The Sweetest Summer(28)

            Clancy threw off the sheet and stumbled into the bathroom, where he flipped on the light and threw cold water on his face. He tried to shake the dream, the vision of the metallic mermaid towering over him, alive but unmoving. And all that crap she’d said! Enemy? She was a statue, not an enemy. He was facing the most important decision of his life? Please.

            And what about the girl calling out for help? How bizarre. He almost felt guilty, like he’d let her down somehow.

            Shit. Once festival week was over, he would be going back to decaf.

            Clancy stood in front of his mirror, hands on the edge of the sink, trying to catch his breath. He heard the brisk clicking of dog paws on hardwood and a rhythmic panting—which turned out to be his, not the dogs’.

            “It’s okay, boys. Go back to sleep.”

            They sat in the open doorway. Tripod yawned first, then Earl. They blinked at him like he was nuts for being up so early. And, hey, since it was only five a.m., they had a point. And as far as him being nuts was concerned? Maybe they nailed that one, too, because normal men don’t have nightmares about talking mermaid statues.

            “Go to your bed, fellas.”

            They did, tails swinging wildly, excited to be alive—like every Lab Clancy ever had the pleasure to know.

            Just then, his police radio crackled to life on the bedroom nightstand. Within ten minutes, he was behind the wheel of his Jeep, chugging coffee, driving through the dark toward a rental house on the north shore. Doug Lukovich had called for his assistance with a domestic dispute with minor injuries. Was that the perfect kickoff to festival week, or what?

            Clancy raised his mug for a mock toast. “Here’s to true love,” he said. “Here’s to the magical mermaid of Bayberry Island!”





            Eighteen years ago . . .

            Mickey usually did a halfway decent job picking out the tourist cuties, and the new crop was no exception. Clancy spotted four girls off to one side and two guys standing around looking lost. Somebody’s brother always seemed to tag along, unfortunately. He did the math. Clancy and five of his friends had to divvy up four girls. The ratio didn’t bother him too much. If nobody seemed worth spending time with, he’d just head back to Haven Beach and get something to eat.

            His eyes made a quick sweep over the options. He saw her right away. His stomach got all nervous and tingly. Clancy decided to save her for last after he’d checked out the other girls. One was blond and smiley and looked like trouble but he had a feeling she was way too young. The girl with pale skin and red hair was gorgeous, but Clancy figured she’d be burned to a crisp by tomorrow and wouldn’t be much fun for the rest of the week. Another girl had long blond hair and a perfect body, and he could already tell by the way she stood there looking bored that she thought she was too good for anyone. He’d pass.

            Clancy went back to the one who had first caught his attention. She was about his height, fairly thin, but athletic. She probably played volleyball, or maybe lacrosse. She wore a pink and orange Hawaiian print bikini that showed off her shape but didn’t make her look like she was trying too hard. She had long and curly light brown hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. He decided he liked the curve of her neck—it was really graceful looking. And then she turned to face him.

            Oh, man. What a face! She was the prettiest girl he’d ever seen in his life. And those eyes . . . he’d have to be standing right in front of her to decide what color they were, but from his position halfway down the dune they looked see-through green, like an old-fashioned soda bottle, no, wait . . . he’d just come within about three feet of her, and decided she had eyes the color of sea glass.

            Since he didn’t want to be an uncool dweeb and just stare at her, Clancy gave a quick nod of his chin and said, “Hey,” then headed over to Mickey. Clancy didn’t speak to her while the group walked to the lighthouse ruins, but he felt her nearby and knew her eyes were on him. It was kind of a weird sensation, not one he’d ever had before with a girl. He felt her even when he couldn’t see her.