He looks at me, stunned. “What’s your problem?”
“Myproblem?! God, you’re such a dick.”
“I—”
“Not that it’s any of your fucking business, but I use plastic water bottles because the tap water in my trailer isn’t safe to drink. Food stamps don’t cover filtration systems,” I hiss.
Hunter doesn’t say anything. His throat bobs.
I jab a finger into his chest. “And my gas-guzzling truck? My dead uncle left it to me. Unlike you, I can’t afford a brand-new EV.”
His eyes flicker across my face, nervous. There’s a significant height difference between us, and I’m towering above him. I would never hurt him, but I can see he doesn’t know that.
He opens his mouth to speak, but I don’t give him the chance as I march back to the beach.
So much for a peaceful lunch break.
***
Later that night, after I finish my closing shift at Beachside Burgers, I drag myself home and immediately notice something’s off. When I pass by Mom’s room, her bed is empty, and she’s nowhere to be found.
I blink at the stillness.
Mom does this from time to time—disappears without a trace for several days, or sometimes even weeks. She’s probably getting shitfaced at a bar somewhere. I don’t worry about her anymore. Mom is notoriously invincible, like a cockroach.
Maddie corners me as soon as I slip off my jacket. She demands a ride to her friend’s house for a sleepover. I’m exhausted after atwelve-hour day split between lifeguarding and washing dishes, but I don’t say no.
I drive her across town in silence, nodding along as she rambles about something her friend said at lunch.
When I get back, I park in front of the trailer and just sit there for a second. It hits me—I have the place to myself. This almost never happens.
I text Aliyah.
An hour later, she’s in my bedroom, perched beside me on the bed. The window’s cracked open, and we’re passing a joint between us. I don’t smoke when Maddie’s home, so this feels rare and indulgent. The night air slips through the screen, cool against my skin.
Aliyah takes a drag and exhales slowly. She passes the joint back to me, and I notice a smudge of her lipstick on the paper. I raise the joint and inhale, my eyes gently fluttering shut. When I breathe out, I sputter and pound my fist into my chest, coughing.
Aliyah chuckles. “Slow down, buddy.”
I flip her off, still coughing.
Aliyah’s phone buzzes. She glances at the screen, and her lips curl into a soft smile. I recognize that expression anywhere. I narrow my eyes at her suspiciously.
“Who’s the lucky fella? Or is it a lucky lady?”
Aliyah quickly sets her phone aside. “It’s nobody.”
I tilt my head doubtfully. “Uh-huh. C’mon, spill. I might be pathetically single, but I can still live vicariously through your love life.”
Aliyah sighs. “It’s Cam.”
“From the bar?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, shit. I didn’t know you were still talking to her.”
“We’ve been texting basically nonstop. And last night… we kinda hooked up.” Her cheeks flush.
