The Sea Is Salt and So Am I by Cassandra Hartt

Author:Cassandra Hartt [Hartt, Cassandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Four

HARLOW

Wednesday, May 10

At first I think the plovers are dead, gone, both. Because when I wake up the next morning there’s no text from Tommy telling me they’re making a new nest under the rickety wooden steps that lead to the beach, or scouting out a clump of seaweed.

Then I remember yesterday. The garage. Bea. Me saying I wouldn’t ask him to drive me to the meet, and then, well, I kind of tried to guilt him into driving me to the meet.

Since wallowing’s not a cute look on anyone, I take it upon myself to fulfill our little morning ritual. I switch up my usual route, walking along the coast with my eyes peeled for flapping wings, a flash of blue hair, anything. But I can’t find the plovers or their nest. There’s not even a protestor on the jetty’s rocks.

About damn time!

… is how I should feel. I’m uneasy, though. Like, if I was looking for signs, the disappearance of birds that have been around since the exact moment of our first kiss isn’t a good one.

But I’m not looking for signs. Not wallowing. I walk into the diner, like normal, and wave to Ellis at our table, like normal, and then hop into the bakery line, pretending to be highly interested in the pastries on display instead of the guy with the fresh buzz cut behind them. When I get to the front, I dazzle Tommy with a smile. He returns it with a rather curt “What do you want?”

“Have you seen the plovers today?” I blink rapidly because I think that’s how you flutter your eyelashes. He doesn’t react. “Feathers? Yea big?” I cradle an imaginary lemon in my hands. “I think they’re gone.”

His face still doesn’t move. He folds his arms over his chest and this close I can see the tiny freckles on them. “Good.”

I swallow. “Well. Yeah.”

“So, what can I get you? Zucchini muffin? Carrot cake?” He points out each with the end of his pen (as if I’d ever order a vegetable-based dessert). “A ride somewhere?” And then his face does move: a tightening of the skin near his eyes.

Okay, it wasn’t that big a deal. If it was, why was he so nice when I called him from Ellis’s meet? My mouth tastes bad even though I brushed my teeth.

“Very funny,” I say without laughing.

Tommy stares at a spot over my head and I back away, until I almost bump into our table.

Ellis’s hair is molded into the most perfect, desperate sculpture, all volume and waves. He’s wearing his favorite outfit, and he’s already enjoying his half of our breakfast.

“What was it?” he asks, cutting the chocolate chip pancake with the side of his fork.

“Huh?”

He nods at the counter. “Why’d you get in line?”

Hell if I know.

I lower myself into the chair across from him. If I don’t answer, it’s like the question doesn’t exist. He chews and raises an eyebrow at me. I raise both of mine back, then let

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.