Page 60 of Tourist Trap

“Everyone in this stupid town is too chicken to ask a girl out,” June agrees, and I wonder exactly who she’s talking about since June rarely says anything without intention.

I make a mental note to ask her about it later, but in the meantime?—

“Just do it yourself,” I say with a smile. “Dating is so antiquated, waiting for him to make a move? We all know men can’t decide on a single thing. If you want to go on a date, just ask him.”

Miles lets out a scoff, and I shift my gaze to him. I fight the all-consuming urge to start to hecklehim and scream,I was talking about you, dipshit!

But instead, I decide to be an adult.

Kind of.

“What’s funny?”

“That you’d give that advice, since you’d never do that.”

My eyes go wide, and my mouth drops open in shocked irritation. He’s barely talked to me in a week,and this is when he decides to?

You've got to be kidding me.

“Excuse me?”

“You would never do that, Claire. You’re a wait-for-the-guy-to-make-the-first-move kind of girl.”

My jaw goes tight, despite the fact that he isn’t wrong.

I like the guy who makes the first move to make me feel wanted. That’s why when Miles makes the first move, and his actions do not match his words, it hurts.

“So you’re saying I wouldn’t ask a guy out on a date?” I challenge, crossing my arms on my chest.

He shakes his head in response.

I nod and give him a smile because the universe loves to give me bad ideas, and one is walking our way.

“It wouldn’t bother you at all if I got up and asked someone else out right now?”

Miles shakes his head, though I can see his jaw twitch just a bit.

“Go right on ahead,” he says.

He’s so fucking stubborn, but I don’t have the time or energy to coach an adult man to use his big boy words to talk about his big, big feelings, so instead, I nod, then scan the beach for a moment before finding the perfect option. Then I stand and walk over to where I spotted Brad.

“Hey,” I say, with a sultry smile, when I reach him.

I place a hand against the post that separates the regular beachgoers from the exclusive beach seating, Surf leases from the town. Heads turn, but I keep my eyes on my target, and when he looks my way, I smile wider. His eyes widen when they take me in, then his face goes smug as he says something to the guy he’s talking to before walking over to me.

“Well, hello there. What can I do for you?”

I put a hand on my hip, sliding my hair over my shoulder, and looking toward my group of friends. Deck and Grant look horribly entertained by me, while June looks a bit concerned. Lainey is intrigued, like she’s taking notes for future reference, and Miles looks…angry.

No, not angry. Absolutelylivid.

Good.

He wants to play the hot and cold asshole, I can too.

“So, my friends kind of dared me to ask someone out on a date because they think I won’t actually do it, and you might be the lucky guy,” I say, giving him the honesty Brad deserves.

His eyes look over my shoulder, taking in my friends, and I look too, before wiggling my fingers at Miles. Even from here, I can see his jaw is clenched tight enough to crack a tooth.

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