Page 3 of Alice & Meg: Summer Vacation
Falls City unfolded around us in a flurry of color, chaos, and tourists.We passed a sprawling indoor water park with slides curling out of the building like tentacles.Kids sprinted toward the entrance with towels flapping behind them like capes.
A hotel shaped like a castle loomed on the left.Then a pizza place with a twenty-foot-tall fake slice on the roof.
Wrecker slowed a bit as we turned down the strip and into the heart of Falls City.Here, the sidewalks were crowded, and every building seemed to shout with neon signs and flashing lights—bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, ice cream stands, T-shirt stores with racks of obnoxious slogans.There was a place offering old-timey photos—the kind where you dressed up like a saloon girl or cowboy.
And then I saw it.
“There it is!”I squealed, tapped Wrecker’s arm, and pointed to the small kiosk with giant yellow letters:Duck Boat Tours Here!“Meg said we’re going to do that!”
Wrecker patted my thigh with one hand, nodded, but kept his eyes on the road.
I twisted around in my seat and pointed it out to Wendy and Raven.
Both women waved enthusiastically.Raven even threw me a thumbs-up.
“Woman!”Wrecker bellowed.“Stop squirming all over.You’re gonna make me wreck.”
I huffed but sat still.“Fine,” I grumbled.The last thing I wanted was for our vacation to start with me and Beardilocks eating pavement.
A few more turns and Wrecker pulled into the parking lot of theFlamingo Inn.The building was one story, shaped like a giant L, and yes, it was actually pink—pale pink stucco, with a giant plastic flamingo perched over the office door.A big pool sparkled in the center of the L, surrounded by white lounge chairs and a couple of plastic palm trees.
“Charming,” Wrecker muttered as he killed the engine.
He climbed off first, then helped me swing my leg over.
Adley pulled the van in next to us and climbed out, her hair up in a messy bun, aviators perched on her nose.“I swear,” she groaned, “that van drives like a damn tank.I’m not driving it again until we leave in seven days.”
I walked over and threw my arm around her shoulder.“You know what you need?A margarita.Get the blender out of the van, and Wrecker can go check us in.”
Wrecker turned slowly, one eyebrow raised.“You brought the damn blender?”
I grinned.“Hell yes, I did.Meg said she was bringing the air fryer, so I offered to bring the blender for poolside drinks.She provides sustenance, I provide booze.”
I looked over at Wendy.“Is there a fancier word for booze provider?”
Wendy laughed.“Uh, bartender?”
“Aren’t we gonna be out doing stuff?”Clash asked, removing his helmet and setting it on his handlebars.“We can get drunk at the bar down the street,” he continued, “eat a cheeseburger from one of the fifty restaurants within a two-mile radius, and then haul our happy, drunk asses back to our rooms.”He looked around.“Am I the only one who had those exact plans for the next seven days?”
Wrecker pushed his sunglasses on top of his head, and my breath caught for a second.That face.That beard.That smirk.The tattoos peeking from the collar of his shirt.The man was literal heat in human form.
“Alice,” Raven snapped her fingers in front of my face.“You’ve been married to the man for years and have three kids with him.Snap the hell out of it.”
I rolled my eyes and swatted her hand away.“Your brother is hot.I told you when I first met you, and I’m telling you again.”
Raven wrinkled her nose.“I don’t remember you telling me that, but I’m sure you did.”
Wrecker shook his head and started toward the office.“I’m going to check us in.You fuckers can check in yourselves.”
Slayer and Clash followed him.
“Uh, do I have a room?”Adley asked, slamming the back door of the van.
“You got money for one?”Slayer shot back.
“Uh, well,” Adley tilted her head.“Yes.”
I narrowed my eyes, not sure I believed her.
