“Oops, sorry,” she says, turning around while flipping dark hair over a shoulder.
Holy crap. I know her—or who she is, anyway. Bunny Perera. The Golden Academy girl that Lucky is rumored to have knocked up a few months ago. If she ever was pregnant, she’s not anymore. The sliver of brown skin that peeks beneath her summery shirt is far flatter and fitter than mine.
I smile, a little nervous. Bunny’s not just the Girl Who Got Pregnant. Her father is ambassador to Sri Lanka, and her mother’s family owns a chain of hotels in South Asia. They helped finance a big renovation of the Beauty Yacht Club last year.
“Um, hi … Bunny?” I say.
“Evie’s cousin, right?” she says, cradling her phone.
I nod, unsure of what to say. “Josie. Saint-Martin. My mom is, uh, managing Siren’s Book Nook while my grandma’s in Nepal with, uh, Evie’s mom.” Ugh. So awkward.
“Yeah, I heard about that. And about your trip to the police station with Lucky after Adrian’s party,” she says, gold bracelets clinking as she languidly swipes on her phone, watching the screen between glances at me. “Definitely started the summer off with a bang.”
I manage a weak smile. “Uh, yeah. You could say that.”
“Hey, I’ve been where you are right now,” she says, smiling back sympathetically.
“Umm … ?”
“The town gossiping about you.”
“Oh,” I say. “It’s fine. I think Lucky got the brunt of it.”
“He’s got a habit of doing that. Sometimes I think he’s gota savior complex or something. By the way, I hope it works out between you two. He deserves some happiness.”
Wait, what? I glance around, shuffling forward when the line moves, and say in a low voice, “Um, think you have the wrong idea. Lucky and I aren’t a thing. In case you still had, uh, feelings or an attachment, or, I mean, I don’t know what your situation is.…”
Her brow furrows, then she says, “No, no.You’vegot the wrong idea. I guess he didn’t tell you, huh? He’s just a friend. We were never together.”
“You and Lucky … ?”
“It wasn’t his,” she says simply, shaking her head. “Lucky’s dad does upkeep on my family’s yacht, and that’s how I know him. That’s the thing about this town and rumors. They may be based on things people have witnessed, but assumptions get made, and sometimes those assumptions are dead wrong. Like, for instance, you say that you and Lucky aren’t a thing, but everyone saw you getting arrested together—”
“That was coincidence,” I insist. “He just happened to be at that party, and when I left … It’s a long story.”
“See? Same. Lucky’s been nothing but kind to me, which is more than I can say for other people.”
She steps forward when the line moves, then says, “Lucky is flat-out one of the sweetest guys I know. People have said shit about him for years, and I’m not saying he’s an angel, but for what it’s worth, he’s a genuinely decent guy and a good friend.”
I’m a little bowled over by her earnest endorsement … and by everything she’s just told me. Not sure if relief is the right word, but I mull it over as Bunny steps up to the counter, orders, and leaves with a bag of green apple fritters, mouthing words of encouragement that I initially mistake as “Good Lucky.”
And was he?Good, I mean? She made him sound as if he’s a paragon of manners—a cherubic choirboy, humble and full of grace.Savior complex.Maybe that’s the only reason he took the fall for me … because he’s addicted to helping old ladies cross the street, and I’m just another person for him to save.
Nope. Don’t buy it. He’s hiding something, and he’s lying to his family about saving my ass. He let them think he broke the window, just like I let my mom think he did it.
I did it to avoid trouble.
Maybe he did it toattracttrouble.…
Because, now that I’m thinking about it, Bunny’s whole rainbows-and-glitter endorsement of Lucky’s overall wholesome goodnessdoesmake me question all the other rumors about him. Like,allof them. If he isn’t the reprobate that I once assumed him to be, and if our trip to the police station wasn’t just another notch in his notoriety …
Then maybe he isn’t really the bad boy.
What if he’s onlytryingto be bad?
What if he’s ruining his reputation on purpose?
SUNSET CHARTERS! FISHING—SIGHTSEEING—HISTORIC HARBOR TOURS—ROMANTIC CRUISES—CASH UPFRONT—NO REFUNDS: Metal sign by Goodly Pier advertising a pay-by-the-hour boat charter service that ferries tourists around the harbor.(Personal photo/Josephine Saint-Martin)
