Page 52 of Just Beachy

“That was a tough exit from the show,” Tank continues with a shake of his head. “I liked the way you played Cassie, though. You were way better than the actress they brought in after you left. Much more authentic.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that.” My shoulders unhunch a bit and I begin to truly relax for the first time that day.

“Right,” Luke says. “It looks like lane ten is open.” He points to a nearby shooting station. “Okay if we set up there?”

“Absolutely,” Tank says. “In fact, I held it for you. Just let me know if you need anything.” Tank shoots me a grin. “And if this guy gives you any trouble, Sydney, all you gotta do is give me a shout.”

“Thanks.” I smile. “Will do.” But all I can think about is making sure Luke understands exactly who he’s dealing with. And this is the perfect place to do it.

When we get to lane ten, Luke opens his duffel and pulls out two pairs of headphones, two Glocks, and two boxes of bullets. He’s just starting to explain where the bullets go when I take the smaller handgun from him, release the magazine, and check it to make sure it’s empty. Then I chamber a round.

“So I’m taking it you’ve loaded and fired a real gun before.”

“Yep.”

“But don’t you only use blanks on a TV show or in a movie?”

“Yes, of course. But I was taught never to fire or point even a prop gun without first checking the magazine.” I do not bring up the deadly mistakes that took place on the set ofRust, though it remains a stark reminder of just how horribly wrong things can go when even prop guns are involved. “And as far as I’m concerned, looking like you know how to load and shoot a dummy gun requires knowing how to load and shoot a real one. Or at least it should.”

We both make sure our headphones are secure. Then Luke takes a step back and motions me to go ahead. Although he now knows that I know how toloada gun, the cocky grin on his face tells me that he still doesn’t really believe that I’m capable of hitting a target with one. And I have a ton of residual anger that I have to aim somewhere.

“Thanks.” Tuning him, and everything else, out, I step up directly behind the table, face the target, legs spread shoulder-width apart. Then I raise my gun, place my left hand under the heel of the hand that holds the pistol, and take a deep breath, which I exhale slowly. Then I fire all six bullets in rapid succession.

Twenty-Five

“You could have told mehow good a shot you are before you shot the whole center of that first target out. Not to mention the second. And third.”

“And miss seeing the shock on your face?” I feel calmer, more in control of myself, after decimating those targets. “God, I wish I had a picture of your expression.”

“Funny.”

“Extremely.” I know my grin is what could only be described as “shit eating.” “That’s what you get for making assumptions. I don’t remember you asking me if I’d ever shot a real gun before you planned this ‘date.’ ”

“Point taken.”

“You really don’t want to go around underestimating me.”

“No, I do not.” He raises his hands in surrender. “I’ll try not to do it again. But to be fair, the fact that you didn’tactuallyusea gun to subdue those two morons that day at Harley’s caused me to think you weren’t comfortable handling one.”

“So you think I should have discharged a weapon in a crowded bar?”

“No, of course not. But—”

“I did what made sense in that situation. And for the record, I personally don’t believe anyone who’s not military or law enforcement should be carrying a gun around in public, concealed or otherwise. Once A.J. threw that gun at me, my main goal was to make sure the bad guys didn’t get ahold of it.”

“Got it.”

“And you know that saying, ‘When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me’?”

“I do.” Luke nods. “And I apologize.”

I have to admit that Luke is saying all the right things, but I can also see how hard he’s trying not to laugh.

“Absolutely no more ass making,” he promises with a big smile.

“This isn’t funny,” I say.

“Oh, I don’t know. I think it’skind offunny,” Luke teases.

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