Fish Out of Water (16 page)

I’m missing something. But I’m too tired to find the answer, so I let myself doze off. I don’t wake up until I hear my phone ringing. Olivia. I hit “accept.” “Don’t even say his name or I’ll hang up.”

“You’re no fun. Shreya and I are dying over here.”

I rub my eyes, still trying to wake up. “The fact that I don’t want to talk about it doesn’t tip you off in any way?”

“Fine, fine. Subject change—we’ve decided to meet up with Shreya’s brother tomorrow. You in?”

That piques my interest. “Pavan? Won’t she get disowned for talking to him?”

I swear I can hear Olivia smile, and I get the sense that she’s set one of her devious, Shrey-and-Mika-would-never-do-this-on-their-own plans in motion. “Not if her parents don’t find out.”

Chapter 23

Olivia’s apartment smells weird, and I figure it’s travel funk because all their suitcases are still in the living room. She plops down on the sofa, looking exhausted but tanner than ever. Even her warm brown hair looks a few shades lighter from all the sun. Stretching out her annoyingly long legs, she says, “Sorry it’s so messy, Mom’s still sleeping. Jet lag sucks, but Tahiti was worth it.”

Shreya takes the recliner. “Haven’t you rubbed it in enough?
The beaches are incredible! The food! The dancing!
”

“
And the guys, oh, the guys!
” I add in my best Olivia impression.

She smiles. “I haven’t even told you what Waka and I…”

“No boys. I’m sick to death of boys.” I push her legs off the couch to make room for myself. Despite my rampant jealously over her trip, I am happy to have her back. She makes life a little more normal.

She frowns. “No offense, but you really need to make out with Dylan. Work out all that tension.”

Shreya cringes. “Jeez, Olivia.”

“Yeah, Olivia,” I say. “Keep your dirty mind to yourself.”

“Whatever. You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.” Her eyes glint with mischief, which is a rather common occurrence. “Shreya showed me his picture online—he’s totally up my alley. Maybe I’ll go after him if you—”

“No!” I say, and when they laugh I realize that was the exact reaction she was looking for. “That’s not funny.”

She glares, and I get the sense she’s actually mad at me. “At least tell us what happened yesterday, so we know why we have to deal with cranky Mika on a day that’s supposed to be happy.”

Her words cut. She’s telling me I need to think about Shreya today, not my own problems. “Maybe later, when I’ve wrapped my head around it. When are we meeting Pavan? And how did you orchestrate this without Shrey’s parents finding out?”

Olivia sighs, seeming appeased by my change in subject. “We called him on my cell, so Shrey’s phone is clear. Then we worked it out that he’d call her through his fiancée’s number so her parents don’t recognize it.”

“I feel like they know.” Shreya pulls her knees up. “I told them I was going to lunch with you guys to celebrate Olivia coming back, but I swear my mom can read my mind.”

I frown. “It’ll be okay. He’s your brother—you shouldn’t get in trouble for wanting to see him.”

“That doesn’t mean I won’t.” Shreya bites her lip, and it makes me feel bad for not being there like I should. Between Betty and Dylan…I’ve been a sucky friend. “We’re meeting him and Rachelle, his fiancée, at Bubba Gump’s.”

“Good choice. Your parents would never go there. Or anyone else we know.” Bubba Gump’s is a seafood place on Cannery Row, just about as touristy as you can get. “Should we get going?”

Shreya nods. “I know it’s just Pavan, but I’m still nervous to meet Rachelle. I hope she doesn’t think I hate her. After that night, I wouldn’t blame her for thinking my whole family is crazy. I wish that wasn’t her first impression. Thanks for coming with me. I need the moral support.”

“Of course,” Olivia says at the same time I do. She flashes me a grin, punching my shoulder. “Jinx!”

We take Olivia’s beat-up Volkswagen bug. I’m still not sure how she keeps it running, but she’s determined to drive it until the mechanics say it’s impossible to revive. It takes some time to find a parking spot along the crowded Cannery Row, which is a narrow street on its own, but add in a crap load of tourists and you’re asking for an accident.

Pavan and a blond woman I assume is Rachelle stand right outside Bubba Gump’s, along with a bunch of other people waiting to get in. He smiles wide, and to my surprise Shreya bursts into tears. They hug, and it both breaks my heart and makes it soar.

“I missed you, kiddo!” Pavan says.

