Page 117 of The Promise Of You

He strokes my arm. “I guess not.” Then, after a beat, “Ready to go?”

I shake my head and laugh. “No!” But still stand up, stretch, and shake the sand off my towel.

Justin whistles softly for Moose. “Did they come and visit you here yet?”

“Who? My parents? Mom came the day of the fair, with my aunt and Brendan—my cousin.”

“Not your dad?”

“He’s too busy for that kind of stuff. Plus, he didn’t like Uncle Kevin, and I think he’s sort of pissed that I’m working at the restaurant.”

Justin stops what he’s doing. “He didn’t like Murphy?”

“Called him a loser all the time.”

He seems genuinely puzzled. “Wasn’t he your mom’s brother?”

I plop my sunglasses on and grab my sandals in one hand, my tote bag in the other. “Yup. Welcome to the family!”

“I—I don’t understand,” he mumbles.

“Trust me, don’t try.”

thirty-five

Justin

“How’s that?” Two days later, I’m holding the tiny camera inside the hollow of a tree in the parking lot. From that angle, we’re catching the restaurant back door and the parking lot.

“Great,” Chloe says, focusing on the image on my phone. “Can’t believe how clear the image is.”

“Can you see the license plate?” Chloe parked where I saw Samuel’s car that night. Close to the door. The back facing the camera. Perfect.

“Super clear,” she confirms. “Will it work at night?”

“It does. Plus, lights come on when there’s movement. That’ll help.” I drill a small hole in the inside of the tree trunk and attach the camera. “Let’s just hope squirrels don’t shit on it.”

“Oh man.”

“Just kidding. They won’t.” They might, though, but this is the best hiding spot I found for the camera, so I’m going to chance it.

Right as we’re wrapping up, Chris rounds the parking lot, surprising us both. “I thought I saw lights at your place. What you guys doing outside so early?”

“Nothing,” Chloe answers quickly. “Just hanging.”

Chris’s eyes dart from her to me, and he lifts a paper bag. “Perfect timing. I brought croissants.”

I wipe my hands on my jeans. “Where’s Alex?”

“She’s on a Zoom call with Europe.”

I tilt my chin to my apartment. “Coffee?”

He eyes Chloe. “Oh wow. A legit invitation? Sure. Don’t mean to interrupt… whatever it is you’re doing.”

I wrap my arm around Clover. “Come here.” Nibbling her ear as we climb the outside stairs leading to my apartment, I whisper, “it’s alright.” We’d decided not to tell anyone—and I mean no one—about our suspicions and the fact we’re installing a camera to catch Samuel in the act. We don’t want to compromise an easy solution to Chloe’s problems just because someone let something slip, however innocently.

“How d’you like your coffee?” Chloe asks Chris, and god—god—I fucking love that she’s so comfortable with my best friend, but even more, I love that she acts like this is her place.

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