Heart Echoes by Sally John

here. Teal completed the sentence.
    River said, “Since I hired him to help me do the yard.”
    Teal wanted to slap her hands over her ears and hum loudly.
    Jake had been a student at River’s school, one more on-his-last-chance delinquent sent to San Sebastian to either get his head on straight or not.
    Of course the or not usually showed up after they left the school. Teal did not care about the high success rates. There was always that small percentage who did not make it.
    Jake’s record included burglary, theft, larceny, drug possession. In his regular high school, he had spent more time suspended than in class. No surprise, his dad was in prison for manslaughter, and his alcoholic mom had been in and out of rehab since Jake was a baby.
    Every mother’s dream guy for her daughter.
    Teal perceived his charming allure, though. He was a friendly kid. Tousled-red-haired-boy cute, once she got past his body art. Tattoo “sleeves” covered his arms, colorful mazelike designs from shoulder to wrist. He was tall, sinewy, and strong as an ox, the perfect choice to help River tear out the front-yard sod and haul in rock.
    Teal wished she had never heard of water conservation.
    River said, “That was in March. You connected in March. Five months ago.”
    Teal felt like she had been punched in the stomach. “You’ve been seeing each other on the sly for five months?”
    â€œHe’s a great guy!” Maiya said. “You know he is, Riv.”
    â€œWhat I know,” River answered, “is that at this point in your life, he is too old for you. Period.”
    â€œI’m almost sixteen!”
    â€œHe’s too old for you.” His voice had gotten raspy again. “You have to trust us on this one. Finish high school and then we’ll visit the subject again. In the meantime, I can’t allow you to see him or talk to him.” He looked at Teal. “Sorry if I jumped the gun.”
    â€œNo. I totally agree.”
    â€œBut I love him!” Maiya wailed. “He loves me!”
    They were just good friends? Lie number three.
    River said, “I’m sure you do. And I mean that sincerely.”
    â€œThen why can’t we see each other? I won’t lie anymore. I promise!”
    â€œI’ll tell you why.” River closed his eyes. “When I was nineteen, I loved a sixteen-year-old. She was one hot chick and super straight. I didn’t care if she was still in high school. I was surfing and flipping burgers. I could wait for her to get out of class and do her homework. No big deal. You know what I really wanted, Maiya?”
    â€œWhat?” she murmured, her tone hesitant.
    Like Teal, she probably heard the steel in River’s voice. It slipped in now and then, turning his gentle tenor into a lifeless monotone. It was the voice he used to describe something so far removed from their world as to be unimaginable.
    Teal felt herself cringing.
    River went on. “What I really wanted was to have sex with a virgin.”
    â€œJake’s not like that!”
    River’s eyes opened to mere slits. “That’s what this girl told her parents.” His smile was repulsive. “I was a great guy.”
    â€œOh!” Maiya sprang to her feet and rushed toward the hallway. “I hate you! I hate you both!”
    Teal sat quietly, returning River’s gaze.
    Maiya’s bedroom door slammed.
    He said, “Was that over the top?”
    She shook her head and moved to the floor, stretching alongside him, her head in the crook of her arm. “More powerful than my ‘you don’t want to do what I did’ routine.” She paused. “Was it true?”
    â€œMm. Close enough. I’ll have a talk with Jake.”
    â€œThat would be good.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I should have been on top of this.”
    â€œYou said he wasn’t dangerous. You’ve never brought a dangerous one