Shreya shoots him an embarrassed look. “Don’t call me that.”

He laughs and introduces us to Rachelle. She seems like a lovely person, her smile genuine as she says, “Thanks for helping Shreya come today. We never meant to cause so much…”

Rachelle looks to Pavan, and her face cracks a little. He puts his arm around her. “Let’s not dwell on that. We’re having fun today with my sister.”

Shreya seems a little shy, but also happy Rachelle seems to not have hard feelings about what happened. “I know my parents reacted…well, I’m sorry, and I want to get to know you.”

“Please, don’t apologize. Pavan warned me it might not go well.” Rachelle looks like she’s about to break down at the words, and I wonder if she blames herself for everything that happened. She recovers with a beaming grin. “I can’t wait to get to know you, too. I’m an only child—I always wanted a sister.”

It takes about thirty minutes to get into Bubba Gump’s, but the time flies as we chat with Rachelle and Pavan. Shreya seems more comfortable by the time we’re led to a table. But for some reason I’m the opposite, like my skin is covered in ants. It’s not until I sit down that I realize someone is staring at me from a nearby booth. My eyes go wide as their faces register.

London and her mom. Plus two little boys jumping around like wild animals. They remind me of the kids who come into AnimalZone and bang on my fish tanks, which almost makes me feel bad for her.

“Crap, crap, crap,” I mutter as a wide smile breaks out on Mrs. St. James’ face. She waves me over, and I wish I could pretend I didn’t see her.

Olivia raises an eyebrow. “What?”

“London is here with her family,” is all I can get out before Mrs. St. James goes as far as to call my name. I hoped I’d never see her or her daughter again, but it seems the universe has other ideas. Stupid universe. “I’ll be right back.”

“Mika! I was sure that was you,” she says as I come to their table. “What a coincidence! What’re you doing here?”

“Just having lunch with friends,” I say. “And you?”

“Oh, the boys love the Aquarium.” She smiles at them as they tear the kids’ menus to bits. London is on her phone, trying her best to not look bothered. “We go every Sunday in the summer.”

“I see.” Dylan did say they stayed in Carmel all season, but I didn’t think that would mean I’d have to be on guard at every tourist attraction in the area. Of course I do, the Monterey peninsula isn’t that big. There are only so many places to go while on vacation.

“Where’s Dylan?” She looks past me to where my friends sit.

“They had a big fight yesterday at the course,” London says matter-of-factly. “They probably broke up. You know Dylan.”

Her mom nods like she’s not surprised. “I’m sorry, Mika. This must be uncomfortable. I didn’t know.”

That thing inside me flares again. I’m not sure if it’s jealousy or protectiveness, maybe both. “We didn’t fight or break up. I’m just out with my friends. Dylan and I still do our own stuff. My boyfriend isn’t my whole life.”

“I’d watch him closer if I were you,” London says.

“I trust him.” The words feel funny on my lips because they’re truer than I thought they’d be. I’m sure he meant every word he said yesterday. It’s just the relationship part that’s still a lie…a lie I’m maintaining without Dylan asking. I kind of want to punch myself.

She lets out a short, sad laugh. “Good luck.”

“I don’t think I’ll need it, but thanks anyway,” I snap back.

London purses her lips, seeming to crumble right in front of me. I was not expecting that reaction. Her mom places a hand over her daughter’s, frowning, and I get the sense that London’s been through a lot more than I’ll ever know. “You can go now, Mika. You might not care or understand, but this issue is difficult for my daughter.”

I can only muster a nod, because I do feel bad, but then she also called me an “issue.” Like my presence in Dylan’s life is a problem. That hurts. I sit down at the table with my friends, dazed.

“What was that about?” Shreya asks.

I shake my head. “Let’s focus on—”

“No,” Olivia says, seeming angry that I interrupted her carefully-planned lunch with my drama. Because I can control where London shows up. “Tell us what your boyfriend’s ex had to say.”

“He’s not my—”

“You have another boyfriend?” Pavan asks out of nowhere. “I swear Shreya mentioned you just broke up with one.”

“A few months ago, yeah.” I gulp, knowing Shrey and Olivia will tear me to pieces later. There’s officially no getting around telling them what happened. “Dylan is…I don’t know. It’s complicated.”

Pavan smiles at Rachelle. “Complicated I can understand.”

She blushes, and I can tell they’re crazy in love. “Sometimes complicated is worth it, though.”

