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My appetite had diminished, but I knew I had to eat something. “Yeah, let’s go.”
Chapter Fifteen
It was still daylight when we left the police station, but the sun was starting to set. I sighed and looked at the water in the distance as I stretched my arms over my head and moved my upper body.
Crack, crack.
The bones made brittle sounds as I moved my neck around in figure eights. I hadn’t realized how much tension had built on my shoulders until I tried to move them. We’d been at the police station since noon, and I hadn’t been outside until now.
I inhaled, enjoying the fresh, salty air. The pungent seawater smell was a turn-off for a lot of people, but it always made me feel at home. I chuckled as I wondered if I was a mermaid in another lifetime. That would be an interesting explanation for why I loved being underwater so much.
“Do you guys feel like walking?” I gestured to the trail down the hill from where the police station was located. The recreational trail ran along the Monterey coastline, and it was a popular way for people to enjoy the scenery.
Tristan used both of his index fingers to gauge the distance. “It doesn’t look too far of a walk. Almost a mile.”
“That’s fine with me. I could use the walk because I’m still trying to process what happened,” Julia answered. She seemed to have recovered from the initial shock, but her shoulders were drooped. I felt bad for Julia, and I debated whether to bring up the stuff in Annisa’s trunk.
We started to stroll from the parking lot to the footpath below, taking in the scenery. The sea mist had rolled in from the bay leaving the air cold and dense. The eerie scene affected my mood.
“Brr!” I shivered underneath my fleece jacket, and I pulled the zipper all the way up so that the fuzzy fabric covered the lower part of my face.
When we got to the edge of the coastal trail, Tristan looked at us and asked, “Which way?”
“If I remember correctly, it’s not too far away from here.” I looked left and right, trying to orient myself to the surroundings.
“Fratelli’s Clam Chowder House should be located right off the beach trail that runs along the downtown waterfront,” Julia said and turned to her right.
Although Julia wasn’t the most confident driver, she was much better with directions than me. I joked to Julia that I couldn’t find anything if it included cardinal directions.
“That’s toward Cannery Row. Let’s walk,” I said and jerked my head toward the path. I took a few steps, but then I felt someone tug on my sleeve. It was Julia’s hand.
“What’s wrong?” I looked at Julia, and her eyebrows were knitted together.
“I hope Annisa is okay. I can’t imagine what she’s going through right now. She must be freaking out,” she said.
I smiled at her concern. As much as Annisa annoyed me, I had to admit that she was a great friend to Julia. Even her bridesmaid’s speech at Julia’s wedding was heartfelt and eloquent.
Tristan slung his arm around Julia’s shoulder and brought her in close to him. “I’m sure Annisa didn’t have anything to do with the dead diver, and I’m pretty sure that Claire’s boyfriend will handle Annisa’s release.”
My eyes popped wide open when Tristan referred to Aiden as my boyfriend. “Um, we just started dating. I’m not sure if I can call him my boyfriend yet,” I said, giving them an awkward grin.
“Why not? Are you planning to date anyone else?” Tristan pushed up his glasses and looked at me expectantly. I had to laugh at his earnestness. Julia’s husband was such an honest and forthright person, and I was still getting used to his personality.
“No, I’m not thinking about seeing anyone else, but I don’t know how serious things are between us. I don’t know if we are—” I paused, trying to think of the right word.
“Exclusive?” Julia offered.
“Yeah, I guess that word will work. Exclusive.” I tested the word aloud. It didn’t feel weird, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about having a relationship when I was unsure about where I would be teaching next.
“I think he really likes you,” Tristan said confidently. “I can tell these things.” He clapped my shoulder and gave it a quick squeeze.
I knew Tristan was being supportive, but I doubted that he was a relationship expert. Still, it was sweet that he thought Aiden liked me, and I gave him a grateful smile.
“I agree with Tristan. The fact that he drove from Mountain View to pick you up in San Francisco just to drive south again to Monterey speaks volumes,” Julia said.
“Or maybe he’s a really considerate person with impeccable manners,” I said, countering her logic. “Ouch!” I jumped when Julia punched me in the arm.
“You’re such a dork. Stop trying to sabotage the relationship before it gets underway.” Julia looked at me sternly. Oh, geez! She eerily resembled my mother. A real mini-Mona O’Keefe. She even had the same pointed glare.
