Page 167 of Johnny

Below, in the water, and all around and inside the waves splashing against the boat, is the neon-

blue light of iridescent plankton. The waves excite them, making them glow when they crash against

the hull of the yacht.

“You’ve seen it before, I know you have. This place is your home,” Johnny says. “I know it’s

nothing special. But I noticed they were active earlier and figured you’d like to see it.”

“Damn,” I say, gazing down at nature’s light show. “Be careful, Mr. Boston. Your soft side is

showing.”

He breathes out a laugh. Like he’s never heard his name mentioned in the same sentence as “soft

side” before. “It’s nice though, right?”

“It’s very pretty. And the sound of the water… this might be the most romantic thing anyone has

ever done for me.”

“Romantic,” he murmurs. “Ah… yeah. Maybe?”

“No maybe. I’m positive. No date I’ve ever been on involved this much thought.”

“Maybe you’re dating the wrong guys?”

“I probably am.”

“Are we dating?”

“I don’t know.”

“Should we date?”

“Also unsure.”

“What’s holding you back?”

I look at him like… seriously?

“It’s the whole killer instinct thing, right?”

I almost guffaw. “Definitely part of it.”

“They were bad people, Megan.”

“So you say. But what if I had been in there? I’d be dead now.”

“You weren’t in there. You’re not a part of that. And just so you know, I didn’t kill the girl in the hazmat suit. I kinda get it, OK? She was as innocent as one can be in the Way. So I let her walk out of

there.”

“What’s gonna happen to her now?”

“I dunno,” he says. “I’m not sure. But we’re not going to kill her. Maybe… transplant her over on

Key West and give her a place to stay. Let her figure it out.”