Page 94 of Tourist Trap

I want to be mad.

Really, I do. It would be easy.

But instead, my insides are melting. Instead, Miles is smiling wide like he knows he caught me, and he looks so happy and carefree; I can't find it in me to be mad.

How could I possibly be mad right now? Miles Miller just told my sister he wants to marry me.

I turn my glare to my traitor of a sister.

"It wouldn't be ugly," I say.

"It will probably be something that Sophie will find very pretty," my sister says in a way I know is meant to be underhanded, but I take it as a compliment.

"Sophie hasgreattaste," I say.

"She's six," Sutton deadpans.

"And?" Sloane rolls her eyes.

"I see the sass runs in the family," Miles says under his breath, and I smack his arm, but when he puts it around me and tucks me into his side, I can't do much more than melt into him.

Two hours later, Nate and Jules are already out of here, probably off to enjoy a kid-free night, and Sloane asked them to take her home on the way because she had an early morning. I sit blissfully tipsy with Ava and Sutton, and Miles sits next to me but talks with the guys about random things, and a sense of utter joy washes through me at him sliding so easily into my Evergreen Park life.

"How is everything going? How's the house?" I ask Ava. The last time I saw her, she was just doing the finishing decor touches on the house she and Jaime bought and renovated.

"Amazing! We're all settled in."

"And Peach?" I ask of her beloved cat.

She rolls her eyes and lets out a sigh. "Great, except Jaime wouldn't let me bring her tonight."

I roll my lips between my teeth as Jaime overhears, turning his head to his wife.

"Ava, we can't bring a cat to the bar."

"Says who?" she asks, tipping her head at him like she doesn't believe him.

"Says everyone," he grumbles.

"We have hermit crabs," I say, turning to Miles. "Our little shell babies, right babe?"

He glares at me, but I know he loves them as much as I do. I always catch him putting a bit extra food in when he thinks I’m not looking.

"Hermit crabs? Oh my god, how cute!" Ava says, clapping.

Sutton looks at me, always knowing there is more to whatever random story I have.

"They're rescues," I say with a serene smile, and Ava gasps, holding a hand to her chest as if I adopted a whole-ass child instead of a few crabs.

Jaime, on the other hand, is rightfully skeptical. "How does one rescue a hermit crab?"

"When she says rescue, she meansshe stole themwhen the shop owner wasn't looking," Miles adds, and I elbow him in the side.

Jaime gives an unsure look, and Ava's eyes go wide.

"Typical Claire," Sutton sighs, and I glare at my sister.

"They were being mistreated," I explain, throwing my hands into the air. "They were left outside all night long!"

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