The Cotton Candy Kiss by Maggie Dallen

Author:Maggie Dallen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Maggie Dallen

SIX

Eleanor

* * *

We took our sweet time getting to the bonfire which was farther south on the beach than I’d ever been. The sounds of the boardwalk were muted by the sound of the waves, and even the lights from the north end of town looked faraway, leaving the moon to light our path on the water’s edge.

We talked a bit, but mostly we walked in silence, and I could only imagine what Deacon was thinking. He was probably wondering how he’d gotten stuck with a pathetic basketcase who had no idea who she was. I mean, who even thought things like that let alone said them aloud?

It could have been worse, I supposed. I could have spilled the fact that I hadn’t been running away from a guy, I’d been running toward one.

Him.

I might’ve had some idea of revisiting the nostalgic sights of Sterling Beach, but I’d been more focused on seeing Deacon than on riding the Ferris wheel.

Of course, I hadn’t said any of that because how could I? It was weird enough that I was here, on my own. And it was on me to figure out where things had taken a turn these past few years. It wasn’t fair to lay that at his feet, not when he so clearly had issues of his own. Real issues, like paying the mortgage and grieving for his mom. My own problems seemed unbelievably trivial in comparison.

Deacon broke the silence by pointing out the fire that was just starting to brighten up the evening sky in the distance. “That’s our party.”

I nodded, shyness stealing over me. I did well in groups—I’d learned at a young age that the key was to get people talking about themselves. Everyone loved a good listener. But being good at it didn’t mean I wasn’t a little intimidated to meet a large group of people I didn’t know.

“Who are these guys?” I asked. “Friends from school?”

He gave me a lopsided grin as we shuffled through the sand. “Some of them. Some are from the club, and others are just locals with nothing better to do on a Saturday night.”

I nodded. “Thanks for letting me tag along.”

He surprised me by ducking his head as if embarrassed. “I’d have taken you out to do something else, but honestly, Ellie, I don’t really know what girls like you do.”

“Girls like me?” I said with a laugh.

“Yeah, you know…” He waved a hand at me in a way that was far from flattering. “Tourists.”

I shoved his arm. “Hey! I’m not just a tourist. I’m a friend too…right?”

He gave me a funny look. “Sure.”

I couldn’t tell if the ‘sure’ was sarcastic, but he didn’t look like he was trying to be mean, even though his response was hardly enthusiastic.

“Anyway,” I said, hoping to lighten the moment. “We tourists enjoy a bonfire just like everyone else.”

He gave a short laugh at my haughty tone. “Okay then. Fancy dinners and clubbing can wait till another night.”

I grinned at the thought of me and Deacon doing anything fancy.

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