Seven Tears at High Tide Read Online Free PDF Page A

enough.”
    His parents are talking loudly in the kitchen. Kevin sighs, looking at them through the window from the backyard. It’s a lovely day, the kind that beckons for a trip to the beach. From here, Kevin can see beyond his blue two-story house down to the sparkling ocean, just a ten-minute walk away. So much for the backyard being a non-distracting study environment. He hasn’t gotten much done in his room, with his laptop and the endless temptations of the Internet. His rock collection could do with some reorganization and he does have some new specimens that need labeling, which seems infinitely more fun than studying.
    But Kevin is trying his best, taking one of the tips from his SAT study guide and sprawling out in the backyard in the grass with his flashcards. He forgot that his parents loved to open all the windows during the day, so their voices carry into the backyard.
    â€œI can’t believe Nate emailed you,” his dad grumbles.
    Kevin’s ears perk up in interest. Has someone been hitting on his mom?
    â€œMike, it wasn’t like that.” his mom replies. “It wasn’t flirty at all. He was asking about you, actually, wondering how we were, how the kids were, whether you’ve mentioned him. He just seemed concerned that you hadn’t responded to his last email. Something important, from the sound of it.”
    Mike scoffs. “He’s sent me three emails in the last week. I can’t believe he has the nerve to tell me I should offer him a guest lecture for my summer class, like he’d be doing me a favor. And now he’s emailing you to bother me about it. Don’t believe those rumors that he’s on sabbatical, Rachel. I heard he lost his funding and now he’s paying for his research out of his own pocket, gone off and taken this bright young graduate student on a wild goose chase—”
    The doorbell rings, and Kevin can see his mother pat his father’s arm and then go to answer the door.
    â€œWhy’d this Nate guy lose his funding?” Kevin calls. Academic gossip is more interesting than his flashcards.
    â€œEthics violations,” Mike says.
    Kevin frowns in disapproval. He loves science. This guy deserved to lose his funding if he was doing something unethical. He’s about to ask why Nate would be allowed to continue his research independently when his mother comes back into the kitchen.
    â€œKevin, your boyfriend is here!” Rachel says through the screen door, smiling warmly.
    Kevin drops the flashcards, and they scatter all over the grass. His boyfriend? Miles must have—he must be here to apologize, to ask Kevin to take him back. A memory of Miles staying for dinner one night, tugging up the collar of his shirt to hide a stray hickey, looking awkwardly at his feet and saying, “No, no, we’re just friends” to his parents immediately comes to mind. If Miles told his mom he’s Kevin’s boyfriend—Kevin’s heart beats rapidly, and he jumps up, nearly tripping over the pile of books at his feet. He tugs his hair into place and straightens his T-shirt, just in case.
    Kevin races into the house, past his mother, who pats him on the shoulder. “Remember sunblock, sweetie.”
    It’s not Miles standing in the hallway looking at the walls, but the pale boy from yesterday. He’s barefoot, wearing a wet pair of baggy orange swim trunks and Kevin’s violet-blue school sweatshirt. He’s got the hood pulled up and is yanking on the drawstrings until his face is framed.
    â€œHey.” Kevin tries not to sound too disappointed for the boy’s sake, as the brief, fragile bubble of hope inside him shatters as quickly as it had formed.
    The boy turns, smiling shyly at Kevin.
    â€œI didn’t quite catch your name yesterday,” Kevin says. “Are you okay? How did you know where I live?”
    â€œKevin Luong?” His voice has a pleasant, melodic lilt, and