Riptide Read Online Free PDF

can respect that. I don’t ask for free rides or favors. I say, “Yes sir.”
    I slide into the seat between Hop and the beautiful Brianna. She scoots her chair away a couple of inches. Little Miss Subtle.
    He flicks out his wrist and checks his watch. “I’ve got a meeting with a new client soon. Teresa will set you up with a tour of the place.” He gives everyone a huge grin. “There were lots of applicants. The partners and I sifted through several strong resum é s to come up with the best interns—the three of you. Don’t disappoint me now.” Then he walks to the door and turns around. “Ford, walk down the hall with me. You can join your cohorts for the tour in a couple of minutes.”
    I speed over to the doorway and catch up with him. “Sir, I’m really sorry about being late. It won’t happen again.”
    He says, “No worries. I’m sure it won’t.”
    We speed-walk past a few more conference rooms and then he enters his office. I follow him, feeling queasy.
    He sits down behind his glass desk but doesn’t motion for me to sit. “Well, I’m sure you’re wondering what this is all about.”
    I nod. “Yes sir.”
    “Well, son, it’s like this. The way I see it, your internship here turned out to be serendipity for both of us. You see, I know how you kids get all excited about senior year and call it senioritis, when it’s really a bunch of kids sticking their middle fingers up at the world. Hell, I did it. But Grace needs to keep her focus. She’s got a great shot at nailing valedictorian this year and she doesn’t need any distractions. Her mother and I want what’s best for her. The Ivy Leagues.” He pauses and stares me down. I gulp. He continues. “I don’t have to tell you how important things—like the right internship, the right connections, or the right school—can change someone’s life.”
    I nod. He’s right. It’s the reason I’m standing in his office wondering what he’s getting at. “Yes sir.”
    He smiles and bangs his fist on the desk. “I knew you’d get it. This is perfect. You’re her best friend and surfing buddy. I need you to run recon for me. Keep those guys away from her. The last thing Grace needs is some sappy summer romance messing with her head. She needs to go into the school year ready to focus on academics.”
    Whoa. Are you kidding me? Dating Grace was my number-one goal for the summer … and it’s now in direct conflict with my number-two goal. It took me two years to work up the nerve to go after Grace, and now, in the span of a week, she’s shot me down with the friend card and her dad, my new boss, is asking me to keep guys away from her. Rip my heart out already.
    He waves his hand at me like no biggie. “Don’t worry, Ford. You can do this, and I never ask for favors if I don’t plan on returning them. You come through for me, I’m sure I can secure you an internship at Gutierrez, Haverty, and Mierl. That would be a great experience to have next summer, right before college. You’ve heard of them, right?”
    Holy crap. Who hasn’t? I suck in my breath. My head’s reeling as I mentally run through the repercussions of saying no to my boss on the first day of work, saying no to the father of the girl I want to date, and possibly betraying my best friend who I want to date more than anything.
    “Yes sir,” I say. “They won a breakthrough case on immigration reform in California.”
    Mr. Parker nods. “Well, Miguel happens to be a good friend of mine. You watch out for my baby girl, and I’ll take care of you. Deal?”
    It’s mainly for the summer, right? I think I could win over her dad by the school year, convince him I wouldn’t be a distraction to Grace. As for the summer, Grace already shot me down anyway. And she’s not into dating anyone right now, so it’s not even like I’d be working against her—it’s more like I’d be helping her maintain her goals, and those just happen to coincide with her dad’s concerns. So,