here. Teal completed the sentence.
River said, âSince I hired him to help me do the yard.â
Teal wanted to slap her hands over her ears and hum loudly.
Jake had been a student at Riverâs 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.
Jakeâs 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 motherâs 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 âsleevesâ 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, âThat was in March. You connected in March. Five months ago.â
Teal felt like she had been punched in the stomach. âYouâve been seeing each other on the sly for five months?â
âHeâs a great guy!â Maiya said. âYou know he is, Riv.â
âWhat I know,â River answered, âis that at this point in your life, he is too old for you. Period.â
âIâm almost sixteen!â
âHeâs too old for you.â His voice had gotten raspy again. âYou have to trust us on this one. Finish high school and then weâll visit the subject again. In the meantime, I canât allow you to see him or talk to him.â He looked at Teal. âSorry if I jumped the gun.â
âNo. I totally agree.â
âBut I love him!â Maiya wailed. âHe loves me!â
They were just good friends? Lie number three.
River said, âIâm sure you do. And I mean that sincerely.â
âThen why canât we see each other? I wonât lie anymore. I promise!â
âIâll tell you why.â River closed his eyes. âWhen I was nineteen, I loved a sixteen-year-old. She was one hot chick and super straight. I didnât 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
âWhat?â she murmured, her tone hesitant.
Like Teal, she probably heard the steel in Riverâs 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. âWhat I really wanted was to have sex with a virgin.â
âJakeâs not like that!â
Riverâs eyes opened to mere slits. âThatâs what this girl told her parents.â His smile was repulsive. âI was a great guy.â
âOh!â Maiya sprang to her feet and rushed toward the hallway. âI hate you! I hate you both!â
Teal sat quietly, returning Riverâs gaze.
Maiyaâs bedroom door slammed.
He said, âWas that over the top?â
She shook her head and moved to the floor, stretching alongside him, her head in the crook of her arm. âMore powerful than my âyou donât want to do what I didâ routine.â She paused. âWas it true?â
âMm. Close enough. Iâll have a talk with Jake.â
âThat would be good.â
âIâm sorry. I should have been on top of this.â
âYou said he wasnât dangerous. Youâve never brought a dangerous one