at his hand, laughing.
I walked over to them. Mila came up to his armpit when she was standing, but I was as tall as him. Mila grabbed my hand.
“Come count the stars with me,” she said, pulling me to the ground. Her wobbly grip made me stumble, and I landed on top of her.
“Well, all right,” Robert said, grinning down at us. “Three is always more fun.”
He angled in.
Breathed his breath.
I scrambled up. Moved back.
He laughed, pushing forward. He pinched my waist. “Oh, come on. I like a big girl who doesn’t need me to be gentle.”
I spun away. Put up my hands. “Don’t touch me. Ever.”
Mila stood. Swayed. Squinted.
Competed.
She grabbed Robert’s hand and pulled him behind her toward the sand dunes. Shouted, “Ruby already has a boyfriend.”
I hated her right then.
I paced. Rolled my hands into fists. I wanted to punch something. But I felt so helpless. He touched me without my permission. What was he going to do to her?
But maybe she actually liked him. Maybe she was good with it. She invited him here. She pulled him behind the dunes.
No.
She was too drunk.
I needed to check in with her.
I brushed off my jeans and headed to the dunes.
“Mila!” I shouted to let her know I was coming.
I rounded the sand dune where she was giggling and swatting at Robert, who was nuzzling her neck.
“Stop,” she murmured, and that’s all I needed to hear.
“We should go,” I said. I walked around them and pulled at Mila’s hand.
She giggled.
“Are you fighting over me now? You’re always so jealous, Ruby.”
“Hey, hey, hey,” Robert said, pulling Mila toward him. “I don’t think your friend is ready to go.” Friend. He didn’t use her name. Wanted to keep her anonymous.
“She said stop.”
“She didn’t mean it.” He looked at Mila. “Right, beautiful?”
He angled his body over hers, trying to ease her back into the sand.
Mila’s eyes went wide, and she squeezed my hand. Tried to use me for leverage to roll out from under him. But he was big. And strong. And not giving in.
“Actually”—she sounded out of breath as she pushed on his chest—“Ruby’s right. We need to go.” She tried to twist away, but she was wedged between him and the sand.
She looked at me. Eyes pleading. Help.
I grabbed her hand. Pulled hard. Her shoulder nailed Robert on the chin.
He bolted up, sending sand flying. “Are you kidding me right now?”
“I think I’m gonna throw up,” Mila said, scrambling away. Heaving. “Ruby,” she whimpered, “hold my hair.”
She shoved her hand out to me, opening and closing it, fluttering her fingers, wanting me to grab them. I didn’t.
“We’re good here,” I said to Robert, standing tall and squaring my shoulders. “You should go. I’m pretty sure she’s done for the night.”
Robert grabbed my arm, digging his fingers in tight. “What about you? Are you done?” My heart skittered in my chest. Breath stuck in my throat. I was too frozen with fear to move.
“Ruuuuuuuuby,” Mila whimpered. She stood up, teetering like a newborn colt.
Robert looked at me. Looked at her. Finally loosened his grip. Pushed me toward Mila.
I gathered her hair into my fist right before she lunged forward and threw up into the sand.
“Unreal,” he said, walking away. “Happy fucking New Year.”