Spring Tide by K. Dicke Read Free Book Online Page A

Nick. Don’t do that.”
    “You could’ve been killed or your nose could’ve been broken and be all lopsided. Thank goodness nothing happened to your face.” Sarah pulled out her phone. “But your hair is all reddish brown on one side. I’m so sorry!”
    After a short discussion that included the words emergency and innocent victim , she hung up.
    “Who’d you call?” I asked her.
    “Ellen at the salon. She’ll take you tomorrow afternoon and fix your color.”
    “Does is look that bad?”
    “It’s bad.” Nick crushed a soda can and launched it across the room.
    Maybe my two-tone hair explained why Jericho had been studying me since he’d first walked in.
    I answered a handful more of Nick’s questions about the police and the guy who’d attacked me. For the next half-hour the conversation, thankfully, went off on tangents. Sarah got up to leave.
    “Radio silence, Sarah.” I put a finger to my mouth. “You can’t tell anyone in Austin about this. If my brother gets wind he’ll come down here and beat the crap out of me for not fighting back or getting out.” It was and wasn’t a joke. No one found it even slightly funny but everyone was looking at me funny. “You guys are making a bigger deal out of this than it is. Yeah, it was scary, like gonna-die-now scary, but other than my rusty locks, I’m fine. Really.”
    “Did you say ‘fine’?” Derek said quietly.
    “Yeah, fine.”
    He slowly nodded.
    I started to collect my things. “I was gonna get a ride from her …” My voice trailed with Sarah’s car that was pulling onto the street.
    “I’m going that way if you need a lift,” Jericho offered.
    “I’ll take you to get the dragon,” Derek said, watching every move I made.
    “I’m not sure I should drive. It’s been a long day, hero, and you’re tired too.” I kissed Derek’s cheek. “Jericho can drop me and I’ll get my car tomorrow.” I zipped my backpack while holding his stare for three seconds. “I know that look, Derek. What’s your deal?”
    He put his hand on my arm. “Promise you’ll call if you need something, wanna talk.”
    “I will. Everything’s okay.”
    His face fell as I said the words and from deep inside came an ugly feeling that I hadn’t experienced in nearly five years.
    I went out behind Jericho and got into his truck.
    He put it in reverse. “How’re you really doin’?”
    “I’m beat.”
    “Bad pun.”
    “Yes it was.” I slouched in the seat. “Actually, I’m really confused. What I remember isn’t lining up. I should be in the hospital in a body cast. And the medics found me outside. I couldn’t’ve dragged myself anywhere. I was unconscious.” The words came out of my mouth and I didn’t know why I was talking to him about it because I hadn’t even worked through the issue myself.
    “You hit your head, right? Got a concussion?”
    “I think so.”
    “There was this guy in Baja a few years back, got a surfboard fin lodged in the side of his head. He didn’t remember going over the falls or that he swam to shore. He didn’t know why we took him to the ER, and this is the best part—his words—didn’t know why that little baby porpoise wouldn’t take its nose out of his ear. Even when he looked in a mirror, he didn’t see the fin. He saw a tiny porpoise. It was months before he put the whole thing together.” He parked in front of the building. “So be patient with yourself, you know? Head injuries jumble your mind. I hope you feel—” his head snapped left, his eyes big.
    “Better? I will, thanks.” I got out and scanned the lot. What’s he looking at? No one’s around.
    Once I was inside, he pulled away. Waiting for the elevator, I glanced out the front door. From the far corner of my eye I thought I saw a big bolt of lightning that was so white it looked blue. I put my arm over my eyes, the bell sounded, and I stepped into the elevator. I am all kinds of messed up.
    I nearly knocked over Sylvia, my attention