Nonetheless, Galen runs.

13

SLICES OF sunlight leak through the blinds of the room. I’m sure it would be breathtaking to behold if my eyes weren’t almost swollen shut from crying all night. The fight Galen and I had is serious. And it’s not just because it’s the first real argument we’ve had as a couple and now we’ve officially erased the new feeling, the euphoria from the relationship, blah blah blah.

It’s not just a surface scratch that can be buffed out by an apology and some roses or whatever. It’s a huge dent in what each of us envisioned our relationship to be. It could be proof that we may not be right for each other. It seems like the death of our dreams together somehow. And I mourned all night over it.

I want to go to him. Knock on his door and tell him that I’m sorry, that I don’t feel like his prisoner, that I love him and I want to fix this. But I can’t.

Because Galen never came back last night. Sylvia confirmed it for me. She’d knocked on his door early this morning, and when he didn’t answer, she went in, finding that his bed had not been slept in. The room appeared untouched altogether.

Which is something I wish I could say about my heart.

He actually left me here. He stole away to Grom and now he won’t answer my calls. Maybe he’s already reached the water and doesn’t have access to his cell. Maybe he hasn’t, and he’s ignoring me.

When the room phone rings on the nightstand, I jump, pulling the blankets tightly to my chin. Galen. He’s not ignoring me after all. I snatch the phone from the receiver. “Where are you?” I blurt. I hope he can’t tell that I’ve been crying. My voice sounds pretty rough, all things considered.

“Um. I’m at my house,” Reed answers. I slump back under the covers, bringing the phone with me.

“Oh. Hey. I thought you were Galen.”

Silence. Then, “You’ve misplaced Galen?”

I can’t help but smile. “You could say that.”

“Do you know when he’ll be back?”

“I don’t know that he will be back.”

“For real? Did you have a fight or something?”

I sigh into the phone. “I really don’t want to talk about it, honestly.” For one, I might start crying again. Also, rehashing the fight would involve divulging that Galen left to tattle on the entire town. But shouldn’t I say something? Shouldn’t I warn them that they may be in danger?

“Sure, sure. No worries,” Reed says quickly. “Listen, I was going to take the both of you around town and introduce you to some folks. The offer still stands. You know, even if Galen isn’t back yet.”

And there is the dilemma. Galen leaves town less than twenty-four hours ago, and I decide to haul off and go gallivanting with another guy? Not just any guy, a guy that Galen may or may not be jealous of.

But the thing is … Galen abandoned me. I can stay here and bathe in my own misery all day like a pathetic weakling. Or I could get up, get showered, and explore the town, just as I had intended to do before Galen left. Not only would the latter be good for me, but it would also be good for Galen. It wouldn’t hurt anything if he changes his mind and comes back, only to find that I’ve abandoned him, that I’ve gone on an adventure without him. Well, not abandoned, just … found independence in a tight spot. Or something.

The point is, it wouldn’t hurt anything at all to stand my ground. Except maybe his pride. Or his feelings. But he’s not the one who cried all night.

“Absolutely,” I tell Reed. “Give me time to shower and dress, and I’ll meet you in the lobby in an hour.”

It’s true. You can hear someone smile on the phone. “Awesome. See you in an hour.”

* * *

So Reed pulls up in this dumpy blue antique truck. A rash of rust covers the whole thing, which reminds me of someone with a bad case of acne and the pain of a tetanus shot all at once. One headlight is foggy. The front fender has a dent, the kind of dent a bowling ball would make if chucked from a canon. The dash sports a web of cracked, light blue vinyl, either maimed from the sun or from consistent abuse over decades.

That said, I’ve never been more thrilled to hop into the front seat of a truck in my whole life. This truck means distraction, adventure, curiosity satisfied. Independence.

This truck is my new BFF.

“I know it’s not svelt like you’re used to,” Reed says apologetically. “But either Galen is the richest Syrena I know, or he’s an extremely effective car thief.”

I laugh. I’m feeling generous today. “He sells things he finds in the oceans. Lost treasures from old shipwrecks and things like that.”

Reed’s eyes widen. “Son of a biscuit eater. That’s brilliant.”

I almost tell him that Rachel thought of it first, but then I’d have to explain who she is—and what happened to her. And that feels more like a betrayal of Galen than anything else.

And that’s when I remember something that Galen said last night. You won’t be as fragile as humans.

“Oh, no,” I groan, burying my face in my hands. I’ve been so selfish. I should have seen this coming. I should have known that his change in attitude is all because of Rachel. He wants me to live in the ocean so that I’m safe, so that I’ll live longer. So that he doesn’t lose me, like he lost Rachel. I’m such a moron.

“Reed, before we go, I need to make a quick phone call,” I say as I unbuckle.