In Too Deep by D C Grant Read Free Book Online

there. He made his way slowly back over the rocks, wincing at the pain in his knee. Once he reached the sand he limped towards the yellow and red flags and saw Chris sitting on the quad bike, scanning the water ahead of him. He glanced over as Josh approached.
    “You were in one piece last time I saw you,” Chris said.
    “I fell on the rocks.”
    “Really? Looked like you were pushed.”
    Josh frowned. “How …?”
    “I saw you from the IRB, after we’d come back around the Lion. I thought it was you, but I couldn’t see much from that distance. It didn’t look like the guy was shaking your hand. Do you know him?”
    “Sort of,” Josh said.
    “Did you piss him off or something?”
    “Yeah, something.”
    Chris glanced down at the cut on Josh’s knee. “It looks clean enough. Go up to the first aid room if you want.”
    “Nah, I washed it out with sea water. It should be fine. Think I’ll go for a swim. See you, Chris.”
    Chris nodded then lifted his whistle to his mouth to get the attention of a group of bathers who had strayed outside the flags.
    Josh took off his shirt, leaving it close to the quad bike, and ran into the sea. The coldness of the water startled him, but it washed away the remaining sick feeling he’d had since Bevan had met him on the rocks.
     

Chapter Nine
     
    When he walked into the bach his parents were sitting in the lounge with a woman and a boy of about Josh’s age. The boy glanced up at Josh from beneath a long, sweeping fringe and then looked away again, almost shyly.
    “Hi, Josh,” said his mother as he came in. “This is Penny and her son, Hayden.” She stopped when she noticed his skinned knee. “What happened to your leg?”
    “I fell on Pakiti Rock. I was going to the Gap, looking for you, Dad,” Josh said, grabbing a glass and making his way toward the fridge.
    “We’ve been back a while,” his father said. “I went up to the store on the way back for a coffee and the paper. Your Mum said you’d gone to find us, but I guessed you’d be back in your own time.”
    “Are you all right?” his mother asked, starting to get out of her chair. “Did you go to the club for first aid?”
    “Chris had a look,” Josh said, twisting the truth a little. “He said it was alright, just needed cleaning out, which I did.” He grabbed the orange juice from the fridge.
    “Will you be going surfing today?” his mother asked, settling herself back into her chair.
    “No, I’ll just take it easy.”
    “Oh, I was hoping you could take Hayden surfing.”
    Josh remembered then that his mother had said something about teaching the boy next door to surf. He looked over at Hayden as he poured the juice into a glass. He had light brown hair, fair skin and long, thin limbs. He would get sucked under by the first real wave that hit Piha Beach.
    “Can he swim?” Josh asked, knowing the question sounded rude but not really caring.
    “Yes, I can,” Hayden said.
    Josh found it hard to believe. “You have to be a strong swimmer to get out to the surf. It’s no use even trying if you can’t swim.”
    “I can swim,” Hayden repeated. He sounded a little annoyed.
    “Maybe tomorrow,” Josh said.
    “That would be good,” his mother said. “Penny and I are going to the shops tomorrow. You and Hayden go surfing then.”
    Josh, who was still in the kitchen, hid behind the open door of the fridge and rolled his eyes in exasperation, he didn’t want to babysit a grommet for the day. He’d have to think of a way to get out of it.
    “I’m going to my room,” he said, taking the glass of fruit juice with him. He purposely closed his door just in case the two scheming women decided that it was a good idea for him and Hayden to ‘bond’. A few minutes later, to his relief, he heard the mother and son leave.
    “I’m pleased you’ve agreed to teach Hayden to surf,” his mother said later, as they ate lunch.
    “I didn’t agree. You just organised it for me.”
    “Well, he