She’d knew what people said behind her back. But no one had ever said it to her facebefore.
Adrian let go of her hand. He moved with such speed that his body became a blur. One moment he was next to Isa, the next he wasn’t. People gasped when they saw Adrian with a hand on Hayden’s throat, lifting him off the ground so that his feet werekicking.
Adrian threw Hayden across the beach with such force that he crashed into the ocean a good twentyfeetaway.
People screamed. The crowd lunged back from Adrian as he turned around, faces marred with fear and panic. Isa’s mouthdroppedopen.
Then… their faces cleared. The panic faded, their expressions going from scared to relaxed. The guests went back to the party as usual, laughing and chatting and enjoying themselves. Hayden got out of the ocean, confused as to why he was wet. He stared at Adrian blankly, like he couldn’tremember.
It was as if… as if nothing everhappened.
Isa was left speechless. That speed. The strength. It wasn’t natural. No, more than that, it was less than unnatural… it wasn’t evenhuman.
Adrian was brooding when he returned to Isa’s side. They got in her car. Isa didn’t even care that he was wet and ruiningherseat.
“Um… okay, what just happened back there?” Isaasked.
“Nothing,” Adrian said. “I took care of theproblem.”
“I was taking care of the problem! I was walking away,”Isasaid.
“No.” His head snapped round to look at her. “People aren’t allowed to disrespect you. I’m not going to standforit.”
Point taken,Isa thought, remembering how quickly Adrian had reacted. He nearly made it seem like it was a crime toinsulther.
“How do you explain what happened? Everyone’s going to remember you tossed Hayden like a football,” Isaargued.
“They’re all ridiculously drunk. They won’t remember.” Adrian madeexcuses.
Isa knew they wouldn’t remember. She saw the look in their eyes. But it wasn’t because they were too drunk. It was because Adrian had made themforget.
But how could she argue with him that he’d wiped the memories of everyone at the party? That was stuff that happened in lame T.V. shows, notreallife.
“Turn here,” Adrian said, and Isa followed his instruction. “There’s a dive I want toshowyou.”
“How do you seem to know more about Coral Bay than I do, and you’re not even from here?” Isaasked.
Adrian gave a casual shrug. “What can I say? I getaround.”
Clearly. Isa hoped his getting around was more traveling and less physical. She meant withgirls.
Isa went through a drive-through, and Adrian told her to get grouper sandwiches. The smell alone was enough to make her stomachrumble.
They pulled off at the bay nearby and sat on the docks. Isa unwrapped her sandwich. It was a full grouper on a warm roll, with mayonnaise, lettuce, and cheese. She hadn’t eaten anything all day. Isa bit into the sandwich, letting its salty savory-ness sting hermouth.
“Starving?” Adrianasked.
“I… uh… rarely eat,” she said. “Toostressed.”
“Well, that’s going to change,” Adrian said matter-of-factly as he shoved his second sandwich into his mouth. Isa knew better than to fightwithhim.
They ate the grouper sandwiches on the bay while watching the ships come in. As they ate, Isa realized she really was oblivious to what happened in her little town… she and her friends always ate at the same restaurants, and visited the same places, over and over and over. They never tried anything new. Isa craved the unexpected, and rarely did shegetit.
Adrian loved to explore. And that’s what she likedabouthim.
“What’s that?” Adrian asked, pointing to her ankle. Isa looked down. The docklight above was illuminating a tiny tattoo on her ankle, one of a mermaid with a purple tail and wavybluehair.
“Oh, that? I got it on a dare,” she said. “It was a longtimeago.”
