Paul clears his throat, and I am silently chastised.
“I’m so sorry! This is Paul. He’s my date. I’m with him, and Rosalie’s with Callum. Yep, Rose gets Cal.” I clear my throat. I’m rambling, and I’m not even sure why. When Callum suggested we double, then triple, it sounded like fun. And yet, Callum and Rose on a date is tripping me up a little. She doesn’t even want to be his date—sowhyis it tripping me up? I know what Cal and I are. He’s made it very clear. He hasn’t abused me in any form. Friendship with a capital F. I inwardly sigh.
Paul holds out a hand, bringing me out of my dazed state. “Paul Fender. Silver State Rides. I can get you any car on the lot with two percent off the ticket price.”
Mira nods once emphatically. She’s got it—he doesn’t need to explain more.
“Fran, did you know I sold two cars last week to people who came in because they’d seen our video?” He chuckles and my stomach turns.
“I didn’t. That’s?—”
“Can I ask what you drive?” Paul asks Mira.
But before she can answer, Callum calls out, “Hey, Rosalie!” He waves to my friend who is still next to the car.
Rosalie tugs her jacket on over her sweatshirt and grunts in response.
“Rose doesn’t like the cold,” I tell him.
“It’s seventy-eight degrees,” Zev says, an amused wrinkle forming between his eyes.
I shrug. “She’s from Southern California.”
“It’s always cooler by the water,” Rosalie says, walking up to us.
“Are you good?” Zev asks her.
She nods, but I see that twinkle in her eye. I don’t blame her. Zev is a cutie.
“Is everybody ready?” Zev asks. “We all have enough layers?” He smiles humorously at Rosalie.
“How did you guys meet?” Mira asks me. I’m not sure if she’s referring to Paul or Cal. But I don’t get the chance to decide which story to tell?—
“I saved Fran’s life,” Paul says. “She hasn’t told you?” He tilts to the side slightly, glowering at me.
Mira shakes her head.
“I just met her,” I say. “When would I have told her?”
The scowl disappears from his face, and Paul chuckles as if I’ve told a joke. But I would love for him to answer that question. “Let me set the scene.”
Zev leads the way to the boat. Clearly, he’s done this before.
Paul animatedly tells Mira about me almost getting crushed by a Ford F150—how is that story so entertaining? I slow my walk until I’m next to Rosalie and Cal in the rear.
Callum’s eyes are on the back of Paul’s head. He wrinkles his forehead as pieces of that very entertaining story make their way back to us. Rosalie peers over at me andbounces her brows once. It isn’t playful. No, she is questioning my life choices—again.
It’s a question I am struggling to answer at the moment. But I’ve got a plan—and while I can’t say that my plans never fail me, I can say that my plans are always good ones, and I’m sticking to this plan. Like fresh Velcro stuck to a wool sweater.
I’m nothing if not persistent.
Twenty-One
We’ve beenon the boat twenty minutes—our guide just finished his casting spiel—when Fran’s joker of a date has his phone out, videoing himself. He can’t cast with his phone in one hand, but he’s sure trying.
Zev gives me a knowing glance, and I give it back. Fran may be quirky—even a little wacky like Rosalie said—but she’s truly sweet. She deserves more than this clown. I’ve never seen anyone so obsessed with themselves, and I spend a good amount of time with Lucca Cruz.
Paul huffs in frustration, and the rest of us, all five, look over at him. “This isn’t working. Fran, can you video while I cast?”
