Head Above Water Read online

  “Sarah, stop.” She always has to cross the line. I draw back, and when I do I catch sight of Harper standing a few tables away staring at us in horror. Oh, hell. I release my hold on Sarah, realizing what this must look like. The horrified look on Harper’s face will forever be etched in my memory. What is she even doing here?

  As I shove away from Sarah, Harper whirls around and races out of the restaurant. That’s when I see the girl who was with her at the beach the first time we met. She’s holding a tray in her hand and wearing an apron. Harper mentioned her friend worked at a restaurant, but not which one. Would’ve been good information to have. The girl glares at me. Shit.

  I take off running toward Harper, knowing I have to make things right. As much as I don’t want her involved, I have to come clean now. If not, I might lose her for good and that’s a chance I’m not willing to take.

  21

  HARPER

  I KNEW I shouldn’t have come here tonight. I had this weird sense of foreboding earlier, but I ignored it. You would think that I would’ve listened since I had the same feeling the day Heather died. I was so upset about Tag blowing me off that I needed my best friend. Kate’s the only person I can talk to about these things. Mom won’t understand, and Dad wants nothing to do with me. However, the last person I ever expected to see here was Tag. And I really didn’t expect him to be here with another girl.

  Clearly, he’s not the guy I thought he was. I can’t believe I bought his good guy act hook, line and sinker. How could I have been so naïve? He was really good, I’ll give him that. He played the part well. I trusted him in a way I haven’t trusted anyone. It sickens me now.

  With blurred vision, I stumble across the darkened parking lot to my car. I choke back a sob as I stick my key in the driver’s side door. Rough fingers grasp at my arm causing me to cry out. Fear snakes down my spine. I wriggle, but the hand tightens around my wrist. I hadn’t even heard anyone coming.

  “Harper?” It’s Tag.

  That should give me comfort, but it doesn’t.

  “Let go of me.” I shake my arm in a futile attempt to loosen his grip. Damn, he’s strong.

  “Please, let me explain.” He releases his hold, and I take a step back.

  “That’s not necessary. I know what’s going on.” I wrestle with my car door to yank it open, desperate to get away from him. When I’m around him, I can’t think straight. A myriad of conflicting emotions assault me all at one. He stirs things in me no one ever has before.

  “Baby, please.”

  I freeze, the words cutting to my heart. God, wasn’t it last week that I was melting when he called me that? Now it feels like a knife slicing through me. “What kind of game are you playing?”

  “No, game. I promise.” His eyes are pleading, and I want desperately to believe him. But I know what I saw.

  “If you wanted to be with Sarah, why didn’t you tell me? Why avoid me and sneak off with her then?” None of this makes sense. He seemed so genuine. How had I misread everything so badly?

  “I’m not with Sarah. What you saw inside wasn’t what it looked like.” Tag reaches for me, but I shake my head and move away. No way can I let him touch me. If I do, then I’m done for. With his hands on me, I’ll buy anything he says. I need to stay strong, keep my wits about me.

  “I think that’s like the standard line for cheaters.” I let out a humorless laugh, and cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not buying it.”

  “It’s not a line. It’s the truth. I don’t want anyone but you. Don’t you know that by now?” He walks toward me, his gaze locking with mine.

  My heart clatters in my chest. I want to allow him to touch me, to hold me, and comfort me. But I can’t let him off the hook so easily. I need answers. “Why weren’t you at work today? Why did you lie to me?”

  He stands still, and I see the conflict raging in his eyes. If I ever had any doubt, I don’t anymore. He’s keeping something from me. Something big. Panic overtakes me. I’m not sure I can take a full confession from him. It was bad enough to assume, but it will be a thousand times worse to have him confirm it.

  “Never mind.” I slide into the seat of my car, and grab the door handle.

  Tag thrusts his arm out to block the door. “Stay. I’ll explain everything.”

  “I can’t do this. I have to go.”

  “I never meant to hurt you. You have to know that.” His eyes are droopy like a wounded puppy, and it almost breaks me. Almost. But not exactly. Not enough to keep me here.

