Page 103 of Save Me
“You’re moving the fire pit.”
“Figured I’d do it while Sloane’s not here, seeing as it’d break her heart to watch.”
I study the pile of soot-coated rocks. This pit’s been in that exact spot for decades, Sloane said last night. Home to gatherings every night of each high season. Countless memories formed.
If I’m learning anything about Sloane, it’s that she values tradition and family—both blood and found—above all else.
He lugs it over, dropping it next to the others. I hadn’t noticed the orange spray paint before, with lines markingthe new pit’s location and whatever else he has planned. He’s marked x’s in the sand around it. I assume to gauge space for chairs.
“Not like we have a choice, unless we want to pay five hundred bucks a day every time your general manager reports us.”
“She’s not my GM anymore.” Which reminds me, I need to grab that ticket off the kitchen counter. I did get a few fat paychecks. The least I can do is cover it while I still can. “I heard there’s been some activity on the other side of the fence? Reporters and things?”
A slow grating sound carries. So, King Kongcanlaugh. “You should’ve heard the sound that commissioner lady made. Thought she was gonna drop dead.”
“Yeah, that one thinks she’s doing the Lord’s work.”
Frank heads back over to the old pit, where Ralph pecks at scurrying ants, their homes disturbed.
I follow him and collect a few of the smaller stones.
“The mayor tried scaling the chain-link,” Frank goes on, hauling another hefty boulder. “Just after Sloane left.”
That makes me chuckle. “What was he gonna do? Climb the tree?” The guy is, like, five foot three. I’m over six feet tall, and I stood on my tiptoes on top of that wobbly ladder to tie those sheets up there. In the fucking dark. If I never see a ladder again, it’ll be too soon.
“I don’t know what he thought he was doing, but when he noticed me there, he slipped and got his pants caught on the chain.” The ground indents as Frank drops the rock into the sand. “Basically hung himself on his balls.”
I wince at the visual. But wait— “He missedyousitting there?”
“I got it all on video.”
“You’re kidding me.”
Frank gives me a look. I doubt the guy knows how to kid.
“Do me a favor and text it to me. It could be useful.” I doubt Wilson wants a video like that going viral on social media, which is where it belongs.
“Yeah.” He rolls his shoulders against the strain of his labor. “I told Sloane about the new harborfront. And the new road.”
“What?When?” My anger flares. I didn’t tell Frank sohecould be the one to deliver that news. I wanted his advice.Ishould have been the one to tell her.
I guess Sloane and I are even, then.
“This morning, right after you left. She’s got a lot going on right now, and she needed to see the full picture so she can make the right decisions for her.”
Abbi basically said the same thing to me. “You mean, because she’s pregnant?”
He pauses mid-reach. “Who told you that?”
“NotSloane. When’d she tell you?” I don’t know why it bothers me that he knew before me, but it does.
“She didn’t. I figured it out ’cause I know her, and I’m not an idiot.”
I roll my eyes at his dig. “Is she gonna keep it?”
“You need to ask her that.”
“That’s why I came here. To talk to her.”
