Unafraid (Beachwood Bay) by Melody Grace Read Free Book Online Page B

do.
     

     
    “Bet you ten bucks.”
    “Dude, make it fifty.”
    “That’s right, I forgot, you’ve got that graduation check burning a hole in your pocket.” I laugh, passing Jace the blunt to smoke. “Or should I call it the down payment on your soul?”
    “Aww, man, don’t say it like that.” Jace exhales in a long sigh, smoke billowing out over the dock. He looks at the joint. “This is good stuff, where’d you find it?”
    I shrug. “Some guy at a bar. And don’t change the subject. I can’t believe you’re signing up to play dad’s lapdog come fall.”
    Jace rolls his eyes good-naturedly. “I won’t even be in his department, I bet I won’t see him at all.”
    “Except for lunch, and client dinners, and weekends playing golf at the club…” I tease, only half-joking. “I’m serious, man. Working in that place is like a death sentence. They’ll have your name over the door before you know it. Covington and Son.”
    “Sons,” Jace corrects me with a smirk. “You know he’ll be gunning for you too. Just a matter of time.”
    I groan, reaching for the joint again. “You ever think what it would be like if we weren’t… us?” I ask, wistful. The ocean is dark and limitless beyond the harbor, and I wonder for the hundredth time what it would be like to sail off to nowhere. “Just two regular kids, I mean, with none of this Covington bullshit to deal with.”
    Jace looks at me like I’m crazy. “You want to be just another regular Joe? We’re lucky. We can do anything we want.”
    “Anything mom and dad want.” I correct.
    He laughs. “You’ll see. You’ll grow up soon, and you’ll realize people don’t get breaks like us. We can run this whole damn state one day. Congressman. Governor. “
    “Why stop there?” I remark, sarcastic. “Why not make it President?”
    “Why not?” Jace gives me a grin so cocky I have to toss a bag of chips at him.
    “Douche.”
    “Asshole.”
    “Dickwad.”
    Jace launches himself at me, and we tumble to the dock, tussling the way we’ve done ever since he was old enough to get me in a choke hold. For years, I struggled uselessly in his grips—four years older is a lot in kid wrestling terms—but ever since I filled out and made the football team as a linebacker, I’ve given him a run for his money.
    This time, I nearly have him, until Jace flips me out of nowhere, and I wind up slammed facedown on the dock. “I get it, dude,” I protest, slamming the boards in defeat. “You’re still in shape—for an old man.”
    “Watch it, kid.” Jace offers a hand to pull me back up. “I can still take you here, or out there.” He nods at the dark water.
    “So put your money where your mouth is.”
    “I got a better idea.” Jace gives me a grin. “I win, you have to go talk to that waitress you’ve been drooling over.”
    I tense. “What are you talking about?”
    “Don’t give me that.” He punches my arm. “I’ve seen you. The jailbait one at Mrs. Olson’s, she keeps dying her hair all those crazy colors.”
    I shrug, as if I don’t know who he means. “Plenty of girls in this town.”
    Jace isn’t fooled. “Whatever, dude. I’ve heard people talk, she could show you a real good time.”
    “Don’t say that.” My reply comes out harsh, and Jace raises his eyebrows in surprise.
    “See, I knew you liked her.”
    “I don’t,” I answer automatically. “I just… I don’t listen to gossip, is all. We don’t know her.”
    “We know she wears that black dress thing real well.” Jace smirks again, and I feel anger rise up in my chest.
    “Leave it.” I warn him.
    He holds his hands up, “Whoa, I get it. Off-limits.” He reaches for his beer and swallows back the rest of the bottle. “So, we doing this or what?” Jace nods at the water.
    “Sure.” I reply, glad to change the subject. “Get ready to pay, old man, ‘cause you’re going down.”
     

     
    The sound of infomercials wakes me.
    I sit up, my head