CH 104
I jog up to the surf shack and catch my breath, forcing a friendly smile as I approach the attendant.
He looks up from his phone, probably in his late teens or early twenties, his sun-bleached dark hair a shaggy mess around his shoulders, and the edges of intricate tribal tattoos peeking from under his sleeves. His nametag reads “Tyler,” and there’s a laid-back curiosity in his gaze as he takes me in.
“Hey, there,” I say, putting on my best friendly-casual voice. “I’d like to rent a couple of boards if you’ve got any available.”
He glances at me, then at Wake who’s already taken in Tyler and lost interest. Tyler raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by our pairing, but he doesn’t say anything. “Sure thing,” he says, bending down to grab a couple of surfboards. “You surf?”
“I... dabble,” I admit, grinning a little too enthusiastically. “My friend here, though, is a total newbie, so go easy on us.”
Tyler hands over the boards, casting a curious glance at Wake, who is now studying the surfboard in his hands like it’s a weapon. When Wake suddenly turns and walks off with his board, my eyes go wide. I turn to apologize, but Tyler seems to stifle a chuckle. “No worries,” he says, still looking between us. “First time on the island?”
“Yeah. How could you tell?” I joke, feeling a little heat rise to my cheeks as I fumble with my carry-on bag. “Actually, do you guys hold bags here?”
Tyler’s brows furrow as he glances at the suitcase. “We usually keep an eye on beach bags and stuff like that, not... luggage,” he says, his tone a bit skeptical. He looks me over again, clearly trying to make sense of me.
I laugh awkwardly, shrugging. “It’s… kind of a spontaneous thing. Timing just felt right, you know?”
Tyler’s face relaxes, but he gives me an odd, lingering look. “Didn’t even book a place to stay?”
“Not exactly,” I admit with a sheepish grin, hoping to charm him into cooperating. “We’re, uh…moving where the spirit takes us.”
To my relief, Tyler cracks a small smile, shaking his head as if amused by the whole situation. “All right, I gotcha. You can leave your stuff here for now,” he says, setting it aside near the corner of the shack.
“Thank you,” I exhale, grateful. While Tyler sorts our bags, a thought crosses my mind, and I decide to take a chance. “Actually,” I start, clearing my throat, “I was wondering if you might know someone who lives around here. Her name’s Cora. She’d be middle-aged, maybe a geophysicist? She studies earthquakes and… well, her company does; Nereid Limited.”
Tyler’s hand freezes mid-movement, and he looks up slowly, an odd, guarded expression creeping across his face. He doesn’t say anything right away, just looks at me like he’s assessing something—whether I’m trustworthy or something else, I can’t quite tell. Then he gives a noncommittal shrug, asking, “What did you say your name was again?”
My instincts make me hesitate, but he sounds calm, casual even, so I brush off the nerves. “Phoebe,” I answer, trying to keep my tone light.
Tyler’s gaze shifts to the bags, then back to me. “Sorry, Phoebe, I don’t know anyone by that name,” he says finally, though there’s something strange in his tone—like he’s hiding a question behind his words.
I sigh, though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. My grandmother doesn’t seem like the type to leave a trail if she doesn’t want to be found. “It’s okay,” I reply, giving a half-hearted shrug. “Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if she wasn’t on the island at all.”
Tyler shifts on his feet, still watching me with that pensive look. “Wait, can you tell me your full name?”
I hesitate and he nods toward the bags. “I need it to mark your bags,” he says. “My shift is almost up.”
“Right. Addison. My name is Dr. Phoebe Addison,” I answer, a little unnerved by the way he’s lingering on me.
He nods vaguely, like he’s storing the name away for some purpose I can’t quite decipher. “Well,” he says after a pause, “if I happen to hear anything, I’ll keep an ear out.” He doesn’t elaborate further, instead nodding toward my bag and adding, “And if you’re looking for a place to stay, there’s a bed and breakfast a little ways down the beach. Nice spot, close enough to the water.”
I give him a grateful smile, though something about this interaction feels off. “Thanks. And thanks for watching our stuff,” I say, dropping an extra-large tip in the tip jar.
I force myself not to look back, not to show that this random kid’s weaseled his way underneath my skin. But he has. I’m not sure what just happened back there, but I can’t shake the feeling that Tyler might know more than he let on.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
