Watched

SOPHIA’S POV

I couldn’t move even if I wanted to. I was stuck flat on my back in the bunk bed just staring at that window. The shadow had moved—like literally two seconds ago—and now my heart was thumping so loud and hard I was scared it was gonna wake Darcy right up.

I kept replaying the dock scene in my head over and over like a bad movie stuck on repeat. Eric’s hands gripping my hips. The way he slid inside me slowly then fast and how good it felt when I came so hard everything went white and sparkly behind my eyes.

I had to bite my lip super hard so I didn’t make any noise. I shifted just a tiny bit and felt the sticky wet spot between my legs. Real proof that it had happened. I had actually done that with my best friend’s dad. I wanted to throw up.

Darcy made this little sleepy noise like ‘mm love you’ and rolled over closer to me. Her arm flopped across my stomach all warm and heavy. I wanted to push it off so bad but I didn’t dare.

So I just laid there like a dead person breathing super shallow until her snores got slow and even again, then I started moving inch by inch.

I flipped on the little light. It was bright and hurt my eyes. I looked in the mirror and almost jumped. My eyes were red and puffy like I’d been crying for hours, my lips were all swollen and kinda bruised from kissing Eric so rough and my hair looked like a bird’s nest. I looked guilty like someone who got caught.

“What the actual hell are you doing Sophia?” I whispered in my reflection. My voice sounded small and scared.

I turned on the cold water full blast and splashed my face over and over until my cheeks stung. I couldn’t crawl back into bed next to Darcy with his… stuff still on me.

When I was done I turned the light off and crept back to the room. Darcy was still out cold snoring softly. I climbed up carefully and pulled the covers over me.

******

Morning came way too soon. Everyone shuffled into the kitchen looking like zombies. Darcy was the only one trying to act happy.

She grabbed my arm the second I walked in and held on tight like I might run away. “Morning babe! Last night was still kinda fun right? Even with Mom and Dad getting all dramatic. We should totally do s’mores tonight to fix the vibe!”

She was talking a mile a minute while she poured coffee that smelled like it was burnt to death.

Emily sat at the table stirring her mug round and round even though she had already put in way too much sugar. She kept staring out at the lake like she was waiting for something to pop up.

He was right across from me pouring cereal but every couple seconds his eyes lifted and locked on mine. The kind that made the heat pool low in my belly even though I hated myself for it. I looked down at my plate fast but then I felt his foot nudge mine under the table just enough to make me jump.

Darcy giggled. “You okay? You’re so jumpy today.”

“Yeah,” I mumbled, staring at my toast. “Didn’t sleep well.”

Emily finally looked over. Her voice was calm but there was an edge to it. “Me neither. I thought I heard something outside around one. Like footsteps. On the dock maybe.”

My whole stomach twisted into a knot. Darcy laughed it off quickly. “Probably just a racoon. This place is crawling with them at night.”

I tried to laugh too but it came out all weird and choked. My hand shook and I spilled coffee all over my fingers. It burned hot.I hissed and shook my hand like an idiot.

Eric’s voice came low and soft across the table. “You alright?”

That voice… the same one that always made my knees weak. I nodded fast. “Yeah. Fine.” Darcy reached over and rubbed my back like I was five. “Poor thing. Want some ice for that?”

I shook my head. I just wanted everyone to stop looking at me.

After breakfast Darcy grabbed my hand and tugged. “Come on. Let’s go for a walk. Just us girls. We need some time.”

We walked down the little dirt path by the lake.

We stopped at this quiet spot where the water was calm. She turned to me and pulled me in for a kiss. Deep and slow.

Her hands slid under my hoodie touching my bare stomach. Fingers brushing up higher. I froze solid. Couldn’t move. I gently pushed her back. “Not here… someone might walk by.”

She pouted. “You still love me right? Like really love me? Not just saying it?”

I swallowed hard. My throat hurts. “Of course I do.” I pulled her into a hug tight so she couldn’t see my face.

Her head fit under my chin. Her breathing was soft against my neck. And all I could think about was Eric’s mouth last night. His tongue between my legs.

Later while Darcy and Emily were inside laughing at old baby pictures in those dusty albums I snuck out back. I was pretending to stack firewood but really I just needed to breathe. That’s when Eric showed up. Grabbed my wrist soft but strong.

“Last night…” he said lowly. “Don’t act like it didn’t mean something.”

I yanked my hand away. “It was a mistake. We almost got caught.”

He stepped closer anyway. His voice got quieter. “I don’t care. I want you every single day, not just quick moments in the dark.”

He leaned in fast and kissed my neck. Hot. Wet. Right where it makes me shiver. I moaned before I could stop myself. My body just reacted like it had a mind of its own. But then I shoved him back hard. “Darcy’s right inside. Your daughter is literally ten feet away.”

He looked hurt like I had punched him. “I’m trying to figure out how to do this right. How to have you without breaking her heart.”

I spun around and ran back to the cabin before I could do something stupid like kiss him back.

The whole afternoon felt wrong. Emily kept glancing at me when she thought I wasn’t paying attention. Not mad exactly. Just… watching. Like she knew something. I started freaking out over every look. Every time she smiled too long.

I decided I had to leave. Like tomorrow morning. I’d fake a text from my friend saying there was an emergency at school. Something bad enough to make me bolt.

I sat on the porch pretending to scroll my phone but really planning my escape. Darcy came out and sat next to me. “You’ve been acting weird all day. What’s up?”

“Just tired,” I lied.

She didn’t push but I could feel it. The doubt. It was there now hanging between us.

Dinner was silent and awkward. Darcy tried to start a card game but nobody cared. I said I had a headache and went to the bedroom early.

I started packing, stuffed clothes in my bag slowly so the zipper didn’t squeak. I was gonna sneak out at dawn. Catch a bus or whatever. I looked out the window one last time.

The shadow was back.

My phone buzzed in my hand.

Eric.

“We need to talk. Now. Boathouse.”

I stared at the screen forever. Heart pounding. I looked back at the window. The shadow was gone.

I took a deep shaky breath. Pulled my hoodie on. And slipped out into the dark.

Not sure if I was going to break it off for good… or let him have me one more time.