“ID.”
“I need to see if my sister is here.” Caleb held up his license to the man’s flashlight.
“Who’s your sister?”
“Cassidy Ransom. Blond. Blue eyes. Probably wearing too few clothes.”
The man grinned. “Cassidy is your sister? She’s hot. And spunky.”
“Dude, she’s my sister.”
“What do you want with her?”
“Dude, she’s my sister.”
Bouncer stared at him a second, then pointed inside. “You’ve got five minutes, then I’m tossing you out.”
Perfect. He found Cassidy dressed in a black tank and cut-off jean shorts, with an apron around her middle, carrying a tray of beer to a table of flyboys. She worked here?
As she set down their longnecks, she flirted with each one, leaning into the tallest of them until he went for kiss. Then she backed away, flirt-laughing.
When she headed to the bar, Caleb stepped into her view. Startled, she dropped her tray and hissed, “What are you doing here?”
“I think the question is, what are you doing here? You’re not old enough to serve drinks.”
“Will you be quiet?” She jerked on his arm, and the bartender came to see if everything was all right. “Dante, this is ... my cousin. Fred.”
Dante gave Caleb the once-over, grunted, and walked off.
“Fred? Your cousin?”
“You’re embarrassing me.” Something in the bar caught her attention. Caleb turned to see a couple of West End football coaches sauntering in—Sanchez and Martindale.
“Figures West End coaches would hang out at a dive like this,” Caleb scoffed. “Spill drinks on them. They’re the enemy.”
“They’re not my enemy, and they’re good tippers.”
“Even though they know you’re a Nickle High girl?”
“Oh grow up. They’re men, not boys. By the way, everyone knows it was a bunch of Nickle Eagles who trashed the Panthers’ field.”
Caleb caught her arm. “Don’t say a word.”
“Why shouldn’t I? Were you there? Oh my gosh, you were. Ha! Wait until I—”
“Cass, come on.”
“Fine. I’ll keep your secret if you keep mine. Don’t tell Mom and Dad I’m here.”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
She turned back to the bar. “Dante, let me take five.” Cassidy leaned toward another curvy server with a sleeve of tattoos. “Posey? I’ll be right back. Save the coaches’ table for me.” She shoved Caleb through the kitchen’s double doors, then out the back, down a rickety ramp, and across the road to the marina. “Who told you I was here? Allison? She’s such a—”
“I figured it out on my own. Mom and Dad are worried. They called the police. I just wanted to know you’re all right.”
“Well?” She held her arms out to her side, standing stiff as a board in the amber streetlight. “What do you think? I’m fine. More than fine. And could you please tell Mom and Dad tostop asking people about me? Allison said they’ve stopped by her house three times, and Dad called Dave twice.” Dave was Shift’s older brother. Cassidy went to prom with him.
“You don’t get it, do you? They’reworriedabout you. What is going on with you?”
