Page 72 of Resting Beach Face
“Hudson’s not here?” I asked.
“He’s hanging out with Declan tonight,” Fisher said. “Which I guess explains why you’re here and not at the B&B like every other night.”
I shrugged. “Gray’s got a booze cruise, and we’re not really in a place to start the next project without him. Declan told me to take the night off.”
I would have gladly spent my night off with Declan, cuddled up together on his couch—where we’d landed three out of the last five nights I’d worked at the B&B—but he’d told me he had plans.
The camper door opened and Sawyer came out with a cooler full of drinks. His neighbor kid Shua followed with a bowl of potato salad, which they put in the center of the table.
Tonight, Shua was wearing a ballcap paired with overalls and a frilly pink shirt. I couldn’t have assigned a gender to that outfit even if I wanted to, and given that Shua was nonbinary, that was as it should be.
“Hey!” Shua’s gaze landed on Katelyn. My sister was a few years older than them, but still much closer in age than the rest of us. “Wanna see my turtle?”
“Uh.” Kate glanced sidelong at me.
“It’s an actual turtle,” I said with a laugh. “Shua adopted it.”
She shrugged. “Okay, sure.”
She stood up, and as she and Shua passed by Ash, I heard her say, “I love your tacos at the food boat!”
Ash’s pained smile made me laugh. Sawyer shook his head. “He’s going to love that.”
I grinned. “I know.”
“You’re nothing but trouble,” Sawyer said, obviously clueing in that I’d put her up to it.
“She also thinks Ash is cute.”
He rolled his eyes and took a seat. “I’m not taking your bait tonight. My man isveryhappy with me.”
“Good,” I said, “because I never want you to kiss me again.”
Fisher choked on his beer, spluttering. Poppy hid her smile, while Brooks and Sky laughed.
Sawyer glared. “The feeling is mutual, asshole.”
Brooks took a drink of his beer, then asked, “So, what’s going on with you and Declan? You’re spending a lot of time over there.”
“It’s a big project,” I said. “I only have so much time around my resort hours and when I need to be at home for Kat.”
He nodded. “Sure. But is that the only reason?”
All my friends were staring at me now. I cursed under my breath. “This isn’t one of those frienderventions, is it? Because I’m fine.”
Sawyer snorted. “Exactly what I said when you all cornered me.”
“And me,” Fisher added.
“Hey, how come Brooks never got a friendervention?” I asked, hoping to deflect the attention away from me.
Brooks grinned. “Because I didn’t go through denial like the rest of you idiots. I wasn’t about to hide from my feelings for Skylar.”
“Aw.” I pantomimed gagging. “So cute.”
“You’re just jealous,” Brooks said.
“Damn right. Skylar is hot.”
