Free Atonement by J. H. Cardwell

would be more about his possessiveness than anything else. It turns out I couldn’t have been further from the truth. I let out a long, intense sigh. This sucked. I seriously couldn’t believe how deeply desolate my soul felt. I thought, please, someone get me out of this despair.
    Elle must have noticed my sullen appearance while everyone else was checking out the suite and getting more and more excited. She walked over to me, nudging my elbow.
    “Reese, it seems we were just here at this emotional place you are in…unfortunately it was because of Tate then too,nearly a year ago. I’m sorry, but he might be…you know, he might be not so good for you anyhow.”
    I looked down to the floor. I knew there might be something to it, or was it me…was I depressed? I didn’t think I was. I loved to have a good time. Maybe it was like I always said, trouble follows me. I
am
a walking disaster. Uhhh. I wasn’t sure, but it sucked being me sometimes.
    “I’m sorry Reese. Let’s forget I said that please. I don’t want you to go feeling sorry for yourself, okay? Let’s try to focus on what you do have…great friends who care about you, and want you to have an amazing time here. Now come on!” She said grabbing my hands and embracing me, hard. “Let’s get unpacked and throw on our swimsuits and check out the beaches and pools!
    I gave her a half smile, “I’m the one sorry Elle. If you see me get like that again, just slap me, or shake me, okay? But don’t tell Chloe, because she would just slap me for the hell of it and tell me I was being grumpy…even if I wasn’t actually.” I laughed a little.
    Elle laughed too and smacked my butt to urge me to go change. That snapped me out of it a little more. “Ouch! Okay, okay, I’m going!”
    The beach was breathtaking. It was late in the afternoon (although early evening on the east coast), but we weren’t about to miss any sun. After all, we were in California! Everyone on the beach seemed gorgeous and tanned and carefree. It made me envious. I did however have my best friends by my side. Maura was sitting out our towels, while Chloe scoped out ‘prospects’. Elle was calling the cantina girl to see if we could get drinks. We did look old enough, as longas they didn’t card us. It wouldn’t be too much longer for that to not be a problem.
    I had my iPhone out (the one that John had given me last summer) to play music with the small outdoor speakers. I heard it ping a message. It was John.
    We’ll be there early
    tomorrow Reese.
    Plan for me to pick you
    up around 10am for a
    ride. Just you and me.
    I can’t wait to see you.
    –J
    Oh John. My skin tingled reading his text. I was excited to spend some time with him. But, part of me wished I didn’t have to. Why did things have to change? Oh, what about Tate? I shook the feelings as quick as I could and responded to John.
    I can’t wait to see you.
    I’ll be waiting in the
    lobby of our hotel.
    Btw, thanks for
    Mr. Kline. I can’t believe
    you did that…oh and
    the first class seat change.
    Too much John
    –R

    After a great afternoon on the beach, we were wiped, if not a little jet lagged. We ate at the hotel restaurant and started to call it a night around 11pm. That wasn’t like us to turn in so early, but we were all SO exhausted. However, Chloe had other plans in mind…of course. She had already scoped out a local club to go dancing. She had Mr. Kline, our driver for the week, waiting out front at 11:15pm to take us out. I actually felt sorry for him. I was sure he would be much happier not having to be out so late carting our crazy butt’s around.
    The dance club was huge, and very modern. It had stark white leather seats against a black wall and ceiling. There was also a two story glass bar area with glass shelf, after glass shelf of top brand liquors. It really was quite hard to believe. The floors were also a thick clear glass or plexi-glass, and underneath that a mirror over every inch. I felt