  The minute his arm slides from the door, I tug it closed and take off. When I’m finally down the street, I exhale, allowing my chest to expand. Hot tears burn my eyes, and I blink them back furiously. I bite down on my lower lip and it trembles between my teeth. I curse myself for crying over him. I’m not usually the type of girl to get emotional about a guy. And it’s not like we were even together very long. Still. I let him in. I trusted him. I shared with him. I allowed him to see me.

  It was a mistake. One I won’t make again.

  I flick on the radio, hoping music will drown out the thoughts that fill my mind. Only it’s a losing battle. Memories of Tag race through my head, making me dizzy.

  I’m proud of you.

  The words he spoke that I held so close to my heart now feel like ridicule. I waited my entire life for someone to say those words to me. Why did it have to be him? Why couldn’t it have been someone who would stick around? Someone who truly wanted me.

  A sappy love song starts playing through the speakers and I angrily push the off button on my radio. Silence fills the car. The only sound is of my heart breaking, one crack at a time. Above my car the crescent moon shines brightly. It’s the only light in the sky. No stars. Only darkness. It seems fitting.

  Bright headlights flash behind me, reflecting in my rearview mirror and blinding me. Jerk. I hate when people drive so close. He’s practically on top of my bumper. I speed up a little, but so does the other driver. Grunting in frustration, I focus forward. I am so not in the mood from some jackass on the road tonight.

  My purse vibrates on the seat next to me. My chest tightens, and I wonder if Tag is calling. I shouldn’t care, but a part of me hopes it’s him. While keeping one hand on the wheel, I dip the other one into my purse and swirl it around until my fingertips brush over my cell. I lift it out and hold it up.

  I try not to feel disappointed that it’s Kate. Of course Tag won’t call. He’s probably back in the restaurant cozying up to Sarah.

  “Hey, Kate,” I answer, and then cringe at how stuffy my nose sounds.

  “You okay?”

  “Fine.”

  “You don’t sound fine. I’m on my lunch break. Do you need anything?”

  “I’ll be alright.” I flick on my blinker and turn onto my street. Seriously? I groan inwardly when the guy behind me takes the same turn.

  “Are you with him?” Her question surprises me.

  “No. Why? Is he not at the restaurant?”

  “No. He left when you did.”

  “Oh.” I want to feel hopeful about that, but I’m sure Sarah left with him. “Is she still there?”

  “Yep. Sitting at the bar with a different guy now.”

  “Huh.” Could I have been wrong about the whole thing? Was Tag telling the truth? Even if he was, he did lie to me about where he was today. I have to remember that. He’s not innocent.

  “Did you at least talk to him?” Kate asks.

  “Yeah. He caught up to me in the parking lot.” My house comes into view, so I slow down.

  “What did he say?”

  “Not much.” Weariness settles into my bones. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I don’t even want to think about it anymore. My plan is to go to my room and hide under my covers for the foreseeable future. “I’m home now. I’ll call you later, okay?”

  “You better, because if you don’t, I’ll call you. And If you don’t answer, I’ll send a search party,” Kate warns.

  De
spite my sour mood, I chuckle and then say goodbye. Flipping down the visor I check myself in the mirror. The last thing I want is the third degree from Mom. After wiping all traces of tears from my face, I snatch my purse off the seat and step out of the car. The warm air and scent of freshly mowed grass greet me.

  “Harper?”

  My head snaps up at the unfamiliar voice. Fear pricks at the base of my neck. A dark car is parked along the curb behind mine. A man steps out of the shadows. He’s wearing all black so in the dark it almost looks like he’s a floating head. But the head is pretty scary. It’s all pierced and tatted, his eyes dark.

  Who is he and how does he know my name?

  My fingers clutch my purse tightly, and I mentally slap myself for not buying pepper spray like Kate told me to months ago. I rack my brain trying to remember the moves I learned in that self-defense class I took two years ago at the rec center. It was when Kate first started working as a waitress and she felt she might need protection. Too bad my mind is blank. I got nothing, dammit.

