Page 18 of The Love In Sunsets

She veered across the street when traffic cleared and walked into the arcade, another place she used to frequent when she lived here. At the counter, she asked for Claude, the owner.

“He’s in the office. Let me get him.”

Claude Stevenson was a pillar in the community. Any time a teen needed a job, he always offered one at the arcade. Every local flocked there on the weekends, returning the favor in kind. If it wasn’t for the way Claude treated the youth in the area, the place would probably shutter because of the changing times.

The young kid working the prize counter left Eloise there and returned a few minutes later with a senior man. Eloise’s smile beamed when Claude recognized her. The years had been kind to him. He still resembled Santa Claus in her mind.

“Eloise!” He held his arms out for a hug. “When did you get back?”

“A couple of days ago,” she told him. “I’m staying with my aunt.”

“I saw Margaux a few weeks back at the grocery store. She didn’t say anything.”

“Must’ve slipped her mind. How are you?” Eloise held his hands in hers. “How’s business?”

“I’m good. Business is . . .” He trailed off. “Virtual reality hurts. No one wants to play these old carnival games.”

“Well, I do,” she told him. “And I’ll make sure Tidal rounds up a few of us that are home this summer and we’ll come down.”

Claude let out a big belly laugh. “Oh, the ruckus.”

“It’ll be worth it. I promise.”

“You’re too kind.”

“You've always been good to me. It's the least I can do,” she said as she gave Claude's arm a gentle squeeze. Losing her grandfather reminded her of how precious life was and being back in town made her want to visit her old stomping grounds.

“Stop in anytime, kiddo. Games are on the house.” Eloise would never accept free games from Claude. Honestly, she didn't know anyone who would.

“I'll be back with my crew,” she told him. They hugged and Eloise exited back onto the busy sidewalk. She inhaled deeply and fought a wave of emotion. She hadn't wanted to leave, but then, after she did, Eloise never really thought of coming back until now.

Eloise weaved her way through the crowd of people until she came to the Sea Shanty. Loud music blared from inside and the line to get in stretched halfway down the sidewalk.

“Things sure have changed,” she surmised as she went to the end of the line. She hadn't planned for this in her earlier scheming, and she wasn't sure if waiting to get inside was her thing.

When she came to one of the windows, she rose onto her toes to look inside. The tint hindered her from seeing if Kiel or anyone else she knew was in there.

Thankfully, the line moved rather quickly. When it was almost her turn to go in, she pulled her ID out of her wallet.

“Fifteen,” the big burly man at the door said.

“I'm a resident,” she told him.

He shook his head, which only confused her.

“Since when do you charge residents?”

“For as long as I've been working here. You going in?”

It wasn't that Eloise didn't want to pay—she didn't want to pay if she wasn't going to stay. If Kiel wasn't inside, there wasn't a reason for her to hang out when she could go look for her friends.

“Um . . . Is it okay if I go in and look for someone quickly? If he's here, I'll come right back and pay.”

The bouncer apprised her for a long moment, and then he finally nodded. “You have five minutes, and then I'm coming in after you.”

Eloise stepped inside and scanned the area. She stood on her toes, ducked under people, and went to the corner to see the entire crowd. If Kiel was in there, she didn't see him. As the clock ticked down, she accepted she didn't see anyone she knew, let alone the one she sought.

With what she thought to be a minute to spare, she made her way to the entrance. “Thanks for letting me look around.”

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