Page 69 of Coast

“Got another job?” Brooke asked as I came out of my room with Lainey on my hip.

“No, Lainey has just been restless all day,” I told her. “I was thinking of taking her on a ride to see if she would pass out.”

“Been there. I swear Soleil would only ever nap in the car. But her sister hated her car seat. So someone was always crying. Usually me,” she added with a little laugh.

“What are you doing out here? Taking a mental health break?” I could hear the girls arguing even with the door to her room closed.

“Started out that way. Now, I’m just being nosy.”

“Oh, are the Millers arguing again?”

“They checked out this morning. Packed up and took their baggage with them. I’m gonna miss their particular brand of messy. No, I’m spying on Tasha,” she said, angling her chin over toward the pool.

It was technically never closed, but no one ever actually swam at night thanks to the mosquitoes and the wonky, flickering light that barely kept the space illuminated enough to know if any snakes or critters were hanging around.

Sure enough, though, two figures were standing off to the side of the pool, cast mostly in shadow. But I could make out Tasha’s yellow and white coverup I’d seen her wear more than a few times. And she was currently being dwarfed by a giant of a man who had on a muscle tee—and the muscles to pull it off.

I could only see his profile, but I made out a granite jaw and some intense eye contact with Tasha.

“Is that her ex?” I asked.

“No,” Brooke said, shooting me wide, excited eyes. I’d gotten to know her well enough to know that was her ‘getting ready to spill the tea’ expression. “That is her ex’s best friend.”

“What?” I asked, my mouth falling open.

“Ooh,” Lainey hooted.

“He is onefineman, too,” Brooke said, fanning herself with her hand.

“He’s been here before?”

“Several times.”

“For what? Trying to make a case for his friend?”

“Not at all. No, he has been trying to convince Tasha to pack up her son and move in withhim.”

“What? Really?”

“Yep. Turns out, he heard what his buddy did, dropped him like a bad habit, and sided with Tasha immediately. And he really don’t like her living here. See that Rolex on his wrist? He lives in a mansion and drives a car that costs more than most people’s homes.”

“Was Tasha’s ex well-off?”

“Oh, Lord, honey, no. I swear the only reason that man kept a job was because Tasha woke him up every morning to go. But the two of them came from the neighborhood, so it seems like Carter felt obligated to keep on with Michael just because of their past.”

“Is it just me, or does that conversation seem a little… intense?”

“Girl, I’ve been choking on the sexual tension from all the way up here since he walked up while she was swimming her laps an hour ago.”

“I think we need more details.”

“Ooh,” Lainey agreed, my sweet little gossip.

“She was in the zone, you know. Dunno how she pushes her body like that, but she’s like a pro. So our man Carter—he’s part mine now too—just stood there and watched. All sexy-like.”

“Was he maybe just standing there being sexy?”

“Girl, what’s the difference?” she asked, rolling her eyes at me. “Anyway, she eventually came up for air, seeing his feet, and nearly jumped outta her skin. He said something, but I couldn’t hear. I bet that man’s voice is like a cool drink of water on a hot day.”

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