Page 113 of Tourist Trap

"We need six people, and one person is supposed to be under eighteen."

"Jonah?" Helen asks, and I nod. That was who Miles and I already thought would be a good fit after the block party.

"Do you think he'd be interested?"

She gives me aduhlook. "After all the work you two have been putting in to fix his street cred? I think he'd do almost anything for you both." I smile, happy to hear it. "But, Claire, sweetie—" she starts, and I shake my head, knowing what she’s going to say. As head lifeguard, I’m expected to work the event and manage the lifeguards on shift for the games, something that Brad asked about specifically when he contracted the rec department.

"I know. I'm working that day. But that works in our favor too."

Helen raises her eyebrow, but June gasps, already knowing where this is going.

"The Sigma Pi Memorial Day Party," she shouts, and I smile wide.

"Exactly."

"Uh, what was the Sigma whatever party?" Deck asks.

"It was this giant contest between my sorority and one of the frats. Claire wasn't in a sorority, so she wasn't in the competition. She stood on the sidelines and, well, did what she does best," June explains.

Miles looks at me and raises his eyebrows. I lift a shoulder and smile.

"Make a scene," I say, fluttering my eyelashes.

"Why do I feel like I'm not going to like this?" he says low.

"Be a good boy, and let me work my magic," I say with a wink, making Helen laugh aloud. "We're working on finalizing our team, but we're still going to need all of your help, both with general cheering and booing, respectively, and for Project Make a Scene."

"I'm in," says Helen.

"Me too," says June.

"In," Sam says, looking shy, probably because he's afraid Miles is going to come in and be all protective hot guy again. The room becomes an echo ofI'm ins, and I turn to Miles with a wide smile, my eyes watering because of the show of support for him.

"Such a girl," he whispers, pulling me in close and brushing away the tear on my cheek. I press on his chest, but he pulls me in closer. "Thank you, Claire," he whispers for my ears only.

I look up at him, his smile shining down at me when he should be upset or worried or angry. I know then that he meant it, that he's shifted his priorities, that this summer made him see there's more to life than working until you bleed for the far-off possibility of things being good.

And that alone means we already won.

THIRTY-NINE

CLAIRE

"I wish I could help," I say with a sigh as Miles gets dressed in the bedroom attached to the bathroom where I'm doing my makeup.

I lean forward into the mirror, ensuring my sunscreen is completely rubbed in before adding blush, lipstick, and mascara. Usually, I wouldn't bother with the extras for work, but this isn't just a typical day. Today, I'm one of the three lifeguards and first aid members hired by Surf to monitor the beach games event.

"You'll still be there the whole time," he says, and I smile into the mirror.

"Yeah, but it's not the same. I want to kick someone's ass." I know our plan dictates that Ican'tbe on the team, but I wish I could be, all the same.

"I don't know how I'm supposed to focus on the tournament when you're dressed like that," Miles grumbles, walking into the bathroom.

I turn in the mirror, checking the fit of my red bathing suit. I'll admit it's a bit revealing, but it still meets the requirements I've been given. I turn fully to him, then lift my hands up, hooking them over his shoulders and pulling him close.

"That's the point, baby," I whisper against his lips. "You can concentrate, knowing when you get home tonight, I'm all yours. The rest of them? They know they can't have it, so it's just a sweet fantasy of theirs they'll never have."

He shakes his head. "You're diabolical, you know that?" he asks with a smile, his hand dipping below the back of my swim bottoms to cup my ass. "But you'll still be a distraction."

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