Page 51 of Knockin' Boats
Sawyer carried a plate over and set it in front of me. “You had a rough day. That’s the only reason I’m being cool.”
I peeked up at him from the corner of my eye. “You had to go tell everyone about it too, huh?”
Sawyer shrugged, looking unbothered. “Just looking out for the resort.”
I scowled, but before I could answer, Skylar replied, “The resort will be just fine. It’s Ash I’m concerned about. We don’t want you to burn out from working too hard.”
“You’ve been going at it pretty hard,” Cash said, surprising me. He worked the resort front desk, but we hadn’t spoken more than once or twice. “You prep in the morning, spend all day cooking, then clean up and haul everything back to the resort kitchen for storing at night. It’s alotfor one guy.”
“You’ve been paying a lot of attention,” Sawyer grumbled.
Cash shrugged, a coy smile tugging at his lips. “I see a lot of things from my spot in the lobby. Sometimes I even like what I see.”
He winked at me. Whoa, was he…flirting?
Sawyer huffed and pointed at me. “You, eat your bomb-ass burger you don’t deserve.” He grabbed Cash’s arm. “And you, come with me.”
“Uh-oh,” Cash said, voice full of laughter. “I think I’m in trouble!”
The kid across from me watched them go with wide eyes. “Is Sawyer mad?”
“Is he ever not mad?” I asked.
“Like never. Sawyer is the coolest! He promised to take me wakesurfing with his friends.”
My heart twisted. There was a time I would have been invited, too. I would have been thefirstinvite, the only one that mattered.
Those days were long gone.
“Sounds fun. I haven’t gone in ages, but I loved it when I was younger.”
“We could talk to Sawyer,” Poppy offered. “If you want to come, you could take my spot since I can’t make it. It’s his boat, so I can’t just invite you…”
“Nah, that’s okay. Sawyer doesn’t want me there.”
“Why not?” the kid asked.
I shrugged. “We’re not really friends anymore.”
“Maybe you should become friends again.”
I smiled at his—or her? I couldn’t quite tell with that hairstyle and clothes—innocence.
If only it were that simple, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I’d wanted to be friends again ever since we fell out.
But every time I got close, my big mouth ruined it.
Either with a sarcastic remark or an impulsive kiss.
I was resigned to the fact that I’d never get it right with Sawyer.
No matter how badly I wished I could.
I picked up my burger and took a bite, then nearly choked. “Oh my gaw?—”
“Sawyer’s a bad cook,” Poppy said, sounding fond. “Really,reallybad.”
“His mom is much better,” the kid agreed with a nose wrinkle.
