Dark Water: A Siren Novel by Tricia Rayburn

Author:Tricia Rayburn [Rayburn, Tricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781606843314
Publisher: Egmont USA
Published: 2012-07-25T00:06:57+00:00

CHAPTER 15

“YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON’T WANT TO WAIT TABLES, you can tell me.”

Simon shot Paige a look.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “But twelve stitches? I have to joke or—”

“She’ll completely lose it,” I finished lightly. “And it’s too early in the summer for that.”

Simon turned to me. “Are you comfortable? Do you need anything else?”

“I have food, pillows, blankets, and my favorite people. What else is there?” I patted the couch next to me. “Sit. Please. Eat.”

His frown deepened as his eyes lowered to my bandage.

“It’s only my left hand,” I said. “If I can still hold chopsticks, I can do anything.”

Doubt lingered on his face, but he sat down and took his plate from the coffee table.

“Security cameras,” Paige announced, biting into an egg roll. “Totally buying them next. I can’t believe the restaurant’s gone so long without.”

“Excellent idea,” Simon said.

“But not essential.” I wanted to reassure Paige, who I knew felt responsible. “Betty’s has never had a problem before, right? And plus, I was in the basement. You can’t monitor every dark nook and cranny.”

“Yes, I can,” she said.

“Vanessa, will you just walk us through what happened?” Caleb asked, from the love seat. “One more time?”

I bit back a sigh. I’d already recounted the events in the car on the way to the hospital, where I hadn’t wanted to go but went anyway since we couldn’t control the bleeding with Band-Aids and gauze pads alone. I’d trusted doctors wouldn’t need to take blood or do anything else that might alert them to the fact that I wasn’t their average patient, and fortunately, I was right; we were there for less than an hour, no extra tests or exams required. Then, after leaving the hospital, I’d told the story a second time on the drive here, to the lake house. I knew my friends were just worried and wanted to make sure they had all the information, but I’d prefer letting it go, forgetting about it. Because the more we talked about it, the greater the distance between Simon’s and my (mostly) happy date seemed to grow.

But it was either this or go to the police. Paige and I hadn’t wanted to bring any more attention to the situation and had convinced the boys that alerting the WHPD wasn’t necessary—yet. The more they knew, the better they’d feel about figuring out who attacked me and why, without involving the authorities.

“I went downstairs to get supplies for the restroom,” I said. “While I was in the storage closet, a box fell, hitting and shattering the overhead light. I was trying to open the box with my keys when a guy, who I assumed was Simon since it was so dark, came in. He got a little rough, I cut myself on a piece of glass, he freaked out, and I left.”

“And he shoved you?” Caleb asked. “That was it?”

I glanced at Simon. I’d omitted some details I thought would upset him unnecessarily, and his jaw was still tense as he stared at the untouched plate on his lap.

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