Page 18 of Sticking Around

I consider that for a moment. I don’t have much to do today, other than rest up for conditioning on Monday. “Okay, I have a plan.”

One brow raises. “You do? I told you?—”

I sidestep a nearly washed-out sandcastle, and maneuver her with me. “I’m going to take some things off your hands.”

Her steps slow. “Why would you do that?”

Why the heck does she seem surprised? Christ, I know the work that goes into succeeding and it’s easy to tell she’s struggling to do it all. “To help you out so you can study. When you take a break, I have some ideas on how I can help you relax.”

Her brows pull together, and I tug her too me as a wayward football nearly hits her. “Why would you do that? What do you want in return?”

“Can’t a guy help a girl out without wanting anything in return.” Her gaze drops to her feet as she walks and my chest tightens. “Hey,” I say to bring her attention back to me.

“I just…I don’t know why you would do that.” I brush my thumb over the soft skin on her wrist. “Wait, I guess I do,” she says, snorting out a laugh. “Sex.”

Jesus, has no one ever helped her out before? Does she always expect tit for tat? “Lanie…” Before I can say anything, a man selling hats on the beach approaches.

“Hat?” he asks, holding a long stack out to us. “Pretty lady, I have just the hat for you.” He drops a pink sun hat onto her head, and she removes it quickly.

“No thanks.”

“Lady, I’ll give you a good deal.”

She shakes her head no, and when he’s about to protest, I put my hand out to stop him from dropping it back onto her head.

“No, we’re good,” I tell him, just as another man, one who looks to be in his mid-fifties, no doubt a guest at the resort, comes racing over. He’s breathless, practically panting by the time he reaches us.

“I’ll take one, actually. Mine blew away yesterday.” He reaches into the front of his bathing suit, and curses under his breath. “I had cash, it must have fallen out when I went swimming. I seem to be losing everything lately.” As he speaks, I smell hard liquor on his breath, and who am I to judge. The man is on vacation, and can drink what he wants, but that’s probably why he’s losing things.

He jerks his thumb over his shoulder. “I have to run back to my room. Can you wait?” He’s about to turn, only to stop and curse. “Dammit, the wife is still sleeping and I don’t want to wake her. Will you be back tomorrow?” The man swipes his hand over his balding head, burning in the morning sun.

“You need a hat today, my friend,” the vendor says.

The guest turns to me, an almost pleading look on his face. “You wouldn’t happen to have a twenty on you that I can borrow, would you?”

“Yeah, actually I do.” Melanie’s eyes go wide as I reach into my swimsuit and explain. “I was going to grab us bagels after my swim.”

She shakes her head. “Brady,” she murmurs, under her breath, but it’s still loud enough for everyone to hear. “You can’t give him money.”

“I’ll pay him back. I promise,” the guy assures me, and I nod. When he narrows his eyes, I pull my ball cap down lower. I love my fans. I really do. Some days, however, I just want to be anonymous.

“Wait, are you…”

“Here you go,” I say and hand over the cash.

“Thanks, man. Are you staying here?”

“Yeah,” is all I say.

“Where can I find you?”

I glance at Melanie. “Tonight. Rooftop bar.”

The guy hands the vendor the money and plops a new hat on his head. “Great, see you there.”

We start walking again, and I stare at the seagulls flying overhead, circling a young boy eating a donut. I can feel Melanie’s eyes on me as we walk toward the house. “What?” I ask.

“Why did you give him money? He’s not going to pay you back.”

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