Moonglass

too young for you!”
    James put a hand to his chest like he had been stabbed, and staggered backward for a second before resuming his position leaning over the railing. I turned around, smiling and plotting as I walked.
    It was one of the last weekends before school, and the beach was packed. Most of the sand in front of our house was claimed already, different groups marking their territory with bright beach towels and umbrellas. The tide was high and there was swell, which made the beach even small er. I walked in the wet sand, and when a big set rolled through, the water splashed warm over my feet. Just ahead of me were the tide pools, now crawling with people, and I smiled, remembering Tyler’s exasperation at running down there. James didn’t seem too concerned, although today would be the day to be. The first wave of a set thundered down onto the rocks, and people let out a collective yell , then scurried for a safer spot. I kept my eyes on Tower Two, which was a long walk down the beach.
    Once I passed the tide pools, the crowd thinned out and I slowed down. Directly in front of me as I walked was the point I had run to my first day here. The point where my dad had told me my parents had met. I looked down, remembering the piece of glass I’d found that first day, but the waves had scoured the sand clean. When I rounded a small er point, Tyler’s tower came into view, but I didn’t see him on the deck. I straightened up and walked more carefully, just in case he happened to be looking in my direction through his binoculars. When I was sure I was close enough for him to have to notice me, I smiled and attempted to saunter over with an ease that I hoped looked believable. He came out of his tower shaking his head. I put my chin up and feigned innocence. “What?”
    “Anna Ryan,” he said, still shaking his head. My stomach jumped at the sound of my name spoken by his voice. “Boss’s daughter …”
    “I couldn’t tell you he was my dad right off the bat. You wouldn’t have given me your little tour.” Tyler’s eyebrows raised behind his sunglasses as he leaned forward with an emphatic look in each direction. “Where is he, by the way? Did you tell him you were coming on down, cuz it’s just about time he got down here to bug me today. And now he has a real reason.”
    “Funny.” I rested a hand on my hip. He looked down, and I guessed that he was looking me over from behind his sunglasses, the same as I was him. I hoped he was as impressed as I was at the moment. He had the long, lean body of the swimmers I’d seen over the years, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. I took a few steps closer and grabbed the handle of the tower ladder, then looked right up at him. “So, James told me about the bonfire tonight.” He looked interested … or surprised. I went on, encouraged. “Where’s Muddy Creek?” He laughed and pointed down toward the south point. “Just down there, where that ramp comes down to the beach. You ran past it last weekend.” It took a second, but then I remembered the backpacks on the sand and the surfers in the water. “You were out in the water.”
    “And you were showing off.”
    He had me there.
    “Somebody had to do something impressive. I didn’t see you guys out there getting any waves.” I winced a little, inwardly. It wasn’t one of my best lines.
    Tyler looked back out at the empty water, apparently disregarding my lameness.
    “Yeah, that day was crappy. I should be out there today . Look at it.” He pointed to a wave that broke off a set of rocks just offshore and peeled across the little cove. “Yep, I just get to sit down here in no-man’s-land and look at it all day. Courtesy of the Ryans.” He leaned forward on the railing and watched another wave roll through.
    I leaned my back against the ladder and looked up over my shoulder. “Sorry about that.” He laughed. “Nah, don’t be. I knew what I was getting into when I talked to you.” I turned around. “Wait a sec. You knew who I was? Why’d you go along with it?” I was suddenly intrigued.
    “James bet me I wouldn’t do it because you’re Ryan’s daughter. He gets a laugh out of that stuff. Why’d you go along while I talked crap about your dad?” I shrugged. “He drives you crazy as a boss. Imagine having him as your dad.”
    Tyler held on to the tower railing and leaned back, pulling his shoulders back in a stretch. “You’re his daughter. He’s supposed to be that way.