Chapter 36
I’ve been single for a while. It’s working out. I think I’m the one.
Chloe
M y heart squeezes as I watch Sophia and Flynn declare their love for each other in front of the whole island. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for them. But I also realize this is the beginning of the end. All of my friends will fall in love and then where will I be? Alone. Again.
Just like when Mom would— Nope. I shake those thoughts out of my mind. I am not thinking about Mom today. Or any other day.
I stand. “Who wants some Mermaid Moonshine?”
My happiness is a complete act but my friends don’t notice. They never do.
“I’ll go with you,” Maya says and starts to stand.
“I’m good.”
I need a second to myself. A second to let my guard down. A second to not be the happy, crazy friend everyone counts on to lighten the mood.
The line for drinks is a mile long. Good. I can have more than a minute to myself.
“Chloe!”
I smile and wave at Natalia. My little next door neighbor is sweet and adorable. Too bad her dad is an asshat who thinks the world revolves around him.
“Oof,” I say when she barrels into me.
“This festival is the best. There were two pirates fighting.”
“Guess what?”
“What?”
“I know those two pirates. One is my best friend’s boyfriend and the other is her brother.”
She gasps. “Wow.”
I ruffle her hair. “Don’t be impressed. Smuggler’s Hideaway is a small place. Soon enough you’ll know everyone on the island who’s around your age.”
She frowns. “I hope they’re not all mean.”
“Mean? Who’s being mean to you?”
She rolls her eyes. “You sound like Dad. What did she do, Nat? You should report her, Nat.” She mimics Lucas’ deep voice.
“I don’t believe in reporting bullies. I believe in getting even.”
Her eyes widen. “Getting even? How do you get even?”
“Natalia, Natalia, Natalia. Have you not been introduced to the wonderful world of pranks yet?”
Her nose wrinkles. “Pranks are bad.”
I tweak her nose. “You sound like your dad.”
She shrugs. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt. I just want Sheila to be nice to me.”
“Sheila? Is Sheila here today?” Natalia may think pranks are bad, but I don’t. “A bee in Sheila’s brownie will teach her.” Not a real bee. A fake bee will do the trick.
Natalia giggles. “You’re silly.”
She thinks I’m joking. I’m not. I will not allow anyone to be bullied. Bullies are the worst.
“Next!” Sloane yells.
“Stuck working today?” I ask when I reach the counter.
“The tips more than make up for working during a festival.” She nods to the overflowing tip jar. “What can I get you?”
“Four pints of Mermaid Moonshine and…” I glance down at Natalia. “What do you want?”
“Can I have moonshine?”
“Not yet. A few more years.” Natalia is twelve.
She has more than a few years before she can legally drink. Although, the drinking age isn’t strictly enforced on the island in the winter months when the cold wind is whipping off the Atlantic and the ocean is too cold to swim in.
“A lemonade, please.”
Once I’ve paid, I hand Natalia her drink before gathering the four pints.
“I can help.”
“Your dad will kill me dead if I let you help carry alcohol.”
She giggles. “Kill me and dead are the same thing.”
“Let me rephrase. Your dad will kill me and then resuscitate me so he can kill me again if I let you carry any alcohol.”
“You don’t believe in zombies, do you?”
I widen my eyes. “Zombies are real. Are you not ready for the apocalypse?”
We weave our way through the crowd and away from the line. “Do you want to sit with me and my friends?”
“Yes!”
I notice Lucas walking toward us in the crowd. It’s hard not to. He’s several inches taller than everyone else. But he’s not some string bean. Not Lucas. His body is packed with muscles from his chest down to his calves.
I didn’t know calves could be sexy until I spotted Lucas running home one day. Now I know the truth. Calves can be sexy. As are thighs, pecs, and any other muscle Lucas has.
“Go ask your dad if it’s okay.”
“Do I have to?” she whines.
“I don’t make the rules.”
“Dad!” Natalia motions him over. He smiles at her as his legs eat up the distance between us.
“Natalia, what are you drinking?” he asks when he reaches us.
“It’s lemonade. Chloe got it for me.”
He reaches into his pocket. “Let me pay you back.”
“It’s fine.”
His gaze meets mine and I’m sucked in by those dark brown eyes. They’re mesmerizing. I could get lost in them. Preferably while I stroke his beard or spear my hands through his wavy hair.
I clear my throat. No drooling over your next door neighbor who’s made it perfectly obvious what he thinks of you. Not a lot.
“Can Natalia hang out with us for a while?” I ask.
He crosses his arms over his chest and I try to ignore how his biceps flex with the motion. I lose the battle. It’s a toss up which is sexier. His calves or his biceps. I’d have to touch them to make a decision.
Which will not be happening, I remind myself. Lucas doesn’t want to roll in the hay with me. He’s made that perfectly obvious.
“Actually.” He clears his throat. “I need to speak to you.”
“Go ahead.” My arms are starting to ache from holding the four pints, but I’m not complaining.
“There you are,” Nova says as she walks toward us. Maya and Paisley are following her.
I hold up the drinks. “The line was obnoxious.”
“Hi, Lucas!” Nova waves at him. “Not working today?”
“I have off to enjoy the festival with my daughter.”
“We won’t steal her away then,” I say. “I’ll see you soon, Natalia.”
“Wait!” Lucas orders before I have a chance to escape. “I do need to speak to you.”
I raise my eyebrows. “About what?”
“Dad wants you to marry him because my mom is threatening to sue him for sole custody,” Natalia answers.
My jaw drops open. Lucas wants to marry me? The woman who, according to him, is more annoying than itching powder in a jockstrap.
Nova wraps an arm around Natalia’s shoulders. “We should leave your dad and Chloe alone to discuss this.” She leads her away but Maya and Paisley don’t follow. “Come on. Give Chloe some privacy.”
Maya sighs. “But it’s romantic.”
“We’ll leave you alone,” Paisley says as she drags Maya away.
I face Lucas. “It’s possible Natalia has been watching too many movies.”
He rubs a hand over his jaw. “Actually.”