Page 82 of Tourist Trap

“Happy to concede to you, baby,” he says, pulling me onto the bench next to him and pressing a chaste kiss to my lips.

“I keep meaning to talk to you about the block party in three weeks, but you’re always bopping from post to post, and I never quite know where to find you,” Helen says.

“You give the assignments, Helen,” I say with a laugh.

“You go above and beyond, filling in wherever you’re needed, and you know it.”

I blush a bit at the praise from my boss.

“You have my number,” I add and she shakes her head.

“No, no, I like to ask favors to people’s faces, get their honest reaction so I can know if they actually mind helping out.”

“I never mind helping you out, Helen. What can I do for you?” I ask, leaning forward onto the table, Miles’s hand resting on my lower back comfortably.

“The block party is in three weeks, and I just can’t handle it all anymore. So much to keep track of and people to contact. Any chance you’d be willing to take on some of the planning? You’d be paid, of course.”

I shake my head.

“No, no, I don’t need the money! But I’d love to, however I can help. I can get a group of the kids, have them ask around and see if they want some volunteer hours. What about donations? Are we covered there? I can go around to local businesses and see what I can get? I know you mentioned a sandcastle contest, do we have prizes lined up?” I ask, my mind reeling and excited.

Helen lets out a loud, belting laugh. “Goodness, I didn’t think you’d be this fired up. But yes, all of that would be great. We can talk details tomorrow, cut your shift short and head to my office an hour early,”

I nod, though I don’t plan to do this on the clock.

“I told you. My mom was the PTO president when I was a kid, so I helped with many events. How about I come in early tomorrow, and we can make a plan? Then in the afternoon I can start making my rounds after my shift and see what businesses might be interested.”

“Paid,” Helen says, glaring at me. “I insist on it being on the clock.”

I shake my head but smile. “We can argue about that tomorrow, yeah? Today is family day.”

The smile she gives me fills me with warmth, and I realize the truth in that statement.

Because that’s what this is.

My little shore family that I never expected to have but am finding I would do anything for.

TWENTY-EIGHT

MILES

The past two weeks have been some of the best of my life, even though tomorrow is my first day off in that whole time. Every night, I spend time with Claire, either just her and me hanging out in bed or on the deck together or with friends, sometimes at the Seabreeze, sometimes at Grant’s place. Last week, we spent the night like tourists, going to the boardwalk to do some rides and then playing in the arcade. I won Claire a giant stuffed animal of a cat that she put in the living room right next to the hermit crab tank she set up not long after her theft.

Now I'm standing in the kitchen a week after our afternoon at the Seabreeze, waiting for Claire to be ready for trivia night, when my phone rings in my hand.

I expect to see a call from Grant or maybe Deck, bitching that we're running late since I texted we'd leave almost twenty minutes ago, but Claire is taking longer than expected, as is her norm. I wonder if I should start changing times, telling her we'll leave at five when we have to be there at five thirty, just so we're on time.

I'm smiling to myself and my thoughts about a future with Claire, but I look at the screen, and my stomach drops.

It's Paul.

All happiness leaves me when I see it, knowing he only calls me when he needs something or if he wants to drop some fucking bomb that is going to ruin my day.

With a deep sigh and a look over my shoulder to see if Claire is in the room yet, I answer and lift the phone to my ear.

"Hey," I say as I instantly begin to pace the kitchen. "How's LA?"

"Did you talk to your lawyer?" my brother asks abruptly, no need for a hello.

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