  The strange man moves closer to me. Terror gripping me, I glance over at my house wondering if I can outrun this guy. Why do my parents have to live on such a quiet suburban street? Normally I like it, but tonight I would be really grateful for some party animals out here. Or even cars driving past. But our street dead ends into a court, so we don’t get much traffic. There’s not a person in sight. Still if I scream, I’m sure someone will hear me. I open my mouth, ready to do it when the man stops me.

  “You don’t need to be frightened, Harper. I’m a friend of Tag’s.”

  His words shock me. This guy doesn’t look like anyone Tag would associate with. I’m reminded once again how little I actually know about the man I’ve been falling for. Why did I allow myself to get attached so quickly?

  “D-d-does he know you’re here?” Great way to show you’re in control, Harper. You sound like a frightened child.

  “Yes, actually. He sent me here to talk to you.”

  This doesn’t sound right. I may have gotten sucked in previously, but I’m not doing it again. “Why wouldn’t he come here himself?”

  “You’re feisty. I can see why Tag likes you so much.”

  “He told you that? That he likes me?” What the hell is wrong with me? I have a potential axe murderer on my front lawn and I’m trying to figure out if a boy likes me?

  “Yeah, he did.” The man looks amused in a sick way.

  That nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach grows, spreading to my chest and making it hard to breathe. I’ve got to get away from him. Spinning around, I run toward the front door. My feet slip on the wet grass, but I keep going. Arms come around my middle. The scent of cigarette smoke wafts under my nose. My heart speeds up. I’m tackled to the ground, my face smacking into the lawn. Wet grass sticks to my lips, and my body is damp.

  “What the hell do you want?” I spew out.

  “You’ll see.” His icy tone blankets me.

  22

  TAG

  HARPER SPEEDS OFF, her tires squealing as she turns out of the parking lot. I curse under my breath. I sure as hell screwed everything up. If only I’d been honest with her. Then again, if I had the outcome may have been the same. When Harper finds out I’m not the nice guy she fell for, she may want nothing to do with me. I’m certain if she knew the whole truth she’d race out of my life even faster than tonight. So maybe it’s better this way.

  At least I know she’s safe now.

  I start to turn around to head back inside, when a dark car catches my eye. My pulse quickens as the car pulls out of the parking lot and slips into the same lane Harper had been in. The car is all black with tinted windows. Exactly the kind of car someone would drive if they didn’t want to be noticed. Exactly the kind of car Axel used to drive.

  Dammit. Axel was here and he was watching. I handed him Harper on a silver platter.

  Reaching into my pocket I tug my keys out and race to my car. I drive faster than I’ve ever dared, taking corners so swiftly my head smacks against the window. With every mile, my heart speeds up. What have I done? I thought pushing Harper away was the best thing, but now I’ve put her in more danger. I have to get to her before Axel does.

  The further I drive, the more nervous I become. I haven’t seen either of them. Does he already have her? Pressing harder on the gas, I zoom down the street. I can’t let anything happen to her.

  Relief floods me when I turn onto Harper’s street and see her standing on her front lawn. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe that wasn’t Axel. But then I see a dark figure approaching her. I pull my car over and turn it off just in time to see him tackle her to the ground.

  Red hot anger blinds me as I shove my way out of the car and tear across the street. In two long strides I’m across the grass. My hands grab Axel’s collar and yank him off her. I shove him back, and clip him in the jaw with my fist.

  “I thought I told you to stay away from her, Axel.”

  Axel wipes a trickle of blood from his mouth and starts to laugh.

  Apprehension tugs at me. “What’s so funny?”

  “You showed your hand.” He steps closer until I can smell his rank breath. “And that’s never smart.”

  I jab him in the chest. “Get the hell outta here.”

  “This isn’t over until I say it is, Tag.” Axel grins. “See ya later, Princess.” He smirks in Harper’s direction, turning my stomach.

  She pushes herself up off the grass and stands unsteadily on her feet. I catch her in my arms. “You okay?”

