Page 42 of Cruel Summer

Anyway, she’d never untangled Logan within herself. She wasn’t about to do it this way, to two other people.

She and Logan had gotten two singles that were at opposite ends of the building from each other, and while Logan had gone to the room to take a nap, she’d opted to head out and explore the town.

She’d wandered around the historic part of town, enjoying the red brick and cheerful bunting draped over the railings of the old buildings. She’d gotten some very good chips and salsa, a mediocre burrito and a kitschy knitted burro she most certainly didn’t need.

Then she’d gone back to the motel room and had chosen a dress for the evening, and had considered texting Logan and asking if he wanted dinner.

Then she’d walked down the walkway between their rooms and knocked on his door, to no answer. She’d decided against figuring out his whereabouts since he’d just mentioned the occasional debauchery.

The car was gone.

It occurred to her, for the very first time, that Logan might…he might have appetites that were such he would be hooking up on this trip.

Now that she’d considered that as a possibility, she couldn’t get it out of her head.

For God’s sake. Was she doomed to be beset by men and their base urges?

She didn’t have the patience for it. Was he like…in some other woman’s hotel room? Or out at a bar? Was she going to have to concern herself with traffic control when approaching his motel rooms?

These were questions which annoyed her.

She walked back into the part of town she’d already been to and found a restaurant with a big outdoor seating area with lights overhead, and pink flowers growing over the trellis. There was a live band playing mariachi, and she was moved to a small outdoor table with two chairs near the music.

She ordered a margarita—which she never did—and watched people dancing and laughing, totally absorbed in the atmosphere until a man’s voice broke through her thoughtless haze.

At first she thought it was the waiter and looked up, surprised instead by a man with blond hair and a blue button-up shirt.

“I’m sorry, I noticed you were alone.”

“Yes,” she said, nodding and wondering if this was the stranger danger she’d been warned about for most of her life.

Cover your drink.

Tell him your husband is in the bathroom.

Tell him you have a concealed carry permit.

She looked at her drink, and kept her eyes fixed on it for a long moment before looking back at him.

“I was wondering if you might like some company. I’m alone too.”

She had no idea what to do. She’d never been in this situation before.

She’d been with Will since she was sixteen. Not single from the moment things like this might have actually started happening to her. She never traveled alone. She was always with her husband, a group of friends or her kids.

“I’m notalone, alone. Just so you know,” she said. “If I don’t go back to the motel tonight, my friend will send out a search party.” She held her arms out. “He’s very big.”

He laughed. “Okay, point taken. You can’t be too careful, I guess.”

“No.” She wasn’t sure she wanted him to leave, though. “You can sit. For a bit. I just wanted to lay out expectations.”

He smiled. “I’m Jonathan.”

“Samantha.”

Then she reached into her purse and grabbed her phone, sending Logan a very quick text.I’m at Casa De Flores, no need to come by just wanted to give you my location.She tucked the phone quickly away again.

“Nice to meet you, Samantha.”

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