Page 59 of Tourist Trap

My mind moves through thetwocomment, but I don’t have the time to figure out who else he’s referring to because June and Lainey are putting their arms through my elbows and dragging me toward the water. We don’t go in fully, just barely up to our knees, because the water is still chilly.

Once we’re officially far enough from listening boy-ears, Lainey gives me a look.

“You guys kissed?” she asks, eyes wide. “You didn’t tell me!”

“This is the first time I’ve seen you in a week,” I say with a laugh.

“You could have texted me!”

“And miss your reaction in person? No thanks,” I tell her with a smile.

“She told me,” June brags with a smug smile, and I turn my glare onto her.

“That’s because you’re off for the summer and spend each day right next to my stand.” She shrugs like she isn’t going to bother arguing with that.

“Okay, okay, okay,” Lainey says, eager to get back on topic. “But like, how was it?”

I sigh.

“It was…amazing,” I whisper.

“Iknewthat man would kiss good,” June says.

“Lethally,” I agree.

“But what happened? Because if Miles Miller kissed me, I’d never stop.” Lainey looks at me. “No offense.”

“None taken. Trust me, I didn’t want to. It just…” I sigh. “He said he doesn’t have time for a relationship and that he knew that would be what I wanted. He works too much, blah blah blah.”

“So, he’s a big baby chicken?” Lainey asks, and I snort out a laugh.

“Kind of.” I nod as I watch a small wave crash against my legs.

“Do you like him?” June asks seriously. “Like, really.”

I let out a deep breath, look to the sky, and admit my truth. “Unfortunately.” Lainey lets out a small laugh. “I think I always did,” I whisper.

“No shit,” June agrees with a laugh. “You deluded yourself into being into Paul, but we always knew which Miller you really liked.” Guilt that Paul doesn’t deserve moves through me, but I don’t have time to let it stay there. “Okay, so now that we’ve got that confession out of the way, what are we going to do about it?”

I turn to her. “What?”

“What are you going to do about it?”

I frown. “Well…nothing.”

“Nothing?” Lainey asks, clearly shocked by this.

I shake my head. “I won’t chase a man who won’t admit he’s into me.”

June looks at Lainey, and a look passes between them, but I don’t pay it any mind.

“That’s so fair,” Lainey says.

“Totally. Either way, it looks like we’re in for an interesting summer,” June says with a laugh.

“I’d kill for a date. I feel like it’s been an eternity since I’ve been out with someone. Even just to get drinks and have a night out. I want to dress up and look pretty,” Lainey says a few hours later.

We’ve played in the water and taken a few walks, watched the guys throw a football, and got lunch from the boardwalk, though the entire time, Miles has basically ignored me.

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