“Enjoying the books?”
I sighed and, with what I was sure was a pinched expression, answered her. “I am, thank you.”
“Good, good. Well, you have a nice afternoon.”
Quickly, I entered the shop before someone else could corner me and start asking me questions. Sam and that girl Natalie were at the counter. It wasn’t busy, but I imagined as the weather got cooler, fewer and fewer people would venture out for a cold treat.
“Hey, Lukas.” Sam smiled as I approached.
“Hello, Sam…Natalie.”
“Oh, you know my name.” She lightly smacked Sam on the arm. “He knows my name.” She was being sarcastic…Not annoying at all.
“I do.” I looked around the shop. “Nice and quiet today.”
Sam nodded. “Yeah, colder weather, but mainly the storm coming in.” He rubbed his forearms. “I can feel it in my bones.”
He seemed too young to feel anything in his bones, but whatever. “Yes, I suspect it’ll be a wicked one.”
Natalie giggled. “I love thunderstorms. What about you, Lukas?”
I’d seen way too many in my existence. I’d also seen the horrors resulting from storms, so my appreciation was tainted.
“They’re fine.”
“I bet you get an amazing show on that island of yours.” Sam’s eyes lit up, and a very stupid idea came to my mind.
By stupid, I meant that my brain forcibly opened my mouth and vomited out the words, “You’re welcome to come and view it.”
His eyes widened. “What? For real, like today…tonight?”
This was a nightmare. “Well, you’re working, so?—”
“Oh, I can close up. Sam, you totally should not miss the opportunity to visit Lancaster Island!” Natalie winked at Sam.
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t mean to interrupt this riveting discussion of what Sam should do, but I’d like ice cream before I leave.”
“Oh yeah, of course. What’ll it be?” Sam asked.
“Just some vanilla with rainbow sprinkles in a large sundae size.”
“You got it.”
After he walked away, I glanced over at Natalie, who was…glaring at me.
She leaned closer and, in a volume Sam wouldn’t be able to hear, threatened me. “Don’t be a jerk to him, Lukas. Sam has had a rough life, and very few great things have happened for him, but going to that island during a thunderstorm is on his bucket list. Ruin it for him, and I will make your time here in Brookridge worse than the seventh circle of Hell, understand?”
My brows rose. She was a firecracker—I hadn’t seen that coming. “I’ll be respectful, Natalie. You can retract your claws.”
“You better be.”
“Here you are.” Sam handed me my ice cream, and a small frown appeared on his face as he looked from me to Natalie. “What did you do?”
She pressed a palm to her chest. “Moi?”
He faced me. “Don’t listen to her. She never did get that brain scan we all begged her to get. I suspect she fell on her head a few times, loosened up her common sense and filter operations.”
