Page 40 of Tourist Trap

“Nothing important,” Benny says, his signature pipe between his teeth bobbing.

Smoking indoors has been illegal in New Jersey for decades now, and even though I don’t think I’ve ever seen the pipe lit, something tells me that Benny doesn't really care about the rules. Besides, there’s no way anyone who frequents this dive would tattle on him.

“So I hear you’re a real local now, workin’ with Helen. Think we can convince you to stay long term?”

I laugh, then shrug. “You know me, Ben. I go where the good times are. Right now, the good times are in Seaside Point.”

“Damn straight they are.” His name is called from across the bar, and he gives me a wave. “I’ll be back, but you save all of the juicy gossip for me, okay?”

I let out a laugh and pat his shoulder. “Of course,” I say.

Lainey watches her dad walk away before leaning on the bar, her face assessing.

“So you’re officially a local,” she says, pouring me a rum and Coke before sliding it my way. “How is all of that going?”

“All of what?”

June glares at me. “Oh, come on. Don’t hold out on us! Living with Miles. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the man enjoy himself, so living with you must be a…change for him.”

I let out a small laugh and shake my head. I want to argue to defend his honor, and that alone should be a red flag.

“I made him a bucket list,” I say with a laugh, “of fun things we have to do this summer because he’s so boring.”

June lets out a loud laugh. “I’m sure he loved that.”

I think about it and smile. “I won him over eventually. He actually woke me up early a few days ago because watching the sunrise was on there, and he wanted to check it off.”

June’s jaw drops, and I realize that it’s been a minute since I’ve had a gabfest with my friends, since we've all been so busy with work.

“You’re kidding,” June says, giving a side eye to Lainey.

I shrug. “I made it because he came up with a list of rules for the house, and they weresoboring, I needed to offset them.”

“Rules?” Lainey asks.

“I’m not allowed to flirt with him. It’s against his rules.”

June lets out a deep belly laugh. “You?” she asks when she catches her breath, and I nod.

“That’s what I said. Flirting with Miles is basically my favorite pastime. He always looks so uncomfortable.”

Lainey and June give each other a knowing look before June rolls her eyes at me.

“That’s because he’s obsessed with you,” June says, and I shake my head. “Always has been.

“No, he is not. He’s alwaystoleratedme. He had to, since Grant is his best friend and June is mine. We’ve been thrown together a lot.”

Both of them give me a side eye like they’re not buying it, and if I’m being honest, I don’t even know ifI’mbuying it anymore.

“You should go for it,” she says. “I bet he would beamazing?—”

“What are we talking about?” Grant says, walking up to us at the bar. June’s eyes go wide, and I give her similarshut the fuck upeyes.

“Nothing,” Lainey says.

“Sex,” June says.

“Periods,” I say at the same time. The three of us all start laughing, and Grant gives us a look like he thinks we’ve finally cracked before shaking his head. In an effort to change the subject before things get weird as fuck, I look around.

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