Free Things We Fear by Glenn Rolfe Page A

with Magnus and Duke and this gorgeous drink, you were sharing a story with me?”
    “Magnum, but yeah. When I was a kid there was spot on the river, right after the dam, where the current wasn’t too bad. There was a path that led from the road down to this tree with a rope tied to it. Someone very clever came up with the name the Ropes. I ran along the small bank and out over the water. I twisted just before I jumped so that I would twirl.” He stopped and sipped his drink. “I didn’t feel like I had pushed myself out far enough. Stupid me, I figured I would swing to the tree and push myself back out and drop in. You know, climb out and try again.”
    “Sure.”
    “The problem was that I was spinning. So when I lined up my foot to plant it on the tree…I kept spinning and ended up nailing the tree with my head and shoulder.”
    “Ow.”
    “Yeah. I sort of blacked out for a few seconds. When I opened my eyes, I was under the water. My shoulder was killing me, but I tried to get to the surface. The water was chest-deep in that spot. I should have come right up, but…” He felt the gooseflesh break over his skin. He was suddenly woozy and braced himself with his palms on the bar.
    “Are you okay? You’re eight shades of pale.”
    He nodded and sipped his drink. After the world swung back to steady, he went on.
    “I know it sounds ridiculous, but after I hit the water…I could swear something wrapped around my leg and pulled me down. It shouldn’t have been possible. Like I said, it wasn’t that deep, but somehow, at that moment, it was.”
    “I’m sure you’ve considered this, but do you think it might have been the bump you took on the head?”
    “Yeah, that’s what Dr. Lewis always says. Had to be, right?” He took the cool glass in his hand and stared into the mesmerizing blue liquid. “But it seemed so real…I looked down…and that thing was there, staring up at me with these beady black eyes.”
    Aaron peered over his glass at her. “You think I’m crazy now.”
    “No.” She took his hand from the glass and squeezed it. “I have no idea what happened to you that day, but it’s obviously still with you.”
    The image crawled over his numb skin like a million baby spiders. He knew she hadn’t meant it the way he interpreted it, but the thought of the pig-nosed man following him—waiting for him, waiting to pull him under and finish the job—breathed a real-life fear into his phantasmic memory.
    She lifted his chin and gazed into his eyes. Their lips met for the first time. For a moment, the creature from his dreams was gone. He kissed her deeply. Duke’s clapping brought them up for air.
    “That’s how we say a-lo-ha!”
    Aaron and Emily both laughed. The patrons surrounding them broke out into a round of applause.
    Mortified, Aaron raised his drink. “Aloha!”
    “Aloha!” the crowd repeated.
    “Well, that’s a first,” Emily said. Her cheeks were a deep red. “I hope this isn’t a schtick you use on all the girls.”
    “I wish I were that capable.”
    “Can I get you guys another?” Duke said. His eyes twinkled above his broad smile.
    “Sure, Duke. That would be lovely,” Emily said.
    Matt sat in the back, closest to the pier’s walkway, nursing a beer. He had spotted them at the fry stand and followed them into the shitty Hawaiian joint. The place, and all the Frenchies cluttering every inch of the beach, reminded him why he hated OOB. Fucking tourists. He’d witnessed the whole gross lovey-dovey display. He also watched Aaron go from tan to pale to red. The pale face intrigued him most. He’d caught a bit about the guy being afraid to go in the water. The douche bag made it too easy.
    Matt placed his tip on the cherrywood tabletop, left Sully’s and ventured through the crowd toward the end of the pier. Despite the pussy’s fear, he’d be willing to bet Aaron would bring Emily down here to gaze out at the ocean, and when he did, Matt would be waiting.
    He pushed