Page 64 of Plotting Summer

“Did you dislike the movie so much that you had to watch me instead?”

“The parts I saw I actually liked. But you were a lot more fun to watch.” His gaze moves across my face. “You’re beautiful, you know. Stunning.” Then his eyes lower to my lips.

My stomach lifts in anticipation, and I realize the moment I’ve waited years for has finally come. I’m going to kiss Tristan Palmer! And cuddled up next to him with his adoring gaze on me, it all feels too perfect.

He leans in, making my breath catch, but pauses, as if to see if I’m okay with it. Before I can hint that I am, his brow lowers and he looks away.

I’m reeling, not exactly sure what’s happening, when Tristan’s attention returns to me. “Do you hear voices?”

I still, attempting to decipher whatever it is Tristan’s hearing. “No.” But then I hear them. “Oh, I do.”

“It’s probably just a couple out for a midnight stroll,” Tristan says, but I can tell he’s still focused on the voices. Whoever it is, they’re getting closer. Then suddenly, a bright light shines on the pool, making the soft blue plastic glow.

“What do we have going on here?” The masculine voice is oddly familiar, and I glance at Tristan.

He releases a breath and rests his palm on his forehead. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Is that Beau?” I whisper, drawing closer to Tristan to keep the light from hitting me.

“I’ll handle this.” Tristan sits up, and the beam of light hits him square in the face. He squints and covers his eyes. “What are you doing, Beau?”

“If it isn’t Tristan,” Beau laughs. “And I’ll be the one asking the questions. Do you know how many ordinances you’re breaking right now?”

“No, but can you enlighten me later? And can you put down that flashlight? I can’t see a thing.”

“I’ll put it down once the interrogation’s over. I need to know who you have in that cute little blow-up pool with you so I can verify she’s there of her own free will and choice.”

I moan, covering my face with a pillow.

“It’s really none of your business,” Tristan says.

“My job is the public safety of Sunset Harbor’s residents.” He pauses, a light chuckle making its way to where we are. “Capri, my brother isn’t taking advantage of you, is he?”

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, so I sit up, joining Tristan in the line of fire. The flashlight is super bright. “Hey, Beau.”

Beau chuckles again. “How’s your night going, Capri?”

I squint in the direction of the light. “It’s been good.”

“We’re just watching a movie,” Tristan offers, and Beau’s flashlight swings to the now blank screen and back to us before I can so much as catch a glimpse of him.

“I’m not a qualified detective, but I’m going to call your bluff on that one.”

“It just finished.”

“Sure it did.” The amusement in Beau’s voice is palpable.

Tristan’s holding out his hand in front of him to block the light. “Can you stop it with the light now?”

Beau lowers his flashlight, but it takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, and it’s only then that I realize Beau’s not alone. A tall, slender woman with a slicked-back, dark ponytail is standing next to Beau, looking like she’s not quite certain what to do. She’s vaguely familiar, but I can’t place her.

“You two remember Gemma Sawyer?”

Oh! Gemma. Virginia’s granddaughter. Wow, the more the bright circle in my eyesight fades, the more of her I can see, and she is gorgeous. Is it petty of me that I’m extremely grateful she moved away from Sunset Harbor before high school?

“Hey, Gemma.” Tristan lifts a hand. “Good to see you again.”

“Capri is a Collins,” Beau says, attempting to spark her memory. Though I doubt she’ll remember me regardless. “Deedee’s granddaughter.”