Page 22 of Fish Out of Water

The bookstore was dark inside, without a single shred of evidence that there was anyone in there. That meant Robbie was gone for the day, and if Jake knew anything about Robbie at this point, it was that he was probably already at the beach for the evening.

His suspicions proved correct, and Robbie waved at him as he approached. “You really can’t get enough of me, can you?” He grinned one of those shit-eating grins that Jake was pretty sure he put on just to get on Jake’s nerves, but not sure enough to call it out.

“My aunt had me busy all morning,” he said simply.

“I’m surprised you didn’t brush her off like you do everyone else.”

“Fuck off.”

“I guess you have to make sure she keeps feeding you and folding your laundry, though, huh?”

Jake clenched his jaw. “You don’t know a single fucking thing about my relationship with my aunt. You don’t even know her.”

Robbie furrowed his brow, his sudden surprise not lost on Jake. “Of course I do,” he said. “Everyone in Eventide knows Isabel.”

“Then why didn’t you help her after Mark died?”

“We did, Jake. I did, at least. I helped her sort through all his things in the house, I helped her spread his ashes out here, I helped mow her lawn when the grass got too tall. I couldn’t be there as often as she needed, but don’t you dare accuse me of not helping.”

Jake blinked, the oppressive silence that filled the air eating away at him bit by bit. His aunt hadn’t told him about all that.

Robbie waved his hand dismissively. “Ah, forget it. You’re not going to believe me regardless of what I say. I can see it on your face.”

“I—”

“Just get to work so you can be done with these Mierforsaken community service hours and I can go back to the peace and quiet of the sea.”

Jake wished he had something better to say. He wished he had anything to sayat all. But Robbie had left him speechless, difficult as that was for most people to do. He was a strange man, Robbie, and not really what Jake had pegged him to be when they first met.

As he worked, Jake wondered what would have happened if Robbie had agreed to hook up after their first meeting in Sandway. Would they ever have gotten to that point? Or would Robbie have pissed Jake off enough to make him leave without ever getting his pants off?

Jake shook his head vigorously to clear it. He didn’t know why he was thinking about that now. It had been a stupid idea at the time, and it only got stupider the longer he considered it. If there was one thing Robbie had done right, it was to shut Jake down so quickly. He could be grateful for that, if nothing else.

Robbie had seen the writing on the wall. And now Jake did too.

6

RESCUE MISSION

The days dragged by in unending sand and water and candy bar wrappers and aluminum cans. Even when Jake was certain he’d picked up every last bit of refuse, the sea brought him more, as though it were collecting it to put in his stewardship.

He had switched to evenings to avoid the morning rush of beachgoers, though he was never so lucky as to get away from Robbie. Robbie was always there, haunting the shore like a disgruntled ghost.

It never got better being around Robbie, and the words they exchanged never seemed to soften any. Robbie gave as good as he got, but sometimes Jake felt like he hit a particularly exposed nerve, like whenever he brought up Robbie’s parents.

“Do they regret having a son like you?” he’d asked one afternoon when he was at his very limit.

“Excuse me?” Robbie straightened up, planting his gloved fists on his hips.

“Your parents, do they?—”

“I heard what you said.” Robbie’s jaw tightened. “Only as much as your parents regret having you.”

“My parents love me quite a lot, thank you very much.”

“Then there’s your answer.” Robbie turned around so Jake couldn’t see his face.

“I mean, I know people sometimes regret having kids. You seem like the type of child parents would regret having.”