Page 53 of Beauty and the Beach

“Are you coming to the beach?” Phoenix says when I reach the kitchen. He’s still got on his light blue t-shirt, and it looks stupidly good on him.

“Yeah,” I say, drifting over to the counter by the fridge. “I like Mo and the Kokomos.”

“Is that what you’re wearing?”

“Why?” I say as I reach for an apple. I look down at my sundress and grin. “Do you want to borrow it?”

He just rolls his eyes. “I didn’t know if you needed time to change. If you don’t, let’s go.” Then, after a pause, he adds, “You know, I’ve been paying attention for the last week, and you only smile at me when you’re making fun of me or when you’re pretending to be a devoted wife.”

“So?” I say with a snort. He said something about this after we met with Mavis. “Why are you bringing up my smile again? You don’t smile at me atall.”

“Yes I do,” he says, looking offended.

I just shake my head and start toward the door. He mutters something under his breath aboutnot trueandridiculousas he follows, but I ignore it.

Mo and the Kokomos are already in full swing when Phoenix and I arrive at the beach. Several groups of people are getting bonfires ready up and down the stretch of sand, though they won’t actually light any fires until later. We separate as soon as we arrive, Phoenix heading to hang out with Beau while I search for Cat and Ivy.

It’s hard to hear much over the music, but we dance and snack as the evening wears on; Ivy leaves about an hour in. When she and Cat have both gone to do their own things, I look around for someone to talk to—Capri Collins and Tristan Palmer are here, I notice with a smile, but they’relookingverycozy, so I decide to give them their privacy. I see Briggs Dalton a second later, so I head in his direction. Briggs isn’t my type, but even I can admit he’s cute. He’s got a nerdy-hot thing going on, and he looks perfectly suited to his job at the book shop.

“Hey, Briggs,” I say, smiling as I approach him.

“Hi,” he says with a little nod.

“How’s it going?”

He shrugs, looking around. “Well enough,” he says. “How have you been?”

What a question. “I’ve been okay,” I say, because the truth is complicated and uncomfortable. “Just?—”

But I break off when I see Phoenix. He’s talking to Jane, the two of them a decent stretch of beach away. He cuts an imposing figure even in a t-shirt and shorts, and Jane looks as cute as always.

“Sorry,” I say, pushing aside the weird little twist of my stomach at the sight of his expression.

He says he smiles at me, but I don’t think we’ve ever had a conversation that looks like that—chatting politely, pleasant expressions, and—yes—smiles. Real, genuine smiles.

“Yeah, I’ve been good,” I manage to get out. “How’s the shop doing?”

Briggs smiles a little; it seems like asking him about the shop is a good way to get him talking. “It’s doing all right. A lot of steady, repeat customers—like you,” he says with a nod.

I watch over his shoulder as Jane laughs at something Phoenix says, and my stomach sours.

What’s wrong with me? IlikeJane. Jane is totally great. We’re friends.

It’s because Phoenix and I are legally married now; thatmust be it. His ring is on my dresser. That would make anyone feel a little possessive. I don’tactuallycare if Phoenix is giving his smile to another woman; it’s just a wife thing.

I nod to myself. That makes sense.

“You work at the salon, right?” Briggs says, pulling me back to our conversation.

“Huh? Oh, yes,” I say with a nod before stealing another glance at Jane and Phoenix.

I’m barely paying attention to what Briggs says; I catch him mentioning something about the book shop, but all I can really focus on is Phoenix’s face as he talks to a woman who isn’t me.

This is insane. Completely insane. Icannotbe possessive over a man I don’t love or even like.

But no matter how many times I tell myself that, the acid in my stomach continues to eat holes through my insides until finally, I can’t take it anymore.

“I’m so sorry,” I tell Briggs. “I’ve got to go.”

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