  Her expression is guarded, but she doesn’t pull away from me, and for that I’m grateful. Axel’s car starts and he speeds away. Harper’s gaze watches him warily. I grip her tighter.

  “What the hell was that about?” she asks.

  I nod, knowing I have to tell her now. She’s involved whether I want her to be or not. It’s too late to keep her out of it. I hope she still wants to be with me when it’s all said and done.

  “There are some things about me that you don’t know.” I let my hands fall away from her body.

  “Yeah, I kind of figured that out.” Her expression darkens, as her gaze falls to her feet. The front of her body is wet, covered in grass. A few blades are still stuck on her lips.

  I reach out and brush them away. “Let’s get you cleaned up and then we can talk.”

  She shivers, hugging herself as she glances at her house. “Um…I kind of don’t want my parents to see me like this.”

  “It’s probably best if you don’t stay here anyway now that Axel knows where you live,” I say, bile rising in my throat. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid.

  Her eyes widen in fear, and it kills me. “Is my family in danger?”

  I want to offer her assurance, to tell her that she’s safe, but I won’t lie anymore. “No, but you are.”

  “I don’t understand.” She shakes her head, her hair slapping her face. “Why is this happening?”

  “I’ll explain everything. Let me get you back to my house.”

  “Your house?” She peers up at me, her eyes no longer trusting. All I see in them is trepidation.

  “He won’t come after me there. Trust me.” My mom knows him. They have a history. He’d be risking too much by showing his face on my street.

  “Trust you? You’re the reason I’m in this mess, and I don’t even know why,” her voice rises hysterically. A dog barks in the distance, and her body jerks with fear.

  Oh, hell. She’s like a frightened kitten.

  “I screwed up, okay? But I’m still the same guy you trusted in the water. Please, Harper? I need you to do what I’m asking. Come with me. I’ll keep you safe.”

  “And you’ll tell me what’s going on?”

  “I promise.” She hasn’t said yes yet, but I can see that she’s close. I touch her fingertips with mine. “Please, baby?”

  She softens. Her palm closes around my hand. “Okay.” She looks over her shoulder one last time. “I’ll follow you i
n my car so my parents don’t get suspicious.”

  “Alright, but stay close behind me.”

  She nods. After a quick squeeze of her hand, I step away from her. I keep my eyes on her as she gets into her car and starts the engine. As she pulls her car in line behind mine I heave a sigh of relief, glad that she’s at least coming with me. I was a little worried for a minute. Ironic that earlier today I was trying to keep her safe by pushing her away and now I’m trying to do the same by keeping her close.

  My eyes are peeled all through the drive, looking for any signs of Axel’s car. However, I don’t expect to see him. If he wanted to make his move tonight, he would’ve done it. No, I think the plan tonight always was to torment us. He’s going to make us flap in the wind a little longer. Axel’s always been pretty twisted like that. He enjoys the game as much as the revenge.

  And I meant what I said to Harper. He won’t come to my house. I’m certain of it. I don’t know how I’ll watch over Harper all the time. It’s not like she can stay with me indefinitely, and I know she’ll want to go to work. Besides, she may want nothing to do with me once I come clean. Then what will I do?

  As panic chokes me, I force it down. I have to take this one step at a time. And no matter what happens, I will keep Harper safe. I’ll do whatever it takes.

  When Harper parks behind me at my house, my stomach tightens. I step out of my car and intercept her before she can get out of hers. “Why don’t you park in the garage?” In case Axel does come by, I don’t want him to know she’s here.

  Harper nods silently. I run to the garage, key in our code, and the door opens with a loud rattle. It’s a two-car garage so even though Mom’s car is already in it there’s plenty of room for Harper’s little Honda. She eases it in and then I slip in behind quickly closing the door. It’s dark, and I feel my way along the wall. I hear the car door open and shut. The scent of gasoline and cleaning supplies fill my nostrils.

  “Tag?” Harper’s voice is small and unsure.

  God, I hate that I’ve caused her to feel fearful.

  “Right here,” I call out, moving toward her voice.