“And sometimes it isn’t,” I say, still completely unsure which category Dylan fits into.

Chapter 24

Hello, Arlingtons!” Joel struts into our house like he owns the place, and we smile. After the weekend by ourselves with Betty, he is a more than welcome sight. Excessive happiness included. “Did you miss me?”

“Yes,” we say in unison.

“It’s so good to be appreciated.” He comes to Betty, who’s currently scowling at her oatmeal. “Hi, Betty! Do you remember me?”

She appraises him, and then recognition hits. “You’re the one who took my clothes off!”

Joel looks at us, the smallest hint of wariness under the smile. “So it’s gonna be that kind of day, huh?”

“Good luck,” Dad says as we head out for work.

My parents wave to me as I unlock my bike from the porch, and then they are off to their research in the bay while I get to go to work and see Dylan for the first time since Cypress Point. Lucky me.

No matter how hard I try to stay calm, my stomach knots the moment AnimalZone is in sight. This is why dating co-workers is a horrible idea. I want to call in sick, but going home would only make me feel bad for wasting Joel’s time. And it’s not like I can avoid this forever, so I take a deep breath and open the back door. It’s quiet as I clock in. My eyes run over the break room, looking for signs of Dylan. There’s a black hoodie draped over one chair, and I gulp.

Heading for Aquatics, I tell myself this isn’t a big deal. We weren’t dating to begin with, and I still don’t know if I like him enough to be serious. When I round the corner, there he is scrubbing one of the tanks. Without my asking.

He doesn’t notice me, his entire focus on the glass. His brow pinches, and he bites his lip as he tries to get rid of the scummy water line at the top of the tank. It’s adorable, and it reminds me how easy it was to be with him at the golf course, how much I liked him. The thought makes me feel like I’m giving in, so I force it down. He won’t get off easy just because he’s doing what he’s supposed to do.

“Make sure the corners are spotless,” I say.

He looks up, surprised. Then the smallest smile flits across his face. “Yes, ma’am.”

I want to say I’m
not
a “ma’am,” but that would mean starting a conversation. I head for the island to check the supplies we keep there. Clean nets, food, bags for purchased fish, live crickets for the reptiles in the next section over. Everything seems to be in perfect order, which means I have nothing to do but wait for customers.

Easy enough, except the silence is weird. It used to be normal, but a month of bickering with Dylan and now the quiet feels heavy. I’m keenly aware of him nearby, though I try my best not to look at him.

“Dylan,” Clark calls as he rounds the corner. “Order of food just came in. Help me unload.”

“Yes, sir.” He walks off without so much as a glance my way, and I’m surprised by how much I don’t like it.

I locate items for people, clean up gravel a kid spilled, and help Old Lady Miriam with a price check—except the whole time I keep waiting for Dylan to reappear. Then I hate myself for being so stupid. I asked for space, so it shouldn’t bother me that he isn’t around.

There’s a lull in customers, so I fill my time by scribbling goldfish drawings on a notepad. Fish are fun to draw, so flowy and open to interpretation. Too bad Shreya would never approve of a goldfish sand sculpture. She thinks I already do enough fish-related stuff.

“That doesn’t look like work,” Dylan says.

I jump and spin around, not having heard him coming. “Don’t do that!”

He smiles. “But you’re so cute when you’re surprised.”

Turning back around, I hope to hide the blushing. “You still have two tanks left to do. Don’t think I forgot.”

“I know.” He leans next to me, and I can’t decide if it’s too close or not close enough. “Speaking of tanks, when should I come clean yours?”

I pause mid-drawing, the thought of Dylan in my house too much. “You don’t have to do that.”

“That was the deal. And you made good on your end, so it’s the least I can do for putting you through that.” He sighs, and with it I can feel the words he bites back. “I promise I won’t bother you, so when?”

I retrace the outline of one goldfish over and over, unable to figure out what I want. But a deal is a deal. “Thursday. After my shift.”

“Works for me. Uncle Clark should be fine with it, since I’ll still be working.” He grabs the notepad and stuffs it in his pocket. “You’re setting a horrible example wasting time like this. I’ll have to keep it.”

I glare at him as he goes back to cleaning tanks, but force myself to say nothing. He’s trying to get a reaction, like he’ll take fighting with me if he can’t get affection. It’ll annoy him more if I remain silent. I should still be mad at him, though it doesn’t feel like I am.