Page 30 of For the Promise

Paisley’s lips purse. “We did not get kicked out.”

“Sure, you didn’t.” Dakota pats her shoulder while mouthing to me,she totally got kicked out.

“If you two don’t pick an adventure, I will.”

“It’s a beautiful day for the boardwalk,” Dakota offers.

“The boardwalk? How is the boardwalk an adventure?”

She giggles. “You’ll figure out a way to make an adventure of it. I have faith in you.”

I bow to her. “I appreciate your faith in me.”

I herd them toward the door, and soon enough, we’re nearing the boardwalk. It’s less than a five-minute walk from myapartment since I live smackdab in the middle of Smuggler’s Rest, which is pretty much on the ocean.

“What game should we play first?” I ask.

“I didn’t agree to games,” Dakota says.

“What else is there to do?” I motion toward all the gaming halls.

“We could have coffee and you could tell us what’s going on with you and Jaxon.”

Paisley snorts. “She’s not talking unless we play a game. We can’t play balloon dart. Dakota will end up killing someone.”

Dakota glares at her. “I’ve never killed anyone with a dart.”

“But you have caused bloody noses.”

“Now, I want to play balloon dart. Can I pick whose nose you bloody up?” I ask.

Paisley snorts. “I doubt it since she can’t aim.”

“It was an accident,” Dakota insists.

Paisley pats her shoulder. “It’s okay to be accident-prone. Not everyone can have my prowess with darts.”

“Oh, those are fighting words. I bet I can beat you at basketball shootout.” I grin. This is going to be fun.

Paisley rolls her shoulders back. “I accept your bet.”

Dakota pushes her way in between us. “Hold on. You two can play kiddie games as much as you want.AfterBlossom tells us what’s happening with Jaxon. Because the last thing Blossom told me was that she was giving up on him.”

“I did give up on him. There’s nothing happening between us.”

Paisley crosses her arms over her chest. “You’re not attending a wedding together this weekend?”

I gasp. “How do you know?”

Dakota’s gaze ping pongs between me and Paisley. “It’s true? You’re attending a wedding with Jaxon?”

I consider lying. It’s not as if they’re going to be at the wedding.

“Before you make up some bullshit, I already spoke to Terri and she confirmed you were invited to the wedding. She handed the invitation to you herself. While you were standing next to Jaxon.”

I glare at Paisley. “Did you seriously hunt down the resort event planner for gossip?”

“I may have accidentally overheard when Terri phoned Eli and asked what his geeky brother’s name was for the place cards for the wedding this weekend.”

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