Page 28 of Chasing Sunsets

I scoff. “Excuse me—”

“Oh, don’t act all innocent, Anson,” Audrey says, shaking her head. She turns to Tabby. “We love him, but he is, without a doubt, Sandcastle Cove’s resident Casanova.”

“Absolute menace,” Avie adds.

“A flirt to the highest degree,” Heather agrees.

“But,” Avie continues, “he’s also a damn good guy.”

“The best,” Audrey confirms.

“A stupidly loyal friend,” Amiya says.

“And,” Avie adds, grinning, “a ridiculously good uncle.”

That one catches Tabby’s attention. “Uncle?”

Avie nods, glancing over toward the swing set, where her daughter, Leia, is currently bossing Lennon around like a tiny dictator. “That’s my kid, Leia. She’s obsessed with Anson.”

Tabby looks at me, surprised. “Is that right?”

I shrug. “It’s not like the competition is so great.”

Amiya snorts. “That’s because this man lets Leia put makeup on him, full face—blush, eye shadow, the works—just because it makes her laugh. Oh, and he teaches her how to cheat so she can beat the rest of them at Old Maid.”

“How many times do I have to tell you guys that I don’t cheat?” I say. Then, I lean down to Tabby and whisper, “Those crybabies are just a bunch of sore losers.”

Tabby’s eyes sparkle with amusement.

Avie whips out her phone. “Want to see pictures of Princess Anson?”

I groan. “Avie, don’t—”

But it’s too late. She’s already showing Tabby a picture of me, sitting on the floor with Leia, my face covered in glittery blue eye shadow and what can only be described as violently pink lipstick.

Tabby bites her lip like she’s trying to keep a straight face, but the second she looks at me, she loses it.

“Wow,” she manages between laughs. “You really commit.”

I cross my arms, sighing. “Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up.”

“Oh, I will.” She grins. “This might be my new favorite thing about you.”

Amiya nudges her. “Careful. Find too many favorite things, and next thing you know, you’re in too deep.”

Tabby tilts her head, eyes flicking to mine.

The girls exchange looks, practically vibrating with excitement, and I clear my throat.

“All right. Enough of thelet’s embarrass Ansonsegment of the evening. I’m going to see what the holdup on the food is. I’m hungry. I worked up an appetite, kicking everyone’s ass at volleyball today.”

Tabby

“You going to be all right if I go help?” he asks.

I nod, and he steps away to join Sebastian at the grill. I watch as the guys fall into conversation, teasing each other as Anson playfully criticizes his barbecuing skills.

And then Leia spots Anson.

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