Evergreen (Mer Tales, Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

especially since we’ve lost touch with Badger.”
    “What? When?”
    “After he tipped us off, we haven’t received word from him. Hans hasn’t heard from our other contacts as well. But one thing is for sure; no one has been able to leave Natatoria since our escape, runaways or regulars. Has Ashlyn said anything about the house? If anyone’s been there?”
    “She hasn’t mentioned anyone. Should she?” I asked, suddenly alarmed. “I should go back. Protect her.”
    “No. She knows to stay away if mermen show up. They can’t influence her. Just ask she not speak with them. I wouldn’t want her to tell them something innocently. If they knew the truth—” A somber look crossed his face.
    “They’d what?” I flipped my tail, propelling myself forward in the water. “They’d take her, wouldn’t they? I can’t stay here, Dad. I can’t!”
    Dad lunged and grabbed my arm. “No, Son. We have to continue on to Florida and make plans to rescue Tatiana. They have no reason to bother Ash, and she’ll be in Florida soon enough. She needs to keep her distance and things will be fine.”
    I gritted my teeth. Dad didn’t know that the night Tatchi and I were abducted from Lake Tahoe, Ash had run to the beach and saw us all in the water. Luckily, the promise had blocked Blanchard’s attempts to erase her mind, but if he or any of Azor’s goons were at the house right now, they might get desperate and suspect Ash was more than just my neighbor. Uncle Alaster or Colin might go so far as to try to persuade her to tell them where we’d gone. She’d be able to deflect the questions, but her family wouldn’t.
    I had to warn her tonight.

6
    :::
    ASH
    Wednesday afternoon, April 13 th
    “So, Colin, huh?” Georgia said between sips of her Sprite as we sat together in the cafeteria. “Maybe you could set up a double date… after you make up with Callahan of course.”
    My heart sputtered, jolting me from my daydream. Colin had become my worst nightmare. And last night, while Georgia and I were working on homework, Fin had left a frantic message for me to stay away from his house. It was as if he knew what had happened.
    Georgia nudged my arm, dislodging my fist from my chin.
    “What?” I said after scrunching my nose.
    “Didn’t you hear what I said? About Callahan?”
    “Yes.” I crumpled up my chip bag and threw it at her. “We were never together. Okay?”
    I peered over Georgia’s shoulder to the other side of the cafeteria. Callahan sat with his back to me, his arm wrapped around Jaime’s waist. Ironically, she was an employee at Gran’s shop on the pier. Though I thought it might bother me, relief covered my guilty conscience instead.
    My eyes snapped back to Georgia. “I’ve been horrible to him and honestly, he deserves better.” And I prefer blond mermen anyway .
    I withheld my smile and gently squeezed my phone, my lifeline to Fin.
    “Seriously?” she shook her head. “No way. I know you still care. Technically, you’re still together. I mean, he never officially broke things off. And you’re going to let Jaime move in on your turf?”
    The last phone message he’d left played through my mind. “Ash. I don’t know why you aren’t returning my calls, but I can take a hint. Don’t worry. I won’t bother you anymore.”
    I cringed. I’d been such a coward.
    “He’s better off without me and besides, he’s going to Stanford to play ball. Jaime’s nice—” I lifted my chin toward their location. “All I want to do is get my grades up and leave this drama far behind.”
    “Fine. Whatever.” Georgia’s shoulders slumped down in defeat, then a smile pushed up her lips. “That reminds me, do you know where Colin is going to college?”
    I chuckled and almost said, “Natatoria University.” But when Fin said he’d fishy mojo Georgia a boyfriend, I’m sure Colin wasn’t on the list of suitors. “Why? Are you going to switch schools if he’s not going to FAU?”
    “No. I