Page 39 of Tourist Trap

A heated flicker in his eyes because, despite what he wants to think, he isnotimmune to my charm or…other things about me.

He snaps out of it quickly and shakes his head. I think I’ve lost the battle before he steps away and starts walking toward the stairs and toward his room.

“Just keep them away from me,” he grumbles.

“I can keep them?”

He pauses on the stairs and looks at me. “If it makes you happy,” he says, moving up the stairs.

“So you admit it,” I say when he’s at the top. I probably shouldn’t press my luck, but I just can’t help it.

He pauses and looks down at me, a guarded expression on his face when he sees my triumphant smile. “Admit what?”

“That you want to keep me happy!”

He shakes his head in response and walks away.

Yet another success in my book.

FOURTEEN

CLAIRE

After another busy weekend due to an unseasonably hot June weekend, when June calls me on Monday andbegsme to come to the bar Lainey’s dad owns and where our friend works, I say yes instantly.

I could use the break, and I miss my friends. School isn’t out yet, so June’s still working like crazy, and since I work every weekend for the foreseeable future, our free time hasn’t overlapped much. Even though Lainey istechnicallyworking tonight, we’ll still get some time to hang out and chat.

I’m running a bit late, as per usual, which is why I’m overjoyed to see a spot right out front of the Seabreeze, in the small gravel drive.

“The party has arrived!” Deck yells as I walk in, and I laugh out loud, all the heads in the quiet bar turning toward me.

“Sorry I’m late,” I say as I approach the small group, since I told June I’d be there thirty minutes earlier. I give my best friend a hug, then give Lainey an awkward one over the bar she’s standing behind. “I got distracted doing my makeup after work and then decided I needed to eat a bowl of cereal before I came out.”

“What, you don’t want me to have to call my brother to rescue us again?” June asks. “He’s coming in a bit, so Deck won’t even have to call him this time.”

I laugh and shake my head, though I do wonder if that means Miles will be showing up later on.

“Unfortunately, no. I have to work in the morning, so just one for me today.”

“Boooo,” Deck says, hands cupped around his mouth, and I laugh, rolling my eyes.

“Sorry to disappoint.”

“Did you find the place okay?” Lainey asks, since the only times I’ve ever been here were with June, and the old bar, which is only really frequented by locals, is a bit out of the way.

“Yeah, I made a wrong turn, but I got here all right. Plus, I was shocked when I got the best parking spot. June always has to park on the street.”

Every time I’ve been to the Seabreeze since I’ve been of age, the very small lot has been full, and cars lined the road leading to it, so we always had to park and then walk. I was shocked when I pulled up and saw a spot front and center.

“You got a good spot?” June asks, brows furrowed as her head tilts to the side.

“Yeah, right out front,” I say with a smile.

June looks at Lainey’s dad, Benny, whose smile is spreading wide. Then, Deck and June look at one another, some kind of silent conversation going on between them. “Should we—” she starts, but Deck shakes his head.

“No, no. It’ll be way more fun this way.” He laughs. June takes him in, then nods. I watch this all play out before me, slightly confused and still entertained.

“Do I even want to ask?” I say, and June shakes her head with a laugh.

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