Page 45 of As a Last Resort
I stared at her.I had no idea what she was talking about.
“What?I looked up some pirate lingo.Don’t be a hater.”She fist-bumped Lexi.
My cheeks tingled from where she touched them.
“On a more serious note,” Sam piped in, “thank you, Lexi.This was a perfect distraction to what was supposed to be a swift kick back into reality for me.And honestly, the course wouldn’t be that bad if it underwent a few cosmetic changes.”
“And a change of ownership,” Lexi added.
“It would be cute with a little diner or soda shop attached to it.Oh!And a little gelato hut.”
Back in the day, it was packed with families on the weekend.It was the most fun a kid could have without getting into too much trouble.
Sam chewed on her bottom lip, the same habit Lexi had when she was deep in thought.
“Not sure I love the pirate theme, or Creepy Pirate Guy running it, but something more native to the island could work really well.Like coastal, but chic, upscale coastal.And no starfish.”
Rex piped in.“Alexandra was telling me what you do for work.It sounds pretty fun.”
“It is.I love reimagining places.”Sam’s face lit up as her foot jiggled under the table.“It’s crazy this land sat here for years undeveloped.Usually I work with places that are already established butout of date and not pulling in revenue for the city like they used to.But this one here is from the ground up, so I get to pitch whatever I want.”
They continued to talk about her work for a little, brainstorming Putt-Putt golf course themes and ideas from starships to an underwater bubble.It didn’t surprise me that Sam and Rex got along.Rex could get along with anyone.But this relaxed and casual Sam was fun and flirty, and felt like she belonged so easily.
She was still trouble, but now, a different kind of trouble.
“Not that I want to turn it into some crazy tourist trap or anything,” Sam continued, “but there’s a lot of potential.”
“Well, the crazies on the town board wouldn’t let you get away with that anyway, but when the time comes, we can help pay them off for you.”Lexi giggled into her drink.
“Town board?”
Only the complete bane of my existence.“Just a group of retired busybodies who take rules way too seriously,” I explained.“They banded together a few years ago and now God forbid anyone do anything without their approval.”
Lexi jumped in.“They’ve got their panties in a wad about Austin’s request for extended hours at the marina.There’s a meeting tomorrow he has to attend.You should go.It’ll be good for your research to see what everyone’s doing around here.”
“Tryingto do around here,” I corrected.
“I can’t.I’ve got a team video meeting in the morning.”
“Perfect,” I said.“The seashell mafia convenes at three p.m.Buckle up.And bring snacks.”
A lot had changed on the island.It wasn’t the same place as when she’d left.“So what’s your initial diagnosis?”I asked.“Is our little island doomed or are we the next Disneyland?”
“Doomed.”She bit her glass again and stared at me over the rim.“For sure.”
Three rounds of darts and four pints later, a giggling Sam was trying to crawl into my truck.Lexi jumped in with Rex, and I was stuck with a woman I didn’t exactly hate.Who was still in my work shirt.
“It’d be easier to get in the truck with your heels off.”
Her foot slipped off the running board and back onto the ground.“I don’t want to take off my shoes.”
“Clearly.The horror.”
She gave me an amused look.I was beginning to keep these little expressions in my pocket, trying to figure out ways to make her laugh or smile.
“Take me home, Capt’n,” she sang as I hoisted her up on the passenger side.A vision of me lifting my oversized work shirt over her head crashed into me without warning.
“Austin?”She sat looking at me, her mouth barely open.
