The Equinox by K.K. Allen Read Free Book Online Page B

protect you, not put a burden
on you.”
    I stand with her and reach out for a hug.
The tensing of her muscles tell me that the hug is unexpected, but the release
of her tension tells me that it is also welcome. I linger for just a moment
before pulling away.
    “Thank you.”
    Rose looks at me, a hint of a smile appearing
on her face. She forgives me for dredging up bad memories, but where do we go
from here? That is still the lingering question.
     

C hapter F our
    My doorbell rings at nine o’clock exactly
and I race down the stairs at a speed that still surprises me. Alec’s face smiles
back as I swing open the door. His readiness for the sun and water is evident
in his light blue sleeveless top and black swim shorts. My smile meets his as I
eagerly shut the door behind me.
    “I half expected you to be in bed sick.
This is a pleasant surprise.” He is teasing but the comment irks me.
    I narrow my eyes at him with a sideways
smirk. “You know, I am starting to
feel a little sick.”
    Alec’s eyes grow wide for a second before
he laughs. “No you don’t, Summer Girl. You are coming with us, even if I have to drag you to the Springs myself.
Your mermaid friends await your arrival.”
    A bubble of laughter escapes me. “Is that
so? Well, I haven’t told them that I’m coming so that’s impossible.”
    He shrugs and twists his face mockingly.
“Mermaids just know things.”
    “What kinds of things exactly?” I test him to see how far he’ll push it, and
although I’m having fun teasing back, there’s an uncomfortable reverberation in
the back of my mind that knows there is a reality to what we’re discussing.
    He taps a finger to his lips twice before
answering. “Well, they can read minds. They have to read minds because they
live under water. How else would they understand each other?”
    Good point. Now he’s got me wondering if
the Valli sisters were reading my mind yesterday.
    Alec gives up and tosses me over his
shoulder with one quick swoop. “C’mon!”
    I shriek with laughter as he carries me
upside down the entire way to his parent’s Yukon. He places me gently in the
passenger seat and grins. It’s hard to keep my eyes on him with his white teeth
glaring back at me, flirtatiously. “Buckle up, Buttercup.”
    I turn around in my seat as I pull the
strap down from the ceiling and smile at Trisha, Ava, Matt, and Brent who are
all grinning from the backseat of the car. Well—Ava’s smile looks more
like sneer. I could have lived without seeing her today, but she is Alec’s
friend so I will deal with it.
    “Hey Buttercup,” Brent teases. You ready
to see some mermaids?” He asks this with a fist pump and I can’t help but roll
my eyes.
    “I didn’t realize mythological creatures
were your style,” I tease, and turn to face out front.
    If there was a phrase I could use to
describe Brent it would be class clown. He’s got a joke for everything but it’s
refreshing. There is a balance needed in every group setting and he’s got the
flair for the dramatic that releases tension in almost any situation.
    Alec puts the SUV in reverse now as Brent
answers. “Oh yeah! I’ve been to this place before. The mermaids are smokin’.”
    Ava lets out an ugly groan and I hear
Brent cry out in pain. I’m certain Ava just jabbed him in the ribs. “Shut up,
Brent. You’re fishing in the wrong pond.”
    Despite Ava’s harsh demeanor we all burst
into laughter, including Brent.
    “That’s right, Brent,” Alec joins in.
“There are plenty of fish in the sea—if the mermaids don’t work out, that
is.”
    “Okay, okay,” Brent says from the back,
laughing.
    Matt takes his turn next to jab Brent.
“Don’t worry man. Just keep swimmin’.”
    “Okay, I get it!” Brent shouts and we all
are laughing now.
    “Pig,” Ava rolls her eyes and adjusts
herself so that she faces the window behind Alec.
    My eye catches Alec’s as he turns to me
and we smile with a mutual understanding. With one