Page 47 of Reach Around

She crosses her arms. “Where are we going?”

“Up there. To do secret admirer shit.”

“I don’t feel good about this.”

“You’re already dressed like a rogue ninja. Besides, it’s romantic.”

“It’s a felony.”

“It’s a mural of the heart.”

“It’s gonna be a mugshot if someone calls it in.”

I point up at the water tower. “The rock didn’t work. Snow ruined it right away. The coasters are long gone. I need something permanent.”

“You know what’s permanent?” Lynsie deadpans. “A criminal record.”

“I don’t need your negativity.”

“You need a therapist. And gloves. Why are your gloves neon?”

“They’re not neon. They’re coral.”

“Exactly. You’re about to graffiti a town landmark in flaming coral.”

I sigh dramatically. “You know where snow won’t matter?”

“Please say Key West.”

“The water tower.”

“Oh my God.”

“It hasn’t been painted in, like, twenty years.”

“Yeah. Because people are afraid of being arrested.”

I grin. “Give me one good reason not to.”

“Vandalism. Is. A. Crime.”

I pause. “Oh. Huh.”

Lynsie narrows her eyes. “You already started, didn’t you?”

“I can neither confirm nor deny—”

“Jesus, Joely.”

I shrug, trying to look innocent but mostly just cold and guilty. “So… now what?”

Lynsie stares at the tower again, then back at me. “We could get a drink. Warm up. Pretend we’re not criminals in the making spray painting potatoes on the town’s water supply.”

“Power Play?”

“Yeah. And Brogan’s working.”

I pause for half a second too long.

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