Page 111 of Tourist Trap

He looks at Miles, assessing, like he's trying to figure out his angle. I too try to figure it out and can't quite put my finger on it. What is hedoing?

"Or are you scared?" he goads him.

Brad scoffs. "That a bunch of idiot locals will win? Not likely."

"Perfect. Then it's a deal." Miles puts a hand out, and Brad stares at it like he might catch cooties before finally reaching out and shaking it.

"It's a deal."

"I'll send over a contract tomorrow morning," Miles says.

Brad lifts an eyebrow like he's surprised. "You're really going to do this?"

Miles shrugs. "It's that or lose my family house, right? You're not going to play nice, so I might as well go down swinging."

My heart sinks like a stone.

"I hope you're happy," I say, looking at my ex and really, I mean it. I hope he's happy with his choices. He might not have been the one for me, and he might be making the most insane choices, but he's still someone I once cared about.

"I don't," Miles says, then grabs my hand and drags me out of the office as I fight a laugh.

"You're insane, you know that?" I say under my breath when we step out into the cool summer night air. Miles pulls me in right to his side, and I melt just a bit as I look up at him.

"Learned it from the best," he says with a smile, and I roll my eyes. I'm so confused that he's not freaking out, because if we're being honest,I'mfreaking out a bit.

"Miles—"

"Don't worry, Claire. We've got this," he says when we reach the house. I look up at him, and he pulls me in close, pressing his lips to mine. "It's just a house. You taught me that. With the amount I have into it and how much it's worth, I'd make more than enough to buy another one in town if I had to sell."

"But it won't be—" I start, and he shakes his head, moving to unlock the door.

"It doesn't matter, none of this shit matters. Not when I have you."

I pause and turn to him. He smiles at me wide, my heart a melted mess at my feet.

"If we win, great, if not?" He pulls me in close. "If not, I got you out of it all."

I smile, but I shake my head.

"Oh, we're going to win," I say.

He gives me a soft smile. "Claire, I don't want you to get your hopes up."

"I'm not. I'm just confident in my abilities."

He looks at me, then sighs and rolls his eyes, pulling me inside. Once inside, I roll my shoulders back and grab my phone.

"Okay. Then we need to get a plan in place."

THIRTY-EIGHT

CLAIRE

Emergency meeting at the Seabreeze, tomorrow at 7. Bring everyone.

The message goes out the morning after we confront Brad and Paul, and I spend the day at work dodging questions about this emergency I texted everyone about.

That night the bar is more packed than I've ever seen it, and I smile as I sit on the edge of the counter, Miles at my side, looking out over this group of people who I've grown to love. Not only that, but the group I've grown to feel like I'm a part of.

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