“Good. I can’t complain. Teaching first graders keeps me busy. I’m always living my days by my to-do list.”
“Same,” I say.
“That’s cool. Have you seen the ones Eve sells?” Cole turns to me. “You have to-do list notepads, right?”
“Right.” I blush at him peddling my products for me.
“I’ll check them out,” Marie says. “I saw your earrings at Derby Bookshop. My students like the bookmarks.”
“I’m glad.”
Vanessa is the younger and bolder of the pair. She points out their spot while twirling her hair. “You should come hang out with us. We’re over there. If you’re feeling like getting up to some trouble.”
Cole shuts her down. “I’m here with the Lombards, and trouble’s not really my deal anymore.”
“We’ve heard,” Marie muses. “I suppose your wild days of infamy are over. No more getting busted snowboarding through the square hanging off the back of cars or hopping the wall at the ice rink to skate on the open lake.”
“Nope.” He grins reminiscently.
“Are you seeing anyone?” Vanessa asks.
I choke on my drink. It saves him from answering her, at least. As I splutter, he pats my back.
“Are you okay?” His hand lingers, thumb grazing my nape.
“Uh, sorry,” I say hoarsely. “Went down my windpipe. Breathing and drinking at the same time, still haven’t mastered it.”
Jess comes to our rescue when she passes, drawing their attention away from Cole to her baby bump. As we slip away from the conversation, she winks at me. I give her a grateful smile.
My shoulder brushes his arm and he touches the backs of his fingers to mine. I steal a glance at him, rolling my lips between my teeth when I find his attention on me.
“You look pretty,” he murmurs. “I haven’t had a minute alone to tell you yet.”
I tilt my head, peering over the frames of my sunglasses. “You like it because my cleavage is out.”
His dimples appear. “Okay, yes. You got me. I wish I could kiss you right now.”
“Later,” I whisper slyly.
His smoky chuckle makes my stomach dip.
We spend the rest of the afternoon into early evening stealing glances where we can. During dinner, we sit at the picnic tables near the grills with our knees touching out of sight. It’s a miracle we keep it together without anyone looking too closely, though we’ve had months of practice at this point.
When the sun sets, I help Mom gather our trash. Dad lights up a cigar and the guys go with him.
“I’m going to go wipe my hands,” I say when we’re done clearing the picnic table.
“They’re in my bag,” Mom says.
I head back toward our spot on the beach, waving to my friends as they take selfies by the shore before the light fades. I kneel beside Mom’s bag to look for her hand wipes.
Benson’s voice drifts over from the card table we set up before we ate. “I’m glad we’ve got you around to help make sure all these idiots eyeing Eve up stay away.”
Cole’s silent for a beat, then he clears his throat. “What do you mean? She can handle herself.”
“Still need to chase off the chums, you know? Like that limp dick Shawn and the loser we took care of after he toyed with her back in high school, remember? I’m glad Shawn knows not to show his face at events like this.”
“Last I checked, he moved out of town,” Cole says.
