Real Mermaids 2 - Don't Hold Their Breath Read Online Free PDF Page A

more about it later, but go. Luke’s waiting for you, remember?”
    Remember? I pictured Luke making that adorably silly cow face and sighed. Luke Martin was kinda hard to forget.
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    Luke was sitting on the curb of the back parking lot when I came out of the kitchen door. He stood when he saw me and slid his hands deep into the pockets of his cargo shorts.
    I felt for the toe ring I had strung on a chain around my neck. It brought me back to that night in the tub, the first time I’d ever changed from feet to flippers. The weirdness between Luke and me would be a big bummer, since I really wanted to talk to him about this whole mer thing. Who else could understand what it was like to be me?
    Luke looked like he was debating what to say, judging by the way his eyebrows scrunched together and the slow breath he was exhaling. What if this was the final showdown? What if I didn’t get a chance to apologize before he dumped me for good?
    â€œLuke, I…” I began, but the rest of the words got stuck in my throat like a dry cracker.
    Luke held out his hand for me.
    â€œWalk?” he asked, nodding to the path that followed the canal to the beach.
    I nodded and took his hand.
    Luke’s hand. In mine. What did this mean?
    We walked along the mile-long canal that separated the Atlantic Ocean from the fresh water of Talisman Lake. Luke’s grandpa, Eddie, was in charge of opening and closing the canal’s lock when boats wanted to sail through. But the canal’s lock served another purpose. The Mermish Council used Talisman Lake as a prison and the lock kept the criminal mers, “Freshies,” from escaping.
    â€œYou totally knew I was down there that day, didn’t you?” I remembered how Luke had looked into the water the day I finally got Mom and Serena through the locks to the ocean.
    â€œI almost dove in when I saw you were down there, but I figured that would blow your cover.”
    â€œThanks for nothing. I was freaking out down there!” I slapped his arm as we continued walking. “So, I still don’t get why you never said anything to me. All that time, when you knew about me…”
    â€œGrandpa thought I shouldn’t. He says mers have been able to stay alive because we keep each other’s secrets, which I guess kinda makes sense.”
    â€œI guess.”
    â€œWe haven’t really had much of a chance to talk about this whole mer stuff since Cori’s pool party, and I know that’s mostly my fault.”
    â€œNo, wait a sec.” I squeezed his hand for him to stop. “I need to apologize. I’m so sorry about jumping all over you yesterday. How’s your mom. Is she doing okay?”
    Luke nodded. “Yeah, thanks. We were all pretty freaked out for a while there, though. What about you? Any news about your mom?”
    â€œNot really. It’s kind of driving us nuts. My dad and I are planning a search and rescue mission tomorrow, though, to keep from going crazy.”
    â€œAnything I can do to help?”
    â€œGot any contacts at the Mermish Council?” I asked hopefully.
    â€œHmm…” Luke considered this for a second. “If I knew what a Mermish Council was, maybe I could be more useful.”
    â€œI think it’s in that mer handbook they forgot to give us.” I laughed. “Anyway, I’m happy things worked out with your mom. And really happy I got to apologize before Cori strangled me with a dish towel.”
    â€œThat Cori is so awesome, isn’t she?” Luke said in an exaggerated tone as we continued walking.
    â€œShe told you to say that, didn’t she?” I asked.
    â€œYep.” Luke laughed.
    Cori, Cori, Cori.
    A warm ocean breeze swept up from Port Toulouse Bay, smelling of salt and summertime. The canal trail hooked up with the wooden boardwalk running along Toulouse Point Beach. Moms were out pushing jogging strollers along the boardwalk