Charisma by Jeanne Ryan Read Free Book Online

from the shovel to a trowel and slowly uncover most of the clam’s creamy-beige neck, which resembles an elephant’s trunk.
    Chloe wipes her tanned forehead with the back of her arm. “Looks like a dildo.”
    I scoop up some sand. “Okay, my knowledge of the male anatomy is more theoretical than actual, but this is over a foot long.”
    She smiles as if privy to some secret.
    My phone buzzes in my pocket. I glance at m y sand-encrusted hands.
    Chloe says, “You can survive without a status report from your friends.” Her expression is haughty, as if now that she’s graduated from high school, she’s eons more sophisticated than me in every way—which, okay, doesn’t take much.
    I stab at the rocky sand. “Yeah, well, if we hear Mr. Quarterback’s ringtone, I bet you’ll find a way to answer.”
    â€œHe’s a halfback, and I told him not to call again until tonight.”
    â€œIs that why you keep checking out the new guy, Shane?”
    She laughs. “He’s totally hot, but I’m not a cheater. Is he making Aizzie all sweaty?”
    â€œI’m kind of interested in someone else.” Then I remember last night and sigh.
    I catch a look from Shane nearby. Did he hear what we were talking about? I shovel faster.
    Chloe slaps at my arm. “Watch what you’re doing.”
    I look down to find that I’ve hit the geoduck’s shell. Leaning into the hole, I dig by hand. Chloe wrinkles her nose as if I’m clubbing seals.
    When we’ve harvested our prey, I wipe my hands on a rag and pull out my phone. The text is from Evie: CAN’T WAIT ANY LONGER TO TELL YOU--RAFE AND I HOOKED UP! LOTS MORE TO TALK ABOUT!
    I’m happy for her, but also, I hate to admit, a little sad. The whole odd-man-out thing again. I take a swig of water, shuddering as the events of the party replay themselves in my brain.
    A few minutes later, I’m ready to resume the hunt, but a few guys from the group have glommed onto Chloe. She usually gets her share of male attention, but today it’s cranked up a few notches. Something about a girl who’s “taken” must send out major pheromones. Evie will enjoy that phenomenon now.
    Well, I can dig alone. Alone is what I do best, after all. Me and my pheromoneless self.
    I slog to where I think I see movement in the sand. But by the time I reach it, the ground’s only dimpled.
    â€œThere’s one,” a voice behind me says.
    I spin around to find Shane, in all his tall dark hotness, pointing to a spot a few feet to my left. Having a cute guy nearby, hell,
any
guy nearby, is all the cue my circulatory system needs to betray me. Crap. Maybe I’ll get a break and he’ll interpret my pink cheeks for sunburn.
    I choke out, “You found it; it’s yours.”
    â€œI’ve already got my limit of fresh meat.” He grins expectantly.
    â€œWell, um, thanks.” I call to Chloe, but she ignores me. Is she actually going to leave me here alone with a guy I don’t know? A familiar queasiness builds in my gut.
    â€œI’ll help you.” Shane jogs to where Chloe left the tube. If only he’d stay there.
    I take deep breaths, doing what I can to calm the panic.
    When he returns, he says, “Want to shovel first? You look like you want to attack something.”
    I stare at him, searching for signs of mockery. Did Chloe bribe him to hang out with me? No way am I digging for geoducks with him while her dildo comment lingers fresh in my brain.
    I clear my throat. “Actually, uh, I’m going to cool off for a bit. Thanks, anyway.” Without waiting for him to answer or for myself to debate whether this counts as running away, I slip out of my sandals and jog along the rocky sand to the water’s edge. Ouch, ouch, ouch. Finally, I reach the water. Whew. Breathe. Calm down. He’s not Jack. And not somebody I’ll see often, maybe never if