Chapter Seventeen

 

Clouds roiled over the ocean as AJ waited. Unable to sit still, he paced along the islet. His nerves jangled in his skin. He should have gone home for his guitar, but he couldn’t face Grandpa. He wasn’t sure he would be able to face Cassiopeia, but he had to. To save her life, he had to lie to her. After he’d taken great care to gain her trust. Chaz was going to destroy it. And AJ could do nothing to stop him.

Yet.

A while ago, the sky spat drops of rain. He’d looked back to see how many people were still on the beach.

Only one.

Chaz.

AJ knew it was him, but he stood there, ominous as a shadow.

Without the light of the moon, Chaz might miss his first shot at Cassie. But he’d sure as hell not miss his second.

Maybe AJ should ask her to take him with her, to her home. He’d never see his guitar again. Or Grandpa. Or his mom.

If only he knew more about where she lived. About her.

He hardly knew her.

All he knew was how amazing it felt to be with her. To feel her next to him. And her voice… he could listen to her sing forever. He closed his eyes, remembering how sweetly she’d sung. Rain pattered his head and arms.

In a slow, sing-song tone, she called, “AJ.”

He snapped his eyes open.

Her giggles mixed with the sound of the raindrops, falling faster now. “You’re as wet as I am.”

“Yeah.” He repressed the urge to look behind him, and the urge to go to her.

“Don’t you like being wet?” She glanced up and down the shore as she moved toward him, then stopped. “There’s someone on the beach. Just standing there, looking this way.”

“I know. He’s been there awhile. It’s not safe.” He stopped short of telling her why. And how he knew for sure.

“And I have permission to stay later tonight.” She knit her brow. “What’s he doing?”

AJ was afraid to look. To see the barrel of a gun pointed their way. “You should go.”

“Why? Do you think he’s seen me?” She lowered herself behind the rocks.

“Yes. Maybe. I don’t know.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “I have a feeling you’re not safe here.”

“Will you come back tomorrow?” Her wide eyes sparkled even in the gloom.

He ached to hold her. Wanted to run from her.

Everything was all wrong.

He heard himself say, “The bridge. Do you know where the bridge is?”

“Where you played your guitar before?”

She’d seen him. The noise he’d heard hadn’t been the turtle. Chaz sensed it that night, too, as if he had mermaid radar.

“Yes.”

A flicker of doubt crossed her face. “Are you all right, AJ?”

“I only want you to be safe. Please go.” Don’t come back.

“All right.” Slowly, she slid back into the water. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

He filled his eyes with her, burned her face into his memory. “Yeah.”

Hesitating, she studied his face through the rain.

“Go. Be safe.” As he stood, he turned away from her so she wouldn’t see his guilt.

The outline of Chaz’s figure shone with the wetness on his jacket.

Hate percolated within AJ as he walked closer, but out of earshot. “I will make you pay. Someday soon.” He cut down the beach away from Chaz, who backed into the shadows. AJ looked out over the Gulf, but the choppy waves made it impossible to tell whether she’d left, or whether she watched.

When he crossed the last street to Shoal Line Boulevard, Chaz jogged toward him. “Did you tell her?”

AJ jammed his hands in his pockets so he wouldn’t be tempted to cold-cock Chaz. “Yes.” Looking away, he shivered, though the air was warm.

Chaz shifted into view. “She’s comin’ tomorrow night? To the bridge?”

AJ hunched his shoulders against the rain. “Hey, I told her. Whether she comes or not is her decision.”

Chaz narrowed his eyes and set his jaw. “If you pull anything…”

A myriad of curse words flew to AJ’s mind, but he would save them. AJ pushed past him.

Chaz’s voice echoed after him. “I’ll see you tomorrow, my man.”