By the Sea

By Katherine McIntyre

Most kids had imaginary friends, but most weren’t like Megan’s friend Niall. There were rules: only at night and only by the sea. She could’ve sworn he was real, but when someone vanishes without a trace, what else can you believe?

All that was seven years ago, buried in the past until Niall shows up in town with his tight swimmer’s body and easy smile. For Megan, just the sight of him is enough to tear open a scar that never fully healed. However, their reunion only elicits more questions. Niall’s keeping secrets, unbelievable ones, and as Megan delves into the supernatural depths of who he really is, she’s sure he’ll vanish again.

Megan’s not stupid—she knows how bad it’ll hurt if she gets involved. The first time Niall disappeared, she never thought she’d recover. But the moment they lock eyes, it’s too late—because Megan will go to any length to see that boy smile.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Decadent Publishing
• Release date: Jun 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781613337042

Katherine McIntyre

Strong women. Strong words. Katherine McIntyre is a feisty chick with a big attitude despite her short stature. She writes stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As an eternal geek and tomboy who’s always stepped to her own beat, she’s made it her mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there, from different cultures and races to all varieties of men and women. Easily distracted by cats and sugar.

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

By the Sea

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014 by Katherine McIntyre

ISBN: 978-1-61333-704-2

Cover art by Tibbs Designs

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

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www.decadentpublishing.com

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By the Sea

By

Katherine McIntyre

~Dedication~

Thank you to my amazing husband and my caring family for all their encouragement and support.

Chapter One

Most kids had imaginary friends growing up, but not like mine.

I slowed down near the cypress docks because, like always, they made me think of him. The ocean crashed along the pier and glittered under the dying sun like shattered glass. Since I’d lived my whole life in Weymouth, an ocean-view walk home was a common thing. My friend Niall hadn’t been. Years after most kids abandoned their imaginary friends, mine had tagged along right through middle school. I wasn’t stupid—I’d known what the other kids would think, so I’d kept him quiet. And there’d been rules.

He’d only meet me by the sea. I’d come by myself at night, making some excuse to my folks or telling them I wanted to go find shells at the beach.

I’d lied. Covering my tracks the best I could, I’d always brought home a shell he’d helped me find, anything from pieces of clams to slipper’s shells. I fingered the conch around my neck—the last shell Niall had given me before he’d left.

The salty breeze picked up strands of my hair and rippled them like pennants as I made my way down the boardwalk. So, yeah, most invisible friends don’t swim with you. You can’t stroke their wet hair or see the smile in their eyes. Most don’t smell like brine and the breeze. But he’d vanished, same as all invisible friends do, once I’d reached a certain age.

Stepping up my pace, I bypassed no less than three candy shops, all declaring the best salt water taffy. I still needed to get home and take a shower before my waitressing shift tonight at Safe Harbor. My beat-up jeans and long-sleeved sweater were covered in fish guts from my shift at Bobby’s Seafood. My sleeves were crusty; they were going to need a serious washing before I wore that shirt again. Despite the refrigerator chill permeating the place, I’d been sweating by the time I’d clocked out.

Between the two jobs, I managed to make ends meet. A lot of hard work, sure, but I made enough for an apartment on my own and some gorgeous, aged furniture—code word for thrift-shop finds. Mom and Dad’s place was up the street, the same house they’d lived in for twenty years now. For me, happiness consisted of swimming whenever I wanted or sitting on the beach and listening to the waves. I couldn’t imagine a life away from the coast.

I broke into a whistle as I stepped off the boardwalk and onto the small streets leading to my apartment. The Dusty Rose apartment complex rose in the distance, all whopping three floors of maintained red brick.